THE PARENTS PRIMER AND THE MOTHERS LOOKINGGLASSE OR Counsel for Parents in the Education of CHILDREN for their Temporal Spiritual and Eternal HAPPINESSE In a DIALOGUE between A MINISTER and a FATHER To which is added A Second Dialogue of the DECALOGUE And to that A Third DIALOGUE concerning The SABBATH-DAY By J WAITE Minister of Gods Word LONDON Train up a Child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it Prov. 22.6 The Father to the Children SHALL Make known thy Truth Isa 38.19 Bring them up in the Nurture and Admonition of the LORD Eph. 6.4 London Printed by J. A. for the Author and are to be sold by N. Ponder at the Peacock in the Poultrey and R. Janeway in Queens-head-Alley in Pater-noster-row 1681. To the Unskilfull Reader WHether I speak with Tongue or Pen I respect Them most who want my Help If you do so and can own Unskilfull for a Fit Title they say I am the Person for whose sake this Epistle is written And for your sake Let us desire the Expert Reader to dispense with your Passage through this Porch In which I desire You will remain my Scholar one hour and learn these Three Lessons First To know the Points used in Print 1 Lesson which are these Seven 1 A Comma It 's a Point at end of a Short Part of a Sentence without Perfect Sense And it 's a note of some little Pause Stop or Breathing in Reading It 's marked Thus 2 A Semicolon It 's a Pause a little longer than a Comma It 's marked Thus 3 A Colon. It 's a longer Pause than the former and it s a part of a Sentence that makes Sense without the Full Sentence yet so as the rest is expected to compleat it It 's marked Thus 4 A Period It 's a full perfect Point put at end of a compleat Sentence It 's marked Thus. Observe the Sense contained in a Sentence or you Read Confusion 5 A note of Exclamation or Admiration It 's put at end of an Expression uttered by way of Out-cry or Wonder It 's marked Thus As O how lofty are their eyes Pro. 30.13 6 A note of Interrogation It 's put at end of a Question It 's marked Thus As Why should we die in thy presence Gen. 47.15 7 Parenthesis It 's a Clause included or shut in with two Semicircles or half Moons though it give some Strength to a Sentence yet if left out the Sense remains Sound It 's marked Thus As Let me I pray thee drink a little water of thy pitcher Gen. 24.17 Second To know where the Emphasis layeth in a Sentence Emphasis is an Expression of the Mind by a Word expressed with some Earnestness or Force This Word I begin with a Capital or Great Letter Here note words which must alway begin with Capitals 1 The first Word of every Sentence Pro. 9.10 As The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom So if the Sentence begin with a Single Letter Pro. 1.5 Joh. 10.11 As A wise man will hear I am the good Shepherd O that they were wise Deu. 32.29 c. 2 The first Word of the Saying of an Other Related though it do not begin a Sentence As Joh. 7.46 The officers answered Never man spake like this man And many of them said He hath a Devil Chap. 10.20 21. and is mad Others said These are not the words of him that hath a Devil 3 The first Word or Letter of every Verse or Line in Poety As A man without learning Cato doth say May be compared to an Image of Clay 4 Proper Names 1 Of God as Jehovah Of Christ as Jesus Of an Angel as Gabriel Of Men and Women as Adam Abel Daniel Dorcas Of Countries as Asia England Spain Of Cities as London Jerusalem Of Towns as Barnet Bethany Of Places or Hills as Eden Sinai Of Rivers as Thames Jordan Cedron Of Months as Jan Feb Abib Of the four Winds as East W N S. Proper Names I put in Italian Different Letters and so to put other Names is Improper 5 Appellatives or Common Names which are common to all of that Kind 1 Of People as Jew Hebrew Gentile Heathen Christian Protestant Papist Pagan Indian Names of Arts as Printer Painter Mercer Grocer Of Dignity as Emperour King Q Prince Pope Duke Of Offices as Ambassador Priest Prophet Pastour Apostle Elder Deacon Judge General Captain Of Dayes as Sabbath Of Spirits as Angel Cherub Seraphim Devil Satan Note god if a false god must begin with a small letter But the true God with a Capital And Father Son Spirit Lord Christ Ghost when they Signifie the True God or the Persons in the Holy Trinity To which I adde Names of Books so many as are not Proper Names of Men and Women as Gen Exod And of Tongues as Hebrew Greek Latine English Most of these Names Proper and Appellative stand Thin in this Book In all these Words which always begin with Capitals the Emphasis seldom layeth when it doth I put that Word all in Capitals that you know it at ease When an other Word is all in Capitals it signifies the Greater Emphasis Now for Emphatical Words The Emphasis is tied to no Word whatever It is sometime in a Substantial Word Sometime in two or three such words together Sometime in a small Word as be do so no to at of off on in out as I will No more have mercy on the house of Israel In other place no hath no Emphasis as Pro. 3.30 Strive not with a man if he have done thee no harm In other place it 's in the Substantial word Mercy Mat. 15 22 as Have Mercy on me O Lord As when Sea-men are Sinking with this cry Mercy Mercy There is the Emphasis In other place by reason of the Excellent Emphaticalness of the Expression you may put it in This or That Word as you Will as I Will surely have mercy I will Surely have mercy I will surely have Mercy upon him saith the Lord Sometime the Emphasis Jer. 31.20 Is and is Not in the Same Word Pro. 31.2 in the Same Sentence as What my Son and what the son of my Womb To misplace it makes it give an unpleasant senseless sound as what the Son of my womb It 's in Vain to put Force upon a Wrong Word it 's like a Stroke at a Wooden Bell. These Emphatical Words observed will help you to understand the Sense And if besides the Words which constantly begin with Capitals there Be ever a Capital that is not Emphatical yet it 's Substantial and serves to shew the Sense as all Emphatical Words do Emphatical Words begun with Capitals avoids that Hodge Podge they make who put Half their Words in Different Letters Third To understand Abbreviation 3 Lesson or Shortning of Words which for Brevity Sake is used in Books Some of them are the First Letters of Latine Words which many Authors use but Explain not for their
Children or else you do nothing Some parents think if they whip a way their Own Anger though not the Childs Humour the work is Done There is a little Pleasure for the parents Passion performed Read and the poor child Put into a Passion †Eph. 6.4 in both which some Service for SATAN is done and That is all So much for this Rank of Directions Now If you have any Objections against Rod Correction bring them Forth Fath. I perceive by these two Last Directions Object 1 against Rod Correction if my Children commit Great Faults they must be Sorely Whipt But I have such a tender Love and Pitie to my Children that I cannot sind in my heart so to whip them I know not what miserie they may endure when I am Dead and I do not intend to Torment them while I Live Min. I like not such Love I am not pleased with such Pitie Love Pitie do you call it Fath. Yes What else should I call it Min. Hatred and Cruelty Fath. That is Very Strange Min. And it is Very True Fath. I believe not Such Truth Min. Will you refer it to the GOD of Truth and believe Him Fath. God forbid I should refuse that Min. Then hear the Answer of GOD. Jehovah He that spareth the Rod Hateth his Son but he that Loveth him chasteneth him Betimes †Pro. 13.24 Min. So now I hope you will believe it's Truth Fath. I dare not deny it but I understand not how it's hatred and Cruetly Min. The Proverb will partly prove it viz Spare the Rod and Spoil the Child Foolish Pitie spoils the Citie By sparing the Rod you choose rather to have your Child howl for ever in Hell under Gods Wrath than to cry a little under a mans Rod. This pitiful Pity to the Body is Cruelty both to Body and Soul And it makes a Man rather a Paricide than a Parent Fath. But may not I forbear when my child cryes Grievously Object 2 and Grieves me Min. No no Let not thy soul spare for his Crying * Pro. 19.19 The Rod signifies Nothing without Smart Your love is such that you would fain deal ill with your Child and ill requite your Father also N B God did not spare his Only Son for his Strong Crying and Tears viz O my Father if it be Possible let this cup passe from me †Mat. 26.39 Father Save me from this hour * Joh. 12.27 From which he delivered him Not but delivered him Up to the Crused Death of the Crosse for your sake And you will not Whip Your Son with a Rod that cuts not Skin Deep for his sake They that will not Correct a son at Gods Command are very unlike to Kill a son at Gods Command †Gen. 22. as Abraham offer'd to do his Son his Only Son Isaac whom he loved Fath. When I go to whip my child for a fault he Cries and Begs Object 3 and Promises to do so no More and then I think I do well to spare him Min. And does he keep his promises Fath. I consesse he fails me in that Min. Why do you trust him then Fath. Because I hope he will be better next Time Min. Now you turn Child This is a very Cheat. And what a Shame is it for a Man to be Cheated by a Child and by his Own whom he Knows hath Deceived him This will encourage a child to do Any thing for he will think it's but Crying a little when the Rod comes and promising to do so no More and my Father will Spare me and I shall come off Clear And this will learn a Child to set Light by his Father and So will he come under that Curse †Deu. 27.16 Faith If I whip my Children Object 4 it makes them take Gods name in Vain by crying O Lord Lord O God so I think I had better let them alone Min. That Cry is an Accident and not your Intent And you leave Off because they give you cause to go On for they are to be whipt for that Cry And it is a sign they want good government But take heed you do not pretend Piety when you intend foolish Pity or pretend Conscience when you intend Negligence Faith But one of my children hath such Passions Object 5 and Fits when Crossed or Whipt that I fear it will die Quite away Min. Fear not its Dying in doing your Duty But let us hear the Answer of GOD to this Critical Case Jehovah Withhold not Correction from the Child for if thou beat him with the Rod he shall not Die * Pro. 23.13 Min. So I hope That fear is removed Fath. But how may I understand this he shall not die Min. Thus. 1 He shall not die under the Rod Correction shall not Kill 2 He shall not die as a Malefactor by the hand of the Magistrate For want of the Parents Rod some come to the Magistrates Sword i e the Gallows 3 He shall not die an Eternal Death Thou shalt beat him with the Rod and shalt deliver his Soul from Hell †Pro. 23.14 Through Gods blessing Correction shall Issue in the Childs Conversion Fath. A man cannot Convert a child by all the Instruction Object 6 and Correction in the World Min. By the same Argument all Ministers Living may leave Preaching But who would be thus deceive by SATAN To make men Proud he will suggest great matters by Doing To make men neglect their Duty Satans deceit he will suggest their Doing will come All to Nothing All the Education in the World cannot Save a child But when by Neglect a child is Lost the same Satan will suggest if the Parents Duty had been Performed the Child had been Savewd 2 Though You cannot Convert your children GOD can Convert them By you And make you Instruments in their Regeneration as well as in their Generation In their Second Birth as well as in the First If you Will not be Instruments in Gods hand Tell him so If you Will Do your Part and leave God to do His. The endeavour and Care belongs to You the Cure belongs to GOD. 3 Though you cannot Convert vert them you can Restrain them For want of This god threatned to Judge Eli's house for Ever 4 this Restraint will prevent much Trouble if God convert them by Other means Trouble for Sin at Conversion from it accords with the Measure of-Sin in the Commission of it The Greater sin Before conversion the Greater sorrow At and After conversion the Parent blames the Preacher for the Childs Terrour when the fault is in the Father and Mother 5 If your Children should Never be Converted but for Ever Damned this Restraint will prevent much Torment 6 And God will be Glorified by your Service You will be Instruments of his glory And shall be Rewarded though Israel be not Gathered * Isa 49.3 4 5. Fath. But I see no good Object 7 whipping and
Christ was preached to them not only Ceremonially but also Doctrinally but yet Mystically He was called a Rod a Branch †Isa 11.1 Water Wine Milk * Ch. 55.1 a Fountain †Zec. 13.1 this was mystical Doctrine their ignorance of which is sometime bewailed Ah Lord God! they say of me Doth he not speak Parables * Ezek. 20.49 N B The Gospel to the Jews was like an inestimable treasure in a dark gay Glasse Simile overlaid with fair Flowers painted with Pictures to signifie the Substance within but they like children were apter to eye the Out-side than the Inside The Gospel to Us is like the same treasure in a Clear glasse Simile plain without gays and pictures so that we can see the inside Simile Or it 's like the same treasure in an open earthen vessel or Shell as the word signifies †2 Cor. 4.7 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Testa A Shell Moses put a vail over his Face and when Moses is read the vail is upon their Heart i e their minds were blinded * Ch. 3.13 Hence little Faith much Fear darknesse and dread dwell together Zion said The Lord hath forsaken me †Isa 49.14 they would conclude it from a crosse Providence e g The Lord is with thee thou mighty man of valour and Gideon said Oh my Lord if the Lord be with us why then is all This befallen us but now the Lord hath forsaken us * Judg. 6.12 13. Thus subject were they to slavish fear and a spirit of bondage But we being under a clear Gospel have much light light and joy are joyned together †Ps 97.11 peace cometh by the knowledge of God * 2 Pet. 1.2 If a fearful child meets his father in the Dark Simile he dreads him as Death for thinks he that man will Kill me but if he meet him in the Light he runs into his Arms. Hence Christians under clear Gospel light are said to have the Spirit of Adoption crying Abba Father †Rom. 8.15 i e Father Father child-like with much freedom from fear This is called the Spirit of the Son God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba Father * Gal. 4.6 The excellency of which Spirit appears in this viz it acts a Soul to own God as a Father under the most Dismal dispensation like the Spirit of the Son under the Fathers wrath crying My God my God though as forsaken in that dismal Dooms-day of his Death which made the air Dark and the earth Quake Howbeit some Persons at Times did Act faith very Nobly under the Law also e g When death is at the Door if Esther the Queen will not speak a word to the King for life Noble Acts. yet Mordecai will beleeve Deliverance shall arise for the Jews from another place †Est 4.14 David will not fear when his Sins compasse him about * Ps 49.5 nor when all Nations compasse him about like Bees †Psal 118.10 nor if the Earth be removed and the Mountains into the midst of the Sea * Ps 46.2 If Gods Zeal Strength Bowels Mercies and all are restrained yet Evangelical Isaiah will say to God Doubtlesse thou art our Father †Isa 63.15 16. Shadrach Meshach and Abed-nego will believe in their God in the very Face of the furious King and at the Mouth of the Seven-fold fiery furnace * Dan. 3.16 And Daniel will do the like in the lions den †Ch. 6. And some did Noble acts by faith a Catalogue of which we have upon record * Heb. 11. ¶ 6 The Jews were under the M L as pointing at Christ to Come to justifie by blood not then in Being e g If a man sin against any of the ten commandments of the Lord and his sin come to his knowledge by the law is this knowledge of sin and by it is the Conscience troubled he shall bring his Sin-offering a Kid of the goats a Male without blemish and kill it and his sin shall be forgiven him †Lev. 4. Thus the M L by its Scourge sent the Sinner to the C L the Sacrifice and Type of Christ and the Type pointed to Christ himself then to come for they drank of that Spiritual Rock that followed them †1 Cor. 10.4 Before faith came i e faith in Christ actually crucified we were kept under the Law shut up to the faith which should afterwards be revealed * Gal. 3.23 i e when Christ the Object of faith should be revealed as manifest in the Flesh and So believed on in the world †1 Tim. 3.16 faith in Christ actually crucified Christ was Virtually crucified from the foundation of the World And under the Law they were Virtually redeemed from the Curse of the Law but not Actually redeemed but when the fulnesse of time was come God sent forth his Son made of a woman made under the law Actually to redeem them that were under the law * Gal. 4.4 5 ¶ 7 The Jews were under many and great Promises of temporal Blessings annexed to their obedience to the Law even a full land flowing with Milk and Honey the glory of all Lands †Ezek. 20 6. Thus we are not under the Law as the Jews were Of the great judgments they were under the execution of for their Disobedience to the M L I say nothing but they happened to them for Ensamples or Types and they are written for OVR admonition upon whom the Ends of the world are Come * 1 Cor. 10.11 ¶ N B A threefold Affirmation Under the Ministry of the Gospel the C W requires as perfect obedience of them that are under it as it did under the ministry of the Law 2 Under the ministry of the Gospel there is as high a degree of Holiness required of justified Persons as there was under the ministry of the Law It 's a Mad mistake to think the Law requires obedience to the law A mad mistake but the Gospel requires no obedience to the law 3 Under the Ministry of the Gospel the Law is to be preached to prick the Heart and prepare for Christ as Peter did by charging the Jews with the Murder of Jesus †Act. 2.36 37. They that say Nay in effect say Peter Paul Jesus himself James and John whom he Surnamed the sons of Thunder * Mar. 3.17 were all a company of Dunces in their Doctrine Therefore to say Before Christs death the Jews were all by nature under the law as a C W A 3 fold Folly but we are all freed from it since Christs death under the Gospel Or 2 They in a State of nature or in a justified State were under the law for a rule of life but not we Or 3 They were under the law to humble and prepare them for Christ but not we these are false foolish
beating children doth And I have heard Mr C say it hath done his Hurt and if it were to do Again he would Never do it let Preachers say what they please Min. I shall please to say this for him He that will learn of none but himself is like to have but a Fool for his Master No wonder if he slight a Minister for he will defie the Almighty and charge Infinite Wisdom with Folly viz To appoint to no purpose To command Correction to Cure and Mend children which makes them Worse Shall any teach GOD knowledge †Job 21.22 God is so wise he Cannot be taught by Men. Some are so Unwise they cannot be taught by men And Mr C is so wise he Will not be taught by men He will neglect Correction till a Child is Hardened Then under Provocation fall on in a Passion To which Correction God cleaves his Curse And then Mr C will cast it Quite off for he sees no good it does Because he may not do it in the Devils way he will not do it at all This Pest is so provoking I Passe it as not fit to be spoken to with Patience Fath. I suppose there are as wise men Object 8 who do not so strictly Instruct and Correct their Children as there are that do Min. Tell not me of their Wisdom if the Word of the Only Wise God was never their Rule Or if they have left Off to take heed to the Lord * Ho. 4.10 The Wise men have rejected the Word of the Lord and What Wisdom is in them Heb the wisdom of What Thing †Jer. 8.9 not of the Stork Turtle Crane Swallow they know their appointed Times but such people know not the Judgment of the Lord * Ver. 7. Nor of the Oxe or Asse That knows his Owner This his Masters Crib but Israel doth not Know †Isa 1.3 poor silly Ant the pitifull Pi smire is preferred before Such wise men * Pro. 6.6 Vain man Heb Empty man would be Wise ie counted so though man be born like the Wild Asses Colt †Job 11.12 Man is so much a Beast that he knows not he is a Beast till God hath taught him And he Never learns to be a Man till he learns to know he is a Beast Ignorance is a Great enemie to Knowledge but there is one Greater ie Self-Conceitednesse Seest thou a man Wise in his own Conceit more hope of a Fool than of him * Pro. 26.12 They are the Wisest and Best Men who Best know they are Beasts †Psal 73.22 Pro. 30.2 Object 9. Fath. But we must not take Gods work out of his hand Min. No but we must take Our work into Our hand and not suffer Satan to take it Out of our hand Your words I once heard fall from a Ministers mouth but it was to me a Hateful Morsel When a Parent is expressing his desire to do his duty to his Children then for a Preacher to reply So so we must not take Gods work out of his hand Thus for him who should Provoke a parent to his work to Obstruct him in it O Hateful Sottish Sensuall Satanical Saying Fath. I have heard Mr. C. say Object 10 he beat one of his Boys and he Ran away and Never heard more of him to this Day It shall be an Item for Me. Min. SO Cursed correction There is Correction with an Execration and No Benediction and the parent punished by way of Retaliation His disobedience to GOD in not giving his son due Correction is punished by his sons disobedience to Him not counting Correction worthy of Acceptation The Father ran away from GOD the Son ran away from the Father Never heard of him more He may hear of him too Soon viz that he hath broken into some House or is turned High-way-man and taken to be both Hanged and Damned in One Day And for his fathers neglect to Howl for ever in Hell At which his father if not hardened may Howl in a Hell upon Earth And was his Father to be at his Sons Execution it 's probable he would desire to be Revenged on him for letting him come to Such an End As that Boy did who when he was going up the Ladder required to Kisse his Mother but to be Revenged on her Bit off her Nose saying Mr N. If you had given me Due Correction I had Never come to This. Let not your Lads laugh at it He would have Bit off her Head and Pulled out her Heart had it been in his Power If Parents be without Natural Affection for their Children Children will be without Natural Affection for their Parents Witnesse that Wicked Boys reply to his Wicked Mother who complained at Stake she was exceeding Dry viz Mr N. No Matter Mother you will Burn the Better Fath. One Story and another is enough to Distract a man You tell me of a Boy that was hanged because Not corrected Another tells me of a Man that was hanged because his boy Was corrected viz He beat his Son so that he died and then was Hanged for him It would make a man afraid to beat Children I think Min. That Man or Monster I knew and see Hanged in Cambridge Castle-Yard What then was it Due Correction that killed him God commands Parents to beat children From death not To death Had he used such a Rod as I have directed you to use and used it by the Rule of Gods Good Word he had done his child no Hurt But he with his Club Law regarded No such rule Devilish correction but was Ruled by his Passion and his Parent the DEVIL with whom it 's to be feared he is now in Hell Fire Fath. I suppose it 's the safest way Object 12 to erre on the Right Hand when all is done Min. I wish you knew the Right Hand from the Left in this matter To avoid One Extream you will run into Another Both Extreams are Bad and of two evils you will chuse the Worst I have exhorted you to use the Rod in Love And I exhort you to do All in Love But Fond affection Sinfull indulgence and Unseasonable smiles I dehort you From and charge you before God to beware Of as Vitious and Perilous And lest you Wink at this Warning Hear some of the Sad Effects of such Parental Vices of which a sew Instances ¶ 1 Adonijah His father David had not displeased him at ANY Time Heb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from his dayes Junius Nunquam Never displeased him in saying Why hast thou done so †1 Kin. 1.6 And what is the fruit of this fond affection even Adonijah's Self-Exaltation to his Own Destruction He exalts himself saying I will be King †ver 5. and that brings him home by the horns of the Altar where he hardly escapes * Ver. 50. Then to bring it about he must have Abishag to wife and that brings him Quite to
Double destruction Body and Soul both at once An evil Counseller As evil as the Devil will speak Death in at the Ear as the DEVIL at first did Evil Counsel is enough to bring the KING of a Nation to Confusion and Destruction I have read of a king A Kings Confession who confessed at his Execution that such Evil Instruments brought him to the Block Evil discourse Infects How oft is Death Blown into Souls by an Infectious Breath Seventh Docu 7. Restraint Take heed of allowing them too much Liberty to wander abroad upon Pleasure Dinah must go Gadding to see the daughters of the Land and she comes home Deslowed †Gen. 34.1 And much more mischief follows Simeon and Levi in their cursed anger Kill their Confederates whom they had Coozened into a Covenant * Ver. 25. And it was a wonder that Damsels walk did not end in the Destruction of Jacob and his House as he feared †Ver. 30. I may say to you as Paul bid the Colossians say to Archippus viz Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord that thou fulfill it * Col. 4.17 Every parent is an Archippus who hath received a Ministry of the Lord in Charge for children Archippus is a Greek word which signifies A governour of horses Children are Wild Colts †Job 11.12 who when grown Head-strong will not regard the crying of the driver * Job 39.7 ¶ Sir you should seriously consider what a Roaring Lyon the Devil is †1 Pet. 5.8 and how diligently he deviseth to Devour your children And that it 's not your Own conversion that will prove their preservation from Temporal or Eternal destruction but Their godly education God hath sworn that Noah Daniel and Job shall deliver neither Son nor Daughter by their Own righteousnesse * Ezek. 14.20 It 's not parents imputative righteousnesse for Justification nor inherent righteousnesse for Sanctification that will Save their children But it 's their righteousnesse in Conversation viz Godly Education by which they must become their Saviours It 's not the Conversion of a Father nor of an Emperour that can secure a poor child from Satan the Devourer And therefore a Child was he who cryed out for joy at the Emperours conversion O! the Emperour is a Christian q d Emperour Now we shall have Halcion dayes a Heaven upon Earth To whom a wiser person thus replyed But the DEVIL is not a Christian yet And so long as he is not Converted nor Confined to the bottomlesse pit Christians must look for No lesse mischief then he can do Them and Theirs too He will go to the End of his Bounds to a Hairs Breadth 〈◊〉 And here let me adde this Caution Caution 〈◊〉 â—hen your children are under Convictions enquire into Satans Temptations For if once the children be come to the Birth it will be on the Devils part a day of Rebuke and Blasphemy †2 Kin. 19.3 Rebuke to Conviction Convertion Faith Hope Prayer q d It 's too Soon thou art too Young or too Good to need such a Change Or it s too Late thou art too Old and too Wicked to be saved Blasphemy by such suggestions from SATAN against GOD CHRIST the Spirit of grace that the foul may think Unpardonable The Sum of all which is 1 to make a soul Secure and Presume on salvation Without conversion or 2 to drive a soul to Despair of salvation With conversion Eight Docu 8. Examination Take an Acount of your childrens Practices Purposes Pretences Even a Child is known by his Doings whether his work be pure and whether it be right * Pto. 20.11 The neglect of this Duty had like to lost David's Life Absalom intends Rebellion and he pretends Religion I pray thee let me go and pay my Vow which I Vowed to the Lord in Hebron †2 Sam. 15.7 And the King said Go in peace * Ver. 9. Poor David Ah pitifull reply David should have Sifted the businesse about q d How now what Vow a Vow to the Lord and defer to pay it for 40 Years †Ver. 7. what fiery Fit is this you are fallen into how comes it to passe you are Now so conscionable who have been So long carelesse Had David been Considerate Absaloms design had been Frusâ—â—â—â—â— But David makes No more to do Go in peace q d Absalom is in a Very good mind I hope he will Now be a Comfort to me A way goes Absalom to make War with his father This turns David's Tune his Harp into mourning * Job 30.31 Behold my Son which came forth of my bowels seeks my Life †2 Sam. 16 11. And besides Absalom's Death and David's Dolorous Grief this causes a Slaughter of Twenty Thousand men That Phrase hath Too much foundation In nomine Domini incipit omne malum Ninth Docu 9. Partiality Take heed of fond Partiality It 's of evil Consequence It sets that Root which bears Gall * Deu. 29.18 And sets children together by the Ears And makes them Murder one another e g Isaac loved Esau but Rebekah loved Jacob †Gen. 29.28 Isaac called Esau HIS son * Ch. 27.1 and Rebekah spake to Jacob HER son †Ver. 6. Esau was Isaacs boy Jacob was Rebekahs boy What is the fruit of this parental partiality even Esau's Partiality and Enmity to his Father Mother and Brother Esau hated Jacob q d He hath All my mothers heart she hath None for Me and I will have as little for Her The dayes of mourning for my father are at hand then will I Slay my brother Jacob * Ver. 41. q d Not while my loving Father lives to grieve him but when he is Dead and my mother under Dolour I will Double it by my brothers Murder She thinks Birth-right and Blessing and All too little for him but he shall not Long enjoy it nor She him At Esau's threat Jacob flees for his Life yet takes not Warning but loves Joseph more than All his children †Gen. 37.3 For which Love his brethren Hate him conspire to Slay him and Sell him into Egypt to his fathers Sorrow And Gods Providence in this will not justifie Jacobs inordinate Affection nor his sons evil Action N B. Children can quarrell Too soon of their own Heads though parents set them not together by the Ears e g. Two Brothers walked abroad in a Star-light night Said A A Sad Story Would I had a Pasture as large as this Element Said B. Would I had as many Oxen as there be Stars Said A Mr Jer Burroughs and Camerarius Where would you feed them all Said B In your Pasture A What whether I will or no B Yes whether you will or no. A What in Spight of me B Yes in Spight of you And thus from Words to Blows till they Sheathed their Swords in each others
People under a C G. This covenant God made with Abraham viz To be a God to Him and his Seed †Gen. 17.7 And renewed it with Them Behold the Blood of the Covenant which the Lord hath made with YOV * EXO 24.8 The blood of the C W is a saying of a Strange Sound except you mean the blood of the Breach of that covenant i e the blood of the Offender which is Execution not Salvation I will commune with thee from above the Mercy Seat from between the two Cherubims of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel †Exo. 25.22 The faces of the Cherubims looked toward the Mercy Seat * Ver. 20. to signifie the desire of Angels to look into this mystery of Grace and Life for man †1 Pet. 1.12 after God that cannot Lie had said Man must die 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This covenant Verbally was made with all Abraham's seed Indefinitely but Virtually and Efficaciously so as to secure life Eternally it respected a Secret Distinction and Vein of Election for they are not all Israel which are of Israel * Rom. 9.6 but the children of the Promise are counted for the Seed †Ver. 8. God is LORD of ALL * Mat. 11.25 but to These he is a GOD God is not the GOD of the Dead but of the Living †Ch. 22.32 They that did Beleeve were not under a C W and Cured but under a C G and Blessed with faithfull Abraham * Gal. 3.9 And the Covenant that was confirmed before of God in Christ the Law which was 430 years after cannot disanull †Ver. 17. To our purpose is the Preface to the Ten commandments viz I am the Lord thy God which cannot Be by a C W. It is not Do this and I will be thy God but I am thy God therefore Do this * Deu. 5.15 Fath. God saith If ye keep my Covenant Object 1 then ye shall be a Peculiar treasure unto me †Exo. 19.5 Min. So Jesus saith He that loveth me shall be loved of my Father * Joh. 14.21 In such sayings God speaks as a Father to children to draw to Duty q d Do So and I will Love thee The childs love is not the Cause but the Effect not the Root but the Fruit of the fathers love to the child we love Him because he first loved Vs †1 Joh. 4.19 To a people under a C G the Law on Mount Sinai was delivered as on Mount Sion in the hand of a Mediatour * Gal. 3.19 without whom God had nothing to speak to man but Death N B. From his Right hand i e where Christ sitteth and Then virtually sat went a fiery law Heb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A fire of law For them not Against them and how Formidable and Fiery soever yet it was a fruit of Gods love yea he Loved the people †Deu. 33.2 3. Fath. Not against them say you Object 2 Paul saith it was against them and so took out of the way by Christ * Col. 2.14 Min. He speaks of the C L which to disobey was death †Lev. 23.29 30. The M L as a C W is against all men under it as well since Christ's death as before And as a C W it was taken away Before Christ's death as well as Since for them that beleeve And as a rule of life it never was against any man since nor before It was and is against Sin but it 's For man if God be for him Fath. You say the law on Mount Sinai was delivered as on Mount Sion Object 3 Paul opposeth them one to the other and speaketh of one as Dreadfull of the other as Comfortable * Heb. 12.18 22. Min. Paul sheweth what you See not viz that the ministry of the Gospel on Mount Sion is attended with more terrour than the Law on Mount Sinai was e g. Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God 〈◊〉 * Ver. 15. lest there be any fornicatour or prophane person as Esau c †Ver. 16. why so for ye are not come to the mount that might be touched c * Ver. 18. which was very terrible but ye are come to Mount Sion c †Ver. 22. what then See that ye refuse not him that speaketh for if they escaped not who refused him that spake on Earth much more shall not we escape if we turn away from him who speaketh from Heaven * Ver. 25. Whose voice then shook the Earth but now he hath promised saying Yet once more I shake not the Earth onely but also Heaven †Ver. 26. He that despised Moses law died without mercy of how much Sorer punishment suppose ye shall he be thought worthy who hath troden under foot the Son of God * Heb. 10.28 29. The Gospel is glad tidings it 's Season is a day of Salvation but yet attended with a day of Vengeance for disobedience †Isa 61.2 without which what dread is in the Law Fath. Surely the Law was delivered to the Jews Object 4 as a C W. Min. The Ten Commandments contain the Matter and Words of the C W. And they were to acquaint Them and are to acquaint Us with the C W that All by Nature are Under that men may know what it is and not trust to Death for Life The Jews had been so long in Egyptian darknesse that Religion was almost rooted out of Heart and Life †Jos 24.14 and so needed to have a Rowsing Lecture read in their Ears But that ever God did since mans fall deliver the Law as a C W for man to be Saved by it is Quite besides the Book contrary to the Gospel a Weaknesse and a Shame for a man who hath a Bible in his house once to Imagine Fath. God saith Object 5 Keep my Statutes which if a man Do he shall live in them * Lev. 18.5 Min. For one to think from any such Text that Ever man was saved by Works savours of Grosse ignorance of the C W. This covenant requires a man to be as perfectly Righteous as Jesus himself was and if a man Once sin though he Never sin more there is no More to be said he can Never be saved by that covenant If then Eternal life be in this Text intended †Lev. 18.5 the law of Faith is included by which a person must be justified to live Eternally And then by Evangelical obedience to the Law he shall live 1 Temporally for Godlinesse hath the promise of the life that now is * 1 Tim. 4.8 2 Spiritually for the Righteous shall flourish †Psal 92.12 as the Body by it's Food for God deals out his Heavenly bread in a way of Duty But by defect in Duty some die Temporally in Body * 1 Cor. 11.30 and many