ready at his Back to try his work So let a Christian have the Law not only in his Heart and Head but also under his Eye in the Bible that standing Rule that Sure word more to be regarded than what is spoken with an audible voice out of Heaven †2 Pet. 2.18 19. The commandment is a Lamp and the law is Light * Pro. 6.23 Simile the Sun is not more necessary by Day nor the Moon by Night nor a Candle in a Coal-pit or dark Dungeon than the Law without which the world would be a Hell Dr Luther 2 They are ruled by the law written in their hearts How shall we know whether these Persons pretences are pure To the Law if they speak not according to this WORD be they men or Devils or Angels there is no Light in them Heb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 no morning Junius nulla lucis scintilla not a spark of light †Isa 8.20 N B. There is an Outward law written in the Bible and an Inward law written in a true Christians Heart the Outward law is the rule of Life not the Inward for the outward is Perfect the inward Imperfect The outward law is to Rule the inward and the inward is to be Ruled by the outward That the law is written in the Heart that loves it not as written in the Bible I utterly Deny Apage if the heart be not on the Law the law is not on the Heart 3 They are acted by a principle of love As if a Person should professe to love his Prince beyond him who in All points punctually obeys his Princes laws yet will not this person regard his Princes laws for his Love forsooth must be his Supream Law Whether this person have any love to his Prince or no I will not determine but this is certain his Prince hath one Singular Self-conceited Subject A piece of Pride to whom he may say Love me and love my law They that love God love his law as saith the man after Gods own heart O how love I thy law * Psal 119.97 there is NO more Lord-lovers than law-lovers Some professe love who have none some deny it who have it how shall we know who loves Christ this critical Question Christ himself resolves He that hath my commandments and keepeth them He it is that loveth me †Joh. 14.21 4 They are led by the Spirit of God How shall a man know he is led by the Spirit of God but by the Word of God i e as it leads him according to the Word Beleeve not every spirit but try the spirits whether they are of God * 1 Joh. 4.1 We must try the spirits by the Word and not the word by the spirits 5 They delight to do the will of God How shall a man know the Will of God but by the Word of God and how shall a man delight in the Will of God without delight in the Word of God if a man delight not in the will of God in his word for Direction how shall he delight in the will of God in his rod for Correction e g Suppose God WILL take away Health Wealth Wife Child If once persons are puffed up with Pride they are soon filled with Swelling words of vanity †2 Pet. 2.18 Fath. It is clear to me that the law as written in the Bible is a Christians rule of life Q. is it a rule of life for a Carnal man too Min. The law is for a rule of Life to all men Living who have it A Rule for All. Jesus himself was not excepted when under it * Gal. 4.4 N B Man is to be considered in a twofold State precedent to a State of Grace 1 In innocency In this State the law as a C W was mans rule Of life and For life so long as he Obeyed he lived 2 In a Fallen state The condition of the C W was such that the Least sin Brake it and brought man under the Curse of it Before sin man was under the Blessing of the covenant after sin man was under the Curse of the C W and this is the Case of all Carnal men In this State the M L is a rule of Moral Life And the more exactly to his light a Moral man is ruled by it the more he is to be Commended though thereby he is not Justified And it is in a Sense a rule To life eternal i e as it is a School-master to direct to Christ to be Justified by Faith And this it doth Occasionally by shewing Sin and Wrath without a sight of which what cares a Sinner for a Saviour God likeneth his Law to a Looking-glasse †Jam. 1.23 Simile A glasse by shewing the Spots in the Face Occasionally directs to water to cleanse though water be not seen in the glasse A sense of a Disease directs to the Doctour for Cure Simile though the Doctour be not seen in the disease So the Law though it do not Verbally bid one go to Christ or shew the way of Salvation by it's light yet the law of the Lord is perfect converting the Soul * Psal 19.7 But if this should never be for some men were never made to be saved †2 Pet. 2.12 yet the Law is to be their rule of life and by shewing what is Good and Evil it is to restrain them from Evil and to constrain them to Good and the more a man is thus ruled by the Law the more Mercy may he expect here and the lesse Misery here and hereafter Fath. How was the M L a rule of life to the Jews before Christs death Q how were they under it as we are Since his death Min. The Jews were like Rebekahs Twins two manner of people * Gen. 25.23 viz Carnal and Spiritual The carnal and wicked though Externally and by Profession under a C G were under the Curse of the Law and for the Future it was to Fare with them as with those that never were under that C G. Behold the dayes come saith the Lord that I will punish all them which are circumcised with the uncircumcised Egypt and Judah and Ammon c for these nations i e Egypt and Ammon are uncircumcised i e in Flesh and the house of Israel is uncircumcised in Heart †Jer. 9.25 26. So we in our Congregational Reformed Gentile Church some Wise some Foolish virgins * Mat. 25.2 The wise are under the Law for rule of life the Foolish for all their Church member-ship are under the Curse of the Law ¶ 2 The Jews were under the law to Terrifie and Humble them to prepare them for Christ and So are we Not that the work of the law in humiliation of Heart and reformation of Life makes a Sinner acceptable to Christ as if Worthy because of this Humility But it makes Christ acceptable to a Sinner Simile as a Physitian
affinity with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To repeat which signifies the Word Cuts and Pierces by Frequent Repition An Edge-Tool is Whet by many Motions and Rubs upon the Whet-Stone and the Stone made Bright thereby So is the Word Sharpened Simile and the Heart Brighten'd and Quickned by Frequent Repition But this requires Discretion i e so to whet as to set an Edge On and not whet it Off again in which work wisdom is profitable to direct †Ecl. 10.10 She openeth her mouth with Wisdom and in her tongue is the Law of Kindnesse * Pro. 31.26 A law hath Force and Power to prevail So words spoken with Wisdome The words of the Wise are as Goads †Ecl. 12.11 they will Prick and as Nails fastened then is a Word well Driven when it Nails the Heart to God Do not Do and Undo as you will if you Overdo Children must not be over-Driven Let my Lord pass over before and I will lead on Softly as the Children be able to endure * Gen. 33.14 Then shall the Lambs feed after their Manner †Isa 5.17 N B. Children well educated have Two Titles in the Bible to teach Parents the Necessity of Frequent Instruction with Discretion 1 Arrows * Psal 127.4 Will a Knotty Crooked Stick be made a Straight Arrow with ease without Work and Art 2 Pollished Stones †Psa 144.12 Will Rough Rocky Cragged Stones become Smooth Pollished Stones sit for a Princes Palace without Pains and Skill in Paring and Hewing No nor some With it neither who after Hewn are Slain as fit for nothing but Slaughter * Ho. 6.5 It s sad when the sword comes to contemn the Rod †Ezrk. 22.13 The Rod is to Convert and Save The Sword to Kill and Damn When the sword does it's Work it contemns the Rod because that did not Do it's Work But Frequent Instructions are Frequently Effectual The waters wear the Stones * Job 14.19 How so If a Flood fall on a Flint at Once it wears it not but it's falling by a Drop at once Does it Gutta cavat lapidem The soft drop hollows the hard Stone i e by falling from the Eaves of an House off the End of a Straw Thus words Frequently falling from Parents Mouths upon Childrens Hearts Smal Acts continued will produce Great Effects Seventh Circum 7. The End to Which Children are Educated viz That Children may be Converted and Saved Soul and Body from Hell to Heaven That Parents may be Satisfied and Comforted in them in Life and Death That God may be Served and Glorified by them And They Glorified with GOD for Evermore So much of the Circumstances of Education Fath. If my Children be willing to hear and learn Instruction how shall I Carry it to them Min. If your Children deserve Praise Pray let them have it i e So much as will encourage them to Be and Do better Not too Much I pray Praise may soon Spoil Caution As the fining pot for Silver and the furnace for Gold so is a man to his Praise †Pro. 27.21 i e so is a mans Praise to Him The fining pot and furnace Try the silver and Gold Simile and discover the Drosse so a mans Praise will Try what mettal he is made of it will discover his drosse i e Pride Vanity Levity A man can neither be too Worthy nor too Wary of Praise Fath. How if All the good Instruction I can give them hath No good Operation upon them Min. If Words will not Work try what Tears will do Go King Edwards way to Work viz K. Edw. the 6th When he could not prevail against Cranmer and Ridley with Arguments he Wept he fell a Crying and then they were overcome Tears are Crying Words Crying Words heard as High as Heaven the Lord hath heard the voice of my Weeping * Psal 6.8 Tears have Piercing Tongues One would think the Tears of a Father should break a Heart of Flint Fath. How if Crying Words will not work on the Hearts of my Children Min. Then try what Dying Words will do when That Day Comes Dying Words Leave Dying Words behind you to work when You are Dead Dying Words may be Living Words by which you may speak when Dead as Abel Did †Heb. 11.4 Gather your Children about you Death-Bed as Jacob did Jacob called unto his Sons and said Gather your selves and hear ye sons of Jacob and hearken to Israel your Father * Gen 49.1 q d Come my Dear Children Hear the words of your Dying Father But Do not defer any one Dayes Duty till your Dying Day A Dying Dayes work is a Great Dayes work of it Self without any work that layes Behind It 's the Greatest Dayes work of All the Dayes of a mans Life Die a little word a great work The Word Die is but Small but the Work Die is Great Besides should you defer your Duty till you come to Die your Children will think you want Sleep and and are Light-Headed your talk being unusual and strange and so will not regard your words Do your Duty Daily while you Live that when you come to Die you may say to your Children as Mr. Bolton said to his when he was Dying viz None of you will Dare to meet me out of Christ in the Judgement Day Now let us come to the Second General Head viz Correction But Do you not See One of your Sons hath given us the Slip. Pray Recall him quickly Fath. HO Sirrah Whither go You Come again quick I charge you Come not near that Coach there You Jackanapes will you Offer it I would fain see that Ay Do I would you Durst Min. OH Good Lord have merey on these Poor Children Parent corrected What words are here from a Father to a Child Sirrah Jackanapes Atat Papae Apage OH Alas Out upon it I would fain see that Do I would you Durst What is the Childs Disobedience desirable to the Father Consequently the Childs Damnation in Hell is desirable Under the Law the disobedient Child was stoned to Death under the Gospel is Damned to Hell Now I come to Direct you to Correct your Children it appears you need Correction your Self Fath. Why does he Anger me then I use to speak so in my Anger I cannot Help it I mean him no Hurt Min. Why does he Anger me I thought I had been Speaking to a Man all this while Because your Son is a Child You will be So too Because He angers You You will anger GOD. I use to speak so OH How do you Accuse your self by this Excuse By this Reply when a man is Accused of a Sin he Accuses himself of a Thousand more to clear One and all that Aggravates that One. If I should ask such a man Friend why do you Swear I am used to it I cannot Help it it 's an old Custom from my Cradle This
no New Heart Soul and Body will shortly be in Hell and Both Black in Everlasting Burnings Mans Sins are Debts of which God keeps account Sinner canst Tell to what thy Debts amount Thy Debts thou art encreasing Every hour Into his Vials God doth also pour Pain for thy Pleasure though thou wilt not Stop As certain as thy Death there 's Drop for Drop God's Cup is almost Full as well as Thine When both are Full OH then the Dreadfull Time Sixt. Doc. 6. Teach them to KInow and cause them to be Well acquainted with the Ten Commandments Of the Ten Commands for they are the Pure Precious Precepts of the Holy Lord God And with the rest Remember Well the Sabbath Day I hope I need not forbid You to convert the Commands into Prayers for your Children according to the Course of Carnal Ignorant People Learn them to know they are Gods Laws to Rule mans Life And that they are to be Obey'd in Deed Word and Thought And whatever is contrary to any one of these Commands that is Sin against GOD. Learn them to know the Necessity of these Laws being written in their Hearts according to the Promise And let your Tongue be the Pen in gods Hand to write them There if the Lord Please Seventh Doc 7. Of Mans Obedience Teach them to know the Utter IOnsufficiency of Mans Obedience to the Law to Save And that the most Excellent Moralist hath as Absolute a Necessity of Jesus Christs Righteousness to Justifie him and that without it he will as Certainly be Damned as the most Prophane Person that ever pissed against a wall in the Whole World Eight Doc 8. Of the Gospel Teach them to know the Gospel The knowledge of the Law is in Order to the Acceptation of the Gospel By the Law is the knowledge of Sin †Ro. 3.20 without which Who will regard the Gospel What cares a Person for a Pardon who knows not that he is Condemned In this Lesson eye three things ¶ 1 The Declaration of the Gospel viz That GOD hath chosen an innumerable company of Mankind And hath given them to CHRIST And sent him into the World to Redeem them from the Curse of the Law by fulfilling the Law N B. He was GOD and Man in One Person Man to Suffer and Die God cannot Die GOD to Satisfie in bearing Wrath Infinitely which Man could not do This GOD-man did Personate Man and in Mans Stead for Man did Actively and Passively obey the Law Perfectly And so hath procured Eternal Life And this is Freely offered to all Dead Sinners by the Declaration of the Gospel And Christs desire that Sinnersshould obtain this Eternal Life is expressed with Longing Sighing Sweating Weeping and Dying ¶ 2 The Condition of the Gospel on our part by which Eternal life is made Ours by which we have Right to the Tree of Life That is FAITH Men are Dead God hath made a Law viz He that Believes shall Live He that believes Not shall Never Live but Die for Ever A Condemned Sinner is to be Justified by Faith Without the deeds of the Law †Ro. 3.27 28. by the Law of a Just GOD who thus Justifies the Vngodly * Ch. 5.4 By which Law of Faith without Works boasting in Works is excluded Isa 55. Come buy Wine Christ is bought by Believing Buy without Money i e Part with Something worth Nothing i e Sin Self Righteousness Self and all Sin as to the Practice and Pleasure of it Self Righteousness as to any Confidence in it Self by giving up Body and Soul to Christ †1 Cor. 6.20 ¶ 3 The Duties of the Gospel viz Good Works as fruits of Faith Faith which alone Justifies before GOD accompanied with such a Holy Conversation as will Justifie before Men That is the Conversation which becomes the Gospel BUT let Justification by Faith without Works be kept Clear e g. Suppose a Man Famous for Wickednesse who never did any thing else but serve Satan by Whole Sale should come under a Sermon And be convinced of his Sin Sick of Sin Sick for a Saviour and Believe on Jesus Christ H E is Justified Christs Perfect Righteousness is Imputed And if he should drop down Dead where he Stands before he have any time to Pray or do any good Work He is Certainly Saved Now Sir A Caution for the Mother though your Wife does not Object but learn in Silence * 1 Tim. 2.11 as best becomes her with an intent to ask her Husband at home †1 cor 14.35 Yet least she say in her Heart What is it the part of a Mother to play the Preacher I will give her an Instance of one who taught her Son both Law and Gospel The words of King Lemuel * Pro. 31.1 Lemuels Lesson Bathsheba's Catechism Lemuel she calls him because God owned him I will be his Father and he shall be my Son †2 Sa. 7.14 Lemuel God with him The Prophesie that his Mother taught him The word Prophesie in the Hebrew is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A burden of the Root 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To bear the same word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is Englished A burden * Na 1.1 This shews what a heavy charge lyes upon Mothers which she Thus discharges What my SON and what the Son of my WOMB and what the Son of my VOWS †Ver. 2. Give not thy strength to Women * Ver. 3. Here she teaches him Law viz Thou shalt not commit Adultery It is not for KINGS O Lemuel it is not for KINGS to drink Wine †Ver. 4. Lest they drink and forget the LAW * Ver. 5. See how she Schools him N B. The King of Israel was to keep the Law †Deu. 17.19 King Solomon who was in twenty things a Type of Christ was in his Obedience to the Law a Type of Christs Fulfilling the Law to free us from the Curse from whence comes the Comfort of the Gospel Give strong drink to him that is ready to Perish * ver 6. Parallel The great Trumpet shall be blown and they which are ready to Perish shall come †Isa 27.13 And Wine to those that be of heavy Heart Parallel Come buy wine without Mony * Isa 55. Open thy mouth for the Dumb †Ver. 8. This Phrase respects Solomon as a Type of Christ in his Intercession who is to Pray for Them that cannot Pray for Themselves Who are swallowed up in Silence and Shame under a Sight and Sence of Sin At or After convertion Or can say Nothing For but All Against themselves Christ Will speak a Good Word for such which Shall be answer'd with Good and Comfortable Words †Zech. 1.13 Thus as Bathsheba teaches her Son Solomon to officiate as a Type of Christ she teaches him both Law and Gospel And see how Solomon approves of the Mothers Ministry as well as
the Fathers My Son hear the Instruction of thy Father and forsake not the Law of thy Mother * Pro. 1.8 My Son keep thy Fathers Commandments and forsake not the Low of thy Mother †Ch. 6.20 The Law of GOD is called the Law of the Mother And she commanding her Child according to that Law Her Law is the Law of GOD. Of the neglect of which Duty let the Mother take heed lest there come a time when torment makes her Tare the Hair off her Head Ninth Doc 9. Of Faith Teach them to know the Necessity of True Faith Learn them to know it is the Gift of GOD. And the Work of GOD. And that God makes Preparation for Faith by a threefold Conviction of Unbelief 1 Of the utter Deficiency of Faith 2 Of the absolute Necessity of Faith 3 Of the utter Impossibility of Faith in ones Own Power Acquaint them with a threefold Effect of Faith where it s wrought 1 It makes the Heart Pure †Act. 15.9 2 The Conscience Peaceable * Ro. 15.13 3 It makes Christ Precious †1 Pet. 2.7 This Faith is an One thing necessary For by a Fair Profession without Faith a Soul may seem to be Not Far from the Kingdom of Heaven and yet Never the near Civility gilds Fair sets Off a Man Grace only makes a Golden Chris-ti-an Tenth Doc 10. Of Repentance Teach them the necessity of Speedy Repentance That it s not a Work to be put Off for a Year a Month or a Day Let them know its the Gift of CHRIST †Act. 5.31 And that a Sinner can No more Repent himself than he can Pardon himselfe Putting off Repentance proves that the Sinner thinks he can Repent at his Pleasure Like him who put off Faith till Death And being reproved for his Loose Life replyed It 's but believing in Christ at Last But at Last when Dying he lay ROARING OH I have made a Plaister but I cannot make it Stick Shew your Children how the Devil Steals away a Sinners Dayes by a Day at once Should Satan suggest Thus Come Sinner serve me to the Death Live and Die in my sweet service Without Repentance At this a Sinner would Startle q d Satans Subtiltie So I may go to Hell No but Come serve me a Day more Next morning Away without Prayer to pleasure to Day it s but a Day This is easily granted And so on to the End And when the Last Day of life begins Come go on it s but a Day By and by Down drops the Soul into the Dungeon of Hell And then it will be Cold Comfort to hear Satan say Come be quiet thou hast but an Eternitie to spend in Repenting thy daily delay of Repentance in time N B. Without True and Timely Repentance For Sin and From Sin there is Nothing to be expected but a Certain Fearfull Intolerable and Eternal Damning for Sin Eleventh Doc 11. Of Truth Teach them the Excellency of Truth in Tongue i e Truth in Word that hath Truth in Heart for its Root and Truth in Deed for its Fruit. Though this Truth be not the Original Cause of Salvation yet such Shall be Saved And God hath left you Winning Words to entice them to Truth in Tongue Surely they are my People Children that will not Lie so he was their Saviour * Isa 63.8 The lip of Truth shall be established for Ever †Pro. 12.19 The rest read at leasure * Psal 34.12 N B. The good government of the Tongue is a Great Task And that you had need begin to Guide 1 Pet. 3.10 as soon as it begins to Go. 2 Jo. 4. For if long neglected you may more easily weild a Wild Horse or a Weighty Ship driven with Fierce Winds †Ja. 3.2 to 10. Augustus gave a Schollar this Lesson I said I would take heed to my wayes that I sin not with my Tongue * Ps 39.1 And bid him go and learn that Lesson and come again for another His Scholar goes A hard task and comes again 19 years after and Complains of his Lesson viz that it was So Hard he had not well learned it Yet There are Many Christians in Citie and Country of more than 19 years Standing who have this Lesson still to learn Twelth Doc 12. Of Early Piety Teach them the Excellency of Early Piety Of being Quickly Converted and made good Betimes The Lesse time between the First and Second Birth the Better 1 Tell them Such are under that Sweet Promise They that seek me early shall Find me †Pro. 8.17 2 Of Such God hath a Sweet Remembrance viz I remember Thee the kindnesse of thy Youth * Jer. 2.2 3 Such have not that Mountainous Temptation to clime which Old Converts hardly Ever get Over viz You come too Late 4 It s the way to be Eminent with God and Prevalent in Prayer eg The Child Samuel Ministred unto the Lord * 1 Sam. 3.1 MOSES and AARON and SAMUEL among them that call upon his name they called upon the Lord and he answered Them †Psal 99.6 Though MOSES and SAMVEL stood before me yet my mind could not be toward this People * Jer. 15.1 q d If any Persons in the World prevail with Me They are the Men. And how Lamentable is the Losse of Such When all the Congregation saw that Aaron was Dead they mourned for Aaron 30 dayes even ALL the house of Israel †Nu. 20.29 The Children of Israel wept for Moses 30 dayes * Deu. 34.8 They Murmur against them while they Live but Mourn for them when they are Dead Samuel died and All Israel gathered together and lamented him †1 Sa. 25.1 Jeremiah lamented for good young Josiah and All the Singing Men and Singing Women spake of Josiah in their Lamentations to this day * 2 Chro. 35.25 The First ripe Fruits were Precious to God †Exo. 22.29 And they were so to man * Micha 7.1 The Devil in his Old Enmity against Early Piety hath Tipt the Tongues of some with this Taunt A young Saint and an old Devil Which Satanical Saying and Pestilent Proverb I shall not ask Satan leave to turn thus A young Saint and an old ANGEL Let Satan say his Worst to be Good betimes is Best Mistake me not it 's Being good and not Knowing good only that I plead for One may Know good and Be evil One may Know evil and Be good It s not ones Knowing Good or Evil that makes one Good or Evil but it s ones Loving of Good or Evil which proves one Good or Evil. If a man would know what City he belongs to Zion or Babilon and whether he is going to Heaven or Hell let him ask his love Thirteenth Doc 13. Of Gods eye Teach them to Know that they are Alway under the Open Eye and Open Ear of God Tell
Excuse is Gods Great Charge This hath been thy Manner from thy Youth †Jer. 22.21 Sad Security And will a man clear himself with This Will he defend his Neck with the Edge of the Ax Save himself from being Drowned by leaping into the Sea From being Damned by leaping Head-long into Hell When God on his Throne brings this man to the Bar q d Come Sinner Thou hast broken my Law what Reason caust thou render why I should not Rend thee in Pieces Lord I Used to do So. What will this man mock God to his Face when Mighty Men cry Mountains fall on us and hide us from his Face But why do I talk to you for you cannot help it If you cannot you are under the Power of Sin that is a Sad Case But some Cannot because they Care not or Will not A carnall man Cannot Believe Repent these are the Supernatural Gifts of God But a carnal man Can Forbear many Sins if he Will. e g Suppose he that is Drunk must pay a Hundred pound or his Head He that Swareth an Oath Peril produces power Ten Pound or have his Tongue cut out And this by a Law the Penalty of which there is No Possibility of escaping Then mens Power to passe by an Ale-house and Bite in their Oaths would appear They that Cannot go in the Way of heaven because they Will not Shall not go into the Joy of heaven because GOD Will not When he that carnally cries I Sin I Cannot Help it shall cry LORD Lord Heaven GATE is Shut I cannot Enter then in effect will God reply I Cannot Help it I Must be Just Now in saying you Cannot help it when you Can instead of Repentance for Sin you adde Sin to Sin for this God adds Wo to Wo. To cover Sin with Sin is a Sad covering for Sin for which God covers Sorrow with Sorrow by adding Sorrow to Sorrow By this Plea you think to Palliate and Lessen sin That is the way to wash the Devils Face but you make it Never the Whiter By this pretended Infirmity you expect the Benifit of Immunity but He that covereth his Sins shall not Prosper †Pro. 28.13 but Perish A young man in the Tavern seeing Diogenes fled farther In to be out of his Sight Nay said Diogenes the farther thou fleest In the more thou art In the Tavern And be sure your sin will find you Out * Nu. 32.23 You mean your children no hurt Suppose you were Sick of the Plague and should go among your Children and breath into their Mouths and I should cry out OH Mad Man what do you Mean Will you reply I mean no Hurt Fath. I confesse its very bad for Parents to use such words to Children I did not think there had been so much evil in such words as now I see there is I accept of Reproof for them Now having Corected me for my Carnal language I Pray proceed to the Second Head viz Correction for my Children and Direct Me to Corect Them Min. I will so Correction The word Correction comes of the Latin Correctio of Corrigo To make straight of Rego To rule as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because Children are Crooked and Unruly i e they do not acord in Heart and Life with the Straight Line and Rule of Gods Word Fath. What am I to Correct my children For Min. For what God Corrects His children GOD corrects Man for Iniquity and Man must correct Children for the Same Fath. How am I to Correct my Children Min. Correction is twofold viz Verbal and Verberal i e with the Word and with the Rod. Fath. How with the Word Min. You must Rebuke Reprove and Chide your Children for their Faults Fath. I had need have some Direction in so Doing Min. In this General Head 1 Correction with Word viz Correction both with Word and Rod I shall omit that sevenfold order of Circumstance used under the First General Head And the Sum of So many of them as are to our Purpoe I shall Digest into a Rank of Directions ¶ 1 Do it Timely Direct 1. while Tender Take a twig of a years growth Simile and you may bend it which way you Will and straighten its crookedness at Ease But let it grow crooked many Years and it will Break before it will Bend. But you can neither Bend it nor Break it Parents from Children must their Vices Weed As they spring Up before they run to Seed ¶ 2 Do it Secretly Direct 2. and Sweetly Pills of Reproof for Children are to be given Secretly and in Sugar or Honey Gilded over with Gentleness Some Parents Rebukes are like Fools Bolts Simile Soon Shot Bolted out in Any bodies preence Read to the childs Discouragement †Col. 3.21 Grief and Disgrace And if a parent takes away a childs Good Name what hath it Left to Lose ¶ 3 Do it Proportionably Direct 3. to the Fault Reprove for Smal Faults with Soft Words As Mary when she suppos'd her Child was in Fault Son Why hast thou thus dealt with us behold thy Father and I have Sought thee Sorrowing * Lu. 2.48 To Cauterize and Cut a small swelling which a little Soft Sweet Oyntment will Asswage is Vanity and Cruelty There is that speaks like the piercings of a Sword but the tongue of the wise is health †Prov. 12.18 ¶ 4 Do it sometime more Pathetically Direct 4. as you see Cause e g What my SON and what the Son of my WOMB * Pro. 31.2 and give thy strength to Women and Wine So you What my SON and Curse Lie Steal My SON and a Swearer a Sabbath-breaker a Gamester a Foolish Jester If a man sin against the Lord WHO shall intreat for him †1 Sam. 2.25 If thou for sake him He will cast thee Off for EVER * 1 Chro. 28.9 ¶ 5 Do it somtime more Piercingly Direct 5. Accompany Sharp Words with a Cutting Countenance Eli reproved his Sons for their Great Sins with Solemn Words but not with Sharp Looks Heb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He frowned not on them †1 Sam. 3.13 He ware too Smooth a Brow for the work of Reproof for Such Sins The Heb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies to look Dark frown and wrincle as when the moisture is gone In great grief the blood returns to the Heart for its relief and that makes the Face Pale as Death Eli wanted a suitable Sense of his Sons Sin to Sad and Horrifie his Heart and make his Face look dark as Death on them when their Death lay at Door What then I will Judge his house for Ever for the iniquity which He knoweth because his Sons made themselves vile and he restrained them not Heb frowned not on them ¶ 6 Do it Scripturally 6 Direct Oppose their Sin against GOD with Gods Word against their Sin
†Ex. 4.3 But when he handled it in Faith and Obedience it ceased to be a Serpent to Slay him and became a Rod to Stay him 4 The Fathers Rod If he use it Well it will be his Staff Correct thy Son and he shall give thee Rest * Pro. 29.17 If the Rod be So used as to fetch Folly out of the childs Heart and make it Wise what then My Son if thine Heart be Wise my Heart shall rejoyce even mine * Pro. 23.15 Thus if Good Successe But if No good successe yet if the Parent perform his Part it will be his Stay though the Child falls Down into Hell Fire Fath. Now give me some Direction in this Rod Correction Min. I will so 1 Direct for Rod Correction The first Direction shall be by way of Caution with respect to the Original Signification of the word Rod viz A Staff Hence you are in NO wise to imagine that you may beat a Child with a Staff as if you were to beat a Bull or a Bear in so doing the Child may reply as the Philistine to David Am I a Dog NO but with a Rodof small Twigs or such like which will Smart but not Hurt ¶ 2 Do it Timely Chasten thy son while there is hope * Pro. 19.18 q d 2 Direct There will be No hope if hardened by long neglect So heart hardening is Sin that some Children under the Rod have reply'd to their Parents Ay Kill me if you will I will Never yield Childrens corruptions are the Cords by which Satan binds them to the Stake to be Burned and draws them down to hell to be Damned If you will cut these Cords do it Early and you do it Easily But while you neglect your Duty Behold a Double Miserie viz Satan is both Softening your Childrens Hears for his own Suggestions and Hardening them against your Instruction and Correction So that the Heart will be as Soft Wax to Satans Temptation to receive the Least Impresson and as a Hard Flint to GODS Word a Mans Rod. Past Cure Till at length it may be to as much Purpose to correct a Child as to whip a Post or a Wild Beast ¶ 3 Do it Tenderly 3 Direct Lovingly Pitifully Patiently Not Passionately Wrathfully or Angerly It was a Sweet Saying of Plato to his provoking Scholar Parent learn of Plato I could find in my heart to Beat thee but that I am Angry with thee Parents put Children to pain for Satans pleasure Some parents will not correct their Children till Provocation hath put them into a Passion He that is moved by Passion to Correction obeyeth not GOD but the DEVIL and Passion and God will not Blesse but Curse such correction N B God corrects His Children in Love to learn you to correct Your Children in Love Make it manifest to your childrens Consciences and Capacities that you correct them in Obedience to GOD and in Love to their Souls and the it 's like to have Good Successe ¶ 4 Do it Secretly 4 Direct Put not a poor Child to Publick Shame Let not a child be Corrected as if a man was to be Executed i e upon a Stage but have it into the House of Correction i e some close Corner or Chamber If your Childrens Faults are offensive to your Neighbours or Publick it 's convenient to let them Know of Correction for good Example Sake and lest they think you Wink at Wickednesse ¶ 5 Do it Unanimously 5 Direct Let Father and Mother remember the Insitution Conjunction Injunction of God for their Union from the Beginning They shall be One †Gen. 2.24 Did he not make One and wherefore One to seek a Godly Seed Heb a seed of God * Mal. 2.15 God is speaking against Unlawfull Marriage and Disunion in Life N B Marriage according to Gods Institution accompanied with a Godly Conversation and Union in the Education of Children is an Excellent way of Good Successe in seeking a Godly Seed But if Disunited in this Deed if there be a Disunion in Correction the Faulty Child flees from one to the other for Shelter And thinks the Child of the next evil Act I will Venture for my Mother will save me from my Fathers Rod. This Hardens and Spoils and makes a child Love one and Hate the other and love that parent Most that Least deserves it Note the Fruit of this Parental Diversity of Education by this Text. A Wise Son makes a Glad Father * Pro. 10.1 Why not a glad Mother too It 's when the sons Wisdom is a fruit of the fathers Wise godly education But a Foolish Son is the heavinesse of his Mother Why not of his Father too It 's when the sons Folly is a fruit of the mothers Fondnesse which serves to make children Fools which folly she must Feed on as the bitter fruit of her doings It ' Strange yet True viz That Mothers had need Learn to Love their Own Children * Tit. 2.4 If they do not they are like to Love them so as to learn God to Loath them and so as to Shelter them from the Rod that should Save them Parents must not one Oppose another But let Both agree and Both be present and Acquiesce in this Act of Rod Correction Vis unita fortior ¶ 6 Do it Proportionably to the Fault 6 Direct And that must be sometimes Softly and sometime Sharply If God will Plague David and Spare Doeg it is the Lord let him do as he will Gods Will is his Rule Gods Word is Mans Rule by which Word the offender is to be beaten according to his Fault by a certain number of stripes †Deu. 25.2 To which the Law of the N T is Consonant * Lu. 12.47 And Laws of Justice among Christians and Heathens for even some of These have been Excellent in their love To and exercise Of Justice Consider what Circumstances of a childs Fault do Aggravate it e g Such a Time Sabbath Day and in Sermon Time Often Warned of it Little Tempted to it Done with Delight Sweet Meat must have Sowre Sauce Consider what may Lessen the Fault e g Much Temptation to it Little Warning of it Ignorance of the Evil of the Act. He that knows and yet does evil shall be beaten with Many stripes †Lu. 12.47 He that knows not with Few stripes Much Correction for Little Transgression is not Equity but Cruelty Little Correction for Much Transgression is Impiety Foolish Pity Both Unjust Unsuitable Unprofitable next to Nothing if not Worse than Nought ¶ 7 Do it Effectually 7 Direct To which end it must sometime be done Smartly A Rod is such a Plaister for a childs Sore as will not Cure without Smart Let it Smart till the child Submit Let not the Rod Go till the Child do kindly Kisse it away God will do thus by His Children and you must do thus by Your
a father may be a Motive to duty The Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A father comes of the Root 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he willed desired of the fathers affection to his children which doth Naturally descend to them with desire after their welfare If not Thus a man deserves not the Name of a father They who have been instruments to bring children into a State of Condemnation and care not to bring them into a State of Salvation are these Parents shall Paul travail in birth till Christ be formed in Christians * Gal. 4.19 and be so concerned as to wish himself accursed from Christ for his Kindred †Rom. 9.3 shall Ministers do their utmost to Save children shall the Devil do his utmost to Damn them and shall their own father that Begat them and their mother that Bare them carry it as if they care not whether they are brought forth for a Saviour or a Murderer and are these Parents Monstrum Horrendum NB. Neglect of duty to a Child to humour an angry Wife had like to cost Moses his Life for the Lord sought to Kill him * Exo. 4.24 Let carelesse parents have a Care God do not kill them Quite And let Parents hear themselves spoken to in these Texts Keep this man if by any means he be missing then thy Life shall be for his Life †I K. 20.39 If he Die in his iniquity his Blood will I require at thy hand * Ezek. 3.18 They that are under Such words abroad without Shelter and do not hear it Thunder are very Dull of hearing Second The childs tears at it's Birth Coroll 2. Childs Tears may he a Motive for parents to Pity and Duty These tears seem to Presage its Sorrow The poor child seems to cry to see into what a Stormy Sea it is Lanched in danger to be Swallowed up Soul and Body at once Or to see upon what a Shore of trouble it's Landed to wander in a wildernesse of Wo among wild beasts of Prey Yea so Cruel are the Devils Creatures that poor children are in danger of their Death before their Birth Cruel cruelty The cruel Claws of these wild Beasts sometimes tare the Young out of the Womb before they are Born * Am. 1.13 and the Old out of the Tomb after they are Buried †Ch. 2.1 Third Coroll 3. Childs Dead state The dead condemned State children are Born in and are in till Born again It is a Dead Life between the first and second Birth One passing by the house of a Sinful Sluggard said Here lies not lives Such a One. A natural life is a kind of a Lifelesse Worthlesse life The old youngman A strange Epitaph An old man converted a little before his Death would have this Epitaph on his Tomb Here lies a very Old Man of 3 years old Barlaam being asked how old he was said 45. Said the other Thou seemest to be 70. Yea said Barlaam if you reckon ever since I was Born but I do not Count the time I spent in Sin Lay this Dead Life to Heart Suppose you had a child condemned to Die yet so as there remains a possibility to procure a Pardon The execution hour is concealed in the Kings own breast It may be the child hath Ten Dayes to live it may be not Two Hours How would you bestir you in Such Case how restlesse Night and Day till your poor childs Pardon is procured except Jehoram-like you were bereav'd of Bowels †2 Chron. 21.19 and had not the least Pity left in you This is your childrens Case if unconverted As after the Sentence a malefactor is a Dead man so before the Second birth a child is a Dead child i e Sentenced and Condemned to be Hanged and Burned and Racked in Hell And peradventure you are driving on designs to procure Portions and not Pardons OH Miserable man to morrow may be thy Son or thy Daughters Damning day And if Once the secret set time be Out the poor child is Haled away into Endlesse Wo. Fourth Your condemned child Coroll 4. Supposed sad sense is also to be supposed under a Sad Sense of it's condemned condition Suppose you should Act as if as Insensible of it as a parent is of a childs Soul condemned state And at your Return in the evening after all the trifling Turns you take in a day your poor child should Quaere with a Sad Countenance Father where have you Been to day Here and There about This and That OH Father what have you not been with the King to day and do not know but I may be Hanged to morrow And as you sit Idleing Sleeping or Smoking in the house GOOD Lord father will you sit Thus and let me be Hanged What a Cutting consideration is This OH how Common is it for children to be in a Soul-condemned condition and will parents who professe to believe it Pipe and Pot and Prate away their time while their children stand on the brink of Everlasting Burnings will they take their Recreation while their children are under Condemnation near that execution and End to perish for Ever the Plague of Pharoh is upon such parents hearts WHAT Faith have such in Gods word what Life is in their faith the faith of DEVILS exceeds a Dead faith * Jam. 2.19 Fath. It is very Sad to consider a child in such Case Min. Very SAD in so saying you say Nothing It 's most Deplorable and Lamentable enough to make a mercifull man wish his head Waters and his eyes a fountain of Tears to weep Day and Night for children so Dismally miserable †Jer. 9.1 And its matter of mourning to think how Few Tears fall into Gods Bottle upon this account Fift Coroll 5. The inhumanity and cruelty of such carelesse parents Cruelty They are said to be more Savage than Sea-Monsters for even They draw out the breast and give such to their Young * Lam. 4.3 but these Men-Monsters are like the Ostriches in the wildernesse with a 7-fold Similitude 1 The Ostrich is between an unclean hatefull Bird and a Beast hath part of Both Ostrich defined but No part of Man as the Meraid hath A sad Character for a father 2 Faith outwardly with feathers †Job 39.13 So is a foul Pharisaical father 3 She is Proud What time she lifteth up her self on High she Scorneth the Horse and his Rider * Ver. 18. 4 She is Foolish because God hath deprived her of wisdom †Ver. 17. In danger she hides her Head and then thinks No body sees Her because She sees no body Man thinks he is Safe because he sees not God Man Cannot see he Will not see and then sayes God Shall not see * Psal 94.7 5 She is forgetfull of the great concern She leaveth her egges in the earth and forgetteth that the foot may Crush them or that the wild
are of kinne to that cursed King who cut the Roll and cast it into the fire * Jer. 36.23 but it was rescribed and many like words added †Ver. 32. if man will diminish the Preceptive part God will adde to the Penal part of his Precept There were desperate Antinomians in Job's dayes e g He stretcheth out his hand against God * Job 15.25 Take this literally and so did Julian the Apostate when wounded in battell and bleeding to death he stretched out his hand to throw his blood up to Heaven Julian against Jesus saying in indignation to Jesus Theod l 3. Cap. 20. O Galilean thou hast overcome me And the Amalekites who when they could catch a Jew and kill him would cut off the part that received the Seal of the Covenant and with an out-stretched hand throw it up towards Heaven Jerom. with indignation against God for that institution Take it metaphorically and so doth he stretch out his hand against God who useth his Wits and Words against God as the Antinomian when he argueth against Gods law A man should not lift up hand word or thought against God but hand heart tongue and all For God but he strengthens himself against the Almighty †Job 15.25 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Shaddai Omnipotency it self who can do all things and yet what can the Almighty do for them yet he silled their houses with good things * Chap. 22. 17 18. and yet what can the Almighty do for them Reason will tell a man the Almighty can do All things Reason differs the spirit of a Man from the spirit of a Beast what unreasonable blind beast is this then that thus argues If the Almighty can do nothing For he can do nothing Against a man and that I presume is their hope viz the Lord will not do good neither will he do evil * Zeph. 1.12 He runs upon the bosses of his bucklers †Job 15.26 alluding to the fierce assault of a Souldier The buckler is Defensive armour the bosse Offensive i e a Sharp Spike if a man come close it kills him God's Buckler is the Preceptive part of his law by which he defends his honour his Bosse is the Curse threat or Penal part by which he kills them that break his command e g Thou shalt not eat of the tree of knowledge there is the Buckler in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die * Gen. 2.17 there is the Bosse Adam runs upon it and dies for it Thus Job's Antinomian or ours his Cousin German He will offer violence to God and his Law with Gospel in his mouth He runs upon him even on his neck †Job 15.26 He will try a twich with God He would pull God out of Heaven and throw the world out at Window A Saint playes the man against Satan but he playes the Devil against God who makes his Law void Here is sin of a Size what blows big enough for sin So big it will puzzle an Apostle and a Philosopher too to define it Fath. What may be the Reason of our Antimian aversnesse to the Law of God Min. 1 Because of its Antiquity 1 R. and their Novelty They have an evil eye upon the O T for its Names-sake Upon this account they may slight God himself who is the Ancient of dayes †Dan. 7.9 And on this account they may slight the Gospel for that is as old as the Law as no doubt they will do when a New one comes up And on the same account they may slight their Own opinion for it 's as old as Adam's fall Adam was an Antinomian when he brake the Law It 's older than Adam's fall the Devil was an Antinomian when he tempted Adam to be of the like Religion ¶ 2 Because of its Purity 2 R. It is a sacred divine perfect pur * Ps 19.8 holy spiritual Law †Rom. 7.12 14. It binds hands feet tongue heart and All to holinesse Antinomians are Libertine who love not to be bound by the bonds of Gods holy commands but a David loves the law upon this account thy word is very pure therefore thy servant loveth it * Ps 119.140 ¶ 3 Because of their own Obscurity 3 R. and ignorance of its excellency That excellent office of the law viz to wound for Sin and send to a Saviour they are Strangers to They never saw their own sins in Gods Looking-glasse but other mens sins in the Devils Prospecitive-glasse Simile The young Blackmoor Simile and so are like the Black boy that fled from his Black father to his White mother not considering his Own blacknesse Antinomians slight the law as the Indians did their Gold when they knew not its worth And as a Natural man doth Gods gold i e Simile grace which is to him as drosse And as the Jews did Jesus not discerning his Beauty though altogether lovely †Cant. 5.10 The very Name of Jesus was hatefull to the Jews they could not call him by it but this fellow * M. 26.61 that deceiver †Ch. 27.63 and the Carpenter * Mar. 6.3 so is the very word Law contemptible to our Antinomians But this is madnesse with a Witnesse for without law what right hath a man to any good viz Temporal Spiritual or Eternal What right to house goods land without law or what Safety are lands or life in without law what right to Christ Heaven eternal life without law It is by Law that Christs righteousnesse IS righteousnesse i e by the law of Works It is by Law that Christs righteousnesse is a Christians righteousnesse i e by the law of Grace †Jer. 23.6 It is by Law that Christians are Saved i e the law of Faith and it 's by Law that sinners are Damned i e by the law of Works God imputeth righteousnesse by law and Saveth and God imputeth sin by law and Damneth and is LAW to be slighted He that breaks one breaks all * Ja. 2.10 Break one break all the breach of the ten commandments brings a man 10000 Talents into Gods debt by Law and is LAW to be slighted Little England hath a great deal of Rome in it and seeing darknesse is now a dayes so desirable it's to be wished these persons wish not for Popery and Tyranny who do so disgust this good word LAW for if a man would have laws against Theft nulled no doubt that man desires to be a Thief and so of any other such like desire to destroy Law It is no wonder these persons are in darknesse for they will shut their eyes against Scripture-light if it be contrary to their own conceptions Simile They are like the Elephant who makes the water Muddy that he may not see his Deformity They will search Scripture for what seems to suit with their sinfull minds but would bury the opposite truth in
believe there is either God or Devil or Heaven or Hell Here is an eye for a Parish what Doctrine will this person preach who hath took such a Degree from the Devil and Hell Another denied the Being of God to an honest mans face who affirmed it said the A theist I will prove there is no God thus viz I will fall a Swearing as fast as ever I can Swear and let your God come and hinder me if he Can. And so fell into a Swearing fit and Belched out abundance of Oaths as long as he list then insulted over the honest man with a Where is your God intimating that he had infallibly disproved his Being O the patience of God! who did not turn such a wretch's Swearing into Roaring It 's because the Second commandment is not preached that men have so many false Ideas of God in their minds Some imagine God to be an Old Man sitting in Heaven A sort of Indians who will do them no hurt and so fear the Devil only but yet serve both They light up One candle to God that he may Help them another to the Devil that he may not Hurt them Some few fancy God to be all Severity and so despair of mercy Many imagine God to be all Mercy and so take liberty for Iniquity Antinomians are much like the Hereticks of old who held that under the Law God was a severe Judge but under the Gospel all Mercy But if God be changeable why may he not be all Justice again and that in Judgment to them It 's because the Third commandment is not preached that men use the name of God so lightly vainly irreverently in discourse Of God in preaching For and From God in prayer To God And that men Swear so sadly and frequently even All oaths small and great from God Save me to that dreadfull God Damn me which last I tremble to relate They that not onely neglect to pray God to Save them but also do daily dare God to Damn them I have No hope of their Salvation nor No doubt of their Damnation they take Long steps to the Lake that is but a little before them They that swear God Save me may possibly be penitent pardoned and Saved but this dreadfull God Damn me is like to prove an unpardonable Oath to All that use it It 's because the Fourth commandment is not preached that the Sabbath is so Slighted so Slept away so talked away about Trifles and that Christians are so carnal in spiritual duties and enjoy so little of God It 's because the Fifth commandment is not preached that Children are at such a Passe and do so many wayes despise disobey dishonour their Parents and Kick up their heels at Correction when it comes It 's because the Sixth commandment is not preached that there are so many Murders with Heart Hand and Tongue It 's because the Seventh commandment is not preached that there are so many Adulteries in Act Word Heart which sin is sometimes of sad consequence e g One sent Luther a letter to tell him this Story viz A letter to Luther A widdow had a child by a Scholar and the Priest would not baptize it except she would discover the Father At this she killed the child and Hanged her self The Scholar hearing this Hanged himself The Priest hearing this Hanged himself It 's because the Eighth commandment is not preached that there are so many Thefts with Hand and Heart And so much immorality and want of Common honesty among professors so much fraud and deceit in dealing the Least of which is not to be allowed but condemned and he that uses it not to be trusted more or lesse for he that is unjust in the Least is unjust also in much * Lu. 16.10 Never trust him with a Guiny who will deceive you of a Peny It may seem a small matter for a Weak woman under Strong temptation to take an Apple but the Lord God said unto the woman What is this thou hast done †Gen. 3.13 A Question enough to make a man Quake It 's because the Ninth commandment is not preached that there is so much evil Speaking backbiting devouring sowing discord that surpassing service of Satan It 's because the Tenth commandment is not preached that men are so Covetous With this cord sin is drawn as with a cart-rope * Isa 5.18 Covetousnesse comes of the love of the world that root of all evil †1 Tim. 6.10 If this sin live in the Heart I know not what sin will die nor what sin such a Soul shall escape the Snare of What multitudes of murders doth it make men commit how doth it make men murder and ruin even their own relations sometimes themselves and all I could tell you many a Dreadfull Story had I time take 2 or 3 for a taste ¶ One left his Lover for a Richer In July 1681. A Knight that I can name The forsaken damsel Drowned her self by London Bridge This Ladies death struck this Knight with grief and Death for in few hours after he died And now their Relations are lavishing out their hundreds at Law for the thousands these unhappy Lovers left behind ¶ Two fatherlesse Females lived in a Lone house Mr W. Their Uncle who that day paid them their Portions came with his Sons at Midnight to murder them for their Money He was killed and his Sons taken and hanged by means of a Stranger who lost his way and lodged there that night which is a Story of such Singular Circumstances I am sorry I have not time to tell it out ¶ A man being long at Sea at length came home to see his Father and Mother Mr C. Mr W. This Seaman had a Sister living at Towns end whom he called to see as he came in the Even and she knew him But coming to his Parents they knew him not He delighting to keep them in the dark for that night to make merry with it on the morrow made himself a stranger and desired a nights lodging They lodge him in a barn which he accepts but desires them to lodge his bag of Money in the house They take it in and in the night consult to kill him for it and did so and so were soon made rich But in the morning his sister came betime to see her brother They understanding what they had done ran Mad and so were hanged Sir these are no Idle Tales Fath. Truly these are Sad Stories And I see now this defect in preaching sin Down and duty Up by opening the glasse of the Law to shew sin is the cause why sin lives so much under Sermons What symptoms of the sin of Pride in the Heart is in the Habit it troubles me to see in what a Garb some go that I could name Min. O! pray take heed of that it is good sleeping in a whole skin Trouble you if you and I were well awake it
the Jews Carnal nor Spiritual could endure their Ceremonies should be suddenly forsaken Thou seest brother how many Thousands of Jews there are that believe and they are All zealous of the Law †Act. 21.20 i e the C L so the Christians counselled Paul to countenance them and he did so * Ver. 23 26. Not to uphold Ceremonies but to get an interest in their affections that by degrees as they could bare it he might bring them Off and had he not done so they had cast him off Thus to the Jews he became a Jew to gain the Jews †1 Cor. 9.20 Fath. But if Pentecost was not on the first day why did God countenance it by giving the Disciples the holy Ghost on that day Min. Because I would not onely Silence but also Satisfie you I have been willing to give you all the advantage I can by stating things fairly for you and will do so still Suppose then the Disciples met contrary to the mind of God and knew it yet for fear or favour of the magisterial Jews they conform to keep the Pentecost if God will be gracious what then I will not again curse the ground for mans sake for the imagination of mans heart is evil from his youth * Gen. 8.21 Let my Lord I pray thee go among us for it is a Stiff-necked people †Ex. 34.9 Strange Arguments Gods Word is mans rule but Gods Will is Gods rule and if God will be gracious to man when man walks contrary to his Will will man say Lord what doest thou mean to have mercy on me Will man call God to his Bar and bring him into judgement for his mercy Mercy or judgment if it be the will of God it is just Yea if God should command man contrary to his own command e g If God will forbid man to murder upon pain of Death and then command a man to kll his own Son * Gen. 22.2 who will say unto him What doest thou †Job 9.12 God did not make man to consult what promises God should make to man nor when he should fulfill them God gave the Disciples a promise of the Spirit and he took this time Pentecost to fulfill it ¶ 2 I would form a foundation for a Question for your consideration viz The 50 dayes bounded Harvest the first day was at Beginning of harvest begin to number the 7 weeks from such time as thou beginnest to put the Sickle to the Corn * Deu. 16.9 The fiftieth day was at End of harvest Harvest was in the land of Canaan a Type of Heaven The 50 dayes contained 7 Sabbaths a number noting Perfection These dayes were all linked to the Passeover and all Typical of eternal life Jesus began to observe this time with the Passeover before his death It being so Quere I Quere whether this Pentecost was not to be kept that God might give the Disciples a little Heaven on Earth to signifie what an eternal Sabbath they should have in Heaven Typified by these preceeding Sabbaths which at this day Pentecost were consummated If you can Answer this Question in the Affirmative then your Question Why did God countenance the Pentecost is resolved Fath. I may take it into consideration another time But Suppose the Jews did not translate the Passeover Sabbath it fell on the 7 day Sabbath then they kept the 15 day and Jesus rose the 16 and Wave-day this proves Pentecost on the first day and Christs death on the 6 day too Min. Now I can follow you no farther I dare not Say the word suppose in this case nor dare I think such a wicked thought But though I dare not Follow you I dare Meet and withstand you to the Face If you say the Jews kept the right day you say Jesus kept the wrong day If you say the Jews did not Translate the Passeover to the day after the right day you say Jesus did Anticipate it the day before the right day viz Jesus died on the 14 day and killed the Passeover on the 13 day contrary to the Law In so saying you make Jesus a Transgressor Thus by justifying the Jews and condemning Jesus you hope to Hit it Monstrum Horrendum this proof comes from the bottomlesse Pit and there being no other way in the world to prove your opinion rather than fail you will make Jesus the Saviour and actual Sinner at which attempt what is that heart that will not tremble Should you Suppose You and I are now in the East-Indies or London stands on the Main Ocean or there is no difference between Heaven and Hell I would as soon consent Fath. But we may Reason and Question Christ was Lord of the Sabbath and had power to change the Sabbath might not he change the Passeover and be no transgressor Min. Though Jesus was Lord of the Sabbath he was made under the Law †Gal. 4.4 and Subject to it Though he was the Sabbaths Lord the Law was his Lord and had him at command on which account it was honourable * Isa 42.21 And though Jesus changed the Sabbath it was not while he was under the Law but at his Resurrection when he had fulfilled it Jesus stood in mans stead he was a debtor to the whole Law the payment of which debt the Law required ot the last mite Christs person is taken into custody imprisoned in the grave till the debt be discharged and justice satisfied at his resurrection being acquitted he was taken from prison and from judgment †Isa 53.8 alluding to a debtour who hath satisfied the creditour Then Jesus changed the Sabbath Fath. It seems Jesus justified his Disciples in an unlawfull deed on the Sabbath day for they eat Other mens Corn * Mat. 12.1 Min. Not in the Least the Law allowed that deed e g When thou comest into the standing corn of thy neighbours then thou mayst pluck the ears with thine hand †Deut. 23.25 As for Davids eating the Shew-bread and the Priests prosaning the Sabbath by killing their Sacrifices * Mat. 12.3 4 5. these according to the Letter of the Law were unlawful but not according to the Sense of the law which provided liberty for works of Charity and Necessity And Jesus in pleading these practices to excuse his Disciples doth q d You count David and the Priests blamelesse in these necessitous acts and yet condemn my Disciples in the same Case Fath. But Jesus refused to go up to the feast of Tabernacles †Job 7.8 which Law he was under as well as this of the Passeover and if he could dispense with That why not with This Min. Jesus refused to go up by way of vain Ostentation as his unbelieving brethren would needs have him go for say they Shew thy self to the World * Ver. 4. that Jesus resused saying Go ye up to this feast †Ver. 8. q d by way of Ostentation if you
the week he shall cause the Sacrifice and Oblation to cease * Ver. 27. this One Week was an Ordinary week of 7 dayes the Midst of which is the Fourth day or Middle day The time Jesus lay Dead having 3 dayes before it and 3 dayes after it all which of these 3 last Jesus lay dead So you may see though the Week-day of Jesus's death so long since be not known to this Day yet this day was foretold before Christs Birth by the Scriptures of Truth in which God drops words in the Dark to see if men will feel after him †Act. 17.26 27. Thus I have given you the Testimony of Gods two Testaments to prove my Opinion Fath. I confesse this is more than I looked for but if Christ lay so long dead it will occasion some more Questions Min. Bring out them Questions and let nothing remain to broile at bottom Fath. If there was a day between the 2 Sabbaths why did the Jews go to Pilate for an Order to secure the Sepulchre on a high Sabbath * Mat. 27.62 and not stay till next day Min. As necessity hath no Law so necessity hath no Holy-dayes Necessitas non habet Ferias What cannot be done Before nor deferred till After may be done on the Sabbath It could not be done Before their crowns were so full of concern to get Christ crucified there wanted room for that consideration And they had been Up the night before that day Too but having Slept upon it and settled their wicked wits now Sir we remember that that deceiver said After 3 dayes I will rise again †Mat. 27.63 And it cannot be omitted till to morrow q d So he may be stole away to night by his deceitfull Disciples * Ver. 64. Fath. If there was a day for work between the Sabbaths why did not them zealous women bring their Spices on that day but stay till after the 7 day Min. Why lay the Popish Lords in the Tower why the Prisoners in Newgate Fath. Because they cannot get out Min. No more could they get in The Jews made the sepulchre Sure sealing the Stone and setting a Watch †Ver. 66. It was made fast for 3 dayes to prove Christ an Impostor Fath. Why did they stay till morning and not come at Even at the 3 dayes end Min. Why do not fearfull folk who are scared at their own Shadows go into Church-yards among graves at midnight Fath. Indeed because they dare not Min. No more durst they go into a Tomb at night to the Dead Frights make folks fearfull it had been a Terrible time with them When they came in the Morning they feared to go in Mary stooped down and looked in * Joh. 20.11 and the Disciple whom Jesus loved came Running to the Sepulchre yet went not He in †V. 2 4 5. Fath. How does your Opinion accord with this expression he rose again the third day * 1 Cor. 15.4 Min. This phrase the third day is most miserably mistaken if thus taken A miserable mistake viz Friday 1 Saturday 2 Sunday 3 as if the day of Christs Death and the day of his Resurrection were 2 of the 3 dayes for neither is the One or the Other any of that number But the third day must be understood by these Standing Rules viz the Son of man shall be 3 dayes and 3 nights in the heart of the earth †Mat. 12.40 The Son of man must be killed and After 3 dayes rise again * Mar. 8.31 Christ's enemies could remember his words though his friends forget them viz We remember that deceiver said After 3 dayes I will rise again †Mat. 27.63 The Angel said to the women He is risen as He said * Chap. 28.5 6. i e when the dayes and nights were ended which he prefixed On the first day said Cleopas to Christ To day is the third day since these things were done †Lu. 24.21 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This is a dark Text and thus to be translated To day the third day is Gone since these things were done * PAS LEX pag 43. Esther fasted 3 dayes night and day †Est 4.16 yet she is said to put on her Royal apparell to approach to the King on the third day * chap. 5.1 completo die tertio Junius i e at end of the third day Thus my Opinion does accord with the Word but how does Gods word and You agree from the beginning of your count viz Friday at Even to the time when Jesus rose is but a Night and a Day and from the beginning to the end i e the next morning is but 2 Nights and a Day how did Jesus fulfill his word Fath. Synechdochically I suppose Jesus was buried a little bit before the Sixth day ended and I count That for a day and that he lay a moment on the first day morning and I count That for a day Min. Yet here is but 3 dayes and 2 nights here is not a Bit of a third night Fath. Then the night preceeding the Sixth day must make it up Min. And can you imagine this to be Christs meaning In all this you do little better than say Jesus the man of Sorrow Jested Joqued and Juggled with his death I wonder in what Darknesse we over-look this word NIGHT If Jesus had said The Son of man shall lay 3 Dayes dead you had some Plea for your Opinion for Day sometime signifies Day without Night and so Part of a day natural but it is 3 dayes and 3 nights And I would know where in all the Bible this phrase day night does once signifie Day without Night or Night without Day except in Heaven or Hell But your First day as you call a Bit is without Night and your Last day as you call a Night is without Day By your Synechdochical rule you may argue that Jesus lay 3 Years or 3 Ages dead for Day figuratively signifies a Year or an Age. A Hellhinge A most miserable mistake This taking Scriptures Figuratively which should be taken Literally is the Hinge on which them poor deceived people called Quakers turn all into confusion and overturn all the Fundamental truths of the Gospel viz The birth life death burial resurrection ascension intercession second coming of Christ the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment yea Heaven and Hell and all Figurative and Within †O! Great Gulf Monstrum Horrendum This is a piece of the Pride of that Humble people who count the Common literal sense of Texts too Low for them Fath. How may we know when a Scripture is to be taken in a Figurative Sense Min. When a Literal sense is absurd or contrary to the Analogie of Faith or good morality of Life e g To eat the flesh of Jesus to drink his blood to cut off a right hand to pluck out a right eye To take such