hand of the King of the Caldees that bitter and hasty Nation who slew their Young men with the Sword had NO compassion on Young Man or Maiden Old man or him that Stooped for age * Ch. 36.16 Because they mocked the messengers which God in Mercy had sent among them Death came in at their Windows for their Wicked Children Bares tare them in Pieces The Mother was dashed in Pieces upon her Children †Ho. 10.14 The strength of Populous NO was Infinite Yet she was carried away into Captivity her Young Children were dashed in Pieces at the top of all the streets * Na. 3.8 9 10. Tell them also of Judgments threatned viz I will Kill you with the Sword your Wives shall be Widdows and your Children fatherless †Exo. 22.24 I will send wild beasts among you which shall Rob you of your Children * Lev. 26.22 Papists are coming to Rob our houses of Children and Parents both Their Children shall be dashed to pieces before their Eyes †Isa 13.16 I will bereave them of Children * Jer. 15.7 The Fathers shall eat the Sons and the Sons shall eat the Fathers †Ezek. 5.10 And I saith Christ will Kill her Children with Death * Rev. 2.23 Nineteenth Doc 19. Of Eternal Judgment Teach them to know the Eternal Judgment Tell them Jesus Christ the Judge shall come from Heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming Fire With a Shout with the voice of the Arch-Angel with the Trump of GOD to found and raise the Dead That the Godly shall rise in Glory and all Christians Quick and Dead be made like Christ That the Wicked shall rise Roaring amazed one at another their Faces Flames †Isa 13.8 That all Men Women Children from Adam to the end of the World must Stand before GOD. * Rev. 20.12 And give account of their Works Words Thoughts all which God will bring into Judgment And whet his glittering Sword which is now made Bright and Wrapt up for the Slaughter †Ezek. 21.15 and fill it with the Blood of the Wicked And heap Mischiefs upon them And spend his Arrows upon them * Deu. 32.23 And make them drunk with Blood †Ver. 42. And shoot his great Hail which he hath reserved for the Battel of that Great Day of GOD Almighty * Job 38.23 When the Sun and Moon and Stars shall be Drakened †Joel 3.15 And the Heavens pass away with a Great Noise and the Elements melt with Fervent Heat the Earth and the Works therein burnt up * 2 Pet. 3.10 With a fire kindled in Gods Anger which shall burn to the Lowest Hell †Deu. 32.22 When God shall Roar like a Lion and Rend the Caul of their Heart * Ho. 13.8 And they Groan with the Groanings of a Deadly Wounded Man †Ezek. 30.24 Alas Who shall live when GOD doth This * Nu. 24.23 Tell some of this Day OH take You no care for Me every Tub must Stand on its own Bottom But how if it have no Bottom to stand on OH HO we will do well enough What will ye do in the day of Visitation †Isa 10.3 It 's a Scaring question If we cannot obtain mercy by Entreaty nor victory by Fight we will Flee for it To whom will ye Flee for Help A fearful question These are the men that must cry Mountains fall on us and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the Throne Who will close this Day with Come ye Blessed and Go ye Cursed Then shall the King say unto them on his Right Hand Come ye Blessed of My Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for You from the Foundation of the World * Mat. 25.34 Then shall he say also unto them on the Left Hand Depart from me ye Cursed into Everlasting Fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels †Ver. 41. And these shall go away into Everlasting Punishment but the Righteous into Life Eternal * Ver. 46. Last Doc. 20. Of Eterninity Teach them to think upon Eternity Tell them that after this Final Sentence is Passed viz Come ye Blessed and Go ye Cursed the Godly must dwell in Heaven and the Wicked must dwell in Hell for Ever and Ever The Eternity of GOD hath neither Beginning nor End The Eternity of Man hath a Beginning but NO End This EVER is as near its End at its Beginning as EVER it will be When the Wicked have been Howling in Hell as many Thousand Years as the Number of the Stars of Heaven and the Drops and Sands of the Sea they are then NO nearer to the End of their Torment than when it First Began Thus much for Instruction by Doctrine ¶ But Sir you are not to Terminate in These Twenty Lessons For I lay them not down to Limit you but to Lead you into the Scriptures to Search for Twenty times so many More Every word of God in the Blessed Bible hath something in it for the Use of Man The words of Wicked Men and DEVILS which God hath pleased to Record for our Profit To discover the Pride Wickedness Madness Folly Enmity of the Wicked and the Devil their Father against GOD their Creatour a few of which I leave you to consider at leasure 1 Words of the Wicked Gen. 4.9 Ch. 11.4 Exo. 1.10 Ch. 5.2 Ch. 14.25 Ch. 15.9 Job 21.14 Ch. 22.17 Psal 14.1 Ps 83.4 Ps 94. 7. Ps 137.7 Isai 10.13 14. Dan. 3.15 Ch. 6.5 20. Mat. 12.24 Ch. 27.40 42 43 63 64. Job 10.20 Act. 28.4 6. 2 Words of the Devil Gen. 3.1 4 5. Job 1.7 9 10 11. Ch. 2.4 5. Mat. 4.3 6 9. Ch. 8.29 Mar. 1.24 Luk. 8.28 Act. 19. 15. And the Proper Names of Persons which many think not worth the nameing are Profitable more wayes than one 1 To shew that God fulfilled his Promise of such a Numerous Seed so incredible to Reason when Abram and Sarai were both Dead q d See what a number of their names I have recorded in the Chronicles and other places to testifie the Truth of my Promise 2 The Signification of the Proper Names of Persons and Places of both take a few Instances ¶ 1 Persons Adam 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Earth Red Bloody of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To be red Male and Female created he them and called their Name Adam †Gen. 5.2 To tell Proud man what a Material and Mettal man is made of Noah 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rest of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To take rest He called his name Noah saying this Same shall Comfort us * Gen. 5.29 Noah was a Preacher of Righteousness it Signifies what a Stay such shall be to a Tossed Church Abram 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A High Father Abraham A Father of a multitude i e A Publick President by his FAITH for Jew and Gentile to follow for Justification Believers are
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
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
the Slaughter †Ch. 2.25 This laying the Reins on the Neck hath run Many a child to Ruin Children need No more to undo them than their Own Desires No nor Men neither ¶ 2 Absolom He having Killed Amnon his Brother comes and Bows to David his Father and the King Kissed Absolom * 2 Sam. 14.33 After this he aspires the Crown seeks his fathers Life loses his Own †Ch. 18.14 and twenty thousand more * Ver. 7. David was comparatively a good King absolutely a good Christian a good Prophet a good Preacher and yet a bad Father Let the best in the World beware Even a David will Dote and Eli will honour his Sons above God †1 Sam. 2.29 This makes gods of Children and that is the way to make DEVILS of them for God to Destroy or to Spare to their Parents Destruction e g Thy two indulged sons Hophni and Phinehas shall Both Die in One Day * Ver. 34. And the Man of Thine whom I shall not cut off shall be to Consume thine Eyes and of Grieve thy Heart †Ver. 33. That some such gods are Suddenly gone this True Story will Testifie A godly Father being set at a Festival Dinner in comes a Curious Child O saith the Father speaking lightly I fear I shall make a god of this Child But the End of that Dinner was a Bitter Day Mr Jer Burroughs was present for before they rose from the Table that Child was found Drowned in a Pond You have your Items viz Item the Boy that Ran away from the Rod. Item the Boy that was Killed with Correction HERE be Items for you Item Adonijah Item Absolom Item Eli's sons whose end was Destruction for want of Correction And Item the Idolized Child that was Drowned I doubt because Deified Fath. These are Sad things to befall the Godly Min. Sad things for sin befall Such soonest of All for Judgment must Begin at the House of God †1 Pet. 4.17 Such sin against a Threefold light viz the light of Nature the light of Grace and the light of Gods Word Sin against Such Light is a Great aggravation of sin Weigh a sin Single in the Scale then adde this Circumstance viz it was against Knowledge that weighs more than the Sin it Self Knowledge of GOD is a Great Good no lesse than Eternal Life sin against Such Knowledge must needs be a Great Evil. N B If sin against Knowledg be against the Will it is not So great but Wo to them that sin against Knowledg With the Will Let us take heed of Sin against London light A Caution for London Sin at London is Greater than sin in a dark Country and the scourge Sorer upon that account when it comes WO wo wo to them that go into the Land of Darknesse by London Light Fath. Many poor Parents want Time to Instruct Object 13 and Correct their Children Min. And so may Rich too the course they take Men have Many wayes to throw their Time down the Stream I shall Instance two which are Common to men First They Word it away Precious time Prated away Let me say they Prate it away about impertinent things to no Purpose or Profit for Soul or Body Self or Others Church or State They are for Any thing Every thing which is worse then Nothing Tell them of their Work O then We want Time But let not Man be Deceived GOD will not be Mocked And many times Pertinent things and Spiritual things too are discoursed to No Purpose at all Will this discourse do in Dooms Day to the Law to try and to the Testimony of Jesus But I say unto you That every IDLE WORD that men shall speak they shall give account thereof in the Day of Judgment * Mat. 12.36 Fath. What is an Idle Word Min. The Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Idle Idle word opened of a privative and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A work signifies a Word without Work a Work-lesse word a Saying without Service ie which neither profits Speaker nor Hearer At the multitudes of Such Words out of the mouths of Professors I have been amazed times without Number to think how CAN they look OVER or look ON this Text as a Cypher * MAT. XII XXXVI As if they had got a Licence to let their Tongues go as they List There is a time to Every thing †Ecl. 3.1 and for some things that one would think there should be No Time for viz to Kill to Hate * Ver. 3 8. and yet we read of NO Time for Idle Talk And that Christ hath purchased Precious Time with his most Precious Blood for Vain Talkers to spend THUS I leave it with them to Prove or to Answer it in the Day of Judgement ¶ And much Time is thus lost about News as forementioned in the Morning Many wise men resemble the Simple who believeth every word †Pro. 14.15 though they know what an uncertain thing Report is both by Experience and Sacred Scripture e g Tidings came to David saying Absolom hath slain ALL the Kings sons and there is not ONE of them left * 2 Sa. 13.30 Report makes an uncertain Sound When they were All alive but One who did not deserve to Live nor to be Counted One of the Kings sons viz Amnon who had forced his Sister Tamar Thus persons Prate away their Time Second Precious time Piped away They Pipe it away with that Pidle and Tabacco that Bauble Of which because I doubt it 's your Vanity Hear me a little ¶ By way of Concession I grant Tabacco is a Creature of GOD and hath its Vertue for the Use of Man as every Herb Weed and Toad hath It 's good for Cold Moist Bodies and such Diseases if moderately Used Against the Good Lawfull Convenient use of it I say Nothing ¶ By way of Conviction of the Vanity Inconveniency and ill Consequence of the Common Abuse or Immoderate Use of it A wofull waster ¶ 1 It 's Prodigiously Expensive both of Time and Coin Some observe A man may walk a Mile while he Puffs away a Pipe of Tabacco How many do they that Dote drink away in a Day No wonder such want Time for better work Time to lay up Eternal Treasure Tabacco hath not been of use in England 100 Years in which Term It came by Sir Francis Drake 1585. it hath Stole away more Time and Cost more Coin than all England is worth Doubtlesse by God's judicial permission the Devil had a hand in its importation Sharper is that Saying of a King K James viz Tabacco is a lively image of Hell An if I was to invite the Devil to Dinner I professe for one Dish he should have a Pipe of Tabacco ¶ 2 It is a very Vain Vitious Foolish Custome A very Toy It makes Men turn Toys And with their Mouth Pidle and Bauble
to a Sick person at point of death who Can and Will cure him on Free-cost for which the Sick will Love him when he is Well ¶ 3 The Jews under this Legal Thunder were prone to put themselves under the hot Bolts of it to avoid the Stroke of it to run upon the Flaming Sword for Shelter from Slaughter As many as are of the works of the Law are under the Curse †Gal. 3.10 and yet under it they would run with their daily Dialect viz What shall we do * Act. 2.37 Sirs what must I do to be Saved †Ch. 16.30 So do we under Conviction without special Direction ¶ 4 They that are under a C G by which they are saved without Works are under a holy Covenant of good works N B. In a Covenant between God and man God Requires and man Consents God requires Holinesse of Life man consents to it else no Conversion This holy Covenant the Jews were and we are under God required them to be holy Ye shall be holy for I the Lord your God am holy * Lev. 19.2 they consent All that the Lord hath said will we do and be obedient †Exo. 24.7 i e Christian duties under a C G. This covenant Christians are â—ow under Gods command to the Jews was Be ye holy * Lev. 20.7 it is the same to us Peter pleads the same Precept be ye holy in all manner of conversation because it is written Be ye holy for I am holy †1 Pet. 1.16 N B. The Matter of this covenant was Proposed when the law was Delivered the ten commandments are called the Words of the Covenant * Exo. 34.27 28. but the covenant is not Made till we be Converted till we cordially Consent Adam brought us into a C W and under the Curse of it Jesus Christ brings us into a C G and under the Blessings of it but we must bring our Selves into this Covenant i e it must be our voluntary Act yet Gods Work God putteth this Cry into the hearts of Converts viz Come and let us joyn our selves to the Lord in a Perpetual Covenant †Jer. 50.5 ¶ 5 This holy Life must spring from a holy Heart which God doth not only Require and Command but also Promise to effect in the Elect both Jew and Gentile Take some instances both of Precepts and Promises Circumcise thy heart * Den. 10.16 there is the Precept thy God will circumcise thine heart †Ch. 30.6 here is the Promise Cleanse your hands * Jam. 4.8 there is the Precept I will cleanse you †Ezek. 36.25 here is the Promise Make you a new heart * Ch. 18.31 there is the Precept A new heart also will I give you †Ch. 36.26 here is the Promise ¶ 6 This Covenant the Jews were apt to break and so are we They have broken the everlasting Covenant * Isa 24.5 Heb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the covenant of Eternity everlasting for all ages a covenant of eternity i e Gods decree for a holy conversation is as Ancient as Election he hath chosen us before the foundation of the world that we should be holy †Eph. 1.4 For ever O Lord thy Word is setled in Heaven * Psal 119.89 This word and covenant Christians break by Sin for which God breaks them by Sorrow for though we fail God he will not fail us Some will contrary to God keep it as a C W to be Saved or else cast it quite off and so be Damned ¶ 7 The carnal Jews at length were utterly rejected for their Sins but the spiritual Jews were Saved though in their sins there was in a Sense a continuance †Isa 64.5 I will NO more have mercy upon the house of Israel but I will Vtterly take them away but I will have mercy upon the house of Judah and I will save them by the Lord their God * Ho. 1.6 7. Thus those of Us that are not Christians indeed it will come to passe that God will No more have mercy on such no not so much as a drop of water to cool the Tongue in Hell fire but they that are sincerely Sanctified shall certainly be Saved Thus we are under the Law as the Jews were Fath. How are we Not under the law as the Jews were Q Min. The universal Body of the Jews were by Divine constitution a National Church a Sacred Society under a C G thus was never any Nation but they What one Nation in the Earth is like thy people even like Israel whom God went to redeem for a people to himself †2 Sam. 7.23 ¶ 2 They were under the Primitive Publick immediate ministry of the Law on Mount Sinai thus no other people ever was he sheweth his word unto Jacob his Statutes and judgments to Israel he hath not dealt SO with any Nation * Psal 147.19 20. To them were committed the Oracles of God †Ro. 3.2 to them the Adoption and the Glory and the Covenants the giving of the Law the service of God and the Promises * Ch. 9.4 They were under the immediate ministry of God himself Ye have seen that I have talked with you from Heaven †Exo. 20.22 The Lord talked with you Face to Face in the Mount out of the midst of the Fire * Deu. 5.4 Ask from the One side of Heaven to the Other whether there hath been any such thing †Ch. 4.32 ¶ 3 They were under an Engagement to keep Gods Commandments different from us viz 600000. delivered at once their deliverance from Egyptian bondage was Litteral and Universal their whole Body being about Six hundred thousand men were all brought out * Exo. 12.37 they left not an Hoof behind †Ch. 10.26 But our deliverance from Egyptian bondage is Mystical and Particular and comparatively it is but a smal Part of us Gentiles who are thus Redeemed ¶ 4 The Jews were under the M L as accompanied with the C L. If they sinned against the M L they must to their Ceremonial Sacrifices of sin-offerings And they must pray in or towards the Temple such a Place They must confesse sin over the head of the Scape Goat these were Types of Christ by whom they were to be forgiven By reason of these Ceremonial Shadows elements rudiments tutours and governours fit to teach the Church by in it's Minority the Apostle compares them to Children * Gal. 4.1 3 Col. 2.17 20. q d in their A B C or in their Accidence ¶ 5 The Jews were under the Law as preached Clearly and under the Gospel as preached Darkly The O T was a clear Law and a dark Gospel In the O T the N T was vailed in the N T the O T is revealed And upon this account They are said to be under the Law and We are said to be under the Gospel
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
will it being so Fashionable the world cannot hate you * Ver. 7. for it they will love their won 2 Jesus refused to go with Them because the Jews sought to kill him †Ver. 1. not at the feast for fear of an uprore * Mat. 26.5 but to Way-lay him q d He will come with his kindred as other people use to do and so we shall Snap him by the way Therefore said Jesus I go not up Yet to this feast q d till Ye are gone for my time is not yet fully come †Job 7.8 q d my Meet time to go or my time to be Taken when it is I shall not seek to Save my self But when his brethren were gone up then went he also up unto the feast not openly * Ver. 10. i e by the way for at Jerusalem about the Midst of the feast Jesus went up into the Temple and taught * Ver. 14. And in the last day that Great day of the feast Jesus stood and cryed saying If any man thirst let him come to me and drink * Ver. 37. So you see Jesus did not refuse to go up to this feast Fath. But you have said Hezekiah changed the Passeover in case of necessity †Pag 253. Min. Hezekiah's Salvation did not depend upon his perfect obedience to the Law if it had he had never been Saved but upon Christs perfect obedience without which He nor We shall never be Saved Fath. If Christ kept the Passeover a Day before the Right day he kept it Min. Suppose you say to a Servant Do such a work to Morrow No Sir faith he I will do it to day Nay say you I am resolved to have it done to Morrow Away goes he and does it to Day does this servant Obey or Disobey you Fath. I confesse he Disobeys me even in doing the work which I command him Min. How many times hath God plainly expressed his mind in this matter in the Law which Jesus was under viz That the Passeover should be killed the 14 day of the month by your Own confession Christ was disobedient if he changed the day N B Suppose you could prove Jesus did Anticipate the Passeover and not sin and that the Jews kept the 15 day yet except you prove the 15 day of the month to be the 7 day of the week you neither prove Jesus rose on the Wave-day nor Pentecost on the first day nor Jesus's death on the 6 day and so you are never the near But if Jesus had brake any Sabbath or Law of God in the Least he could not have been in the Least any Saviour †Ja. 2.10 And that Jesus failed in the least Jota Jod Point or Tittle is folly wickednesse madnesse in a man once to imagine Before Christ would have broken any Command he upholding the whole Creation would have let Heaven and Earth fall for had he failed a Tittle of fulfilling the whole Law Gods purpose of Salvation had fell ERGO this is an infallible Maxime A Maxime viz On the 14 day of the first month Nisan Christ killed the Passeover according to All the Rites of it * Nu. 9.3 and on the 15 day he was killed himself the 16 and Wave-day was the first day Jesus lay dead therefore he rose not That day nor could Pentecost fall on the first day So your Pentecost opinion is utterly overthrown and that for Jesus's death on the 6 day will follow and you shall never recover them again while the World stands Fath. I confesse I cannot at present tell what more to plead for One or Other But though you deny Jesus died on the 6 day you do not declare on what other day he died Min. Nor was it proper for me out of the place every thing beautifull in his time †Eccl. 3.11 I could easily have done that at first in few words but the work was to Answer your Objections against my Judgment and your Arguments for your Own Having done that I can shew my Opinion with pleasure but not with submission to better judgments as some finely phrase it When I speak my thoughts of what I am uncertain it shall be with such submission but when I am well assured of the truth of what I say I shall neither submit to better nor worse to Stand or Fall by this or that mans perswasion I desire a better foundation than mans Praise for my Opinion And what that is concerning the day of Christs death I will now declare and were it to the whole World with your Self I would declare it viz Week-day of Jesus's death declared The 15 day of the first month Nisan on which Christ was Crucified and Died fell that year on the Fourth day of the week i e Wednesday at end of which Day our Blessed Jesus was Buried from which time to the end of the 7 day Sabbath was 3 dayes and 3 nights N T proof the Term of time our Lord foretold he should lay in the grave * Mat. 12.40 So there was two dayes between the day of Jesus's death and the 7 day Sabbath And one day between that high Sabbath and the 7 day Sabbath had the Jews kept the right day there had been two dayes between their high Sabbath and the 7 day Sabbath which you say were both on a day The Reason of this Translation Reason of translation was because it fell on Wednesday for if this Sabbath fixt on the 15 day fell on Munday Wednesday or Fryday the Jews Custome was to translate it to the next day Godwyn by the Rule 172 Badu That year it fell on Wednesday they kept it on Thursday the 16 or Wave-day so now you may see your Wave-day and Pentecost were on Thrusday Fath. I begin to Stagger have you any more proof for the day of Jesus's death Min. What need of more proof than Christs Own words but this Old world being so full of Novelty I thought a New Opinion must have a New Proof too take one then out of the O T. O T proof And after 62 weeks shall Messiah be cut off but not for himself †Dan. 9.26 these are extraordinary weeks And he shall confirm the covenant with many for One week * Ver. 27. there is no Prefix in the Hebrew to render it for one week but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one week he shall confirm the covenant with or rather For many i e for all the Elect by being cut off according to the covenant †Zech. 9.11 And he shall cause the Sacrifice and Oblation to cease the Sacrifice was the yearly Passeover * Ex. 12.27 the Oblation was the daily Sacrifice †Num. 28.2 3 4. Dan. 9.21 these two viz the Yearly Type and the Daily Type of Christs death when he the Substantial Sacrifice was sacrificed for us then he caused them Shadows to cease But when in the Midst of
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
Oppose them with Gods Commands which are contrary to their Sin by which their Sin is Forbid And with the Threats of Gods Judgments against Such Sin as they are Guilty of Gods Word is called the Sword of the Spirit * Eph. 6.17 Handle it Well toward the Spirits of your Children And then the Word of Correction may be a Sword to Kill their Corruption Thus far of Corection with the Word Fath. How am I to Correct my Children with the Rod Min. First let me give you some Scriptural Account of the word Rod Rod fourfold In doing of which I shall take notice of a fourfold Rod. ¶ 1 A Civil Rod in the hand of the Magistrate e g Moses Rod. It was called the Rod of God †Ex. 4.20 And it may be called a Miraculous Rod by it Waters were turned into Blood * Ch. 7.20 Dust turned into Lice †Ch. 8.16 Thunder and Hail fetched from Heaven * Ch. 9.23 Locusts brought such as Never the like before nor since †Ch. 10.14 The Red Sea divided The Rock made to run Water * Nu. 20.10 And yet this was but the Staff with which Moses had kept Jethro's Flock †Exo. 3.1 Ch. 4.2 now set apart for other Service And when Kingly Government was set up God took David with his Sheep-Staff from following the Sheep to Feed and rule Israel * Psal 78.70 And Kings did formerly use such Staves as grew out of the Ground but afterward for their Glory they were made of Gold The King held out the Golden Scepter to Esther †Est 5.2 The Heb is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sherbet Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sceptron Hence the word Scepter The Scepter shall not depart from Judah * Gen. 49.10 Here the Heb is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Shebet this word is frequently translated Rod Scepter or Rod it signifies Rule It hath been the custom of a Person in Authority to have a Staff or Rod in his hand as a sign of Dignity It was a custom to carry a Rod before a Roman Ruler Some such custom is to this Day in use as with our Lord Major to carry a Scepter Sword or Mace as a Token of Authority This Civil Rod was Uncivilly used and Horribly abused when with it the Jews smote Jesus the Judge of Israel upon the Cheek †Mic. 5.1 for which the Scepter departed from Judah Felix quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum ¶ 2 An Ecclesiastical Rod in the hand of the Minister Saith Paul to Christs Church at Corinth Shall I come unto you with a Rod †1 Cor. 4.21 viz To rebuke the proud Spirits of such as were puffed up with such Reproofs and Censures as the Case of the Offender called for ¶ 3 A Divine Rod in the hand of God This signifies Gods Soveraignty over All to Rule as he please the Godly in Mercy the Wicked in Judgment God would Rule the Godly by his Word As he Saves by the Grace of the Gospel he would Rule by the Government of the Gospel i e his Holy Laws But if the Word will not Rule the Rod shall If for our Rule we would make More use of Gods Word God would make Lesse use of his Rod. Gods Rod with which he whips his children for Sin many times is Men I will be his Father and be shall be my Son if he commit iniquity I will chasten him with the Rod of Men * 2 Sam. 7. Solomon sinned And the Lord stirred up an adversary Hadad †1 King 11.14 And God stirred him up another adversary Rezon * Ver. 23. And Jeroboam lift up his hand against the King †Ver. 26. Thus God gathers a Rod Ties these twigs together Whips his Son Does his work upon Mount Zion Then throws the Assyrian the Rod of his Anger into the Fire * Isa 10.5 12. And Sicknesse is Gods Rod Hear the Rod and him that hath appointed it †Mic. 6.9 I will make thee sick in smiting thee because of thy sins * Ver. 13. The wicked are spared The Rod of God is not upon them †Job 21.9 but when it comes it is to Ruine them Thou shalt break them with a Rod of Iron * Psal 2.9 N B If the Godly be not Ruled by the Word they shall be Ruled by the Rod God will Rule or Ruin but if the Wicked be not Ruled by the Word they shall be Ruined by the Rod or by the Sword ¶ 4 A Paternal Rod in the hand of the Father with which he is to Rule the Child when the Word will not Do. The Parents Rod may bare all the Former Titles A Civil Rod as it respects the Faners toward Men. An Ecclesiastical Rod as it respects the Childs Obedience to God A Divine Rod as it is by the Divine Appointment of God Now N B In all these the Original Word signifies a Staff to Stay or Lean upon e g 1 The Civil Rod 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Matteh A Staff †Exo. 4.20 2 The Ecclesiastical Rod 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * 1 Cor. 4. 21. Provide no Staff 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 †Mat. 10.10 Jacob worshipped leaning upon the top of his Staff 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * Heb. 11.21 In these 3 Texts the Greek word is the same 3 The Divine Rod 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Matteh Baculus A staff †Mic. 6.9 4 The Fathers Rod for the Child 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Shebet A staff to Stay upon * Pro. 23.14 Faith What are we to learn by this Min. The Parallel of the Rod and Staff If a Staff be laid By it s no Stay but if it be Handled and well Used it s a good Stay to the Body So 1 If the Magistrate handle his Rod i e So officiate as to perfom his part Well So act as to exercise a Good Conscience it will be a Good Stay to his Mind In that Rebellion of Korah against Moses the great Magistrate which made his Body fall Flat * Num. 16.4 what supported his Spirit I have not taken One Asse from them nor hurt One of them †ver 15. 2 The Apostles were pressed out of Measure above Strength despaired of Life * 2 Cor. 1.8 what was their Stay Our rejoycing is This the Testimony of our Conscience †ver 12. 3 If God's Rod hang at our Back If we believe it 's in Love if we take it in the hand of Faith for a token of Eternal Love if we Thus handle it it 's to us a Staff Thy Rod and thy Staff they comfort me * Psal 23.4 David was in a Fearlesse Faithfull frame and then though in the valley of the shadow of Death he would fear no Evil. God's Rod is sometimes Terrible as Moses Rod when turned to a Serpent Simile Fear makes him Flee from it