board LET the Zealous discover faith in his conversion preserve hope untill the consumation and a manifest love in his conversation Bethany his obedience shall so clear the eyes that this flight from Olivet shall be known in all its spirituall effects and steps for the hearts more ravishing because refined joy delight and satisfaction making the tongue to cry after him Set me as a seal upon thy heart as a seal upon thy Arm Cant 8.6 that is Lord remember me now thou art going to thy Kingdom IN the year of grace 1608 three Ships called the Ascension Vnion and Good hope sailing neere the Cape of good hope had the fate all to perish the Vnion first perished next Good-hope last of all the Ascension that aspiring minds having great hope and dangerous ploddings have perished in their hope when almost arrived at their wished-for-port and Cape of their contrived design iâ— notor to those who are not strangers in our Coast yea to our shame Strangers best know it Vnion we have already lost in our dangerous discords miserably increasing and â—candalously spreading Yet we pretend to Hope and makes a lively-hood from it for Faction and variance but having so oft been under water and it it self dashed and broken to pieces might be justly called Conceit and we Phrygian-like ought to be wise behind hand and weather it out no longer but take harbour least we lose that is forfeit the benefit of the ASCENSION having only a fancied presumption of felicity to come GOD avert the ominous application of â—his instance and unit us again by the Spirit to an holy Vnion in which only we can have â—rue hope secured and then our ASCENSION will be ascertian'd by which we shall â—e ever with the Lord in the Lord and afâ—er a troublesome sea deluge of a tumultuous â—urly-burly the Ark of our Soul will rest â—o that Arrarat those mountains of Spices above saving the Cargo of a good conscience by Anchoring in the Indian shoar of heavens rich and glorious enjoyment THE Emperour Sigismund having proâ—ed succesfull in severall battels against the â—arks dignified many of his martiall Worâ—hies with the Knight-hood of the Dragon their Device being a Dragon falling headlong RESEMBLE a Saints progress toward Ierusalem to a land-journey through a vast wast and howling Wildernesse comparatively thâ— whole Earth being no other yet no Misprision from within no false Information from without no Hellish Combination encompassing need cause a retreat for all of those in the Dâ—agon already cast from Heaven are overcome Revel 12. Their attempts against the Woman and the Remnant of her seed that is the Church her Sons and Daughters are but wrigglings of that old Serpents tail since his head was wounded be not precipitate be not afraid Lyonâ—nd â—nd Adder the young Lyon and the Dragon shall you tramplâ— under feet as speaks the old Testament Psal 91. That is shortly bruise Satan under your feet as prophesieth the new Rom 16. For Christ must sit that is he must Reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet A worthy saying of that great Apostle of the Gentiles 1 Cor. 15. MYSTERIUM PIETATIS OR THE MYSTERIE OF THE DESCENDING OF THE HOLY GHOST Unfolded and applied Pentecost-day-May 22. Tolbooth Church 1670. Whitsun-May 22. Tolbooth Church 1670. JOHN XX. XXII And when he had said this he breathed on them and saith unto them Receive ye the HOLY GHOST AMONG other promises given by our LORD unto his Disciples for their support in the tydings of his departure that of the Father is â—aid to be one which was their being baptized with the Holy Ghost Acts 1.4 5. and that from heaven which had been revealed to Ioel Chap. 2.28 by the Father and also to the the world by the Son who had given the Spiâ—it to his Followers but the Father having promised a more ample manifestation it is peculiarly fixed to him by the Son who as a preparative thereunto from above breaths here upon them beneath the Spirit being the Soul of the Church without it you must imagine it to be only a Carcase that Article of the holy Catholick Church being a depending one the holinesse thereof relying upon her Relation in and towards that of the Holy Ghost THOVGH as a bride she be betrothed to the Son yet it 's the Spirit maketh her the Lambs wife as believing she is Baptized unto Christ yet wanting the confirmation unction or blessing of the Spirit there is no inward sanctity which being ordained to be gradualy given it is recorded in one place to be lesse plentifully and in another to be more miraculously infused as before and after our Lords Ascension is evident in many places and particularly in this wherefore it is expedient to behold how the Apostles received here the Spirit and how afterward and how we may be said as Sanctified to receive the Spirit now that we may passe from the infancy and weak condition of meerly inâ—ant Baptism and to become adult in possessing the thing thereby signified even the sprinkling by or baptisms of the Holy-Ghost as by fire that as washed and heated we may become so enliven'd as the Lord may have pleasure in our beauty and delight to dwel in our very bodies as Temples for himself His altar our mind spiritualiz'd his Sacrifice our good works the fire devouring that Sacrifice being that of Compunction for sin and zeal for his glory THESE two words Holy Ghost expresse the holy Spirit the third Person of the Trinity when together for if separated the Father and the Son are holy and the Father and angels are Spirits but when united they respect a duplicated operation and double office of the third person performed upon them who are chosen vessels unto Glory in makeing them holy and in giveing them life breath or spirit by which they become living souls Ghost or Guest being a name synonymous to all Spirits but â—elly or holy to him by way of excellency who proceeding from the Father and the Son as breathed forth and being every wâ—y holy fitteth his name to his nature the sutablenesse whereof being eminent he is denominat in our new style thought more refined then the old the Holy Ghost receiving other Names from other properties as wind fire the finger of God the comforter the spirit of Truth the holy spirit which the Apostles are commanded to receive not as though they had formerly wanted him for they preached wrought wonders cast out Devils a power that flowed from his In-being and during Christs abode but he being upon his ascending qualifieth them now this second time for the work of the Ministry in remitting of sin in binding the obstinat for sin in inteâ—preting the Scripture for their greater assurance and fuller consolation because of his absence about Prophesies and typâ— as the election of Mathias in the place of Iudas from the mouth of David doth famously make evident YET it is no great cause of offence to
Natalitials of our Saviour Greg. Naz. Orat. 38. Whence the Golden-mouthed Father prefaceth a Sermon in upbraiding such whose zeal and fervour excited only to Communicat upon such dayes which yet might be often and not upon others pathetically shewing how each day might be made a Festival Chrys. in Fide Ane Hom. 5. Which themâ— by Origen who was Famous Anno Dom. 226. was closely followed in his writting in defence of the Gospel against the cavils of subtile Philosophers affirming that to Keep a feast was but to attend dutifully offering up Prayer and praise as unbloody sacrifices unto God and he who believed the death of Christ and lived by his word did Celebrate the Pasch such who went to an upper Chamber to pray with one accord Keeped the Pentecost c. Contra Cels. lib. 8. WHAT more for Paper would faile if exact rehearsal of the practise of the most fam'd most Ancient most edifying most Religiouâ— Sermons Orations Persons Churches and Nations touching these things were in Individuo Specified without boasting what hatâ— been said as light may Conjure those Spectrum Phantasmes Phasmes and Apparitions of pretended supperstition though walking in 〈◊〉 heavenly garb by a holy vogue to disappeare as Impostors airey vanitys possessing nothing of the substance of solid piety not having thâ— true body of Refined Reason Laws Edicts and Authority regulating Christianity in this exercise by uniting Churches for observing in the Circumstance of time that for the doing whereof they had Authority from Apostles or Apostolick men I say Circumstance of time there being a while disagreement among the Churches when but never about whether these dayes should be observed the difference in our own Churches about Easter after Austine the monks enstalment being removed by Theodorus Bishop of Canterbury a Citizen of no mean City born in Tarsus in Cilicia St Pauls Countrey who appointed the feast of Easter to Commence according to our present Computation Anno Dom. 662. Ful. Eccles. Hist. Cent 7. WHEREBY Vnity was beheld in the Churches of Palestine that Conforming with the Churches of Antioch of the greater and lesser Asia of Egypt Thessalonica Athens and Corinth the Churches of the Isle St. Thoms of Iberia the Mengrellians bordering on the black Sea those of Phrigia Galathia Bythinia Lydia Caria Paphlagonia Magnesia Lycia Alepo Damascus Tripoly Cyprus Candia Zant. those of Media Persia India those of the Abyssins Babylon Syria and those of the once great Kingdom of China For a learned Author shewing how all these Churches though under the Dominion of the Turk Rome or Pagans agree with us in the great matters agitat against our Romish adversaries as in the Supremacy Purgatory halfe Communion Transubstantation c. Discovers also their disagreement from us in severall points to Instance onely in the case in hand some beginne their Lent ten dayes before ours some fast nine dayes before the Ascension in regard of Christs absence from the Apostles which to them they reckon a time of sorrow Paget Christian ograph 146. and 150. Which exception from our observance evidenceth their agreement with us in the matter under proof according to that Known rule exceptio firmat in non exceptis SHOULD we say in all this they inclin'd to Popery waspishly they would sting and frettingly would they be angry having against that so great an aversness that the Patriarch or Archbishope of Constantinople when Elected by his Clergy and confirmed by the Barut or Patent of the Grand-Segnior in the Government of the Churches of Greece Macedon Epirus Thrace Mosina Maldavia Corsu in the Egean Seâ— c. having under him seventy four Archbishops I say this great Patriarch yearly upon the Sunday called Dominica Invocavit solemnly excommunicats the Pope and all his Clergy for Schismaticks its true of late his seat hath been oft at Musco where to this day if a Roman priest by chance should officiat upon any of their tables or Altars as polluted or accursed they break it into pieces Paget ut sup c 29. A Learned Critick and Antiquary viewing the severall Churches of the world finds that part of the Greek Church in Armenia Celebrating the Nativity not as wee but upon the sixth of January Breeâ—woods inquir 124. as if that had been his birth day which indeed is an old opinion being received by some but neither so universaly nor so rationaly believed Chrys. Hom. de Nat. led thereunto through a mistake of the word Epiphania signifying manifestation they concluded the time of his birth and baptisme to be one for which cause it may be yet the Ethiopicks sprinkle themselves in the Epiphany in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost yet not as essential unto Faith but as Historicall a remembrance of our Saviours baptisme Barrets travells p. 146. YET the received opinion by the Current Testimony of all Antiquity from the first and primitive times was the feast of Christmas that is with the old Saxon Christs feast computed and appointed to be observed as it is now being Inclyta solemnitas a Famous Festivity over all the world Cyp. de Nat. Ser. giving it as genuine Characters of true profession to observe the Lords-day and Festivals Tert. de Idol c. 15. TO make yet a doubting Thomas believe the existence of no Popry in this codicle let him thrust his hand into the side and looke upon the Prints of these things in the body of the Church Reformed he shall or may be ascertained of its Innocency in this matter or be forced to exalt himself above all in our Israel accounting none to be so wise so pure so knowing so holy as he in all our Congregations when put together BEHOLD Eminent Emissaries of those Churches chosen as messengers from Holland Gilderland Zealand Vtrech Frizland Transylvania Groning from the Palatinate Landgrave of Hesse Helvetia Genevah from the Republick of Brem and that of Embden and from the Kingdom of great Britaine met together at Dort to Censure Remove and Rebuke opposers of their peace and Corrupters of the Doctrine of the Reformed Church for preventing of Error Heresy and Division And see them all seated debating for this end yet unanimously agreeing in full Synod to Intermitt for a while untill the feast of the Nativity of our Lord and Saviour which then approached was performed and over The foraigne Divines being desired not to remove from Towne for more convienency of meeting the solemnity being done This motion freely obeyed and by none disputed may put some stop to the grumbling Zelot not to say the Censorious Hypocrite whose Religion perhaps should altogether not only be questioned but his prophannesse attested had he not the salvo of twitting others in the teeth as Formalists to buoy up his Credit with the headless Vulgar And when the Magistrats of Bommel writ requesting that Henricus Leo their Minister might be allowed to repare to his congregation to preach Administer c. with his own people upon the feast of the
the incarnation to the Gentiles found in the Royal line and appears in the person of the the King of the Jews Iesus the Saviour of the whole Earth Whose Mothers Kinred is reckoned under Iosephs name as being one with Mary she being his wife Luke 3. and Heli's Daughter which Iâ—seph a Carpenter became a Foster Father a reputed or supposed Father to the worlds Master-builder and great Architecture of heaven and Earth his espoused having conceived in her womb about the age as is said of fifteen being fitted early for her Saviours intertainment by Sanctity and pudicity contrary to that Famous Helene upon whose eyes it s recorded none could look securely there being thence emitted rays destructive to purity enflameing the breast unto concopiscence but from this woman say they there was such emanations of beaming Continence as not only denyed such reflections but extinguished their being as the sun-beams do an ordinary fire I shal swear to none of these yet know that though Nebuchadnezars furnace be seaven times more heated then usually it no way impedeth Iesus the Son of God from making it his gallery but the least spark of natural lust indisposeth the soul for being a receptacle for that holy Child Iesus he being both separate from sinners and sin can have no Communion with Belial nor his imps yea if a David by entertaining of a lust lose the warmth or forfeit the sense of heavenly joy or Mary at a feast who hath ears to hear let him hear lose her Son and Saviour they must both regain their Consolation with sorrow and Care and acknowledge with Naomi that their Names are Mara that is Mary by interpretation also bitterness All our Saviours actions have in their womb instructions to the world concerning Converse and particularly his being BORN of a woman Virgin doctrinaâ—s to Virgin-like simplicity as some therefore abstaines from wickednesse for fear of pain others of shame or such like Carnal grounds let Believers make no provision for the flesh that Iesus may be formed in them more and more that his left hand may be under their head and his Right hand embrace them the former healing and justifying the other embraceing and felicitating the fiâ—st applying his merits the last assureiâ—g his reward the one offering food the other medicine yet behold the Phisician and his first cure for the Souls support is innocence attested in his Manlâ—sse conception that we shewing freedom from the deformity of brutal desires Manlike may be capaâ—le to convers with heavenly intelligâ—nces crying out in our acts with those in Theodoret who being ignorantly through Cunning made to offer incense unto Idols we are Christians we are Christians keeping fresh the Image of Holinesse becomeing Familiar as it were with Angels Outstripping that modest heathen Archytas who refuseing to utter an immodest word yet desireing to sense his discourse pouâ—traid upon the wall with a coal somewhat significative to his purpose which is but to trapan sanctity and shutting our Organ that is our ear against ribâ—uldry to offer it an inlet by the eye an orâ—an apt enough to smutt the soul and sufficiently politâ—ck to captivat the heaâ—t wiâ—h it s own consent and betray it to destructive conceptions DRAW near you that are Virgins and behold this Virgin you that are Mothers and behold this Mother you that give suck and behold this Nurse you that aâ—e with Child and behold this womb you that are widows and behold this woman no Maid no Wife you that are begotten of Men and born of woman and behold this MAN encompass'd by a woman born for all kinds of condition wherein woman can be found begotten of Man that all living as she in breeding in Châ—stity may be encompass'd by this MAN secur'd against shame and misery by imitating this womanâ— Genâ—us this Marys warrinesse this womanâ— temperance this Virgins holinesse this Maids retiredness for its probable the Virgin was alone when the Angel accosted her and it may be conjectur'd at some good exercise as appeareth by his salutation Thâ— Lord is with thee the Religion of the Hebrews teaching them to blesse in the Name of the Lord whom they found diligent and well imployed as Boaz did his Reapers and the Reapers again their master IMITAT also this Marys cleannesse for the Virgin was pure in heart that is in eye in ear in feet in tongue walk and apparel her compositum being cloathed crowned with the vertues as with so many robes and diadâ—ms of stares defending her by nature unfortified ear from the assaults of immodest utterance by bashfulnesse gravity and censure disdaining to soyle or smutt her purer soul with the reports of obscenity acted either on the Theatre or seen in the wardrop the habit but warping toward kindling of Concupisence in any being condemned in the solidity of her Judgment accounting it equally destructive to be casually an incentive of as studiously to become a pander to lust in any the Angels salutation her Royal stemme and pedigree cleareth all this and more As if her word had been like that of Heraclius the Emperour Insania lâ—ta voluptas estimating the usual trivial finical delights of the Daughters of men to be dangerous and their Gamboles to be very madnesse because either being or forming or bordering upon pollution yet according to the Accute Maxime in the Holy State of Virginity counted it Virginitie to be unspotted not unmarried encompassing her self with Resolves of piety industry and purity in all conditions therefore she Saw GOD and that with her eye the invisible being in her and of her and to her made visible the Father through the Spirit erâ—cting a mansion place in her womb for the Son she having had a repository for the Almighty his Law revealed to his Servants in her heart from which issued an aptitude and disposition inclining heâ— body rather to Kneel then Dance Ought not this to perswade future Ages for applauding and consenting to consciouâ— sanctimonious behaviour Christ being thâ—â— born for this cause or then his coming had been casting pearls before swine and the product of Christian profession little different from the frantick actings of the fableâ— Jewish Armillus with them the same thâ— Antichrist is with uâ— who before the comeing of the Messiah with them is to be boâ—â— by oâ— breathed from a Marble image of Virgin unto whom the wicked of the world shall be gathered for incestuous copulation And under him their Leader bandy against heaven HOW advantageously hath the Hoâ—â— Ghost baptized our Saviour so to speak with variety of names titles and comparisons and how comfortably doth he expatiat upon that subject that in all doubts fears or discouragements his Name is as oyntment poured forth Cant. 1.3 the word Messiah the expression Christ the phrase oyntment being all one holding up the tapestry shewing the devout the inside of his worth that the savour of his works merits and offices may bind up and restrain the deluding pleasures
the Prophets For say they to us a Child is born to us a Son is given Child yet before his Mother was he was a Son a wise Phisician and tender Saviour the omnipotent God to us is given a Child a Son respecting his two natures the first viz. Child expressing him real MAN as he was and cleared to be from his Genoâ—ogy from his soul body eating wearinesse fasting sleeping weaping from his being called Man the son of Man besides such representatives as GOD made of him under the Law as the seed of the woman of Abraham a Prophet from among your Brethren and Davids righteous branch The other word SON expressing him real God which he was being called alwayes the Son of God after his Resurrection after which time that phrase the Son of man is never used He is the everlasting Son of the Father Creator of all things giver of eternal life from the beginning confessed by the Angels demonstrated by his fasting by his miracles and that in the Temple where never miracles were wrought by man that being the place wherein God significantly would have his Son to be noticed and he proved from his working therein to be the Lord who was suddenly to come thereto Malach. 3. It being the house of his Father IN short by his suffering dying riseing from the dead he declared himself to be the Son of God with power for never MAN neither Moses Samuel nor any that called upon his Name neither Priest nor Prophet wrought miracles at their Death but he thâ— exploit of Sampson was rather wonderfulâ— then miraculous and came far short of thosâ—â—â—upendious actings at our Saviours giving up of the Ghost but at his rising from the grave so far he declared himself to be God that these words the Son of MAN are noâ— mentioned he said it behoved the Son of maâ— to suffer but being raised it was ought noâ— Christ to have suffered HOW elegantly hath S. Paul Philip 2. differenceâ— I shou'd have said united these two in these words who being in the forâ— of God thought it no robbery to be equal with God herein is the truth of his Son-ship and first part of his nature but made himself of 〈◊〉 reputation and took upon him the form of a servant and was made in the likenesse of men here is the truth of his Child-hood the other part of his being the Apostle expounding the Prophet would have said He was given to us who was in the form of God and born for uâ— who made himself of no Reputation this is the beginning middle and end of his nativity even to adore reverence that Love of God we who after he had made all things yet made himself MAN so mans good before this Child was born as a Son he governed all things but for nothing was he born save to serve that men might injoy all things and if the biâ—th of this Child this Son be accounted fabulous either by Iew or Greek because incredulous I passe the Vengeance shown on a lewd painter intending to draw our blessed Saviour in the form of Iupiter An. C. 436. whose hand by the Divinity of Christs power withering was again refreshed by Prayer Repentance and â—aith in the two natures though reason could not unfold the Union But let me know why the diseased lyon seeks out an ape by whose ugly tricks he as it were laughs himself into health how or what can cause an ovel ball of Virgin wax cast into the salt Sea fill it self with fresh water why should the Iew doubt of Marys Virginity since he believes the bush burned and was not consumed that Gideons fleece was wet and all the ground dry that Daniels stone was cut out of the Mountains without hands All these were antecedent to this the Spirit trolling us forward to believe the Mystery of the Incarnation from a Virgin overshadowed she being like the porch in Ezekiel 4.4 through which none was to pass because the Lord hath entred in by it he was the occult seâ—d which had we wanted we had been like to Sodom 1. Isa. he is the fruit of Davids body to sit upon Davidâ— throne other sons are the fruit of the Loins Psal. 132. but Christ was purely a fruit oâ— the belly for from Iosephs piety for Iesuâ— Dignity for the Honour of the Holy Ghost as we know Mary to have been a Virgin before her Conception so she is believed to have remained a Virgin ever after HIS Conception in the womb being the fund and bottom of all that followed in hiâ— Mediatory office in it resteth the inscrutablâ— Mystery of the two natures the possibility whereof in the Union of our capacious Souls with our finit infirm bodies is somewhaâ— cleared but admit this should not be reflected upon Heaven it seem'd resolves that thâ— A. B. C. of our profession should be wholâ—ly superstructed upon faith that the 〈◊〉 and Ground-sale might be conform to thâ— roof and both to stand upon his ipse 〈◊〉 the word of the Lord the Femal being 〈◊〉 only placed for the parent not a man to coâ—â—passe a woman whereby a man may be bâ—â—gotten but a woman a MAN by whicâ— Iesus was organiz'd AND if heathens beliâ—ved the possibility of Minervahs concepâ—ion in the brain of Iupiter without a woman may it not from truer gâ—ounds be trusted that Iesus was framed in the womb without a man it is certainly fabulous that Budda should have gendred in his side a Virgin buâ— for this truth what direful things have not been suffered and what consolation hath it not bred And the newnesse of the thing in the uniting God and man is said to have been registrat'd in the book of Heaven it self for all to see the Learned observing by their tables that upon the observed day of our Lords nativity viz. December 25. their fell the greatest conjunction of the eight and ninth speares in head of Aries that ever was and nature is not able to effect the like say they unlesse the world continue thirty or fourty thousand years a strange conjunction upon earth represented by another in heaven imports the Almighâ—y would have it wonder'd at HER name Mary imports a star and that of the Sea too designed in this particular to be eyed by such Mariners or rather questionists who in sailing through the Ocean of Divine Revelation Mysteries will needs be exerciseing the plummet and by the line of reason â—athâ—me in the depth of the wisdom of God or coast it by the shoar of their own interest opinion faction or concernment Mary in this being a better pilot by her own motion above her own reason in how can these things be steared towards the bay of Faith and of dependance in Be iâ— according to thy word and to her Honour cast anchor within the port of God's verity and omnipotency with God all things being possible and their striking sail saved her own Soul bringing him forth who is made to us of God
Wisdom to cure our folly righteousness to remove our irregularity Sanctification to wash away uncleannesse and Redemption to obliterat our guiltinesse AND verily she had her reward and shall have for may we not see with Elizabeth blessed is she that believeth and in temptations to pride to avarice in the surges oâ— a tempestuous world among other Saints Mary as a star may be veiwed and as a copâ—py followed in this her act of relying upoâ— Gods Testimony which is thought no sooâ—â—er to be done then Christ was conceived That Holie thing said the Angel pointing aâ— it were then at him now in her womb the person of the Son of God bodily formed of heâ— flesh bloud not by transmiting the deity into the substance of flesh or flesh into that of thâ— deity but by uniting both in one subsistinâ— person so that neither the Godhead was manned nor the Manhood Goded but both though dâ—stinct really united qualifying the Impassible to suffer the Immortal to dy and the Eternal God who had ever been to be by a Mystery not to be apprehended and is the Mystery of Godlinesse God humbling himself for men that is for their good to men because born a MAN above men for though like them he was born of a woman yet was he unlike them in so far as in her he was formed by the Holy Ghost and born of her a religious virgin in him also the God-head bodily abideing CAN we do here lesse then cry out blessed is the womb that bare thee and the paps that gave the suck the womb bearing him who is the Author of all blessednesse to us the virgin becoming Spouse to the Father Mother to the Son and habitation to the Spirit hail Mary thou art highly favoured being made the restorer of thy sex sorrow in bringing forth imposed for sin by thee not felt when from thee we received Iesus God from the Father Christ man from the Mother therefore blessed art thou among women the blessed fruit of thy Virginity expressing a blessing to all the Daughters of Eva abideing in following after or cleaving unto thy pattern set them of Simplicity and Faith even in thine in their Child bearing thou as a star emitting beams of light upon the earth from thy breasts giving food to him who giveth meat to all flesh beareth the price of mans Redemption the mean of the Angels confirmation in thy armes thou art highly favoured God workâ—ng in thy belly three wonders for our astonishment and cureing of our heart first in preserving thy Virgin purity in integrity though in flesh 〈◊〉 the Ark was covered with pure gold in frucâ—tifying thy Virginity and makeing it conceive as the bush burned and was not consumed Lastly by an meffable joining of earthly thinâ—s and heavenly together thou 〈◊〉 Iacobs ladder touching both thou art highâ—ly favoured For in thee God becomes MAN a Virgin turns a Mother and the heart of mâ—â— believes all being peâ—swaded thou aâ—t the Mother of our Lord yet thy Lords handâ—maid that is our Lords Servant for thoâ—â— was made by him and if God be terrible oâ—â— of his holy places how much more wonderfull when he appears out of thy bowels having been compass'd by thy womb Thoâ— art highly favoured therefore Hail Mary 〈◊〉 heavenly salutation while thou was upon Earth yet on Earth thy worshipping of him ought to expound unto us its robbing him of his just devoir to pray unto thee since he was born by thee to become the Author of eternal Salvation to all that believe and to thy ignorant adorer I imagine that is I conceive thou sayes Man what have I to do with thee seing he is the Lord thy God worship thou him for it s written him only shalt thou serve c. THE english word compass is known and the root Sabab is of the same sense importing round about or on every side whence some apply the word to the Church who should after much wandring and wantonnesse cleave to embrace the Lord her Husband as the barren womb doth a man but this being no new thing we make progresse in our first interpretation affirming the words sound a retreat to the Church in her unprosperous war against God perswading to a Reformation of life upon this new Creation beseeching them as els-where the Apostle by the Mercies of God and of our Lord Iesus Christ who to cultivat our barren souls had first appointed the bloud of beasts in sacrifice next our own in Circumcision and when both failed the desiâ—ned effect by this new thing his last and great work that from his mouth the mouth of a Bab the bloud of a Lamb of this Lamb of God we might be perswaded to bring forth fruit upon the sight of such pure innocency who not being heard when he thundered might be heard when he weeped yea loved and obeyed descending unto Earth that he might be kissed of such who while he sat in heaven was not feared God purposeing to ereat nothing to save the impenitent this being done to enforce abhorrency of every evill way and the newnesse of it causeing wonder might the more to enflam godliness the worthies Kings and Prophets of the former ages not knowing not seeing this that is knew it not saw it not fuâ—filled for though it be said The Lord hath created a new thing in the Earth yet the time of utterance sheweth it only to be prophesied of because of which the People of the prophets generation might be ascertain'd that it should be as if it been past and gone God speaking of things that are not as though they were and to come as though already done so in after ages A woman did compass a man ENDVED he was in probability with a rational Soul from the first instant of his glorious conception the Holy Ghost framing by his power his pure body withâ—ut those previous preparations of natural formation infusing likewise his Soul before the ordinary number of thirty six or fourty six dayes which casteth the birth upon the seventh or the ninth moneth for though he was like unto us in all things yet the exception of sin includeth such effect as emerge from it of which pain in conceiving or in bringing forth is to be exempted from his Mother or imperfection of parts or lack of a Soul from himself we speak not of the extension or delineation of his members which must be by time perfected but of his bodies organization which how smal so ever might be animated that be from the beginning mâ—ght be both God and man which of an Embrio could not properly be allowed and the body being immediatly the work of the Spirit of Power makes diffiâ—ult to grant the body of Christ to be shaped or figured according to the wonted manner of men the Scripture as leaving it doubtful expressing the Embrio which can neither be caâ—led Male nor Female fruit whereas Iesus must be reputed to have always been God and MAN and MAN here
play'd rex but the Christian must be circumcis'd all over to extinguish not only the heat as by pores but the very sum of uncleannesse in his eyes for restraining Vanity in his ears for debarring obscenity in his tongue withdrawing from ribbaldry in his hands by shutting out iniquity in his whole person and converss laying aside all superfluity of naughtinesse for that as the circumcised part may be well spared least emasculating themselves they walk as the Daughters of men that is not worthy of God that is not as his Son our Lord Iesus who being to introduce a new doctrine into the Church of Faith and Love got in a new day and as is supposed the first day of the of the new year a new name and was called Iesus not by chance or choice but according to the order of the Angel before he was conceived in the womb which fights against and impugns our old courses pregnantly inviting to a new and holy life for matriculating or ingrafting our selves in a real not nominal Spiritual not political and innocent not blasphemous way to the Society of Iesus TO work a cure against the distempers of the whole body of the Church was the head thereof as about this time let bloud and by whose vein breathing the body becometh more agile and every member more apt to exercise it's peculiar office for the good of the whole therefore ought all as spiritual Eagles a bird who by casting her feathers and breaking her old bill occasions a fresh growth and repairs her strength to arise from old and dead works Mount towards the heaven in new desires and new affections testifying both by new lives unto which this Child this name Iesus strennously attract's there being in it when opened a treasury of all riches a gaâ—ner of all provisions and a ware-house of all excellencies sounding first from an Angels mouth into a Virgins ear nothing but what was heavenly and of a heavenly vertue being fit to express it or capable to apprehend it ITâ—S true we find some of this Name besides him yet of such eminency as demonstrated them forerunners i. e. typs of this Iesus it is of the same root and sense with that of Ioshua who was Captain of the Lords host and possessed Israel of the holy land another was a holy and high priest separat for expiating the sins of the penitent delinquent Zach. 3.1 And to passe the Apocriphal Iesus who yet was a wise and prudent teacher we have mention of another Iesus Colos. 4. a companion of S. Paul and fellow-labourer with him in the Kingdom of God it was in short a common and an honourable name among the Iews but out of veneraâ—ion to our Lord Iesus not now used in the Church NAMES of old have been adopted by Friends or parents according to the hope conceived of the person named or by some accident about him or done by him but none of these here for our Saviour was seen by by none when he was named nor thought upon by any when he was called Iesus a Saviour not from hope which still includâ— fear but from assurance that he should save his people from their sins which untill revealed might be unknown even to the Angel who brought the message so that nothing of the creature was instrumental in this nomination but purely drawn from the benefits should accrew unto the world through him which obiter and by the way enforceth parents to elect such names as may import to their posterity some duty befitting them that their names may teach sanctity and true piety for as if something had been in that name Ioshuang or Iesus we read not of their sins not of their scandals as we do of other's we have Iudah's incest Solomons apostacy Davids adultery and Iudas the traitor as if Salvation in the others name had transfus'd it self working detestation of prophane courses Adam named his wife Evah because she was mother of all living and the name Gabriel enforceâ—h the bearer to be a man of God the name Nicholaus to overcome the people in good Iohn to walk graciously William couragiously Thomas to behold each man as a brother the word importing a twin such are good and sutes Christianity whereas Hercules a sturdy heathen Lout Diana a fam'd huntresse savours pardon my boldnesse not of the font not of the Laver of Regeneration not of baptismal water and therefore to be retir'd least Mars Iupiter Vulcan and other names of Baal defile the Baptistry the name Patience I cannot conclude ill but that Femal one of Faith in my judgement is to be avoyded as all other that in any direct way tends either to sin or revieve the memories of the prophane WHICH evill the name Iesus in it 's very initiatory letters doth abrogat and cancel improving the Saints in all degrees to the highest blesse of Saintship speaking Iucundity or gladnesse to the sorrowfull Eternity to the mortal Sanity or health to the languishing Vtility or profit to the poor Satiety or plenty to the hungry in Greek it 's anagram'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thou art the sheep or lamb viz. which is given for the sins of the world it is oft writ in 3 letters thus I. H. S. Iesus Hominum Salvator shewing the Salvation he brought to man-kind and thus drawn in the body of the Sun is it the armes and publick seal of the segniory of Genevah shewing her light to beam from the rays of this Sun of righteousnesse her inscription about that being Iesus Sol Scutum meum Jesus is to me both a Sun and shield but others expresse thereby his Innocence Humility Sublimity he not being conceived in sin yet under-went death for sin and because he is man is made Lord of all things GIVEING of names is a sign of authority and dominion and given by Jewish Fathers at Circumcision as we do now at Baptisme it 's the first act of jurisdiction Fathers exercise over their Children the Scripture shewing plainly in Abraham and Zacharias that the Mother hath no right to impose them and if they do the Father may alter them as in the History of Benjamine is conspicuous he being never called Benoâ—â— and though the Mothers name should stand in holy writ it is to be understood by the Fathers indulgence as is famously clear in the Register of Leas fruitfulnesse her husband gratifying her in that particular and not without reason but this name Iesus was not imposed by Ioseph who was no father noâ— by Mary though a Mother but by God who hath power over Christ as man and exercis'd the same as a Father before his birth that he who is the King of Kings and Son of God might not be made subject to his parents but so far as his own knowledge discretion or goodnesse in riper years should concede unto as is evident from several places his subjection being commended and â—oman what I to do with thee being expressed YET to condemn the obstinat
and refractory this name is not publickly proclaimed from heaven but given to Mary and after that to Ioseph who gave it to his supposed Son at 's Circumcision and by that name which his parents gave him was he known in all the tract of his life God in this occult way preserving the order and honour of paternity disallowing such who assume the boldnesse to rebaptize themselves and write new names which their parents knew not HE is by the Holy Ghost yea by men sometimes called Iesus sometimes Iesus Christ often our Lord sometimes this and again that other name every one of which have some peculiar eye to some relation he beareth towards the Church and in all those glorious precepts for divine celebrating the Supper that is the holy communion of the Church by S. Paul he speaks of it in that style that would hardly make that phrase the cup of Iesus the death of Iesus to be proper speaking constantly of the Lord as the Lords Death the body and bloud of the Lord a word importing the founder of that communion and fellowship we have with the Father from which this may safely be drawn that men should discreetly expresse the tittles gâ—ven to their Saviour It is a truth that some have spoken of him under Epithets purely that is scripturally applicable to the Father to the Spirit to an Angel THE most celebrated tittles are Iesus Christ and the Son of God this last when Iews deny him mock raile reprobat laugh at him c. is proper to use Christ intimating his anointing hinting at the means whereby he saved us as preaching fighting conquering is pertinent for us the Son of God he is called being very God of very God the second as he is Man God by assuming humanity but his name Iesus represents him God joyned to humanity united to the humane nature and here wisely given yea before haveing three times been so named viz. at his conception to Mary next to Ioseph 〈◊〉 a dream and lastly at Circumcision for then they called his name Iesus a name majestick a name consolatory holding forth his Deity for besides this Lord there is no Saviour and his Humanity also for by it he maketh propitiation for our sin nay we find it iâ— other writtings not removing but preventing sin even that of robbery for a paddist or High-way-man attempting to spoil a preacher ordering him to stand and asking what he was was answer'd I am a the servant of the Lord Iesus the Paddist trembling at the answer said again what are you and had the same answer and so a third the Robber as amaz'd forgot both bloud-guiltinesse and covetousnesse and called to his unjustly detained Captain for the sake of Iesus depart in peace and ruminating to himself whose servant he had been in this debauch'd trade of life being cogitabund cryed out Iesus Iesus Iesus blessed be the name of Iesus who hath keeped me from sin and forsakeing that course of life walked after in the path of vertue LET none inquire touching the utmost extent of this name since it 's secret and wonderfull Iud. 13.18.19 above all mans conception and expression having not under it the name or shadow but the essence and verity of all Salvation yet know he is not called Iesus because he saves from war or sword for these may be good but from sin which can never be but ill therefore it comforteth the heart when opened delighteth the Ear when hearkned pleaseth the mouth when expressed intimating from sin freedom and predicts glory in place of misery But yet not by the aiery sound or letters thereoâ— whether utter'd or impress'd for the Devil spake it to Christ himself and had a finger in the py when it was writ upon the crosse but when applyed by faith and conforming to the Doctrine of him who bears it as he who learning and studying Iesus well proposed to himself for a Coppy a meek man â— humble man a sober man a chast man merciful man and finally a man endued with all honesty and full of all sanctity which is a sweet way to make him to every man Iesuâ— i. e. a Saviour that he as being Almightâ— God created them so as Iesus that is Goâ— and man may redeem them from this present evill world by his omnipotent unspeakeable goodness compassing strengthning by his mediatory office what ever is his own within the â—oul abolishing by his Royal power Christ-like vertue what ever besides that the heart hath contracted to prevent relapsing let the man Iesus be our example and Iesus God your chief support leaning upon him as your beloved and the name Iesus shall assure salvation secure heaven not otherwise THE name Iesus is admirable for by it all wonders have been wrought and because of it all Devils trembled it 's also amiable sinners having by it been justified righteous gladned the dejected raised and all that ever called as the blind-men Iesus thou son of David have mercy upon us have been relieved it's lastly laudable for it 's glorious it 's holy it 's new it 's exalted above every name and the name that is given to us for us whereby only we can be saved therefore glory ye in his holy Name REMEMBER you are his by purchase be having redeemed you not with corruptible things as with silver and gold but by his pretious blood of which summ he this day gave part in hand as earnest and payed the whole afterward in grosse upon the Cross and might there be not more then a common providence that upon the first of Ianuary there should be fewer Martyrs in the primitive persecution then on any other in the year each day produceing when laid together five thousand save that since the faithfull witnesse himself by whose bloud their's was accepted did as upon that day enstate us into the passage leading to the spiritual Paradice by applying his merits in Circumcision as the first fruits of the land â—or earnest of our forgivenesse makeing hell to tremble as being spoyled of its Dominion Earth to rejoice as being redeem'd to God and Angels to triumph as being confirmed in righteousnesse all which passionatly excits to a confession that Iesus is the Christ to the Glory of God the Father makeing his Regimen in our souls the more arbitrary when by way of reserve we reflect upon that purpose of the Father that every knee shall mark the word shall bow that is yeeld and submit to the name Iesus that is the power authority and Judgement of Iesus FROM the name Christ are we called Christians that implying both his and our Unction with the graces of the spirit whence also came that name of the Messiah i. e. one that is anointed viz above his fellows as Christ is said to be Isa. 61. with gifts not with material oyl which had been improper to him as a King for his Kingdom is not of this world or as Priest for he was not of
Paul were of God and Christ how soon might the rude swaine the country lossel the clownish Boor the whistling plowman the earthy drudge find out a way for nobilitating his family and Gentilizeing of himself in observing the rules and orders belonging to the badge and profession of the Gospel Let those of Castile passe for born Gentleman the Bereans are far more honourable Alexander and Nimrod may do great strange and bloody feats while Paul and Cornelius keeping their bodies in subjection least they should be cast-aways more splendidly writs their name and with a greater flourish in the volumns of repute TAKEING heed to Gospel rules holy laws observing the outgoings of the King of Saints even of the paths walks and orders of Iesus the Soveraign and Heir of all things and Kingdoms being King eternal immortal invisible the only wise God 1 Timo. 1.17 maketh the clown a Gentleman the Gentleman a noblesse yea all men from the basest of Pesants Kings unto God the Father and younger brethren to our Lord that is partakers of the whole inheritance with the Son of which dignity if you be religiously ambitious or earnestly covet after you shal do well for Iesus then in all cases shall be a Iesus that is a Saviour in time of trouble MYSTERIUM PIETATIS OR THE MYSTERIE OF THE WISE MEN Unfolded and applied For Epiphany-Day Ian. 6. Tolbooth Ch. 1671 But preached Sunday-Ian 8. Tolbooth Ch. 1671 MATTH 11.1 Now when Iesus was born in Bethlehem of Iudea in the days of Herod the King behold there came wise-men from the East to Jerusalem Saying where is he that is born King of the Jews for we have seen his Star in the East and are come to worship him THOVGH it be said that God is no respecter of persons yet it s to be understood in his eternal decision and sentenceing men to happinesse or misery conform to the Regularity or extravagancy of their actions for otherwise he eminently signalizeth some above the masse of plebeian beauty by signs and wonders makeing their ingresse to or egresse from the world prodigious or auspicious by unusual occurrences not to speak of the three Suns which appeared when Nero entred upon government or that fearfull comet some months before his slaughter nor of that shining bright before many lights of the Germain Church were extinguished by death as being portentuous it is upon record that glorious worthies have been saluted at their births by visions from heaven auspicating the felicity of their government grandour of their lives and glory of their fame as his late Majesty to passe old and musty Registers of glorious memory journeyed from his Palace to Pauls Church to render thanks for the birth of a Son our present Soveraign about ten of the clock May 29. in bright-day a star was seen to shine predicting as some then said his out-shining and breaking forth at last though for a time he might be out-shined by another not to comment God doth not always speak by his Prophets only but by the meteors and elements likewise in persons especially born for government and if in persons meerly temporal this be what shal indicat to the world the birth of the King of Kings rather then a goodly star and that in the east by whose rayes the Religious Magi whether by Day or night could spel if not read the birth of the King of the Jews for as there were many new things about and at our Saviours birth on earth and all wonderfull as the Angels appearance Zacharias dumbnesse c. It was seemly that the Heavens should also lift up their voice and declair that wonderfull work of God which lay in Iury yet shined to Persia coming to them who were nigh that they might be saved and to them who were afar off that they might be redeemed Therefore there came Wise Men from the east c. HAVEING seen our Lord born for and circumcised by the Jew we should wrong our selves if we beheld him not worshipped by the Gentiles for though Salvation be of the Jews Iohn 4.22 yet it's effects are to the ends of the earth at first the Shepherds adored here Philosophers are come to adore they directed by an Angel these conducted by a star both from heaven to him who was to unite them in one unto himself and of them so united as living stones to build a Temple for the Holy Ghost that is a Tabernacle for himself IN a Mystery behold Araunah the Jebusit offering gifts and David the Jew doing service to our God for the health of both and salvation one of another the Gentile exceeding the Jewish spectators in his the Lord thy God accept thee he knowing the Israelite to have as he had untill the Gospel was revealed a more peculiar interest in God so Christ was King of the Jews that is eminently but not only for he was also the God and King of that King-like Araunah a Gentile ONE day viz. Ianuary the sixth hath been fam'd among the Ancients and it 's first appearance highly rever'd because of a four-fold miracle wrought thereon God even the Father proving as on a Theater the Divinity of Iesus his Son for when he began to be about thirty years of age and baptized in Iordan the Trinity was discovered the Father being in the voice the Spirit in the liknesse of a dove the Son in the flesh and proclaimed to be the Son well-beloved whence by them that day was called Theophania the apparition of God viz from heaven that same day of the next year he at the Marriage of Cana of Galile turned water into wine because of which they called it Bethphania the appearance of God in the house On the same day next year he fed the five thousand with five loaves and two fishes wherefore they called it Phagiphania the appearance of God eating or in eating of this last there is some more scruple then of the other but let him be Anathema that denyes the appearance of a star unto these Wise-men which some will have to be shining when this King was thirteen dayes old others will have him two years old however the day from this was called Epiphania the apparition of God above or from the heavens and this as being more sacred more miraculous the Wise-men seeing believing journying searching adoreing and offering have in the Annals of the Church swallowed up almost all the other that is for the time he being adored now as God which we find not to be done in the other wonders by Jew or Gentile and the solemnity by the Ancients in all ages is especially observed upon that account unto whose venerable and gray-headed practice we shall in all humility conform this universal Lord and Sun of Righteousnesse having a morning star in the East giving intelligence of an approaching day for mans perfect Redemption and by it good tydings to these Magi or Wise-Men and by them to Ierusalem and thence to all the world
Solely knew or foresaw our Lords crosses temptations poverty slights melancholy so to speak since we read of his weeping not of his laughing torture death burial c. The probability of the contrary being so evident or apparent This is not spoken to disgrace that noble Art whether Astronomy or Astrology being perswaded that the stars are both for seasons and signs and works on this inferior world by natural qualities and operations as our herbs do growing in our garden known to the learned Phisician in their vertue upon man yet as this pours no honour on the head of cheating Mountebanks or Empericks so nor the other upon them whose covetousnesse ambition arrogance or other selfish interest hath made them pry into acts of Kings Counsels Armies and as they desired have made the heavens speak to the discredit of the Ingenious Artist and could they blush to their own confusion we are sure to their scorn and reproach we have seen this star-gazer so oft to erect Schemes for such different purposes with different tones unskilful prophesies that laying him aside let us worship GOD in love reverence and fear as the Magi. THIS King we have not the star of his birth that evanishing the sun of righteousnesse himself shining with meridian luster in ordinances and means yet no industry in the work of God among us but contemning Religion revileing piety scandalously by cleaving to the earth refusing to eye the heavens though the signs of the Son of Man be come wars and rumors of wars scarce faith on the Earth and the love of many waxing cold These men of the east shall rise up against us and condemn us who it may be repented at the preaching of this single Star and arising from their bed awakeing as men out of sleep came and worshipped WHAT more all here is Mysterious Christ being born in Bethlehem which is supposed to be the center or midle part of the earth that the vertue of the Son of Man might be more regularly diffused to the Circumference of the utmost bounds of the glob and he again to be their object as equally near as equally dear uniting in him who is called the desire of all nations the impulse or star leading to the house is that lively and heavenly gift of Faith by which the serious and industrious shal be led for embraceing of saveing truths the Air heavens or firmament in which that star was and the star it â—elf again speaking as it were with a tongue Christ to be born is the Church and the Prophets Apostles Ministers thereof created that is qualified for that end viz. edifying of the Church untill she come to the stature of Iesus Christ. The Ethnick Magi honouring Christ more then and far above the Iew tipifys the amplitude of the Gentiles conversion and prognosticks it shall be more then that of the Iew Herods slaughtering of the infants to the number of an hundreth fourty four thousand not to be thought incredible in so populous a place as Iudea though others shrink this full mouth'd number into fourteen thousand where of his own son was one manâ—festly shews the Devils rage his emissaries fury against the Church of God and of his Christ in all ages yet as Christ was preserved in Idolatrous Egypt in which by the by it 's said the Idols fell at his entry so shall his Gospel out live all heathen vanities Christianity at last enjoyning all Idolatry as holy Alexander in the Tripartit did the Pagan Philosopher at Constantinople who preparing to dispute was charged thus in the name of the Lord Iesus I command thee to be silent and the Philosopher immediatly was mute so great shall be the force of truth of Christian verity THE Magi were Wise Men Kings say some Ambassadors from Kings say others how ever good-men and who perceives not that not Manners with Wickams motto but Religion makes the man the prophane haveing but an external sign of Man hood a Fool a Mad-man as beside himself for though Reason make a man with the Philosopher Honour with the Herauld yet Religion is all in all with God and good men hence these are called Wise Men. WHEN the Magi entred the house they found saith the Holy Ghost the Child his Mother it cannot be granted to them who thinks there was a good providence here that Ioseph was absent least he should have been taken for the Childs Father since that same Spirit that revealed so great a matter and inspiring them in so high a way as to adore him did in likly-hood forestale any such surmise yea possibly every punctilio of the conception might not be reveal'd to them and so her Virginity not thought upon for the scruple about the Father might have come in their heads whether Ioseph was present or no the Mother may be only named here as in other places afterward she being indeed real mother to Christ Ioseph not named not from his absence but as haveing no relation to that Child before whom they fell and worshipped first next opening their Treasures presented unto him Gold Frankincense and Myrhe THAT which is here called worship is in our civil adoration called homage which in Scripture language is Kissing of the Son and unto Kings is a symbole of subjection acknowledged here above customary salutations exceeding all court-ceremony being a paying of homage to Divinity and respects both soul and body adoring the Word in flesh wisdom in infancy the truth of the Deity truly in humanity the blessed Lord hideing these things from the wise and prudent who at the birth of a King had looked for pompuous trains splendid attendance stately lodgings ravishing musick but these men had not so learned Christ falling down giveing as is the custom yet in Eastern countries head and knee hand eye and love zeal and true adoration preferring him to themselves their learning their possessions presenting with some of the fruits of their land as Gold and Frankincense and Myrhe THE two last being plentifully offered to God under the law which being now finished the reserve and store is returned to Christ there being no more offering for sin upon the altar but the Gold typifies their trampling upon secular or worlely wealth in comparison of those riches they had acquir'd by his advent which proceeded not from inspection into glasses books or maps but from heavens inspiration that giving the sign gave also the thing signified the Myrhe which preserves the dead from putrifaction offered to him is in the Mystery acknowledging both ours and their hoped for Resurrection to proceed from him alone Gold the price of our Redemption to be told down by his satisfaction and righteousnesse the incense a perfume used in sacrifice with both Jews and Heathens given to him shadoweth abolishment of all legal offerings and diabolical services that he viz. Christ may be all in all A King they asked for a King they found and like unto a King they offered Herod said seek not
the Idolatry 1 Cor. 10.14 IN the Kingdom of France of old an order of Knighthood was institute called of the Star which in the days of Charles the seventh became contemptible the Honour becomeing dishonourable being given to pages yeoman of the guard and other attendants so that the Knights laid asside the badge and cognisance of the Star whereupon the order evanished the Magi in a holy and respectfull sence might be termed of the Star but Religion in Gospel preaching having descended unto the poor many great in their own esteem as the Iews repineing at the Gentile shifts off devotion to their Chaplain and servants menial and in a distinguishable sense is it not sadly visible that the poor have the Gospel preached unto them great men landed men Wise men or men for any thing of renown gilding their sword garnishing their board embroidering their apparel as if birth-right nobility and gallantry did ipso facto and of it self qualify for glory piety and religion in the mean while exposed to nakednesse and contempt bleeding and trod-underfoot as injurious unto because debasing greatnesse and suiting rather the Tenents then the Land-Lords habitation whose revenue provyding against course fair hard beds shifts off prayer reading holy living as inept guests or complemented with a dinner and then farewell VPON this score not many wise after the flesh not many mighty not many noble are called 1 Cor. 1.26 yet because their are not many it would seem their are some mighty and some noble called wherefore freeing your souls from this abuse embrace holinesse as an honourable inmate as the Crown embellishing al your vertues the preservative of al your excellencies the engine mean or instrument to augment your fortunes enlarge dominions dignifie your issue protect your dwellings guard your persons secure your consciences and acquire gloâ—y for Godlinesse hath the promise and the sinner will dy accursed THE Natural Sons of the Kings of Spaâ—n by law are never to enter the gates of Madrid Don Iohn as we read was never nearer it then a league the court leaving the pallace that that mighty Austian might be capable to give a visit to his Catholick Majesty as if their were so black a stain or so thick a fibre somewhere in that great body that royal blood could not so encircle the person as to nobiliat and on all quarters in all parts properly make him his Highnesse his Serene Highnesse just so it is with wickednesse and unbelief no gold can beautify it no silver adorne it nor throne honour it nor greatness make it or the breast in which it lodgeth to be capable to see the face of God or admit it to his holy Habitation INDEED God condescends so far as to descend to sinners and by them may be visited and spoak withal in the acts of his worship and temple of his Son as Christ was beheld by the Magi but so as we find not first and second he as Death makeing no difference between Rich and poor High and low and if any it is to the poorest that is in Spirit all before and in comparison of him being but dust and ashes and he who is loosest upon the earth that is puft up is because such soonest and easiest blown away all epithets declairing greatnesse being unsuccesfull fading and evanishing as smoak from the tunnels of their own well furnish'd kitchins known it seems to Ioan Queen of Spain who gave on a glob a moulting peacock with Vanitas encircled as if all earthly glory without the coronet of Sanctity and piety were but like the splendor of that fowl and beauty of his train which a rainy day will cause to disappear and a warm spring a smal calamity shall make the prey of any baser born scattering them in the path of this world's contingencies to adorn the cap's of it may be their own Skip-Jacks followers and footmen MYSTERIUM PIETATIS OR THE MYSTERIE OF OUR LORDS CROSSE Unfolded and applied Passion-Friday April 1. High Church 1670. GOOD-Friday April 1. High Church 1670. PSAL. CX VII He shall drink of the Brook in the way therefore shall he lift up his head WE read of a Holy Man whose library being ill stored furnished himself richly with store of Literature by serious revolving upon the matter contained in three books whose leaves were of different colours one whit wherein he was directed to walk talk and do conform to that favour patience long suffering God had exercis'd towards him another was black representing the formidable number and sad consequence of his infinit and multiplied transgressions the third was red which to his affections passionatly discovered the great secret of the wisdom of the Love of God towards and for his Soul in contriving the death of his Son whose blood as the Red Sea destroying the Egyptians of his lust made him both rejoice and weep IN which meditation holy men of old as they were moved by the holy Ghost nothing being more usâ—ful necessary comfortable mysterious then the knowledge of Christ and him Crucified were much conversant and among them David is eminent in many places particularly in this Psalm pointing both at Calvery and Olivet for he shall Drink and then he shall lift up the head which expresseth a triumâ—h a Trophe after a victory and fight he must for he shal strick through Kings and fill the places with dead bodies ver 5.6 which cannot be done without some losse of blood unto himself which eventually shall procure honour and that for ever the Lord saying to my Lord that is to David yet in the Mystery unto Davids Lord Christ sit thou on my right hand untill I make thine enemies thy foot-stool the Father giving him not only the right but the Act of dominion judging governing all things untill Devils Belialists Hereticks Shismaticks Antichrists every evil work be dashed in pieces the fathers grandor not being ecclipsed by this donation he reigning in the Son and remaining in that account stil Lord also by him for ever his sweating bleeding dying burying serving but as medicine to evacuat his holy body of humors and disposing him to rest after which as a Gyant refreshed with wine he shall rise out of sleep and smit his enemies in the hinder parts makeing them a shame unto themselves in uncovering their foâ—lies before the whole creation and in the sight of Angels of men contumeliously causing them smart for their heart enormities when he shall after his drinking lift up his head AFLICTION is in general compared to water and bearing of the CROSSE to drinking and the measure providentialy alloted for each creature may be pertinently expressed by a cup of which it 's decreed by heaven all must drink though not all alike the dregs of the cup of Tribulation being appointed for the wicked Psal. 75. Let the Jews therefore this day fret curse murmur in their carnal way 〈◊〉 a pompuous Messiah while the more spiritualiz'd exalt the name of Iesus who as another
Paschal lamb was on this day slain in the evening of the world before as another Moses he could deliver us from hels Pharoh and sins slavery Now the waters of Noah are falling and we are to enter into the wooden ark of his CROSSE the bloud of this our Abel slain by his brethren calling and inviting us to expect and enjoy better things from which though the Tribs run Let us run to seek him and know where he is laid to carry him into the more proper sepulâ—ure of hearts and consciences HE shall drink is prophetical and in the Gospel accomplishment it is that he gave up the Ghost that he was bruised in Genesis or that he washed his cloaths in the blood of the grap with Iacob is with the Evangelist his drops of blood Adams coat made him of the skin of those beasts killed for sacrifice is in the mystery robs of righteousnesse made by faith in the merits of his death for dy he must since Isaac was offered and upon a tree for Adam sayes if enquir'd he eat of the tree Abraham will testifie that he must bear his own CROSSE for Isaac bore the wood Iacob assures he must dy in the open field for there he saw the ladder and visions of God he must be nailed and then lifted up upon the CROSSE for Moses lifted up the Serpent upon a Pol he must be sold at a smal price for Zachary saw him vallued he must dy among thieves for he was numbred among transgressours he was also to ly in Iosephs tomb for he made his grave with the Rich Isa. 53. He shall shews futurity i. e. that it was to be done and let the mystery of the bloody Sacrifices be vewed this draught is foretold yea the rites of the heiser Numb 19. respects the sublime work of Christs death and if Mathew be enquir'd he saw all this done nay himself and Moses spake of what he should suffer at Ierusalem YET let none expound this shall as denoting compulsion or hinting coaction as though he did not consent for though by Fâ—ther let this cup passe from me he seem to savour himself and to plead from fear from infiâ—mity yet not my will but thine be done is from the spirit the first instructing what he was to suffer even terrible things in this red sea the other what we ought to do when encountering hazard even embrace them saying welcome be the will of God not repineing or starting back from the burthen so as with the Romans to have us goaded forward as unwilling of the CROSSE or pricked to march on as slaves were whence that phrase to kick against the pricks but chearfully to undergo what God thinks fit to lay upon us for though there was a necessity that Christ should dy in respect of the intended end for our redemption and of the Father in respect of Iustice against sin and as Christ before as man he could enter into glory yet still not my will but thine be done is a strong reserve against all objections proveing he was not dispirited in himself but teaching us his Disciples least raveings dispair in cups of adversity should cause a disrelishment of the sweetnesse kindnesse and good things of God THE Father sayes he shall the Son sayes I will for a mans consent was appended to his sin so must his Saviours assent be obtained for it's remission as it was not only in the garden but in the manger all the parts and changes of his life being but as so many little deaths or draughts before his large one upon the CROSSE a potion which he saw prepared and appointed in all it's ingredients and yet not withstanding drank of it giving his back to the smiter saying to the Traitor what thou doest die quickly the words not of a desperate but of a prepared man even so Father because it seemed good in thy sight THE Scripture speaks of his flying from place to place yet not fear of dying but care to dy at his hour is to be understood an unwillingnesse to work miracles at mans pleasure that is at mans lust and that precept arise take the young Child and his Mother and flee into Egypt to passe the application thereof unto that law thou shalt not seeth a Kid in his Mothers milk Exod. 23.18 if he were not to be killed young the charge insinuats a pilgrimage rather then a flight for out of Egypt was GOD to call his Son and that his escape from other place was not principled from fear is deducible from this that afterward he chused to dy more shamefully publickly and more tormentingly then any death formerly his enemies had forecasted he resolving to dy not by necessity debility or weaknesse these having no hand in his death as his loud cry at his yeelding up of the Spirit cleareth discovering such a degree of divine vertue that the Centurion impungs all proffers enervats all accusations in this one truth truly this was the Son of God WE read of some who could sleep when they pleased and wake at the same time as Henry the 4 of France but Christ can dy when he will and untill he will he will not passing through the midst of his haters and escapeing he having only power to lay down his life and at his own appointed time laid it down HENCE it 's not to be inferred that he was not killed by the Jews for it is a truth he was though not as other men in whom things natural are not subject to the will as the conjunction or separation of the soul with the body for then is a man said to be killed or murthered when that is done or suffered which in it self and in nature did or naturally doth produce that which is called death Now Christ had a will in spite of his enemies to cede or not to yeeld to death as he pleased but because they put upon him such apt means of destruction and tendencies to dissolution it pleased him to yeeld unto death having really suffered so much as in nature might have procured death in them who were purely natural and meeâ— men therefore dyed he before the thieves becausâ— he would therefore also before the thieves because he had suffered by watching fasting it's possible bleeding since we read not of their removeing the thorny crown his scorning also and reproach adding to his langour and in Pilat's wonder Hastning his death before their's so that with Stephen it is to be attested that they viz. the Iews were of him the just one the betrayers and the murtherers THE pronown He is personally to be understood He that is the Lord the second person shall drink therefore He that is again himself God shall lift up his head He that is the man shall drink therefore He that is the Father shall lift up his head and in this Mystery of Godliness of the passion we are not to separate what the Father and Spirit hath joyned together viz. God and
Man confirmed by two witnesses not called but compelled he is the Son of God said the Centurion A just man said Pilats wife which under the pain of damnation is never to be really separat from our creed both being received and both to be believed PILATS wife his own disciples were against his drinking both of them haveing pitty of him but yet he would drink haveing compassion for them and not for them only but for the whole world for which he was sent to lay down his life and as at Lazarus death when observed to weep it was said behold how he loveth him see him drinking all may say behold how he loveth it mark how he loveth men of which the inscription over the CROSSE or tittle on which the Romans declaired the crime for which the party dyed doth amply discover being in it called Iesus of Nazareth King of the Iews in Hebrew Greek and Latine shewing the vehemency of his affâ—ction for as all nations had heard of his works Pilat resolved that each nation should know the cause of his death and these three languages answering to the three fam'd parts of the woâ—ld viz the Romans the most powerful because martial the Greek the wisest because most learned the Iews the holyest because of the Law and the Devil prompting to this Iesus of Nazareth for nourishing a grosse errour that Iesus was of Nazareth whence the Messiah was not to be but of Bethlehem that none in this respect should behold him as that Prophet which was to come and though sometimes that expression is used yet it 's ever unto the Iews whoso supposed and expressed him that way for all this contrivance of men Gods intendment was that all of all nations should on the CROSSE behold their Saviour and that Iesus was to be their peace-maker by his blood and this to be reported in the three quarters of the world then all the world that Jesus of Nazareth King of the Iews was crucified at Ierusalem according to the Scriptures THIS riddle to unfold veiw the sense of each word Iesus that is a Saviour for sin a Redeemer of captives the hopes of the exiled the Strength of the labourer Enlarger of a straiâ—ned soul the Cooler of a heated and Comforter of a galled conscience behold him Of Nazareth this name was given for fulfilling of that Scripture He shall be called a Nazaren Mat. 2. by interpretation it signifyeth a branch one of his names in the old Testament and who was to build the temple of the Lord by joyning as living stones the elect of all nations kinred and tongues â—s also crowned sanctified and seperat before for that holy use shewing the authority and commission he had to save to unite from the Father which was fit since he was King a word of old pronounced Conning expressing his wisdom and skill to govern his subject by known and established Laws and therefore not a tyrant deserving not so much as a censure of that people who were Iews Gods people glorious in David and to be blessed with the whole Earth in the posterity of Abraham they remaining faithful as Abraham who believed in God who now had accomplished his promise in sending that people a Prophet like unto Moses and caused them to behold Davids Son by which they are the more culpable in importuning his death from a Gentile AT last that cursed Nation for their cursing shall come under the Scepter of this despised King and worship at his holy foot-stool mourning for his wounds for which though himself did not yet the sun laid aside his robes of day cloathing himself in mourning night like darknesse rocks broke and rent assunder because no Iew did rent his garment at crucifying their King Mary weep'd not he what the Son of my womb the Son of my desires while he boasted and would not come down from the CROSS but suffered from the Gentile by means of the Iew what both could inflict for the salvation of both Iew and Gentile then and at aftertimes the voice of their Brothers blood crying still what he did at first Father forgive them i. e. for my sake for I am thy Son for thy own compassion sake they being my Brethren for according to the flesh he was the Son of Abraham the Hebrew as flowing from the loyns of Heber the Son of elected Sem he was also the Son of David the King and so a Iew who was the grandson of Ruth a gentile a Moabitess and so in fraternity to both by Father and Mother to Gentile and Jew was he a Brother PRY into his holy zeal which for Gods house did eat him up and how was he straitned and with desire desired to eat his passover his viaticum his last-food unlesse the Angel even that way strengthned him sweating untill every thing that stood in the way of mans happinesse was removed he not laying down but drinking of the brook in the way swallowing up hels kingdom hasting runing to destroy the works of the Devil his redoubts and entrenchments yea all that both his hands in drawing to sin and halling to punishment could effâ—ctuat weakning the one destroying the other that he should no more lead captive at his pleasure into labour and dolour which Iesus here not only beheld but made entrance into because of the first he cryed in David I am poor and needy and because of the second in Ieremiah he sighed Is it nothing to you all ye that passe by behold and see if there be any sorrow like â—nto my sorrow which is done unto me YET as the Ichneumon an Indian Rat enemy to the Crocodile will watch untill he sleep and leaping into his throat descends inâ—o his entrails and eats out it's way through and side of that his terrible and great foe and so destroys him our Iesus did enter into the jaws and through the bowels of this Devourer liberateth himself and all believers allowing perfect freedome in the rest peace and continual feast of a good conscience in joy unspeakable that they triumph with S. Paul over Hell over Death over the grave with an O Death I will be thy Death O Grave I will be thy Destruction A work of great and excellent contrivance of laborious difficulties if the number strength fury policy of adversaries be respected and the torrent which flow'd from heaven more imbittering the cup be considered the impetuousnesse of all these together towards Christ in the word brook shewing how plentifull his sufferings were and what store there is yet behind for others that come after THERE is a cup of red wine which the ungodly must drink up Iesus drank much but not all the Son of God drank deep of but not the brook dry yet largly of it for it was a brook which some will have to be a rivulet flowing more or lesse with water as the clouds more or lesse shal empty themselves therein which though not granted yet it may be pertinently inferred that
his suffâ—ings outcryings were more or lesse as heaven lesse or more ordained them to flow or swell he was silent before the Governour not terrified at but contemning his accusers suffering innnocence to plead for it self in strong though mute oratory but directed in servour a prayer to heaven for acquittance for deliverance for exemption from the Death he feared discovering more dejection then ordinary malefactors nay then the thieves that dyed with him but upon this score that they had only men he had Almighty God and omnipotence revealed from heaven to struggle withall for neither Pontious Pilat nor Iew nor Gentile to the worlds end dare or can make any professing Iesus to undeâ—go that but which heaven hath before hand determined to be done and when all have drunk sufficiently the brook shall be dâ—yed up THERE is a cup of new wine the feelings of spiritual comforts refreshing the soul in the apprehension of the Love of God whereof many of the Saints drink another of sour wine in the grief anxiety and soul rentings feelings of the horrours of accused and accusing consciences darkned minds occasioned by the noysome vapours of sloath lust or uncleannesse this the penitent must partake of lastly there is a cup of worm wood water of suffering hard things dolefull calamitous inward and outward perplexities of which Iesus drank and of which all after him shal because heaven hath so appointed allowing such and so much to each one as by infallible wisdome is found to be for spiritual health and good which when acquir'd the dregs poured forth upon the ungodly the Religious then prosperously enjoying rest being elevated above the level of indignity and abuse yea attempts of Hel. FOR the Lord said to my Lord sit thou at my right hand and then the Lord said to his Church he shal drink of the brook for the Lord God had said thou shalt bruise his heel and he shall bruise thy head after which he shall reign and his enemies become his foot-stool wherefore he got this Commandement from the Father to lay down his life John 10. From the Father because he fitted him as Man to suffer hard things though spotlesse exposing also his naked body to the contempt and malice of the Iews and his harmless soul to the darts of his own displeasure for that sin which by imputation with God and reputation with men he had took upon him for he was numbred with transgressours that is esteemed one of them this commandement haveing also received from the Father WHILE Herod Pilat Priests Scribs Pharisees were in there stately lodgings palaces and parlours drinking wine in bowls that is at ease in Sion was Iosephs antityâ— the Son of God drinking bitter water salt water not from a Sea but from a river not from a river but a brook muddy water as it were rainy water for as in life he had not thereon to lay his head so at death not wherewith to satisfie his thirst but a brook no Tagus either where in is golden sand no fam'd because rich Ganges as â—n India nor Padusâ—s â—s in Italy to encrease his treasure but as he came to the world poorly so he leaves it again in poverty he borrowed an Ass in the way he lived as he dyed and both dyed and lived as he taught viz. blessing Religious and innocent poverty as that naked young man mysteriously inculcats Mark 14. and if the Gardners son this observe is good that neither idlenesse nor sloath nor plenty nor abundance was to be expected upon attendance of Christ Iesus Cinna of old was poor to the utmost degree of necessity and resolved to be accounted the poorest so would Christ yet because he was a King unto whom soft cloathing is allowed his woven vesture was singularly majestical indicating greatnesse and recording his God-head that being one and worn above as more noble then his garment which some will have to sound forth his Man-hood in both which God hath set him as a King upon his holy hill THERE are four brooks celebrated in Scripture first Iabock where Iacob saw almighty God face to face Gen. 32. the word signifies to empty or scatter and here Israel scattered the cloud of Esaus fury by soft words and emptied his heart of rancour by goodly presents the second is Zered Deut. 2. where the Tribs made a famous passe from Kadesh Barnea the word signifieth a going down as if men ought to descend and search the low vallies of their deepest thoughts before they go up to Canaan a third is before which Davidâ—oorded â—oorded in his persuit after the Amalekits it signifyeth glad tydings or incarnation which indeed as relating to the Words being made Flesh was good and refâ—eshing news to all in heart circumcis'd Isralits the whole being recovered what was took away by the Amalekits of lust the two wives of Iew and Gentile lost in Idolatry and uncleannesse regained again by the edge of the Lords sword the Lords so that this may be the burthen of this days exercise this is Davids that is Iesus spoile 1 Sam. 30. The fourth and last is Cedron the word importeth blacknesse the water whereof rising from a mountain Southward from Ierusalem 〈◊〉 through the vally of Iehosopâ—â—â—â— a far and â—ruitful soyl receiving a blackish tincture and is lesse or more filled as the weather proves more or lesse rainy OVER this brook Christ in David crossed when that King fled from the face of Absolom his Son and over it also did Iesus in person foord when he entred upon the last act of his passion Iohn 18. unto which pass this text might have an eye and as the Disciples eat of the ears of corn in the way for hunger I trust it may be no heresie to affirm the probability of Christs tasting the water of this bâ—ook in his way to Gethsemany for thirst occasioned from deep resolves of an ensuing violent Death though we read not of it as we read not of the literal accomplishment of that Prophesy in the history of his passion I gave my back to the smiters and cheeks to them that plucked off the hair Isa. 50. BROOK then is to be expounded the flouds of ungodly men the blacknesse and darknesse was brought into his very soul by the gathering and falling of the many waters of the desperat multitude hurrying him as Cedron was to the dead lake of Asphallites or cursed Sea of Sodom which God judged to the death of the CROSSE a cursed death of old because on a tree such who dying thereon being lifted up from the earth as unworthy to touch it being judged for sin which flowing from the tree the tree is cursed above other deaths and Christ enduring the curse must undergo the tree by which also now is taken away the curse from the tree no death since his being accursed in it self the sinner being penitent The Ground near Cedron was also accursed there standing the Tabernacle of Molech as if every thing
a name among the many empty and flaunting tittles of the great Turk and the Catholick King both as relateing to Christ the last without honour the other with much profit arising from the customs and imposts exacted of pilgrims whom câ—riosity or superstition shall conduct unto that soyl where if any will engadge to avoid dishonest gain reconcile differences shun the company of infamous persons refrain from swearing perjury blasphemy drunkennesse and pay some money undergoing some ceremonies he may by the Pater Guardian of the Franciscan Convent be ordained a Knight of the holy sepulchre of our Lord Iesus Christ in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost of which order as most seemly the most Christian King is or was Soveraign HOW should our Christian Cities flourish in the fight of the Nations and the Theaters whereon our Lord coâ—quered and triumphed over all his adversaries I mean not the places whereon as Bethlehem Gethsemane Mount olivet and the rest but the Registers wherein these things are recorded as S. Mathew S. Luke S. Paul and the other Apostles if all that Travelled through the Holy Land of the Christian Dominions were qualifi'd for this Honour But to our shame as Turks in Ierusalem we make advantage our scope in designing honour to the Gospel so far crossing it's true intent of Godlinesse as it's crosse th'warts the projects of our self seeking lucre gain betraying in kissing Christ a-fresh in our covetous enterprizings and crucifying him while we Crown him as a King in the blaspheming and villany of our actings BY the Mapps of Ierusalem in Christs turnings and returnings from Annas to Caiphas from him to Pilat from him to Herod to Pilat back again from Gabbatha to Golgotha that he travel'd the best greatest part of the Citty over is visible to be seen he rendring thereby his passion more publick and offering the fruits thereof unto as many as would or will by faith come forth to behold him hath he not travelled through our lands and Kingdoms and as cursed Jews have we not scorned mocked compelled him to bear his CROSSE in our charging him with deplorable actings the most inhumane butcheries pretendedly said to proceed from the zeal of his Spirit Is he not dayly in his members persecuted by our uncharitable talking of and walking before one another whereby ruine may easily be predicted and a divorce suggested ready for sealing that we may abuse Gospel-priviledges no more as is seen in that Babylon where our Lord was crucifi'd wone once from the Turks by the slaughter of twenty thousand of them by the sword of Christians upon a Friday about three in the afternoon as if for once God would beautify Christian verity in that Unbelieving City by putting it in their hands who professed the Gospel and who wore the CROSSE on their cloathes the same day and hour his Son dyed upon the CROSSE FROM which let us fear least Mahomets growing greatnesse occasioned by our Unchristian broils provoke God to make him become a scourge and a CROSSE to our Cities and Nations pretending adherence to the Gospel but not receiving the same in the love thereof by bowing down our heads giving up the Ghost in walking with all lowlinesse of mind and dying unto sin MYSTERIUM PIETATIS OR THE MYSTERIE OF THE RESURRECTION of Iesus Christ unfolded and applied Pasch-Sunday April 3. Tolbooth Church 1670. Easter-Sunday April 3. Tolbooth Church 1670. PHILIP III.X. That I may know him and the power of His Resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings being made conformable unto His death THE holy men of God in Scripture mentioning the death of Christ seem oft as posters to haâ—t from and briskly to exped that subject intending to lodge that is to insist upon and rest in the doctrine of the Resurrection not slighting his passion as if not comfortable but because not satisfactory for Gods justice or mans happinesse unlesse the rising from the dead be a consequent thereof he stiled himself the first and the last I am said he he that liveth and was dead and behold I am alive for ever more Revel 1. SO our Creed as fearing to damp belief goeth forward in haste omitting many glorious passages in being crucified under Pontious Pilat unto the rising again the third day It is Christ that dyed saith S. Paul yea rather who is risen again Rom. 8. and verily it is usual to see his dying and rising handed together they being the cementing matter whereby God and Man the Soul and Happinesse Ioy and the Consâ—ience perfectly inseparably knit and united in one for what ever felicity can be concluded from the vertue of the latter depends upon those promises which evinceth the truth of the former seeing him dy that is perswasions of his Death the knowledge of which death and the fellowship of his sufferings that is being made conformable to his death being only the proper and effectual mediums of knowing the power of His Resurrection HERE the Apostle discovers his desire of knowledge and next to benefit thereby meaning the righteousnesse of Faith that is of Christ in point of doctrine about his Resurrestion and his imitation of the other referring to practise in being made conformable to his death so that we are enforced to speak first with Peter and before him with David of the Resurrection which is not rightly known untill the vertue efficary and energy of his death be understood consisting in the expiation of sin liberation of guilt acquisition of righteousnesse and the hope of â—mmortality the scope and tendency of the Resurrection being perfectly and inwardly for the applying of these things as from it towards our selves he being delivered for our offences and raised again for our justification CONCEIVE him dead sealed watched writ upon his Tombstone here lyeth Iesus Christ of Nazareth who was crucified An. M. 3982 Aetatis suae 33. yet by power did make a spoil of death his grave cloathes those ensigns of mortality laid by baffling the envy of the Scribs the fury of the people the force of Herod and in one morning confounded all the adversaries of his life HE dyed about the ninth hour about three in the afternoon order so requiring for about that time viz. in the coole of the day Adam was cast out of Paradise about which time also it was congruous for the second Adam to make his entry therein both in the evening enjoyning all in the Mystery to dy unto the worlds pleasures before night that is the eleventh hour which was to the master of the Vineyard the time of payment not of calling unto work BVT least we speak of as the woman sought the living among the dead see him raised for he is risen and thaâ— while it is yet dawning at break of day directing us to infer that he was no more to dy the linnen napkin within the sepulchre giving caveats to us against the surmise of his after using such apparel Lazarus indeed came forth
mad and Heliodorus thought a witch but he call'd my Charmes my Art my Craft is Christ and demanding respite for three days to advise what to do he repaired to the Idols Temple and in fervent prayer obtained from heaven the falling of them all like Dagon for which being set upon a fresh he made ample confession of the truth of Christ yea his tongue being cut he preached heaven-ward with his hand untill he was slâ—in rejoyceing in hopes to see God in his flesh desireing also to depart and to be with Christ. BY the Resurrection the Believer hath a privative and a possessive good the first containeth an abolishment of hell and death that they be not the portion of his cup Christs appearing to be the Son of God by it haveing brought life and immortality to light is the substance of the other 2 Tim. 1. opening the gates of Death a typ of the resuscitation of our mortal bodies having made out peace by defraying as a surity or cautioner what we were endebted to justice whereby we are accounted just and righteous before God his egressâ— from the prison of the grave testifying a discharge and maâ—s assâ—ilment whence still to our being condemâ—d there is oppos'd his rising for who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect it is Christ that dyed yea rather who is risen again and in this righteousnesse it is wherein S. Paul desire to be found makeing it his own by faith and rejoyceing in his own security thereby blessing God for that victory which in Chrâ—st he himself obtained the day book of his sins being crossed and the head of his advâ—rsary bruised by the substance of the Crosse in the power of the Resurrection which so far virtuats his life that as raised in Christ he accounts not himself any more in this world haveing his conversation in heaven not regarding the knowledge even of Christ after the flesh as did not a latter Saint who seeming to behold his Saviour in bodily shape visionally cryed out Lord keep that sight from me here but let me behold it in thy own Kingdom in the other world RISE therefore from your vain conversation from your graves of lust your reward is slighting Christ or selling Christ being no other then what the Patriarchs had when they sold Ioseph or what Iudas got when he betray'd Iesus viz. shame and fear which whoso would avoid must follow him who is the way to young beginners the truth to such as affirm and life to those that persevere the way to them that ask the truth to such is have found the life to those who passe the way to them who travel the truth to them who rest and the life the righteous do enjoy all procured by the death Christ underwent IT is said the lyons whelps lying as dead three days after birth are awakned by the roaring of the Syre certain it is that after three days this lyon of Iudahs trib was raised by God the Faâ—her for thogh his rising be attributed to the Spirit of holinesse Rom. 1. as also to himself having a power to take up as well as to lay down his life John 10. yet it is also expressed to originat from the Father for God said Peter raised up Iesus Acts 2. scattering the least mist could arise from doubts temptations or surmise improving faith against all stumbling blocks the holy Trinity joining in one for Christs manumission from the grave all being reconcil'd to man in his Saviours actings upon that particular the Lord God who had sentenc'd Adam raising the Son who was God and by the Spirit who with the Father and the Son is one all equally willing equally appearing for and equally approveing what by the determinat counsel of the Father was under agitation in that affair SHEWING withall that as Christs manhood was raised by God through the Spirit of holinesse so the quickning of man against the deadnesse of sin ignorance and unbelief is the sole work of Omnipotency which alone can remand back the Spirit of sanctified illumination men possessed in the loins of their Father Adam and adapt them by a receive the holy Ghost to walk as Sons of God not of men yet as nothing quickens except it dy so neither can the sinfulnesse of sin be taken away untill man know he is sold under it and by it betrayd as by a Iudas into the hands of the Devil who hath the power of death that is of execuâ—ing not sentenceing which conviction of heart only maketh man to dy with Christ and necessarily must preceed a rising with him TO some it is true Christ is not yet born such are the lofty Spirits the touring souls behaving themselves not as Children weaned from the mothers breast but as so many Gyants begotten of some Goliah and born of some radiant Amazon which conceit maketh them conceive themselves some great body and being contrary to our Lord who was born a Child that is for humility and meeknesse debonaire and affable towards all soar in their carriage and Pea-cock like moutting in the sun-shine of their own vain glorious imagination as if with the Pea-hen all must then be in love with their mistaken transcendency and couch to the shadow of their greatnesse whereas quite contrary self denyal religious pensivenesse for the losse we have had for the things we want a reversing of the Escutcheon of that excellency which fortune or parts have bestowed because ensigns of our mysery and badges of our poverty tokens of the infamy because sinfulnesse of our birth are still in those true Children moraly and in their own esteem little ones to whom belongs the Kingdome of heaven TO others he is not yet dead these are the carnal the fearful the sensual minds who desireing to live in the affluence of flâ—shly pleasures flye from the Crosse as a bugbear and sailing in the Pleasure-boat of a bare profession in the least cloud gets into the coast snugging under the wind of alluring comforts hat 's nothing more then to ride out a storm with the warelik builded and storm prepared for Christian knowing he cannot weather out the tempest and judgeing himself no further in safety then that the next step lands him on the shore of ease delight and ticklish pleasure where loving this present world he embraceth it with both arms saying to tribulation at a more convenient time I will hear thee again in this matter and so with Peter denying any soul saveing knowledge of Iesus chuseth the warmth which the fire of the Mammon of this present world doth affoord accounting beloved Paul mad for because of the Gospel enduring a storm or abideing a night and a day in the deep judging the cargo of a soul not to be valued at so high a rate that the losse of the vessel of the body which is but the hâ—ll of man should be suffered to endure such hardship for it's security TO others he is not risen these are the
day we may truly pronounce that the Godlesse are not this day raised the communication of those two who went to Emmaus discovers the truth of this who though sadned at their Masters Death yet were not Spiteful at the instruments thereof speaking how the chief Priests and the Rulers delivered him to be condemned without any other epithet expressing rancour there be who will have these Luke and Cleophas Luke is rising up and Cleophas hath glory in his name and surely the rising from darknesse and deadnesse with the desire of being glorious is to go to Emmaus which by interpretation is desire of counsel and how happy were it if this age would advise with and about it self touching the verity of Christ and Him risen together with the duties dâ—pending thereupon leaving Ierusalem and all its gâ—udinesse to walk those sixty furlongs Morally these two physically trod it is a number arising from multiplying of ten by six The Ten Commandments being appointed by IEHOVAH for the rule of our Actings and the renouncing this present World amending our Lives crucifying Self voyding Hypocrisie keeping of the Heart wâ—tching over the door of our Lips being the six paces to be observed in our going over the moral Law We cannot chuse but have Christ with us and our eyes to see Him with great â—oy where now because glorified He shal not only eat bread with us as in the History but shall sup with us and we with him as in the Revelation unto which a serious reflection and deep meditaâ—ion upon the Cross and sufferings of our LORD this passage examplifies to be a fertil-mean LAY your ear to the holy Communication these two had and it 's properly a devout imagination to conceit Luke speaking Brother Cleophas can you forget the clamour of the Priests against our Master when Pilat was determined to let Him go how they cryed away with Him crucifie Him not this Man but Barabbas yea a murtherer whereas our Master shed no mans bloud but went about doing good to every body and that in such a way by commanding praying advising that I should have sworn he had been the Son of God whereas now I conjecture his Faâ—her haâ— smitten them with blindnesse as he did he Sodomites with Hemroids as the Philistens with fire as did Elisha the Capâ—aiâ—s oâ— sâ—me other way had been found as by a vâ—ice from heaven for his sons delivery but to lay hold on that tattle of his appearance to the women is to be swallowed up of errour Luk 24.11 their brains their early rising their â—eaâ— hath certainly disturbed them and made them fancy they saw God knows what and as some think the bells Clâ—â—k Dear Brotheâ— might Clâ—ophas say I should almost be of yâ—ur mind but when I remember of Lazarus whom you mind me of for you know we heard a voice from Heaven I sâ—y when I think upon him How fresh how well-coloured he was raised by a Loud not Cheâ—ping voice with words we understood not dark Phrases as Conjurers and Charmers 〈◊〉 to do I must conclude him to bâ— the Son of God though I confesse I marvel he wrought no miracle to save himself from scâ—urging from dying and since he said he was King of the Iews he came not down from the Crosse that they might believe this I confesse sticks with me this I am sure of if he be alive this day he will be so to morrow and next day also and we shall see it and know it his goodnesse sweetnesse kindnesse and merciful disposition towards all in distresse but especialy to us makes me confident he will not concâ—al himself long but will come unto us and God who in the simplicity of our heart doth know we followed him not for any lucre we got by it shal setle us in the truth at last and reward us according to the integrity of our hearts therefore be not affraid at our return we shal know more and your bells clink may be retorted unto turned by a Crosse Proverb before the lame post make much of one there is few good a true axiome and holds here the women being of excellent endowments formeth hope of future comfort by a certainty of all things SVCH communication administrats such grace that it is no wonder if the fiery chariot of Religious gifts hasten to come down for conveying the heart aloft and the Spirit as at Pentecost to come with full information of all sâ—ving truths takeing the Scalls of doubtings from the eyes of the mind as Saul did from those of his body makeing it to be known for a truth that Christ is risen indeed and if he should seem as though he were to depart in the coldnesse of the heart to those conferences then be instant with thy Mane â—obiscum abide with us Luk. 24.29 the evening of thy dark and cold surmises clouds temptations and other perplexities being approaching and if serious he shal continue to the end and make appear that he is no stranger to thy affairs but well acquainted with whatso-ever hath shall or can befall thee comforting thy soul in all and all because of the Resurrection IT was a Iwell expression that fell from the mouth of the golden-mouth'd Father that at the Sun rising upon the day of the Resurrection it was defraying of just debt to begin teaching of brotherly kindness and charity applying the power of the Resurrection for cementing the hearts of men one towards another it appearing to unite God and Man yea gloriously procured it but how can these things be without a conformity to his death Not such as is fabled in the Legend of that Popish Saint Francis who is said to have the print of the nails and spear in his feet hands and side or such either as is recorded of the herb Granadille in America in which if we believe report the instruments of the Passion to the whip the piller and the thorns are visibly seen in the flour nor it may be with St. Paul to have the wales of the persecutors rod upon the flesh the gore blood lying and not cured in the blewness of the stripe upon the skin the Fellowship of his suffering even to his condemning by Pilat being to be answered by a severe sentenceing our selves singling out every sin and processing it before the barr of Conscience according to the judgement God makes thereof causing execution to follow with as much Zeal and as little delay as did the Jews after the Governours sentence of of which take one Coppy in record Take you Iesus of Nazareth a contemner of Cesar and one who calleth himself the Mesâ—iâ—h as hath been proved by the Testimony of his own Nation to the Common place of execution and in derision of his Kingly Majesty fasten him to the Cross but to evidence the uncertainty of this History â—ake it as another Coppy sayes it was I Pilat President of Ierusalem adjuageth thee Iesus of Nazareth for making thy self a King and for calling
Gradation and generally understands an Act flowing purely from the Power Vertue Ability alone of the Ascender and in Scripture is interpreted a motion to a Holy and Honourable Place it is a going down to Egypt but it s a going up to Canaan it s a going down to Iericho but it s a going up to Ierusalem to the house of the Lord and going up to God 1. Sam. 10.3 and Ascending here beareth both this latter and that former sense of His own power CHRIST not being translated as Enoch neither was He rapt as Paul nor carried as Elias nor ravished in the Spirit as Iohn the Divine but did Ascend climbing up the scale of the clouds untill He got above all Heavens its true His Birth is said to be an Ascending the humane nature being by it advanced and is called a rideing upon a cloud Isa. 19.1 His Death is called an Ascending for He was lifted up upon the Crosse that Palm-tree whereof the Church is said to speak Cant. 4.8 but these were Improper and Metaphorick ascendings this whereof we are to speak is proper corporal bodily and local THE Understanding as chief Governour and Regent of the Soul being first to be informed least ignorance marre our present design and that the Will with more opennesse be sooner allured to advance toward and chuse the projected good this day laboured for wherein our LORD happily yea gloriously finished and ended all His Travels We shall shew whence and then whether He ascended YOV must note He had lived in and trod upon the Earth and woe was He for abideing in that Mesech being hedged and entangled three and thirty years with the thorns and nets of calamities and trouble it being to Him a perpetuall Calvary a place of suffering so coupling him to sorrow that He was a man of sorrows Isa. 53.3 Once we find Him reading and once writing oft â—raying yea IESVS weep'd the shortest â—entence in the Bible Yet that IESVS should weep maketh infathomable compassion conspicuously discernable and we know He did it more then once but that He laughed we have not one Text that doth so much as smile that way His life being conâ—orme to His birth which was in tears sighing out His time and groaning in the Spirit for the falls follies and laughings of men THAT glory he had with the Father when he was not the Son of Man being revealed to his Man-hood by his Divinity brought down the sale and in his esteem the worth of those sights the world or the god of this world offered unto him the glory and Kingdomes thereof not abusing his refined understanding nor blinding his judgement to the defalcation of that real worth which was in the solidness of a future expected glory but left an impress more deep in his Heaven-born Soul to contemn those flourishes the Temple stones or a Herod or a Kingly Office in all its glory could represent to his uneâ—ring fancie which did frustrate in him and indeed does in all believing upon him the fairest perswasives or most prolifick enjoâ—ments sensuality can or could offer He and They because of him accounting all of these in their summe totall what Solomon did in deep knowledge and Gellimer King of Goths in high grief attested who being presented as Captive before Justinian in his glorious Throne rent his garments crying hideouslâ—y Vanitie of Vanities all is but Vanitie the Varnish whereof he beholding with reluctancy did endure its flattering promises and with constancie its eagerest and most stupifying menaces this day hasted to the Hils of Frankincense and calls upon you as upon His Spouse To come from Lebanon the tops of Amana from the top of Shenir and Hermon from the Lyons Den from the Mountains of Leopards Can. 4.8 From Pâ—aces and Hills seemingly beautifull yet Hazardous beyond expression Syrians Philistims as bâ—asts devourinâ— and destroying men for with me there is neither Iudas Iew Herod nor Devil that can attach WHICH invitation if lifted unto by Faith we may supperad that of the Church 1â— Can. 4. Draw me we will run after thee Shewing willingness but withall inability the imitation of his flight pardon the expression being the Period of the Souls desire detesting the Malignity of this world and contending against its Dignity the first embittering its greatest enjoyment as an iron brusing the bone the lâ—st founded as upon ice ready to be dissolved both to the eternall hazard of all good The Church wishâ—th and prayeth to be drawn after him in imitation to him by affection yea in him by Vnion and Impession AS the birds of the Air though Jesus by a compounded for or conseâ—ted unto necessity sometimes touched â—he Earth for his meat yet like thâ—m again his aspiring thoughts frequented the more holy and durable objects which were above the Sun food for man being not only brought from bread disdaining the admittance into his breast the dust heaps of earthly trash which the crafty foxes and wild beasts of avaricious and carnall oppressors worldly Muck-worms felicitat themselves in which was expressed in this expression A little while and ye shall not see me and again a little while and ye shall see me because I go to the Father John 16.16 As if his abode upon Earth in any kind was still to be short by which he gave assurance Mortality in the image of his flesh was shortly to be put off and the same flesh to be again invested with the robes of Majesty and glory which being heeded by his Followers causes support against the ruinous deceits this Mortality endeavours to entangle them in resolving to fight with him even to suffering of death concluding to be victors in his Resurrection and to triumph in the vertue of his Ascension OLIVET giving so much light and Calvary that knowledge to the sanctified head that all sufferings and glorious actings how different so ever they appear and how vast seems the discrepancie between Christ on the Cross and Christ in the Cloud when compared together yet center in this one thing mans Ascension unto glory unto which as weak yet though weak the Good-man shews earnestnesse and willingness to possess in saying Draw me promising not to be sloathfull in the acquisition of such dignity subjoyneth we will run after thee and truly as mercy began towards man at or in Christs birth and continued in his death published at his Resurrection so was it sealed ratified and confirmed in his Ascension henceforth no more to be doubted then whether Christs being there is to be scrupled that being the seal by which all is made sure which was Written in 〈◊〉 word subscribed by miracles supeâ—â—scribed by death directed in rising the third day but signed as by the Kings own signet by the seall of glorious verity this day wherein in our flesh heaven was entered and we being flesh Enfranchis'd or Incorporat into that Citie naturaliz'd into that Kingdome as natives as Citizens or if you please have got seasment of that
his eyes towards it and in parting from earth spread his hands towards it saying in that Ceremony O Heaven Heaven Heaven the delight of my soul the darling of my Affection the beauty of my choice the treasure of my wishes O Heaven whâ—n shall I possesse thee O Heaven how long have I wished for thee O Heaven how oft have I looked upon thee O Heaven when shall I enter in into thee O Heavens I come I come open open open ye everlasting gates open that I may enter and possesse thy joys after my sighing fleeing fasting weeping scorning bleeding dying at last embrace me AND who knows not that water will ascend as high as its rise and this water of life flowing from the paradise I wâ—uld say the bosome of God instantly was to recurre and flâ—w back and in the streams of love to appear where he had been before to which he pointed that we might be enflamed for persuit crying oâ—â— with him Heaven O Heaven for though Man who is of the Earth be Earthy yet the Spiritual man being born of heavenly parents as begot of heavenly seed nuâ—sed by heavenly milk partaker of the divine nature of the ofspring of God â—s a stranger and pilgrim in this present world and because of perils by land perils by water malice irritating and corruptions enâ—â—meing molestations from his own Soul not yet perfectly made wise caâ—ouâ— It is not good to be here Christ Moses and Elias are above perfected and Holy Saints are above grief and fear which last seaâ—ed upon the Disciples at Christs removeaâ— and because he â—ent to the Father sadnesse filled their heart wherefore because he is with the Father not with us sorrow shâ—uld fil out hâ—arts prompting to call O it is good O how good it is to be there Our Saviouâ—'s stretching abroad his hands ought to attâ—act our eyes meerly to behold and desire it's beauâ—y it 's amability the glory of the Lord therein BVT wâ—e befal us so transcendent is our folly we heed neither the purpose nor cause of that indicatiâ—n loveing the valley though it were of Sodom because of it's fatnesse though as the grasse it be perishing or ascends the high hill of Ambitious undertakeings by power force or knowledge to be accounted gods which hath already destroyed both Angels and men the principles of such vanity engulphing the Soul into Eternity of despair themselves consequentialy are to be avoyded as Damnation by lifting up our hands together with our hearts unto God in the heavens Lam. 3.41 and by the feet of our desires LOVE and DILIGENCE run to the mountain of Religious contemplation the very reflection and shade thereof creating insearchable joy but reaching of it's toâ— or apex the ultimate tearm of prosperous durable and satisfying comforts known to that Solomon of this nation Robert Surnamed Stward who gave in Plate the terrestrial Glob dignified with a Crown embelish'd with thirteen stars circumscribed with Vanitas Vanitatum omnia Vanitas Vanity of vanities as if Universal command dazling glory respecting or relating to Earth had been but torture and were to him vain and should be to any vexation of Spirit TWO things amongst others are chiefly denyed to Man as not to dy and not to fly yet in this Ascension the first is known and much of the last is seen much because somewhat more for what shall we call this motion upward was it walking sleeping leaping or flying sure we are he went from the Apostles eyes in an advanceing paâ—e but a cloud encompassing him the Fathers Seat and his throne fitter to carry up the Son then a chariot that having been done for Elijah a Serâ—â—nt which cloud enjoins no prying and â—â—chaâ— get questions as if the heavens yeeldâ—d or winds ceased aided or what other thing â—â—riofity can invent yet presseth the relinâ—â—ishing and treading upon the glory of a gaudy world and requires a lifting up above our selves pregnantly exhorting us as strangâ—rs to have nothing of our heart effigied thereon at most only our feet to honour it with a â—ouch he mounting over and above Olivet seeming to say rise up my fair one and come away Cant. 2 10. fâ—om the muddy floâ—e of this lower and common hall and ascend the stairs of prayer and meditation more comforting then that Sancta Scala at Romeâ—â—id â—â—id to be and resorted unto as theâ—â—airs of Pilats house being the 28 steps whereon our Saviour went and returned in his passion and leap or walk run aâ—cend or fly to the upper rooms of the heavenly pallaces where â—ighing filth death or sorrow thorns or spears have no possibility to enter even in their remotest causes THE Songs of Angels Quire of the Prophets joy of the Spirits the light of God and the glory of Christ eternally revealing everlasting causeing ravishing never cloying Hallelujahs for auditing whereof and directing to which earths pagentry the hearts carnality is to be rejected crucifi'd and cut off these being heavy will incommodate us in our jâ—urney and retaâ—d us in our ascending heaven-ward after our Lord whose drawing the Disciples from Jerusalem is not without a mystery operating upon our overcoming this present world or then it shall be ill with us for as the men of Galilee we may know that the same Iesus shall come down again in like manner that is as some conjecture from Zach. 14.14 upon Olivet stretching abroad his hands blessing the righteous because obâ—dient and pure cursing the prophane because stubborn and idolators umbraged by the valley of the Son of Hinnon a paâ—t of which he journeyed through in his passing but leaving it behind him in his ascending the mount of his ASCENSION a fâ—uâ—â—ful mâ—unt abounding with Palms Olives Figs Gaessum Pine-trees typifying the Church and the Godly who are and which is fruâ—â—ful in gâ—od works serving as mediums â—or the souls â—easceâ—ding unto God and are as steps appointed for that end and purpose OVR Creed stands not at his ascending into heaven but registrars also his sitting at the right hand of God at which place S. Mark chap. 18.19 seats him ending at once his History and our Saviours travel which rest is far above all principalities and powâ—â—s he sits whereas the Angels stood and are expressed so to do because servants much more honour being his due because of His Sonship not that he properly sits for so there is no chair for him to sit upon nor right hand in GOD to sit by but tropically it signifieth that equality dignity honour and â—espect height râ—verence and power which equaly with God He hath obtained in His humane nature the heavens being high above the earth and the heaven of heavens â—he seat of God above them the Angels about the seat of God and our Lord on the right hand of him that as the earth is far distant from the heaven the upper invisible heaven above 〈◊〉 the pavement of the seat of God above them the Angels again above that who though glorious
Arethuse in his Martyrdome is adequate and fitted to the Christians sublimated Spirit for he when hung up in Air exposed to Bâ—es Waspes and Flies being annointed not to say daubea with honey â—yeing his persecutors with a kind of conâ—umely said How am I advanced despising 〈◊〉 that are below me on earth the Soul life the designs acts of the Believer being but a Comment upon Evangelick Precepts and Christs like graces I might say Ascendings ADAM is known to be put from Paradise in the cool of the day that is about the evening admit it to be the ninâ—h hour or three in the afternoon Then it followeth that the second Adam enter'd the Heavenly Paradise when the first Adam was exil'd the Earthy And about that time too did the Dove bring the Olive Branch to Noah It cannot therefore be blame worthy to conjecture that the fourtieth day after the Resurrection about the same time our LORD both in Soul and Body enter'd in a manly pace and majestick walk upon Heavens street and passing through the throng of Angels took that place at the right hand of the Father resting there as in an Ark haveing got no rest for the sole of his foot since his comeing thence I mean about the ninth hour for it is said He appeared to the eleventh as they sate at meat yeild that to be the sixth hour or high noon after which he talked and went before them unto Bethania Luk. 24.50 or to Olivet upon which Mount Bethania stood from Ierusalem a Sabbath days journey the distance of the peoples march from the Tabernacle in the wildernesse that is two thousand Cubits or above half a mile from the City a convenient walk for the Citizens contemplation in fair weather and for pleasure after which journey discoursing and blessing He ascended to his Father the Olive-branch of Reconciliation in his mouth saying I have finished the work thou gav'st me to do Father glorifie thy Name and ME with that glory which I had before the beginning of the world For of them whom thou hast given me have I lost none but the Son of perdition that the Scripture might be fulfilled AS on the ninth hour of the day some will have his Ascension there wants not them who affirm it was on the fifth of May â—he fifth day from the Sabbath even Thursâ—ay the day in which he was presented in â—he Temple the fourtieth day after his Birth â—s holy to the Lord being the first-born So the fourtieth day after his appearing from the belly of the grave about the same time or hour He presented himself in the Temple of the Ierusalem above as holy harmlesse and the first-born from the dead having after his Resurrection never enter'd into the Temple below that Type being dissannull'd â—nd haveing câ—nsumate all Temple-service Heaven he made his Throne Angels receaving thereby the product of their wishes the Archangels the ultimate of their desire Man being restored and enstated in the person of the Son of God whose Tutors and Ministers they had been for that end into that pâ—istin glory which by a Saâ—anicall trick had been cheated from them even from Union with God and dominion over the Creature which now in Christ he hath made sure unto him in heaven and though the wicked may reckon this security poor because distant and invisible being in a far Countrey yet let them not send the messengers of Lust Ambition or Rebellion after him discovering a dislike as if thaâ— man should not reign over them for there He is and there He will sit untill such and all other his enemies be made his footstool and thence shall he come to judge in the clouds both the obedient and refractory whether Angels or men the fear of which ought to beget in us that reverentiall awe it did in one Elias not the Prophet who is said to have been most timerous alwayes dreading the approach of death the comeing of the Iudge the pronouncing of that sentence Go ye cursed BE rather induced to ascend after him to be with him by going up in such duties as are thought to be enjoyned in the Psalms called of degrees being humble in prayer as Psal. 120. delineats next stedfast in hope then ardent in desire then fervent in meditation and because of many remora's and difficulties we meet withall in these be invincible in patience then strong in confidence holy in chearfulnesse observers of providence fearfull of offences thankfull for victories serious in supplications meeke in converse particular in pleadings charitable in families and encouragers unto all good the performance whereof in a holy sense will make each of you Adam hamahalah or a man of degrees for as these Psalms were of old sung by the Levits upon the steps in their ascent unto the Court of the Women at the feast of Tabernacles for their excellency form shortnesse and sweetnesse of the matter by these vertues as by stairs we shall ascend being men in this for it is a reasonable service into Heavens great Court rejoycing with exceeding great joy in tasting those pleasures which are at Gods right hand therein for ever THE Priest under the Law was to bless the people at dismissing or finishing of the Temple-service one form whereof is to be found Numb 6.23 and others were institute by the authority of Rulers it was pronounced standing with hands stretch'd abroad and with a raised voice as if he would have forced into or put upon the people the mercies in those formes expressed which is promised in these words And I will blesse them Grace ratifying the Priestly benediction when bottom'd upon Divin law for the Congregaâ—ions obtainment of the desired good which ordinarily in Religious-zeal was tarried for by the people who are said to wait for Zacharias Luk. 1.21 the Lords Priest which with that of the parent poor and dying Christian are known to be signally efficacious which made our Lord the Priest of the New Testament when leaving his little flock to put his blessing upon them and with stretched out hands also Luke 24.50 evincing the removeal of the curse of the Law in his bearing of the curse for them in his own body upon the tree and that he was going to pray for them and for their sin that security might be purchas'd knowledge of the truth obtained and eternall life the summe of all mans salvation assured unto them and alwayes to be intreated for by him which being done while he was with them in the world should likewise be done at his abode with the Father before whom as with open armes He was continually to interceed for mercy to the Elect in general and to his Disciples in particular as Friends who could not who did not part with this their Master no more then Elisha would from Elijah and though with that Servant they had not the spirit of their Master duplicated or doubled upon them yet greater works then he did they do because He is gone to the
Father CERTAINE it is that Peter did convert and the other Disciples together at the feast of Penticost more hundreds in one day then for ought we find Iesus in all his life-time to have done to omitt that passage of Peters shaddow Acts 5.15 since it is not told us who did it or that ever any was cured by it or whether it was done for a good or bad end whether in fond supperstition by Christians or malignity from Jews who might desire to receive benefit thereby yet not own the Faith of him whom Peter taught I say to passe this we find all the Disciples endowed with a double portion of knowledge and heavenly joy He being seen of them go up who had been with him from the beginning when such hot spurs as were offended at his Person and Doctrine enjoyed not that blessed sight nor partaked of his fruiâ—fuâ—l blessing from whom such posters are not many degrees distant as declines the hearing of his Gospel now or if they do their impatience suffers them not to reach the end of our Divine service that the blessing from the mouth or hands of the preacher cannot be raught unto them their head and ears being equaly remote from him as their Kitchin is from his Pulpit as if the blessing of the Sanctuarie were to be undervalued in respect of their trivial I might say sensuall conveniency CHRIST is said to be the Rose of Sharon and the Lilly of the valleys Shaâ—on was a pleasant field near to mount Libanus in the Country of Bashan where Davids flocks and herds were fed near unto which was a valley fruitfull both of Lillys and Roses growing without mans care or hands industry having earth for Mother and heaven for a Father which Christ also had who as a Rose is encompass'd by prickly thorns of cares troubles and persecutions yet fragrant to such who placeth him as beautifull in their breast heart and bosome He was white in casting away his grave-cloaths and winding sheet and napkin the badges and colour of infirmity and darkness so great was his humility that he became as a Lilly and of the vallie too bending down-ward to bear upon his shoulders what the Father was pleased to imposs even unto death but now the darkness of Mortality being evanished he became ruddy cloathed with the purple robs of Majesty and Grandor stedfasty eyeing heaven yet still like the Rose piercing and galling yea tearing as by thorns or pricks the hearts the consciences the Souls of such who approach not to handle him in reverence and religious deportment in all parts of worship as prayer praise Sacraments vows or any other ordinance of the Church He carrying up to heaven as may be conjectured the very scarrs and wounds he received on the Cross that beholding them the ungodly nations may the more despairingly mourn and more convincingly bevail their it may be forgotten injuries toward the Son of Man BVT to such who as Roses delight in the shade or as Lillys root themselves in the vally of humility that is rejoyceth or affecteth a Conformity in his excellent communicative properties he shall become as an ornament to their breast or a pearl of great price in their hand causing and procuring the Fathers acceptance to such works as thaâ— breast shall conceive wherein he is fixed as David about building the Temple or the Angel of Philadelphia about his Ministry Revel 3.8 God purposing never to exalt any but in the manner he magnified his Son who first drank of the brook of the way afterward he lifted up his head SAINT John is the Apostle that speaketh most propheticaly of our Saviour going to the Father yet hath not one word that Historically he did it so that the Question here What and if you see the Son of Man ascend up where he was before is not answered by him for except in the Gospels of S. Mark and Luke the manner and term of his ASCENCION is not to be found and not without reason is it in them and ommitted here for S. Luke having in his Gospel drawn his Genealogy from Mary of the house and lineâ—ge of David making him thence to be owned for a King it was needfull to commemorate his entrance into heaven as into his Kingly palace and Mark beginning with his Priestly Office viz. of his preaching the Kingdom of God it was sutable thereunto to beare in record that he enter'd heaven as into his holy Temple to interced for the tribs of the world But Mathew and John speaking of him as the Son of God and as one that came from God besids that each Evangelist as he writ observed what the other had omitted or largely handled and accordingly as one abridgeth or enlargeth his own history Leaves the Faithfull to infer the necessity of his return into heaven as to his native Countrey and of being in heaven as the proper seat of God the holy Gospel throughout radicating the truth of this and abundantly making good the inference all which S. John saw he writting his Gospel after his three holy Coleagues had finished ended and published their severall Evangels BVT if any would have a sight of him ascending as there are many who doth not yet eats with us drinks with us goeth to the Mountain and Olivet of our Temple yet wants that beautifull Spectacle as did the carnall Iewes in the text who understanding all things Nichodemicaly that is carnally derided this supposition but if you would answer this what and if with an O that I might see the Son of Man ascend where he was before then pursue the acquisition of such Gifts the Apostles were endued with before it came to pass which were Magnanimity and Courage Longanimity and Patience Vnity Concord The first made them keep together though their Master and Shepherd had been smitten separating but in fits and starts as men in distemper the second hush'd all disturbances strife and discord none cheked Peter for his fall he blam'd none for cowardice whence flowed Unity and Love their Masters last appearance being at their dinner so to speak when they were at meat And ought not the memory of the ASCENSION to be attended with a religious banquet since its last service was usher'd in with a Table ready furnished a little after wh ch they see him again no more and truly if our eating and drinking be for the glory of God which shall be when strength only is expected from them his service in our generall and particular calling we need not scruple but if two or three or one be in holy discourse meditation in soberness I mean not poor dishes for there may be prodigality in wooden platters and gluttony over the coursest bread thankfulness frugality piety and unity it is impossible to misse the company or want the presence of Jesus neither ought there to be a despondency for the truth of the ASCENSION shall and will be evidenc'd unto those with whom these accomplishments are at
shall deliver us flying from contrived-for-disturbance or tenets of separation as from filth and ordure in which alone the unclean spirit keepeth because there only he findeth rest WHEN the World was souâ—ed or so to speak under the pickle of the deluge the Dove alone gave intelligence of the waters abatement not by a Bramble but by an Olive branch So untill the waters of Contrition flow for our former defilements unchristian-like temperaments which as raw blood putrifies yet the body of our Kingdoms it is not to be expected the Comforter from the FAâ—HER and the SON shall intimate unto us that our sins are forgiven or that in Christ we have got the Victory testifying the truth thereof by the Olive branch of refreshing comforts antedateing heavens felicity in the infallibility and certainty of its possession peace with God being certainly deduceible therefrom Whereas contrairily by our tearing and devouring one another its easie to prognosticate what the result of our lives shall be and whereunto the issues of our Death shall tend if we persevere in discord the Horoscope of the litigious discovering his being born in Satan the scheme manifests his rest pardon the irony shall be with him which even his spirit attests in the pangs of a tortured and disturbed breast so that within us we have either way a witnesse of our blesse or misery whereby our condemnation is the more intollerable if we do not our own businesse and study to be quiet living in love and peace that the God and Spirit of peace and love may be with us HOW oft in the History of the Ascension and of the HOLY GHOSTS descension to harp once more upon this string have we these words they met with one accord and no where besides shewing that in opposition to that quarrelsome life to those frequent disputeings among the Apostles and Disciples and censurings one of another they formerly had offended in Now they unanimously agree in a Brotherly harmony being united though numerous as one body by the Cement of the Spirit through the Gospel there being no intimation in the sacred History of any reflection of the Disciples to the Converts or of the Converts to them or of any one towards another about any miscarriage whereof aforetime they might be or had really been guilty of their life answering the Law for it was the Pentecost in ordinary fiftie days from the Pasch that these things were done and the fiftieth year also and so the year of Jubilee a time of releasment for servants lands debts of rest and proclaimed with great joy Levit. 25. figuring that delight Christianity hath obtained under the full deliverance Christ hath purchased for his people freeing them not only from the pedantry of the Law and burthensome rites thereof but restored them to their former priviledges with God the exceedingness whereof is figured in this that there passed twenty nine Jubilees betwixt Ioshua and Christ the Gospel abridging the Laws authority and hastning the acceptable time the year of great deliverance Luk. 4.18 THE Pasch by Christs death is antiquated and outdated it was expedient also to abolish both Pentecost and Jubilee for having procured a plenary remission from sin we as freed from its bondage are now to rejoyce in the LORD alway the Jubilee being proclaimed upon the day of Expiation which was a day of sadnesse grief and sorrow for the offences of the whole year that in the midst of trouble they might remember joy and we having liberty by the Resurrection who before were sold and gifts by his Ascention who before were poor presenting himself as the first fruits being first born from the dead before the Father for obtaining a blessing on the crop or race of mankind which the Jews did at Pentecost therefore let us pray for fulfilling of the Pentecost feast in having sin remitted the curse from the Earth removed and the Iubilee rite also in having the liberty of the Sons of God the legal ceremonies evanishing a clearer manifestation of things and mysteries are under Evangelical dispensation sprinkling with water being now repentance washing with water baptizeing with the HOLY GHOST and sacrificing of bullocks goats and lambs for expiating sin is that superlative sacrifice of Iesus death an offering for the sins of the whole world He being that Lamb of God which taketh them away by whose strips it is healed and by whose blood it is made white which the very garments of the Neophti or new Converts of old upon this day worn emblematically discover'd being cloathed in whit insinuating sanctity purity harmlesnesse and peâ—ceablenesse whence the day is called Whit-sunday or with the Saxon wied i. e. that is sacred or holy Sunday LET this Generation pretend to what degree of Sanctity it please to fear God to eschew evil to honour all men to do violence to no man to do good and in all these to persevere is the alone mean to be cloathed in White the proper habit of that Citizen which is of Ierusalem above unto which all his acts must quadrat of what kind soeever least the Spirit be blasphemed through his impertinencies FOLLOWING that Heroe Peter King of Aragon who gave a Glob representing the Earth a Crown surmounting that signifying Soveraignity that overlaid by a Scepter typifying the application of Law according to merit over all a Dove in a glory emblemating the HOLY GHOST circumscribed with this device TE GUBERNATORE i e. by thy Direction all things being done within the Empire of the Christians jurisdiction thus Religion shall not be used as Talque shining over glasse cases to hide the rottennesse worm-eating and mothinesse in the frame of many mens conversation neither shall their talk so amuse the Vulgar and undescerning as to cause a sigh a long prayer the nameing of God and conscience cover the â—ickednesse of practises as to let it passe without abhorrence of their Hypocrisies or censuring their â—ick-nam'd holy profession as too frequently they do to the defaming of that which our devout Ancestors called Zeal Piety and Religion accounting honesty in the second Table one genuine Character clearing mens observance of the first wanting the brazen-fore head now boasted of in some Professors where holinesse is divorced from peace no sacrifice Sermons or Prayer so pure as those which are mingled with the blood of men who gainsay the principles of a few by blood is not barely to be understood that physical thing so called but the curses lyes untrue reports slanders calumnies with which the services of Formalists and Pretenders are maliciously sinfully scandalously and madly interwoven THAT French King Henry the third having been upon this day by the Diet of Poland elected their King did in memory â—hereof institute an Order called Knights â—f the HOLY GHOST their Habit haâ—ing many black and white ornaments therein â—nd in a golden Collar within the center of â— Cross was the effigies of a Dove umbrageâ—ng that blessed Spirit It is lawful to attempt â—ea honourable to design high Atcheifmenâ—s if within the verge of our Capacity power or calling and to whet my weapon at this Philistines forge how strenuously hath the Ancient Saints endeavoured to cause the days and places whereon and wherein they have been honoured with mercies blessings or visions to be remarked as Abraham in Beersheba Gen. 21.33 or Iacob in Bethel and Mordecai at Purim This hath been a day of glad tydings wherein by Tongues the organ of Eloquence utterance and acclamation GOD hath testified mans endowment with the gifts of holynesse and given instances of gracious acceptance for humble Penitents possitively deduced without much scruple from the Apostles teaching and the Murtherers repenting sorrowing believing rejoycing Whence it is consequential that if we reflect upon the blacknesse of our tongues in our clamours bawlings against Christ his Word his Instituts his Servants as if they were not worthy to be or fit to live walking in God-like or Dove-like innocence invested with the white Robe of love and meeknesse adequat and cut out for the Elect of GOD Col. 3.12 We shall have the honour of all GODS Saints being elected Kings to reigne over lusts hell and Death by being from this day forward filled as was Stephen with the holy Spirit filled with all knowledge evidenced when with the Romans we are full of all goodness Rom. 15.14 Glory be to the FATHER and to the SON and to the HOLY GHOST FINIS Errata â—ie Corrige The China Printers having by their Art Exim'd themselves only from Possibility of Errour the best in Europe yet pleads guilty of mistakes Here are some Capitall ones marked others being Remitted to the Readers Charity and Correction Page 6. l. 7. Read holding p. 37. l. 6. r. be in time p. 40. l. 12. r. Enflame to p. 64. l. 25. r. That by that p. 69. l. 22. r. not gratified p. 70. l. 22. r. Quadrat p. 86. l. 24. r. leaning p. 89. l. 12. is not p. 204. l. 20. r. endeth p. 213. l. 12. r. moulting p. 240. l. 19. r. viants Mr. VVill. Annand His Mysterium Pietatis