THE HUSBAND'S AUTHORITY UNVAIL'D; WHEREIN It is moderately discussed whether it be fit or lawfull for a good Man, to beat his bad Wife. Some Mysteries of Iniquity are likewise unmasked, and a little unfolded. A Subject, to some, perhaps, as unwelcom as uncoth.

(Art thou he that troubleth Israel?

1 King. 18.17.

Art thou come to torment us, &c?

Matth. 8.29.

Speak unto us smooth things, &c.

Isa. 30.10.)

From an inner Cloyster of the TEMPLE; BY MOSES à VAƲTS a faithfull Votary, and free Denizen of the Common-wealth of Israel.

—Thy Desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee,

Gen. 3.16.

But if ye believe not his Writings, how shall ye believe my Words?

Joh. 5.47.

The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him, &c.

Psal. 25.14. Prov. 28.5. Dan. 12.10. Prov. 3.32. 1 Joh. 2.27.

Behold ye Despisers—for I work a Work in your Dayes, a Work which ye shall in no wise beleeve, though a man declare it unto you,

Acts 13.41.
Jam tua res agitur, &c.

London, Printed by T. N. for Robert Bostock at the sign of the Kings-head in Pauls Church-yard, 1650.

TO THE READER.

I Had long since learn'd to read or speak English, and that of the revealed-written Word of God; but could never yet attain (with some) an acceptable Idiom, utterance or pronouncing of it, how carefully or candidly soever I endeavour'd it. It gained me so little Eare and Credence, that (by like) it was not current; so that I am (at length) constrain'd to put it upon the pub­lick Touch and Triall: and here thou hast an Essay or Tast of it.

There falls but little for an Epistle or Preface, save a few Directions and Reasons to facilitate or further thy reading; all other Occurrents being comprised in the first or last Chapter of the Book. Of which (All) I can expect no fairer Constru­ction from any, then the Conceptions and Expressions, ap­pear gall-less, ingenuous, and guided by the Word and Rea­son.

Briefly, for the Book it self: It will be found, rather a strait and compendious Paraphrase then a laxed Discourse. For, labouring that Conciseness, with Fulnesse and Plainnesse, which I do justly (as I think) affect in others; I have throng­ed both the Text and Comment as thou seest; which if it seem retardable to thy reading, let not that discourage or divert thee: For if thou proposest either Profit or pleasure to thy self therein, thou shalt nor be utterly unsatisfied. If thy Pro­gresse be flower, it will be so much the surer; thou shalt fa­sten the Scripture-Phrases in thy Memory, and find large and delightfull matter of Meditation. For, indeed the Mar­ginall Quotations, though least in shew, are most in substance, solidity and sweetnesse (a fit Hieroglyphick of all spirituall-hea­venly things) the Margin presenting thee the Meat, the Page but the Sauce, which (probably) cannot please all Palats [Page] Besides (for both our sakes) I could not have thee (Truant-like) to take any thing on trust; but (like the Acts 17.11. noble Bereans) lay it to the rule, search and try whether these things be so, and cen­sure not before thou see I hope this may invite or occasion some (even out of curiosity) to become better acquainted with the Bible, and be caught in Mat. 4.19. L. 5.10. Christs net before they be a­ware. And the honestly ingenious will easily judge it my main end, even throughout to drive or d [...]rect to the pure Fountain, and not to detain thee longer then needs, in the muddy Chan­nels of these shallow lines. Howbeit I can well approve, that thou first read over the Tract by it self, to acquaint thee with the Scope (I am fain to lead thee the way, in another respect) and the second time (and thereafter) to take along with thee the Texts and Proofs: which are neither so many as to sundry Points, might have been produced; nor yet so few as to leave any needfull Truth naked of (mostly) severall Testimony; that so in the Deu. 19.15. Mat. 18.16. Jo. 8.17. 2 Co. 13.1. Mouths of (at least) two or three witnesses, every Word may be established. Where I had most plenty un­der my hand, and saw them swell the Margin, I expunged or dismissed a few, and was minded to do more. But finding all so precious; and none (as I conceiv'd impertinent, I was (at last) loath to part with any of these; and so let all passe: the rather because some Proofs to one may seem lesse pregnant; to another, more: here is therefore choice and of the choicest (I hope) the scripture yields: As also that unto these, as to a Common Place, my self as well as others, may have recourse on such occasions.

And let it not be nauseous to any, Isa. 28.10.13. if he meet with one Text in severall places (which yet is not frequent) since, we know, many such there be, whereof the same may serve to sundry good Proofs and purposes. Some Scripture-Phrases, falling compactly, are inter-woven with the discourse; the rest (of equall weight, though differing in words) are refer­red to the Margin.

It is to be noted, That the names God or Christ, are mutu­ally and indifferently used throughout in relation to the Church: The reasons whereof are plain to the pious, by Psal. 31.5. Isa. 9.6. and 54.5. Joh. 10.30. Rom. 5.8. Col. 2.9,10. and many like.

I rather affect and use the word Scripture, (yea the Word it self) singularly for eminence sake, because it is now a Rev. 22.18.19. compleat, perfect, individuall Body; and was not exactly so, when the Lord Jesus, his Apostles and others in those Times, plurally term'd it Scriptures.

If any thing chance to be touched in severall parts, (as, Gods Eternity, &c.) the Proofs are referred to the first, and that expresly, for ease of the weaker sort, who will be loth to seek them too far.

I have desired to draw as many Proofs and Confessions as I could, from Adversaries of God and Godliness, as tending to greater Deu. 32.31. 1 K. 20.40.42. Mat. 12.27. L. 19.22. Jo. 5.45. Ro. 2.1. Jo. 8.54. Conviction and Confirmation: therefore none need­eth to stumble at them.

The stile is nothing lofty, but low and professedly humble to all Men; not ambitious of equipage with any; yet assuming that familiar Decorum which (I hope) may beseem the Hus­band to the Wife, at whose information this chiefly aimeth.

If any Term seem obscure to the common sort, let it be excused thus: 1. That, for ease of all, I laboured Brevity: Much Matter may sometime be couched in a Word. 2. That one Word is often suited to sundry Texts, and must bear the sense of them all. The best way for such therefore is, to exa­mine the Texts, which will clearly interpret and explane it.

But I have need (I confess) to beg the candid and christian Forbearance (or rather Furtherance) of All, in this Birth. It is, indeed, my First-born; Gen. 49.3. but I cannot say of it, as Jacob of his son Reuben; for it is a meer Embryon and Abort, wanting many of its due Months; Insomuch as being unacquainted with the Press, I was fearfull to offer it a Piece so unprepared.

And, truly, how curt and compendious soever this Treatise may seem, I found it so vast and copious in the Contrivall, that I had some reluctance in my self about the Proceeding. And (its no dissembling before the searcher of Hearts) could I have foreseen the length or difficulty of the (seeming little) Way; or had I not in the way felt a stronger Impulse and better Faculties then my own, to direct and drive me forward; I had fainted and faln off; yea, laid me down quite discou­raged in the sense of my Imbecillity. But my good Shepherd, Jo. 10.14. [Page] who best knows how to deal with Lambs; Isa. 40.11. and those that are with Young, was both so wise as to conceal it from me, and so gracious as to lead me on along with some Ease and Alacrity. While thus sensible of Divine Assistance, I stirred up my self to a little more Elaboration; and feeling a daily confluence of new-fresh Forces and Supplies, I grew ashamed to think of Lagging or Lassitude; and (at length somwhat confirmed as I conceiv'd) was loth to leave Place, either for just Objection, or future Exercise of my own in the Point here disputed. And now, although (the Lord knoweth) I am confcious of but little knowledg in my self, (less then the least of Saints) yet somewhat more it is then Satan wisheth me, or would per­swade me that I have; as You'll hear anon.

This slender Piece then, being in such Manner as God plea­seth, accomplished; I have no cause of doubt, but some ground of Hope, that (in Point of Knowledg, at least) it will further some, confirm others, and offend none that fear God, nor be sleighted of any as unconcerned; since no (married) Man dares profess but that he ought to know thus much and much more.

In short. Mayest thou enjoy the Profit, Pleasure and Com­fort, of that which I have collected, not without some Pains and Perplexity. The Body may be enthral'd, the Minde and thoughts cannot; 2 Tim. 2.9. much less can the Word of God be bound.

Thine Husband, Brother, or Friend, in the Lord M. à Ʋ.

If any weak Reader be troubled at the Marginall Contractions (which were onely to gain room) make your recourse hither.

  • Gen. Genesis.
  • Ex. Exodus.
  • Lev. Leviticus.
  • Num. Numbers.
  • Deu. Deuteronomy.
  • Jos. Joshua.
  • Jud. Judges.
  • Ru. Ruth.
  • 1. 2. S. Samuel.
  • 1. 2. K. Kings.
  • 1. 2. Ch. Chronicles.
  • Ezr. Ezra.
  • Neh. Nehemiah.
  • Est. Esther.
  • Job.
  • Ps. Psalme.
  • Pr. Proverbs.
  • Eccl. Ecclesiastes.
  • Cant. Canticles.
  • Isa. Isaiah.
  • Jer. Jeremiah.
  • Lam. Lamentations.
  • Ez. Ezekiel.
  • Dan. Daniel.
  • Hos. Hosea.
  • Ioel.
  • Am. Amos.
  • Ob. Obadiah.
  • Jon. Ionah.
  • Mic. Micah.
  • Nah. Nahum.
  • Hab. Habakkuk.
  • Zep. Zephaniah.
  • Hag. Haggai.
  • Zec. Zechariah.
  • Mal. Malachi.
  • Mat. Matthew.
  • M. Mark
  • L. Luke.
  • Io. Iohn.
  • Act. Acts.
  • Ro. Romanes.
  • 1. 2. Co. Corinthians.
  • Gal. Galatians.
  • Eph. Ephesians.
  • Ph. Philippians.
  • Col. Colossians.
  • 1. 2. Th. Thessalonians.
  • 1. 2. T. Timothy.
  • Tit. Titus.
  • Phil. Philemon.
  • Heb. Hebrews.
  • Ia. Iames.
  • 1. 2. P. Peter.
  • 1, 2, 3. Io. Iohn.
  • Iude.
  • Rev. Revelation.

Some of these Abbreviations are usuall and plain enough; yet it's no great harm to let all go together.

The Chapters speak thus.

  • 1. AN Introduction touching the Occasion of this Discourse.
  • 2. The Certainty, Truth, Authority, Consent, and o­ther peculiar Excellencies of the Sacred Scrip­ture.
  • 3. Of divine Knowledge: The Fountain, streams, Force and Effects of it.
  • 4. Practicall Knowledge relating to the Husbands Pow­er. Sharpest Correction consistent with choicest Affection: First in Christ.
  • 5. The Symbole betwixt Christ and the Husband in the Point and Power of practicall Knowledge.
  • 6. Whether a good Man must or may correct or beat his bad Wife: Objections answered.
  • 7. Conjectures at the Causes and Measure of Corre­ction.
  • 8. Additionalls coincident with the Occasion of the Discourse.
  • 9. The Conclusion.

CHAP. I. AN Introduction, touching the Occasion of this Discourse.

IT hath been as little suspected by my self, as expect­ed by any other the Natives of this Nation, that I should undergo the Presse; especially on so sudden and sad Occasion. And I have even trembled to think, that the mighty Creatour of the world, who is Deu. 4.24. and 9.3. Heb. 12.29. a consuming fire, who rendeth, shaketh, and throweth down the Nah. 1.6.Rocks, 1 K. 19.11.Mountains, yea the Ps. 18.7. Isa. 13 13. Joel 3.16. Hag. 2.6. whole Earth & Heavens, and Ezr. 38.20. what not? should Isa. 41.2. call to his foot, a despi­cable poor worm, and not crush him in pieces, rather then set him on work: Or that the living & dreadfull God, should look upon 2 S. 9.8. a dead dog without utter distast and abhorrence. But when I consider what he saith, who Num. 23 19. 1 S. 15.29. Tit. 1.2. cannot lie; That as he is the Isa. 57.15. Job 36.5. Ps. 113.5,6. and 138.6. high and lofty one inhabiting Eternity, so he dwelleth with him also that is of an humble and contrite spirit, that Ro. 4.17. quickneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not, as though they were: that 1 Co. 1.27,28. Mat. 11.25. hath chosen the foolish, weak, base, despised things of the World, to confound the wise and mighty, that Ps. 8.2. Mat. 21.16. out of the mouths of babes, and sucklings, yea L 19.40. from stones, can extract and perfect his praise, it being the glory of his highest Power to shine forth in the 2 Co. 12.9. lowest weaknesse, and his good pleasure (I hope) not onely to Ps. 103.14. Heb. 2.16.17. pity and Deu. 32.73. Isa. 26.12. and 40.11. support my frailty, but to wink at my filthines, and Isa. 4.4. & 6.5,6 7. Ez. 16.6,8,9. Jo. 13.8. wash me from it.

I have, (in these respects) taken the humble and bashfull boldnes, (as under the Ps. 61.4. Covert & Ps. 36.7. shadow of his Wings, im­ploring the constant Presidence and direction of Neh. 9.20. his good spirit) to present what is promised. In pursuance whereof, I may profess, as in his Presence, to whose eyes, 1 Ch. 28.9. and 29.17. Job. 42.2. Ps. 2.7.9. and 44.21. Pro. 17.2. Jer. 17.10. Ro. 8.27. 1 Th. 2.4. Rev. 2,23. all hearts Heb. 4.13. all Things are naked and opened. That what I shal here express, [Page 2] is principally to shew forth his sacred Authority and mine In­tegrity under it. And if the deviations or obliquities of others must needs light in my way, I shall touch as tenderly on them as is possible, with some few Inferences for pious and publick use and caution.

This first Chapterand the last may be termed a Prooemium and Appendix to this Discourse. And if any demand why These? or why Thus? and not together ward, either before or after. I answer, 1. I am confident they will be found fit and needfull. 2. It may suffice to know, that they appear in such Order, as they were suggested or occurred to me.

I intreat that none expect a terse, polite or methodicall Piece; but take All. 1. As a few brief, and confused Noti­ons, prompted for present satisfaction, defence and comfort, amidst Obloquy, Oppression and Distraction; wherein it con­cerned me now and then, to cast an eye at the waking Malice and Rage of 2 Th. 3.2. unreasonable Men; and therfore where any Ple­onasms appear, be pleased to passe over them with Patience. 2. As a crosse-unwelcome Parenthesis, (to a more pleasing, not prophane Imployment) whereon I confesse, I tarry all the while as on thorns, which will permit no long nor easie Pau­sure: howbeit the ingenious may easily spell the Meaning at spare times. I am assured of the candid Construction of good Christians; and for my petulant-censorious Adversaries, if (in their opinions) I bewray either Lunacy or Levity, I must accuse those erraticas Stellas, or Ignes fatuos, for leading me out of my Way. Neverthelesse, (upon the main) if the re­vealed Word of God be sure, I am not far excentric. Howe­ver, if I shall be convinced, (either by any readers Judgement or my own) of ought amisse, I promise Amendment, as God affords intelligence and oportunity.

No question, but I am concluded a married man, and to have tasted some sowre, not all the sweet of Wedlock; and not far amiss. Ps. 55.12,13,14. For it was not an enemy that reproached me, then could I have born it, neither was it he that hated me, that magnified himself against me, then I would have hid myself from him. But it was thou, a man, mine Equall, my Guide, and mine ac­quaintance. We took sweet counsell together, and walked to [Page 3] the House of God in company. Nay, not onely so, neither, but it was Thou, mine own Flesh, that hast insulted; whose rage hath not rested here, but hath Isa 37.28. reached up to heaven, and 1 S 17.26.36. 1 Th. 4.8. defi­the Mat. 26.53. Armies and Ps. 11.6. & 120.4, & 7,12,13. Deu. 32.23. Artillery of the Deu. 5.26. 1 S. 17.26. Ps. 84.2 Isa. 37.4. Jer. 23.36. Dan. 6.26. Mat 26.63. Acts. 14.15 1 T. 6.17. Heb. 10 31. living God.

I trust there's none of the Eph. 2.19. & 3.15. genuine-true Family, that expecteth so much as a summary representation of all the sad Occuraences or Ez. 4.2. Engins of Assault and Sleight, in a ten-years siege; much lesse, a ruthfull complaint or bemoaning of a laesa or victa patientia, (which hardly holds Plea in Foro Christi though mutually passable among fellow-Christians, conscious of common frailty, and) which is no further conquer'd or won upon then thou seest. My meaning and hope is, That none looks for an Gen. 9.22,23. Ham-like, (or more horrid) discovery of conjugall Deformities or Infirmities, but will rather be ready with Shem and Japhet to cover and conceal them. There are 2 S. 1.20.24. Daughters of the Philistines, as well as of Israel, there are also Isa 28.1. Drunkards of Ephraim. And if the best men, and things, be spoken or acted against by some that (should) sit in the Ps 69.12.Gate; how shall the Meaner and lesse worthy escape the song of the Drunkards? it is enough and too much to publish, that the last Decade of my life hath been extreamly embitter'd (not with hard Bondage or Servitude; I needed not endure it, but) with constantly tempestuous-windy Wea­ther; save for some lucida Intervalla, wherin mortalls must needs Quod caret alter­na requie, &c. rest (for none but Devills themselves are Job 1.7. 1 P. 5.8. rest­lesse) or when I enjoyed the Calm of another Climat. I returned, Jer. 14.19. I looked and waited for Peace, and there was no good for the time of Healing, and behold Trouble.

One instance may serve instar omnium. The Rev. 12.10 Job 2.3r. Accuser of the Brethren (for him alone do I criminate) that Gen. 3.1. Job 41 1,34. Isa. 27.1 2 Co. 11.3. Rev. 12.9. and 20.2. old serpent hath laid at lurch a long time under the ground or latet anguis, &c. grasse; and at length, having (it seemeth) perfected his Ar­tifice, rusheth out like a roaring Lion, and proclaims me Mad­man. And thus was the matter. Within two or three of twen­ty yeares ago, it pleased Isa. 54.5. our Husband Christ, to afflict me with an hot and horrid Fever, for a long season, which brought me to deaths doore Being much of that time under the torrid zone, no mervail if I learned a little of the Natives Language, [Page 4] (Barbarism, Neh. 13.24. half Ashdod) and that my Actions were answerable (yet if I be not flattered, they were far short of the high strains, I have heard related of others in like Case) I never had in my life, much lesse was it like I should then have any great judgement or mind of Phlebotomy or Incision; and because in the Heat of my Sickn [...]sse, I would not yield (for­sooth, to be blooded without binding my Arms, my said grand Accuser then (my too diligent Attendant) layes it in my Dish, and will needs have me bound to be a Madman whilst I live. 1 K. 18.27. Risum teneatis?

By like (Satan) no drop of my Blood fell to thy share, nor ever shall. Where thou Jo. 13.27,28,30 Act. 5.3.9. winnest upon any, thou art not wont to prate so much, there's nothing but Isa. 28.15. Jer. 6.14. Pro. 7.13. to 23. Peace and Plea­sure: thy rooms are all and alwayes, as ready swept and gar­nished for such Guests, as Mat. 12.44. theirs for thee. Let me expo­stulate with thee a little: was not Hos. 7.1. &c. Ephraim more dange­rously diseased then with a Feaver, yet he kicked against his Cure, and Hos. 11.3. was healed he knew not by whom or how. Wilt thou not (yet thou must) allow Gods dearest Children a lit­tle reluctance against the rod. Our sweet Saviour, thy severe Judge, and master, Job 24.12. and 42.7,8. Ja. 5.11. winks at it; witnesse that holy Innocent whom thine Job. 1.12. &c. 2.7. hellish malice tormented. Because thou art Jude. 6. reserved in everlasting Chaines under darknesse, to the Judgement of the great Day, for 2 Th. 1.8.flaming Fire; cannot I or my Brethren, by the power of our Redeemer, Isa. 43.2. passe through the waters, and not be overflown? walk through the Fire (hotter then a Feaver) and not be burnt? neither the flame kindle on us? But I bare, and Mic. 7.9. Job 19.5,6. Ps. 39.9. Isa. 30.15.1 S. 3.18. will beare his indig­nation, because I have sinned against him, have repented and am parden'd: Mat. 25.41. Rev. 20.10. thou shalt abide eternall Fire, for thy fore passed, fatall, and finall Defection, and canst neither repent,- nor rid thy self; that is Ps. 49.8 ceased from thee for ever.

But my memorie, though then sore shaken and enseebled, is yet (it seems) more faithfull then thine. Thou mightest have charged more and grosser Absurdities in that Sicknesse, then this, upon me. As that in the Waning and Languor or my spi­rit, I forgot and refused to know my best Friends; yea, once mistook my Physician (whom God made an Instrument of my [Page 5] Recovery) for thee, beside many other Feats, the effects of Sicknesse. But this (belike) was thy best and last Project, [thy Master-piece] to talk of my Binding, that I might be taken and kept bound [for so thou threatnedst] from binding thee: But it needed not; My Mat. 8.16. & 10.1. & 28.18. M. 6.7. L. 4.36. Jo. 3.35. powerfull Redeemer, by Ps. 16.8. Jo. 15.5 Eph. 6.10. Ph. 4.13 Juce 9. whose strength alone I 1. S. 2.9. Ro. 14.4 Eph. 6.13.stand, and Ps. 18.29. & 118.10,11,12. Isa. [...]1.10,11,12.13. Zec. 3.2. Eph. 6.11. Ja. 4.7. 1 P. 5.9. strive against thee, Col. 1.13. &, 2.15. Heb. 2.14. 1 Jo. 3.8. Rev. 12.10. hath done it already. He hath once and Rev. 12.8,9,10. for ever, baffled and bound thee [though not to good Behaviour, yet] to be at his Beck and Mat. 4.10.11. & 16.23. M. 8.33. Bidding and will Ro. 16.20. Rev. 12.12. shortly bruise thee under mine, and my Fel­low-sufferers feet. Thou thirstest my 1 S. 20.3. Ps. 54.3 and 36.6 & 71.10 11. Blood, and huntest my Life, as a 1 S. 26.20. Partridge to the Ez. 39.4. Ps. 11.1 Mountains of Israel; where, yet, thou seest Ps. 57.6. & 124.6,7. & 18.48. and 27.6. I survive, and from whence I dare face and affront thee. Thy Isa. 54.17. Weapons and Engins [it ap­ears) were not fitly formed, they have not, as yet, pros­pered. It hath been shewed me (indeed) that I shall be 2 Co. 4.9. persecuted and cast down (by thee) but not forsaken, not de­stroyed; I have found my God Num. 23.19. 2 Co. 1.20. Ps. 30.1. & 41.11,12. as good as his word, and Pro. 18.10.the name of the Lord a strong tower against thee. I am not the Job. 1.9, &c. 1 Ch 21.1. Zec. 3.1. Mat. 4.3 &c. 1 Th. 2.18. first nor best thou hast been busie withall, nor the last by many Myriads; that shall defie and put thee to flight. Thou findest thy self daily foiled at thine own Weapons, yet thou must be stickling still. The Job 5.12.13. crafty and cruell ones also, who march un­der thy Colours, are often caught in their own Wilinesse and Wrath, Ps. 9.16. & 7.15 and 57,6. & 41.11. & 64.5,7. and snared in the work of their own hands; yet are they (poor souls) content to be still 2 T. 2.26. taken and carried Captive by thee at thy Will. On these (for their part) I am avidous of no greater Revenge or Honour then this, that they may 1 S. 6.20. Ps. 40 3. Dan. 6.26. Ps. 37 6. & 109.27. see and fear, Ps 21.8,9. &c. Rev. 11.13. not feel the Lords hand (which if Ps. 32.4. and 38.2. and 39.10. heavy upon his dearest Children how Deu. 32.22. Ps. 76.7. Nah. 1: 6. insupportable will it be to them?) that they may Deu. 32.31. Ps. 126.2: Dan. 3.29. and 6.27. know and remember, he is a Gen. 15.1 Deu. 33,29. Ps. 18.2. and 84.11. and 91.4. and 115.9. Pro. 2.7. and 30.5. Buckler and Deu. 32.4. 1 S. 2. 2. 2 S 23. 3. Ps. 18.2,31. and 34.7. and 40.2 and 61 3. and 71 3. & 125.2. Pro. 18.10. Isa. 26.4. and 33.16. Jer. 16.19. Nah. 1.7. Zec. 9.12. Muni­tion to all them that1 S. 30.6. 2 K 18.5,7. 1 Ch 5.20 Job 35.14. Ps. 22.45. and 27.13. and 28.7. and 33.21. and 37.5,40. and 78.21,22. and 125. 1. Pro. 3.5.6. and 30.5. Isa. 26.3. and 31.1. and 57.13. Jer. 13.25. and 17.5. and 39 18. Dan. 3.28. 2 Co. 1.10. 2 T. 4.16,17,18.trust in him, and may not in vetitum ni­ti, Job 9.4. Ro. 13.2. 1 Co. 10.22. nor stirve against the stream.

Now when M. 9.18. L. 4.35. and 9.42. Act. 10.38. 1. Pet. 5.8. Rev. 12.4,7,12,15. forcible Assaults fail, thou fallest to 2 Co. 2.11. Eph. 6 11. 1 T. 3.7. Rev. 12.9. and 20 10. fallacy and sleight (For thou art 2 Co. 11.14. Rev. 2.24. profoundly subtil, yet are we not 2. Cor. 2.11. ignorant of thy Methods, nor altogether unarmed against thy Devices). Of later time, when (likely) I was not employed to thy liking, thou hast laboured opprobriously to perswade me that the Devill (thy self) was at my elbow. Which may not be denyed, unlesse thou be not Job 1.7. and 2.2 2 Co. 2.11. and 11.14. Eph 2.2. 1 P. 5.8. an Ʋbiqueta­ry, or be Gen. 3.15. L. 22.31. 1 Co. 5.5. 2 Co. 12.7. 1 T. 1.20. Rev. 2.10, and 20.8. out of Office, (not yet to be hoped or believed) But it is as a base Job 1.6. and 2.1 Zec. 3.1. Mat. 4.3. insinuating Job 1.9.11. and 2.5. Accuser, no Counsellour nor Commander. Well, maist thou sneak behind at my Elbow, but my hand or fingers thou canst neither reach nor rule, which (I trust) thou shalt find and feel. Thou remembrest, also, That when I have cited and urged the sacred Scripture for Edification or good Ends (which thou art not wont to do) thou hast slily retorted it saying, the Devil could alleadge Scripture. Its true thou canst; but never affect, observe or obey it. I allow also, that thou; L. 4.41. M. 1.24. Ja. 2.19. believest, but withall thou tremblest. In short, as thou art designed for a temporary Accuser and Adversary, so art thou doomed for the eternall Object of Gods firy Indignation, and to Court thee in thine own Com­plement, Thou hearest me well enough.

I should here addresse a Word or two to my Physician whom I have not seen these many yeares. Howbeit he hath already some intimation, that I have laid a-bleeding under his helplesse hand, and I thought to salute him a little more large­ly, but this (perchance) may save that labour. He hath a deep share in this Occasion, he knowes what he hath done, and what he hath to do: for he is a pretending Physician as well for soul as body, and so I leave him L. 4.23. not to heal himself, but to be healed by that Jer. 8.22. Balm of Gilead, our blessed and common Physician and Saviour, hoping hee's not so Flinty, but even something here may take impression with him.

Beel-Zebub Inse­ctorum pestifero­rum Dominus. It is much about twelve months, that this Isa. 7.18. Assyrian Bee, hath blown upon me, since which time no expression of mine, if sounding and savouring (especially) of pious and serious Re­proof, but (by some in the World) was blasted and branded with Madnesse, and I bindable for it, both with Cords, and (lest they should prove too weak) with Papers. Alas for him [Page 7] say they) that hee'l meddle or make ado, he This should be a signe of soundnesse. knows, his Brain is crack'd or craz'd. I Confesse, (and am confident, it will fall out the more to illustrate the glory of my Maker) that I ever conceiv'd my self as far inferiour in Gifts of Mind, as I am of Fortune to most in the World; and that my memorie Its rather (indeed) Reminiscentia then Memoria. (especially) was feeble and frail à cunabulis (let none trust it more then I commend it) and therefore it is not likely my Elo­cution should be so compact and trim as theirs, who have a strong-innated memorie, from which they may still draw forth as from a constant ready Magazine or Treasury. But (I bless the Lord, who is Ps. 27.1. Isa: 10.17. and 60.19.20. Mic. 7.8. my light, Deu. 30.20: Ps. 27.1. and 42.8.mylife, and the length of my dayes) my Feaver left me no worse then it found me; and so farre was my Sence from being impaired by it, that by ( Ps. 127.1.2. 1 Co. 3.6. Gods bles­sing on my Industry) it hath ever since improved. However had I been of that dull or distempered Metall these would make me, either before or since, I had surely been utterly un­fit for that Imployment and Trust, (private or publick, as they will) wherein some of them have seen me conversant. No man living can shew me more Infirmities and Failings in me, then my self do see, feel, and bewail: But rather then yield up my Intellect quite adled for two or three wild flings of a fea­ver, (though God might have justly suffer'd it) and so belie and slander his Goodnesse and Bounty expressed on me, let me die right out. Yea before I forgo the Jos. 1.9. Isa. 50.7,8. Jer. 1.8. 1 Co. 7.23,24. 2 T. 2.3. Neh. 6.11. station wherein my Generall hath set me, or be stopped in any just and honoura­ble design for him; let me make as hard and scrambling shift, as did 1 S. 14.64,8,10,13. Jonathan and his Armor bearer, to hazzard a lingering Death.

But 1 Co. 4.7.who maketh thee (what ever thou art) to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it? Why scornest thou thy scanted Brother? Ex. 4.11. Who made mans mouth? or who maketh the dumb or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? Isa. 50.4. Who gives the Tongue of the Learned, or Isa. 32.4. makes the Tongue of the stammerer speak plainly? Is it not the Lord? And Ro. 9.20. Eccl. 7.13. Isa. 29.16. shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Yet stay but a little: Doth the wisest or most accomplish'd man, alwayes [Page 8] accost his Wife in Querpo (but it is more then time to be­gin) in Print or set speeches, as if he were declaiming in Pub­lick, or upon a definitive Sentence? If he misse it a little in language, is he forthwith a Madman? or are all passionate Men habitually mad or proud and fit for binding? God forbid. There would then be too much work for the Zeph. 2.3. Meek of the Earth, they would have too little leasure to seek the Lord, as they should, and (beside) many of Gods dearest Children would light under the Lash. With the desinition of Madness. I am not fit to meddle, I referre it to him, who is undoubted­ly mi [...]is & compositae mentis. But my Detractors (who I hope, are not all Men) will surely, allow me to sit down with this Mite of Comfort, that I am not the 1 S. 1.13,14. M. 3.21. Jo. 10.20. Act. 12.15. and 26 24,25. 1 Co. 14.22,23. Mr. H P. First, the Best, nor Wi­sest, that have been thus traduced or 1 S. 21.14,15. deemed, and that hi­therto I have been but coram non Judice.

In the Duel or Conflict with Satan, discovery is Conquest: And I find his Quarrell is not that I am beside my self, but 2 Co. 5.13. beside Him. Now because there can be no Peace or compli­ance with such a Tyrant, but on Terms dishonorable to God, disadvantagious & discomfortable to my self, I am resolv'd still to keep him at the staffes end and to stand See p. 5. b c d on my best bottoms.

This recited Passage was not the sole & pro [...]er (though most specious) Ground of Quarrel: there are divers other known & no less impious Pretences, but it was the fairest and largest Li­very Cloak mine Accuser had to colour & cover the rest; it was (it may be, causa sine qua non.) In brief, take all together thus: That for a moderate use of the Power and Liberty which the Laws of God and man have intrusted to me to procure (if it might be) a godly oeconomicall Quiet, I have been treated (I lap it in my cleanest linnen) as a Perturber of the publique Peace. Wherein I have no reason to complain of Hardship at the Hands of men: For besides that the causes of my suffer­ings, are grown of a wider Notion then I could wish; God hath also bountifully restored and distilled his Refresh­ments into my Bosom. I do gladly therefore draw the Cur­tain, as well before Court- as Chamber-Proceedings.

Only, because my Job 27.5,6, and 31.6. Ps. 25.21. & 26.11. Innocence and Integrity, are held under Job 13.4. and 19 3,4. Ps. 31.11. and 42,10. and 69.20. and 109.25. Act. 28.3,4. censure or Job 1 [...] suspence (at least of some) and (especially) for that [Page 9] my Judgement and Conscience are unsettled in the main Point of (a much talked of, but little known) marital Knowledge; I have Job 17.8. & 21.3. andventured on a little, to Job 13.6,18,19. & 16.4. Ps. 41.12. 2 Co. 7.11. clear the One, and Pro. 3.5. & 4.5,7. & 18.1,15. & 22.20,21. & 23.12. enquire of the Other. The former I could more easily have passed over, but mine Incentive lay in the later, and was chiefly This; That, since I began to heed or listen to Scri­pture Language, I could hear Many, (but mostly Women) oc­casionally to alleadge, That 1 P. 3.7. Men ought to dwell with their Wives according to Knowledge: that is, (I presume, I much mistake not) pleasingly or patiently: Good Properties both. And, (which came a little nearer me) when of late I addressed my self (not unbidden) before Authority, and thought to make some Christian Advantage of one of their Chaplains, my quondam Acquaintance; He abstained from owning (in any degree acceptable) so gross an Offender, ei­ther in or out of that Ro. 13.4. dreadfull Presence. His Reasons, if not expressed by himself, may be imagin'd by others. He had onely the Leisure and Patience to school me (as above) with The Husband must dwell, &c. (his meaning was not very hard to apprehend) And (not remembring belike, that Mal. 2.7. Deu. 17.9,10,11. the Priests lips are as well to communicate as to keep Knowledge) was, and is, content to leave me as ignorant as he found me; although I have since, also, saluted and solicit­ed him by Letter (wherof I am informed, he made more then a Pastoral use) humbly offering either to satisfie or submit unto the Church. And it may be added, (not altogether un­fitly) That I, likewise, submisly proposed somthing in this kinde, to them of Power, Wisedom, and Experience; whose Reply was short and suitable to their Place, Job 32.9. but nothing satisfactory to my Doubt or Quaere.

The Confluence (I say) of these, and other like Motives, caused me first Ps. 4.4. to examine mine own Heart, and then stirr'd me up to study the Point for my fuller Information; the Pursuance wherof hath forcibly produced these publique Expresses both of my Quality and Conceptions; which, with all humbleness, I submit to judicious, christian and charitable Censure. And I come now within view of our expected Port [Page 10] of Knowledge: But ere I arrive at it, somewhat would be premised, touching the Scripture, the Gen. 1.26,27. Jo. 5.39. 1 T. 3.16 Isa. 7.14. sacred History of God and Man.

CHAP. II. The Certainty, Truth, Authority, Consent, and other peculiar Excellencies of the sacred Scripture.

BEcause our Husbands Authority is grounded on the Word of God, and that we are to deal, e­specially, with divine Texts and Truths; It were first to be wished, That all sorts of Peo­ple were satisfied of the Truth and Authori­ty of the Scripture; for to some, even the plain written Word of God is no prevailing Proof; wherein, 'tis doubtfull, consisteth a great part of the Weakness of some of the weaker Vessels. Very needfull therefore, it is, that such were convinced of This; That the Deu. 8.3. Ps. 119 89. Mat. 4.4. L. 4.4. Heb. 1.3. 1 Jo. 5.7. Rev. 19.13. eternal Word, the Jo. 1.1,2,3. & 10.35,36. Heb. 1.3,5. & 11.3. 2 P. 3.5. Rev. 2.18. 1 Jo. 5.20. Son of God, the Jo. 1.1,2. 1 Jo. 5.7. second Person in Trinity, and Jo. 1.4. & 6.63. 1 Jo. 1.1,2. & 5. 11:12,20. spirit and life it self, hath expresly declared and Ro. 1.16,17,18. Deut. 4.13. revea­led himself in Writing: to wit, first, Ex. 24.12. & 31.18. & 32.16,32,33. Deu. 4.13. & 5.22. & 9.10. & 10.2,4. 2 K. 17.37. I Ch. 28.19. Job 13.26. Ps. 40.7. & 69.28. & 87.6. & 139.16. Isa. 4.3. & 65.6. Ez. 2.9,10. Dan. 12.1. Mal. 3.16. Ph. 4.3. Col. 2.14. Heb. 12.23. Re. 2.17. & 3.5. & 5.1. & 13.8. & 17.8. & 20.12,15. & 21.12,27. by his own finger, and then 2 Ch. 36.22. Am. 3.8. 2 T. 3.16. 2 P. 1.21. by inspiring and sanctifying the Hearts, Hands, and Pens of his Servants, the Sons of men, and Ex. 17.14. & 34.27: Deu. 6.9. & 17.18. & 27.8. & 31.19. Isa. 8.1. & 30.8. Jer. 30.2. & 36.2. Ezek. 24.2. & 43.11. Hab. 2.2. Rev. 1.11. & 14.13. & 19.9. & 21.5. setting them on Work to write and copy out his Will, which they ha­ving Ex. 24.4. Eccl. 12.10. Jer. 36.4. L. 1.1,2,3. Jo: 21.24. Acts 20.27. 2 P. 3.15,16. Rev: 21.5. Deu: 31.9,22,24. 1 S. 10.25. Jos: 8.32. faithfully performed, He accordingly Jer: 26.45. & 29.19. & 44.4. Ez: 38.17. Hos: 8.12. Zec: 1.6. Rev: 10.7. owneth and approveth. These Writings from their first Penning and Pro­mulgation, were and shall be by his divine Power, his merci­full [Page 11] and miraculous Providence, ( Isa. 55.11. maugre the malice of Men or Devils) 2 K. 22.8. & 23.2. preserved, and Ex. 12.26. Deut. 4.9. & 6.7. & 29.29. & 31.12,13,21. & 32.46. 1 K. 9.6. Ps. 78.5,6.7. Jer. 32.39. Joel 1.3. Ro. 16:26. transmitted to Poste­rity to the Worlds end.

And here (before we pass further) its not unfit to be no­ed, that (albeit there happen, now and then a distinction or restraint in some Gen. 45.12. Nū. 12.8. Jer. 32.4. Acts 15.27. Rom. 10.9,10. Ja. 3.10. special Cases, yet) the Phrases of holy Scripture referring to former Times and Prophesies, and run­ning on this wise, viz. As L. 1.70. Acts 3.18. & 4.25. Heb. 4.4.he spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets, as it Mat. 2.23. & 3.3. & 21.4. M. 13.14 L. 24.25. Acts 13.40. 2 P. 3.2. was spoken by the Prophets, and the like, are indifferently to be understood, as well of the Word written, as spoken. This is easily apparent, by comparing 2 Co. 10.11. 2 P. 1.20,21. 2 Th. 2.15. the sacred Writ with it self, which ascribeth speaking of Scripture, sometime to Acts 1.16. & 28.25. the holy Ghost, sometime to Gal. 1.9. Heb. 11.32.2. P. 3.16. and more at t, u: the Writer, sometime to Jo. 7.38. & 19. 37. Ro. 4.3. & 11. 2. Gal. 4.30. 1 T. 5.18. Ia. 4.5. the Scripture it self (Exam­ples of this sort are so many and obvious, that a few may serve here) And our own common Practice (if need were) confirms it also; these Words being usuall with us in Writing, viz. As I said before, or As aforesaid, &c. while we (plain­ly) hear no Word spoken, but see it onely Written. And we cannot otherwise conceive of the Scripture, unless (which were horrible to think) the Words of our blessed Saviour (who never Mat. 7.29. M. 1. 22. Jo. 5.30. & 7.46. & 8.16. spake, Jo. 11.42.prayed, nor Mat. 12.18. M. 1.11. L. 3.22. Jo. 15.16. & 16.23,24. & 17.24. interposed in vain) were inconsistent, Where he saith, Mat. 28.19,20. Jo. 14.18. Go, teach all nati­ons, &c. and Lo, I am with you alway, even to the end of the World: and again, Jo. 17.20. I Pray not for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their Word. For He knew better then Any, and Mat. 24.9. & 23.34. L. 12.4. Jo. 21.19. 2 P. 1.14 foretold to his Apostles, that They ( Gen. 18.27. & 25.8. & 35.29. & 49.33. & 50.26. Num. 20.28. Deu. 34.5. Jos. 24 29. 1 S. 25.1. 2 S. 23,1. 1 K. 2.10. & 11.43. Zec. 1.5. Jos: 23.14. 1 K. 2.2. Ps. S 9.48. Acts 2.29. as all the Patriarchs and Prophets before them, being meer Gen. 32.10. Job 7.20. Ps. 38.4 & 41.4 & 51.5. 1 Jo. 1.8. Ps. 40.12. sinfull, mortal Men (which L. 5.8. Acts 3.12. & 10.26. Peter and Acts 14.15. 2 Co. 5.1. Eph. 2.1.5. 1 T. 1.15 Paul confess for all) after they had Acts 13.36. 1 K. 2.10. served their Generation, must fall a­sleep, and could not possibly accomplish so vast a Peragration and Task, as (viva voce) to teach all Nations. Nor meant he, therefore, any longer to accompany them carnally or cor­rorally here on Earth (for they were, even then, Ph. 1.23. 2 T. 4.6,7. 2 P. 1.13,14. taking leave to depart for Heaven their Eccl. 12.5. long home, where they 1 Th. 4.17. 2 T. 4.8. Rev. 18.20. & 21.14. re­main [Page 12] most happy with him) but to continue his Spiritual Pre­sence and Power with them in their written Word, and with their faithfull Posterity the Jo. 10.16. & 4.18. Pastonrs, the Teachers thereof, while the World endures. Now, had their Word rested in, and expired with their vive or vocal Expression (the Article of their natural Breath) how should any People or Persons far distant, or future, who were never like to see or hear them) either believe, or benefit ought thereby? And to clear this unto us, We see the Lord Jesus expresly sets on Work his be­loved Apostle John (as doubtless he did implicitly and virtu­ally the rest) bidding him Rev. 1.11,19. see 2 P. 3.1,2. Write what he sees, hath seen, and shall be hereafter in a Book. I say, therefore, we are to con­clude, all such Phrases to signifie and intend as wel the written as vocal Word of God. And that all the Writings of these holy Men before mentioned, being (by divine Providence, and faithfull Hands) collected into One just Volume, are the same which we have in common (not so carefull or conscionable) Use, and in way of Eminency, do call Ro. 1.2. 2 T. 3.15. The holy Scriptures, and might as justly term them, Ps. 119.142,160 Pro. 22.20,21. Eccl. 12.10. Dan. 10.21. Jo. 10.41. & 21.24. 2 Co. 6.7. Eph. 1.13. Col. 1.5. 2 T. 2.15. Ja. 1.18. Rev. 19.9. & 21.5. The Word and Scripture of Truth.

It may be hoped, there are not many incredulous in this Point; yet such as be are earnestly recommended to those Or­thodox Divines and Writers who have fully cleared it: for the recitall would take up too much room in this narrow Treatise. But we take and use it (as indeed it is) for that un­doubted Rule of Verity by which with influence of the Spirit of God alone, we are to be Isa. 8.20. Mat. 22.29. Ex. 15.26. Lev. 18.5. Numb. 15.22,23,24. Deu. 5.32. & 6.17.25. & 11.1. & 17.9,20. & 28.14. & 31.12. Jos. 1.7,8. & 22.5. & 23.6. 2 K. 17.13,37. & 22.13. Ps. 105.45. & 119.9 Pro. 3.1. & 6.22,23. Eccl. 12.13. Isa. 30.21. & 42.4 Jer. 9.13. & 26.4. Ez. 20.19. & 37.24. Mat. 19.17,18 & 28.20. L. 10.26 Jo. 5.39. Ro. 1.16,17,18. & 4.3. & 15.4. 1 Co. 4.6. & 10.11. 2 T. 3.16. 2 P. 1.19. & 2.21. 1 Jo. 2.3,4. directed here, and Mal. 3.16,18. Jo. 12.48. Rev. 14.12 everlastingly doomed hereafter. Nevertheless, because those Tracts are not ready at hand to All, these breif Considerations (for the pre­sent) may something sway the Minde of the Doubtfull, and convince the Truth hereof, as

1. Its on all hands gladly granted, (by those that bear the name of Christians) That eternal Life and Felicity is to be looked after, and is onely attainable by the Knowledge of God in Jesus Christ. This cannot surely be through brain-fancies and airy Notions, and therefore some direct and regular Job 23.11. Way must needs lead thereunto. To confirm this (if Scripture can do it,) compare Jo. 5.39. with Jo. 17.3. None can know or learn the way to God, but by God teaching the Truth; This Truth [Page 13] cannot be known to Any without Christ, nor Christ without his revealed Word and Will; and What can be so probable and fair a Manifest hereof as these holy Scriptures; which, for All this is obvious to any seeing and single eye. Purity and Perduration, Impartiality and Majesty, Pro­fundity and (yet) perspicuous and pleasing Facility, do excell and eclipse all other Writings in the World.

2. Christ bids us 1 Jo. 4.1, &c. try the Spirits: and if He did not, Equi­ty and Reason would evince it: For we know, that One Spi­rit may be as errone ous as another, and some so deeply and dangerously, that they shall Mat 24.24. M. 13.22. 1 T. 4.1. Rev. 16.14. go near to deceive the very Elect; if every Spirit may be his own Moderatour and Judge; and therefore no doubt but Ez. 34.17. Ro. 16.2. the Lord Paramount, Num. 16.22. & 27.16. the God, and Heb. 12.9. Father of Spirits, intended and appointed some deter­minative Rule of Triall, in case of 1 K. 22.20. L. 9.55. dissent or difference 'twixt Spirit and Spirit: and what may we imagine (under the Sun) a truer Touch-stone herein then the Scripture we treat of?

3. Although by Gods absolute unrevealed Will all things were made, yet are they not preserved, ruled, or directed, without his conditionate and revealed Will. For if there be not such a supreme, directive, restrictive Providence, Why doth not each One live as they list? (which the most desperate Wretch dares not profess to do) Why is not every Jud. 7.22. 1 S. 14 20. 2 S. 2.16.Mans sword in his fellows side? Certainly, then, he ordained a Vice­gerence and subordinate Government here on Earth, and to this End, is that Expression (if we believe Scripture) Den. 30.11, &c. Joh. 6.45,46. This Commandment is not hidden from thee; neither is it far off, &c. It would be judged an absurd Presumption to trouble a supreme earthly Magistrate with every trifling Trespass or breach of Peace, (in this he would easily incline to imitate Ex. 18.21,22. Jethro's Counsel to Moses, yea to desire God's Indulgence Num. 11.14,15,17. as Moses did) and shall we dare to think God either less Ex. 19.12,13,23 & 20.18,19. & 24.17. & 33.20,23. Deu. 4,24,33. & 5.5. Job 37.22 Ps. 68.8. Jer. 10.7 Heb. 12.20,21. dreadfull to be approached, or less 1 Ch. 29.11,12. 2 Ch. 20.6. Ps. 62.11. & 66.7. & 103.19. & 115.3. Dan. 4.26,37. powerfull, and Gen. 1.16. Ex. 18.22. Nū. 11.17. Job 32.13. & 33.13. Ps. 8.6. & 36.6 & 136.8,9. Pro. 8.15,16. Hos. 8.4. provi­dent in managing his Affairs then Man?

This may seem to fatisfie the most. Yet now we may not conceive this divine Word resteth (though revealed and evi­dent) in the dull, 2 Co. 3.6. Ro. 2.29. dead and killing Letter we look on, (how­ever illustrious and eminent, as above) For how can a dead Thing be Gal. 3.8. prophetick, or Gal. 3.22. judicative, 1 Co. 10.11.monitory, or Ro. 15.4. Jer. 15.16. consola­tory? [Page 14] Yea Heb. 4.12. Psal. 147.15. & 119.50 Jer. 20.9. & 23.29 Hos. 6.5. L. 24.32 2 Co. 10.10. Eph. 6.17. Rev. 1.16. Hab. 3.9. powerfull, quick and keen, searching, Ps. 119.161. Isa. 66.2. awing, Jo. 12.48. Ro. 2.12,17,18,27. censuring, Ps. 105.19. 2 T. 2.9. clearing the Thoughts and Intents of the Heart? (strong and strange Operations! and all This affirmed of the Word) It must needs be then by Eph. 6.17. some spritefull Influence, more then appears on the bare and naked Letter, which Acts 9.5. Paul himself found and felt, when he kicked against the Pricks. And what Spirit can this be, but the same which at the first Gen. 1.2. Job 33 4. Ps. 104.30. Isa. 42.5. moving upon the face of the Waters, gave light and life to the world, bestows or restores Breath, strength and Agility to 1 K. 17.18,22,23 2 K. 4.32,34,35. & 8.5. Ps. 104.29 30. Jo. 11.39,43,45. Acts 20.9,10,12. Ro. 4.19. & 8.11. Heb. 11.19,35. 1 P. 3.18. Rev. 11.9,11. dead Bodies, Ez. 37.1, to 10.dry (very dry) Bones, or Mat. 3.9. L. 3.8 Stones; who still and ever Ro. 4.17. & 8.11. Eph. 2.1,5. qnickneth, at least, the spiritually dead; and by a secret, yet a certain (and sometimes Gen. 41.38. Num. 11.26. & 24 2,3,4. Judg. 3.10. 1 S. 10.6,9,10,11 & 16.13,18. & 19 20,23,24. 2 K. 2.15. 2 Ch. 20.14. Neh. 9.30. Isa. 11.2. & 48.16. Ez. 2.2. & 11.5. Dan. 4.8. Mat. 3.16. L. 4.18,21,22. Jo. 1.32,33. & 14.17. & 15.26. Acts 2.2. &c. and 8.29. & 11.12. & 16.7. 1 P. 4.14. 1 Jo. 4.2 Rev. 1,10. & 4.2. a manifest) Infusion, Eph. 1.23. Job 32.8. filleth all in all. By the 2 Co. 3.6. same Power (I say) are these Lines made lively and active, and so justly (in this sense) cal­led the Ph. 2.16. L. 8.11. Word of Life. It is said, metaphorically and impli­citly, That the Word was made Ps. 118.22. Isa. 28.16. Dan. 2.34,45. Mat. 21.42,44. L. 20.17,18. Acts 4.11. Eph. 2.20. 1 P. 2.4,6,7. stone; but expresly, that it was made Jo. 1.14.flesh, and dwelt among us; and that 1 Jo. 1.1,2. we have seen With our eyes, and our hands have handled of the Word of life. Which Christ himself confirmed, saying, Jo. 6.63. The words that I speak to you (while now in my flesh) they are spirit, and they are life. We hear himself likewise, assuming to him the Me­taphors of Jo. 14.6. Way, Jo. 15.1,5.Vine, Jo. 10.7,9.Door, Jo. 6.35,41,51.Bread, &c. Now the same Word (even Christ Jesus) who made himself a Way, Stone, Vine, &c. yea Flesh, to dwell among us for Jo. 7.33. & 13.33. & 16.16. a little while, was and is, in the same sense and certainty, made Letter and Scripture to remain with us Mat. 28.20. unto the end. We need seek no further for similitude, then the naturall Bodies we bear about; Which, while united with soul or spirit, (cal'd Gen. 2.7. & 6.17. & 7.15,22 Isa. 42.5. Rev. 11.11. the Breath of life, and sometime the Job 27.3. spirit of God:) We see how able, apt, and agil they are; especially some, to Jud. 20.16. 1 S. 17.4,5, &c. 2 S. 1.23. & 2.18. & 23.8, &c. 1 Ch. 12.8 Lam. 4.19. Glo­ry and Admiration. But once Job 34.14. Eccl. 12.7. severed, how Jos. 5.1. 1 S. 25.37. 1 K. 10.5. senseless, Jud. 15.18,19. L. 8.53. Ja. 2.26. live­less, Gen. 3.19. & 18.27. Job 4.19. & 7.21. & 13.12. & 21.26. & 34.15. Ps. 30.9. & 49.14. & 103.14. & 104.29. Eccl. 3.20. & 12.7. contemptible, and Jer. 9.22. & 16.4. & 25.33. Jo. 11.39. horrid Things are they! And, yet, [Page 15] this Spirit of Job 32.8. Prov. 18.14. & 20.27. & 25.28. Eccl. 3.21. Isa. 26.9. & 57.16. Ez. 21.7. Zec. 12.1. Mal. 2.15. Ro. 8.16. 1 Co. 2.11. ours (as we may call it; though the sole, or chief Actor in us) is (1 Co. 2.11.) invisible to our carnall eye. Also, we measure and judge the strength or feebleness of our life, by the fast or slow Beating (as we term it) of our Pulse, the Motion of our animal Spirit. Just thus is it with the written Word ( Ez. 1.12,20. 2 Co. 3.3. or Works) and Spirit of God: yet with this Difference, That the Spirit of God unspeakably and inconceivably Job 32.8. Isa. 38.16. transcends the Spirit of Man in 1 Co. 5.3,4. & 12.4,8, &c. 2 Co. 11.4. & 12.18. Eph. 2.18. & 4.3,4 Ph. 1.27. Col. 2.5. Ʋnity, and Hab. 1.13. Jo. 4.24. Eph. 4.29,30. 1 Jo. 3.3. Purity, Mic. 2.7. 2 Co. 3.17. & 11.12.Liberty, 2 S. 14.19. 2 K. 5.26. & 6.32. Acts 5.3. 1 Co. 2.10,11,12,16. Gen. 44.15.Perspicacy, Jo. 6.63. Ro. 8.10: 1 Co. 15.45. 2 Co. 3.6. 1 P. 3.18Vivacity, and Jud. 16.28,29,30 2 K. 2.11. Job 32.18. Ps. 39.3. Isa. 6 6,7,8. E 7.3.14. & 37.1. Dan. 6.3. Mic. 3.8. M. 1.12 L. 1.17. & 2.40. & 4.14. & 21.15. & 24.32. Acts 2.4. & 4.20. & 6.10 & 8.39. & 18.5,25 & 20,22. & 23.9. Ro. 15.19. 1 Co. 2.4. Eph. 3.16. 2 Th. 2.8. Rev. 17.3. & 21.10. Isa. 49.2. Vigour; It also Jo. 3.8. as the Wind, bloweth where it lusteth, and Eccl. 11.5. None knoweth whence it cometh, nor whither it goeth.

So then, while this written VVord is but offered, accepted, and eyed, as a dead Letter, no mervail it be so much negle­cted and so little operative as it is. And (certainly) till we feel some beating, or motion of this Divine Pulse in or upon it, we may sadly conclude, our selves to be ( Eph. 2.1,5. Jo 14.17. 1 Co. 2.14. spiritually) as dead as the Letter, or Jo. 11.39. Lazarus his Body. For, as our Spi­rit is the life of our Body, so is the Spirit of Christ the Job 32.8. Psalm 36.9. & 66.9. & 119.175. Isa. 38.16. Jo. 14.17. Acts 17.24.25. Ro. 8. 2,10. 1 Co. 2.4. Col 3.3. life both of our Spirit and of the Letter.

Much less may this written VVord avail any thing, either to enliven, enlighten, or lead us, whilst it lyeth by us unused, neglected, contemned as a Moth-eaten Clout (not of so much account with many.) And therefore, to the attaining of the spirituall-saving Knowledg here treated, there belongs a serious, studious, and diligent search. The Heb. 2.10. Captain of our Salvation, our most curious and faithfull Num. 13.2,30. & 14.6,7,8,9. spy and discoverer of the holy Land, sets us in the ready way. Jo. 5.39. Isa. 8.20. 2 P. 1.19. Search the Scriptures (saith he; which even yee Jewes, yee Scribes and Pharisees, account infallible, impartiall Guides to your eter­nal life and felicity) for they are they that testifie of me; who alone, am that most precious permanent Pearl and Possession, worth Search and seeking after, which they point at; yea, am their proper-inseparable Subject and Substance. And, for our Incitement and Example, we see himself did, L. 4.16,17,21,22. custo­marily preach and practise out of them. They were his own Mat. 4.4,7,10. L. 4.4,8. chief-apparent Armour against Satan in any Assault; [Page 16] and as they proved Mat. 4.11. L. 4.13. successfull with him, so he hath left them commended to our use and imitation. To this end, we often hear him, and his Worthies, the blessed Apostles and other Saints (sometimes in a repugnant, sometime in a perswasive way) producing and alledging Scripture, viz. Mat. 2.5. L. 24.46. Thus, Mat. 4 7. Heb. 1.5. & 2.13. & 10.30.again, Ps. 40.7. Mat. 21 13. L. 19.46. Jo. 8.17. Acts 23.5. Ro. 12.19. 1 Co. 9 9. Gal. 4.22: 27.it is written; M. 11.17. Jo. 10.34.Is it not written? Mat. 12.3,5. & 19.4. M. 2.25. & 12.10,26. L. 6.3.Have ye not read? Ro. 4.3. & 11.2. Gal. 4.30.what saith the Scripture? L. 10.26.How readest thou? and the Jos. 8.31. 1 K. 2.3. 2 K. 23.21. 2 Ch. 31.3. Neh. 10.34. Isa. 34.16. & 65.6. Dan. 9.13 Mat. 21.42. & 26.24. M. 9.12. L. 7.27. & 20.17. Jo. 7.42. & 19.37 Acts 13.33. Ro. 9.17. & 16.26. 1 Co. 1.31. 2 Co. 1 13. 1 T. 5.18. Ja. 2.8. 1 P. 2.6. like. We have a Rev. 1.3. & 22.7 Blessing also pronounced to Readers and Keepers of those Things which are (thus sacredly) written; that so, Ro. 15.4. 1 Cor. 9.9,10. & 15.58. 1 Th. 4.18. Acts 20.32. through Patience and Comfort of the Scriptures, we might have Hope,

But yet, without Search (it seems) no finding, no Profit: This rich Inheritance, this precious Treasure, this pleasant Fruit drops not into our hands or mouths, without earnest Desire, assiduous Industry, constant vigilancy, carefull Ende­vour. Surely, to be Acts 18.24. mighty (that is Acts 18.25,26,27,28. powerfull as well as prompt and copious) in the Scriptures, is not easily attained; not with superficiall Discourse without-Book (though this beneficiall too.) Quae Dulcia & pulchra, difficilia. Things Deu. 32.46,47. Ps. 19.10. & 119.72,103,127. & 138.2. Pro. 2 10. & 3.13, &c. & 8.11,19, & 16.24. & 22.18. Eccl 9.16,18. Jo. 6.63. & 12.50. pleasant and precious are Ps. 78.2. & 49.4. Pro. 2.4. Ez. 20.49. Acts 8.30,31: Jo. 16.18. Heb. 5.11. 2 P. 3.16. hardly come by, however Pro. 8.8,9. & 14.6. Mat. 13.11. M. 4.11. Jo. 16.29,30. plain and easie they appear when once attain'd. David (a person of most high and honourable Quality, of mighty and vari­ous Imployment, yet) esteemed These worth his Ps. 119.23,78.99. industrious Mediation Ps. 12. & 119.97.day and night, Ps. 119.148. & 63.6. His Eyes prevented the Night­watches, to meditate on them; yea, he made them his Ps. 119.54,111. & 19.8. songs and solace. The Acts 17.11. noble Bereans are highly commended for their sedulity and diligence herein; and 2 T. 3.15. Timothy for his Timeliness and Maturity in Scripture-knowledg.

But, the strongest and sweetest Incitement is, That our dear Husband, Christ Jesus, left us these Scriptures, together with his other Ordinances and Expresses, as Love-Tokens, Memo­randums and Pledges of his Isa. 66.5. Mat 24.3,30. & 26.64. M. 13.26. & 14.62. Jo. 21.22. Acts 1.11. 1 Th. 4.17. 2 T. 4.8. Tit. 2.13. Heb. 10.37. 1 Jo. 3.2. Rev. 1.7. & 2.25. & 3.11. & 22.7,17,20. Return: viz. L. 22.19. 1 Co. 11.24,25.Doe This, Rev. 1.3. & 22.7.Read This (for what else importeth and speaketh his whole Reve­lation?) [Page 17] in remembrance of me:Mal. 4.4.Remember yee the Law of Moses my servant, &c. Jo. 15.20. & 16.4Remember the VVord that I said unto you: Yea, (for your assured Comfort) the Jo. 14.26. Comforter shall come and teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have told you.

These necessaries premised, it is next and lastly behoofull to prove, 1. That these holy Scriptures (comprehending the Ps. 73.16,17,22 & 119.98,99,100 Grounds of all Knowledge), are Jer. 44.4. Mat. 11.13. L. 1.70. & 24.25,27. Act. 3.21,24. & 10.43 & 15.15. & 28.23 Ro. 16.26. 1 Co. 14.32,33. Eph. 2.20. Acts 26.22. cohaerent and consenta­neous, viz. a Isa. 8.20. Jo. 5.39. Acts 20.32. Ro. 15.4. 2 T. 3.15 Ja. 1.21. compact, compleat, perfect, and Ps. 96.6. & 119.105. Pro. 6.23. 2 Co. 4.4. 2 P. 1.19. beautifull Body of themselves; not admitting the least Deu. 4.2. & 5.22. & 12.32. & 27.26. Pro. 30.6. Eccl. 3.14. Jer. 26 2. Acts 5.20. Rev. 22.18,19. Addition or di­minution,Gen. 24.50. Ex. 19.3,6,7. Nu. 24.13. Deu. 6.6, &c. Jer. 7.27. & 26.15. & 43.1. Gal. 1.8,9.Alteration or Mat. 15.3,4, &c. M. 7.7, &c. Col. 2.8. 1 P. 1.18. humane Varnish for ever; compre­hending and clearly expressing all Truths Isa. 8.20. L. 24.27. Jo. 4.25. & 5.39. & 15.15. & 20.30,31. Acts 1.1,2. & 20.27,32. Ro. 1.16 & 10.17. 2 Co. 5.19. Ph. 2.16. 2 T. 3.15.16,17. Ja. 1.21. 1 P. 1.23,25. savingly needfull, or Deu. 29.29. Mat. 24.36. M. 13.32. Acts 1.6,7. fit to be known. 2. That the same Spirit of God, who framed and inspired, dictated and directed them, and he alone, will be his own Arbiter and Interpreter thereof, by comparing (for Illustration, Approbation, Edification and Comfort, or rebuke and exprobration, as he best pleaseth) L. 24.27. Acts 28.23. 1 Co. 14.32. 2 P. 1.20. Scripture with Scripture, Heb. 7.22. & 8.6. Covenant with Covenant, 1 S. 15.22. Ps. 50.8,14. & 69 30,31. Cant. 4.10. Isa. 1.11,13,16,17. Jer. 6.19,20. Hos. 6.6. Mic. 6.7,8. M. 12.33. L. 18.12,13,14. Heb. 7.27. & 9.23. Sa­crifice with Sacrifice, 2 K. 17.19. Mic. 6.16. Acts 4.19. & 5.29. Statutes with Statutes, Lev. 42,13,22,27. Jos. 8.31. 1 S. 15.11. 2 S. 13.12. 2 K. 14.6. & 17.15. 1 Ch. 16.37,40. 2 Ch. 30.5. & 34.21. & 35.12. Ezr. 3.2,4. Neh. 8.15,16,17. Jer. 32.23. Ez. 5.6,7. Hos. 5.11. Mat. 23.23. L. 2.22,23,24,39. & 17.10. Jo. 8.31. 1 Co. 11.2. Gal. 2.14. Ja. 1.22, &c. Ro. 2.23. Practice with Precepts, Jos. 10.1,32, &c. Jud. 19.30. 2 K. 23.19. 2 Ch. 30.26. Neh. 8.17. Eccl. 1.9. & 2.12. Isa. 5.4. Jer. 18.13. Actions with Actions, Things Spirituall with Eccl. 5.5. Mat. 22.38,39. Acts 11.17. 1 Co. 2.13. Heb. 1.4. & 7.19,22. & 11.40. 1 Jo. 3.2. Spi­rituall, 1 Ch. 12.22. Ps. 1.3. & 78.52. & 104.2. Pro. 3.14. & 8.10,11. Cant. 1.9. & 2.9. Isa. 56.5. Mat. 3.16. & 7.11. Ro. 8.6. & 15.27. 1 Co. 3.1. & 9.11. Ph. 3.21. Heb. 4.15. & 12.24. 1 P. 3.20,21. carnall and corruptible, 2 Ch. 9.19. Ps. 29.6. & 39.11. & 37.16. & 49.12. & 59.6. & 102.26. & 104.2. & 147.16. Pro. 21.9. & 25.7. & 30.30, &c. Eccl. 6.3. & 9.4. Isa. 11.7. & 33 9. Jer. 46.8. Nah. 3.8, Zep. 2.13. Mat. 6.25. & 10.15. & 12.12. L. 5.39. Ro. 3.9,10, &c. 1 Co. 7.9. & 8.8. Things carnall and corrup­tible with themselves, Ps. 30.5. Isa. 40.8. & 54.7,8. & 56.5. Mat. 10.28. & 13.31,33, &c. Jo. 6.27,49,50. & 8.35. Ro. 8.18. 2 Co. 4.17,18. & 5.1. Phil 15. Heb. 8.4,5. & 10.34. & 11.15,16,35. & 12.26,27. 1 P. 1.24,25. 1 Jo. 2.17. Things temporall with eternall, Isa. 34.16. Mat. 1.22. & 8.17. & 11.10. & 13.34,35. & 21. [...]. & 27.35. M. 7.6. & 14.27,50. & 15.28. L. 4.21,22. & 24.44,46. Jo. 1.45. & 2.22. & 5.46. & 12.16. & 17.12. & 19.24,36. Acts 2.16, &c. & 3.18. & 13.27,29. Ro, 9.32,33. & 11.7,8. & 15.3.20 21. 1 Co. 15.3,4. Gal 3.13. Ja. 2.23. Events with Predictions, Num. 24.20. Eccl. 3.11. & 7.8. Isa. 46.10. Mat. 12.45. 2 P. 2.20. Ends with Beginnings, Promises with Heb. 8.6. Promises and Neh. 9.8. L. 1.72 Jo. 1.45 Acts 1.5. & 2.4. & 3.18. & 13.32,33. Ro. 1.1,2,3. Accomplishments, 1. S. 15.2,7,8. 1 K. 2.27. & 16.34. 2 K. 10.10 Isa. 34.16. Jer. 7.12. & 40.2,3. Lam. 2.17. Ez. 39.8. Dan. 9.11,13. Executions with [Page 18] Threatnings or Imprecations, 1 Co. 10.13. 1 Th. 2.14. Ja. 5.10. 1 P. 2.21. & 5 9. Afflictions with Afflictions, Ex. 9.24. 2 K. 9.9 Isa. 1.9 & 10.11. Jer. 7.12,14. & 29 22. & 49.17,18. Ez. 5.9. & 12.11. Dan. 9.12. Joel 2.2. Mat. 10.15. & 11.22,24. Ro. 9.29. 1 P. 4.17. 2 P. 2.6. Jude 7. Judgements with Judgements, Times and Conditions pre­sent, with Ex. 13.3. Num. 20.15 Den. 5.15. & 32 7,8. Jud. 6.13. Job 8.8,9. Ps. 44.1. Isa. 37.26. & 46.9,10. & 63.11. Jer. 2.2. Ez. 16.22,43. & 38.17. Hos. 13.5. Joel 1.2. Mic. 6.5 Zec. 8.9. L. 22.19 Eph. 3.5. Col. 1.26. Heb. 10.32. Rev. 2.5. passed or Ex. 12.26. Deu. 29.22. & 32.29. Jos. 4.6. & 22.27,28. Ps. 22.31. & 73.3,17, &c. Pr. 5.3,4. & 14.12,13. & 23.17,18. Eccl. 11.8,9. & 12.1, &c. 2 S. 2.26. Isa. 41.22. & 47.7. Jer. 5.31. & 23.20. Lam. 1.9. Am. 8.10. Mat. 13.40. Jo. 16.4. 1 P. 4.7.2 P. 3.11 Rev. 16.19. future, Persons with Persons, viz. Deu. 1.17. 1 Ch. 12.14. Job. 1.3. & 3.19. Ps. 49.2. & 62. c. & 115.13. Eccl. 5.8. Jer. 31.34. & 44.12. Mat. 18.4. L. 14.8,9. & 22.26,27. Heb. 6.16. & 7.7. Ja. 2.2,3. 2 P. 2.11. 1 Jo. 4.4. Rev. 19.5. & 20.12. Superior with Inferior, Hereof fully pa. 21. t. Wise with Foolish, 2 S. 3.1. Job 17.9. Ps. 105.24. Jer. 20.7. & 31.11. L. 11.22. 1 Co. 1.25. & 10.22. strong with weak. Among and above all, God himself, though in his Jo. 8.58. Ex. 3.14. & 6.3. Ps. 68.4. & 83.18. Isa. 12.2. & 26.4. Hos. 11.9. Heb. 11.6. Rev. 1.8. Essence, a Ex. 15.11. & 24.17. Deu. 28.58,2 S. 22.13. Neh. 9.5. Ps. 29.3. & 145.12. & 148.13. Isa. 2.19. Ez. 43.2. Hab. 3.3. glorious, Ex. 19.21. & 34.29,30,33. Isa. 6.1,2. Mat, 17.6. M. 9.9. L. 9.33. 2 P. 1.17. 2 Th. 1.9,10. admirable, 1 K. 8.27. Job. 11.7,8,9. Ps. 145.3. Isa. 40.15. & 66.1. Acts 7.49. & 17.24. incomprehensible, Job 11.8. & 26.14. Ps. 77.19. Isa. 64.4. 1 Co. 2.9 in­conceivable, and (therefore) Num. 23.19. Deu. 4.15,16. 1 S. 2.2. 2 S. 7.22. Ps. 71.19. & 89.6. Isa. 40.17,18,25. & 55.8,9. Jer. 49.19. Dan. 4.35. Mic. 7.18. Acts 17.29. incomparable Excellency; yet in his Attributes, likening himself (for our Comfort or Ca­pacity) to Gen. 1.26. & 3.22. & 5.1. Ps. 78.65. Isa. 42.13. Ph. 2.6,7. Man, Isa: 42.14. & 49.15VVoman,  Husband, 2 S. 7.14. Ps. 27.10. & 68.5. & 103.13. Pr. 3.12. Isa. 63.16. Jer. 3.19. & 31.9. Mal. 1.6. & 2.10. Mat. 6.4,9. Jo. 20.17. Ro. 8.15. 2 Co. 6.18. Heb. 12.6.Father, Ps. 80.1. Isa. 40.11. Jer. 31.10. Ez. 34.12. Jo. 10.11,14. 1 P. 2.25 & 5.4.Shep­herd,Isa. 64.8. Jer. 18.6. Ro. 9.20,21.Potter, Job. 10.16. Isa. 31.4. Lam. 3.10. Hos. 5.14. & 11.10. & 13.8. Am. 3.8.Lion, Deu. 32.4,30. 2 S. 23.3. Ps. 18.31. & 78.35. 1 Co. 10.4.Rock, Ps. 32.7. & 119.114. Jer. 36.26. Hab. 3.4.Hiding-place, and sundry suck like: The Godly, by their Conformity ( Lev. 20.7. & 21.8. Mat. 5.48. 1 P. 1.16. in uprightness) Gen. 5.22,24. & 6.9. Num. 32.12. Jos. 14.14. & 23.8. & 24.15. 1 S. 13 14. 1 K. 9.4. & 15.5. & 22.43. 2 K. 12.2. 2 Ch. 14.2. & 24.16. Job 1.8. & 42.8. Ps. 18.21,22,23,24. Mal: 2 4,5,6. M. 10.28. L. 22.28. Jo. 17.6. 1 Th. 1.6. Heb. 4.10. with God, and 1 K. 15.11. 2 K. 14.3. & 15.3,34. & 18.3. & 22.2. 2 Ch. 11.17. & 17.3. & 20.32. Ps. 119.63. Pr. 2.20. 2 Co. 12.18. 1 Th. 1.7. & 2.14. 2 P. 1.1. Reu. 15.3. each with other, 2 K. 18.5. & 23.25. 2 Ch. 1.12. Neh. 13.26. Job 1.8. & 42.8. 1 T. 5.17. some excelling in Good­ness) and 1 S. 15.28. & 24.17. 1 K. 2.32. 2 Ch. 21.13 Pr. 10.7. & 12.26. Ez. 2.8. Mat. 6.8. by their happy difference from the Wicked: the Wicked, by 2 K. 17.2. Job 21.14,15. Ps. 10.4. & 14.1. & 36.1. Pr. 1. 29,30. Ro. 3.18. Eph: 2.12. their willing deformity and defection from God, Num: 23.10. 1 S: 8.3. 2 Ch: 21.12. Ps: 1.4. & 73.5. their damnable unlikeness to the Godly, their despe­rate Agreement with Jud: 2.13. 1 K: 18.18. Ps: 106.28. Is: 28.15. Jo: 8.41,44. 2 T: 2.26. Satan, 1 K: 15.3,26,34. & 16.26. & 2 [...].52,53. 2 K: 8.18. & 13.11. & 15.9. & 16.3. & 17.14,41. & 21.20,21. & 23.32,37. Neh: 13.18. Jer: 9.14. & 44.17. & 52. [...]. Ez. 2.3. Am: 2.4. Mat. 23.31.32. L: 6.23. & 11.48. Acts 7.51. their Ancestours, and Gen: 49.5. Neh: 4.7,8. Psal: 50.18. & 71.10. & 83.5, &c. Pr: 1.11.14. & 11.11. Jer: 18.18. Ezek: 23.31. Dan: 6.7. M: 7.1,2. L: 22.66. & 23.13. Acts 5.9,36. & 16.22. Rev: 17.17. them­selves, ( Jud: 2.19. 1. K. 14.9. 22. & 16.25,30,33. & 21.25. 2 K. 21.11. a Ch: 28.22. & 33.23. Jer. 7.26. & 16.12. Ez: 16.47,51,52. 2 T: 3.13. some exceeding in Evil): with other sorts of Compa­risons or Similitudes in Abundance. 3. Where his Com­mands are express and peremptory, We are to rest therein, [Page 19] without seeking further reason of Obedience, then that The Lord hath Acts 13.47.commanded or Jer. 13.15. spoken it: For, shall Gods Com­mands have less force or Influence on Jos. 1.9,10. his Servants, then Men's on 2 S. 13.28,29. Gen. 41.44. 1 K. 21.7. Mat. 8.9. L. 7.8. theirs? Have not I commanded? 4. And lastly, that the Authour of all Mat. 14.31. & 28.17. L. 24.21,25. Doubts, Acts 15.39. 1 Co. 1.11,12,13 & 11.18,19. Divisions, Ro. 2.8. 1 T. 6.4 Contentions, or Jo. 7.41,42,43. Acts 14.4. & 23.7 Distractions, and 2 P. 3.16. Wresting of the Word of God in the Mindes and Mouths of 1 T. 6.5. corrupt and weak Men, is that 1 K. 22.22,23. Ly­ing Spirit, and Jo. 8.44. Father of Lyes; Who is, therefore, (with all his Adherents) to be tried and condemned by the Canon and Censure of this holy Scripture, or written Word of God And now by Gods Guidance, we arrive at the Port in Pro­pect, the Point of Knowledge.

CHAP. III. Of divine Knowledge: the Fountain, Streams, Force and Effects of it.

THe Hushand is required to dwell with the 1 P. 3.7. Wife ac­cording to Knowledge: and this is so much object­ed and insisted on, as if He were more apt to err of Ignorance, then she of Petulance and Presump­tion. The definition and Display of this Knowledge, ('tis doubtfull) may prove fully as hard as that of Madness, if the divine Power attended with Propension and Sedulity make it not more easie: Nil tam difficile, &c. but all these complying, can, of the most rude or knotty Mass and Lump, render a right square, plain and polished Piece, fit for the most excellent Ʋses under Heaven.

For an Essay in this Particular; let us examine,

  • 1. What Knowledge is.
  • 2. What kinde of Knowledge is here meant.
  • 3. Whence derived.
  • 4. What are the Parts of it.

1. By Knowledge, we conceive the understanding and de­terminative [Page 20] Faculty of the Soul; comprehending Wisedom, Prudence discretion, Reason, Counsel, and Judgement; yet submitting herein to professed Philosophers.

2. We understand to be meant here, a Knowledge both Jo. 4.24. 1 Co. 2.12. & 14.37. Col. 1.9. Ja. 1.5. Eph. 4.24. spiritual and divine; neither Ja. 3.15. earthly, sensual, nor de­vilish: For it will not (surely) be disputed, that we are to act or think otherwise in the the Things of God, then Jo. 4.24. spiritual­ly and divinely; whence we are said, to be 1 P. 2.5. built up a spiritual House.

3. It is 1. Primitively, originally, essentially and unspeak­ably in God. 2. Derivatively and dimanantly in the Crea­ture, and particularly in Man. In whom we are first to lay this divine, masculine, and majestick Knowledge, as low as some good Women would have it; and then, by Gods Di­rection, raise it unto its proper seat and state; Which (not this weak Paraphrase, but) the powerfull Word of God will perform.

4. The Parts (or rather the Offices) of it are, either 1. Contemplative and speculative, viz. reflecting upon God, his Word and Works; the Fall and Restauration of Man; Death, Judgement, Heaven, Hell and Eternity. But with this part we meddle not; (save that we have needfully dilated somewhat on the sacred written Word of God (the Means and Rule of this Knowledge) and haply may now and then give a glance at the rest for Illustration, Ornament or good use;) these Points being amply and exactly handled, and a­bundantly branched forth by many able and worthy Divines of this and other Nations. 2 Practical, whereof principally in this Tract, with limitation to our proper subject.

The two first Heads are dispatched; We proceed with the next.

It must then be first of all affirmed, believed and granted, That the Gen. 17.1. & 35.11. Ex. 6.3. Ru. 1.21. Job 8.5. & 11.7. Isa. 13.6. Ez. 1.24. & 10.5. Joel 1.15. 2 Co. 6.18. Rev. 1.8. & 4.8. & 15.3. & 19.15. & 21.22. Almighty and Deu. 33.27. Ps. 41.13. & 90.2. & 103.17. Isa. 43 10. & 53.8. Jer. 31.3. Ro. 1.20. 1 T. 1.17. Rev. 1.8. Dan. 4.34. Eternal God See pa. 18. a.Jehovah the Gen. 1.1. & 2.4. Ex. 20.11. 2 Ch. 2.12. Neh. 9.6. Job. 31.15. & 38.4,5, &c. Ps. 33.9. & 100.3. & 136.5,6. & 146.6. & 148.5. & 149.2. Isa. 42.5. & 44.2. & 45.18. & 66.1,2. Jer. 10.12,16. Am. 4.13. Jon. 1.9. Mal. 2.10 Jo. 1.3. Acts 14.15. & 17.24,26, Ro. 1.25. Eph. 3.9. Col 1.16. Heb. 1.2. Rev. 4.11. & 10.6. Crea­tour, [Page 21] Gen. 45.5,7. Deu. 33.27. Neh. 9.6. Job 7.20. & 38.29,40,41. Ps. 36.6. & 65.9, &c. & 78.19,20,21. & 104.10, &c. & 147.8,9. Eccl. 1.9 & 3.15. Isa. 40.26. Jer. 49.11. Mat. 6.26 28. L. 12.24,27. Acts 14.17. Heb 1.3. 2 P. 3.4. Mat 10.29 Conserver and Gen. 18.25. Deu. 1.17. 1 K. 22.19,20, &c. 2 Ch. 19.6. & 20.6 Job 21.22. & 38.11. Ps. 22.28. & 29.10. & 58.11. & 65.7. & 66.7. & 75.6,7. & 89.9. & 99.1. & 104. & 135.6. Pro. 8.16. Isa. 6.1. & 33.22. & 40.22. & 45.12. & 51.5. Ez. 34.17,20. & 44.24. Dan. 5.21. & 7.9,14. & 4.32,37. Zep. 3.5. Mat. 23.22. Jo. 8.50. 1 Co. 5.13. Re. 5.13. Pro. 16.33. Governour of the World, and all therein; is the Pi. 94.10. Pro. 2.6. Isa 30.1. & 40.28. Jer. 2.13. Dan. 2.20,21. Joel 3.18. Zec. 14.8. Jo. 4.10. Ro. 11.34. 2 Co. 4.6. Rev. 7.17. & 21.6. ever-living Fountain, the Job 11.6. & 26.14. & 37.19,20,23,24. & 38. tot. and 42.2. Ps. 36.6. and 77 19. Isa. 28.29. & 40.28. Ro. 11.23. and 16 27. Job 36.4: [1] Ps 1.3. & 119.160. Isa. 33.6. & 55.2. Mat. 24.35. 2 Co. 4.7. Heb 10.34. 1 P. 1.25. [2] Mat. 6.20. L. 16.26. [3] Job 20.13,15,18. Pro. 3.14,15. & 8.11,18,19. bottomless boundless Ocean, the [1] immarcescible, [2] inviolable, [3] in­estimable, inexhaustible Treasury of Wisedom and Know­ledge, yea Job 12.12,13,16. Pro. 8.12,14. L. 11.49 1 Co. 1.24,30. Wisedom it self; whose Ps. 33.11. and 90.4. and 102.24,26,27. Isa. 40.28. and 57,16. and 59.1. Jer. 15.18,19,20,21. Zep. 3.5. Heb: 13.8. everflowing, never fail­ing nor ebbing Fulness, Job 32.8. Ps. 65.9,10,12. Pro. 1.23 and 2.6. and 8.21. and 18.4. Eccl: 9.1. Isa: 11.9. Jer: 23.24. and 31.25. hab: 2.14. L. 3.5. Jo: 1.16. and 7.38. Eph: 1.23. and 4.10 Ia: 1.5. diffuseth, infuseth and sweetly di­stilleth it self, Mat: 6.8. L: 12.30. Ph: 4.19. Ja: 1.5. in fittest Measure and Proportion, into and throughout all Parts, Lineaments and Intestines of his Crea­tion. And that all the vast derived Wisdom and Knowledge, in how great or high degree soever imaginable in the Creatures, 2 S. 14.17,20. 1 K. 4.29,31 Men or Angels; yea the confluence of it all, compared with that unsearch [...]ble unconceivable Immensity, Profundity, Sub­limity and Perfection thereof, which is in God, (though competent for themselves) is, yet, unspeakably Job 5.12,13. and 9.10. and 11.7. and 8.9 and 37.19. and 38.2, &c. and 42.3. Ps: 69.5. Pro: 21.30. Eccl: 3.11. Isa: 9.17 and 41.28. and 44.25. Jer: 10.14. Mic: 4.12. 1 Co: 1.25 and 3.20. short and shallow; yea, so small and feeble a spark is it, and hath so Job 28.12,13,20,21. dim Appearance or Being in us, that (in this respect and comparison) God cals or accounts not onely the wisest of Men, but his most excellent Angels Job 12.17,24. and 4.18. Pro: 21.30. Isa: 19.11,13. and 44.25. Jer: 4.22. and 5.4,21. and 51.17. Ez: 13.3. L: 24.25. Ro: 3.11. Deu: 32.6. Fools.

Now there are few but know Who is Davids or Solomons Fool (whom we may term Fool by Statute:) yet, lest any pretend ignorance herein, they may turn and see, that even Ps: 5.4,5. and 14.1. and 73.3. and 74.18. and 107.17. Pro: 9.13. and 10.23 and 14.9. and 19.1. Eccl: 5.4. and 7.25. Dan: 12.10. the Wicked are they, (if we may trust either the princely Prophet or Preacher, who do thus explain them) Wisdom is Pro: 14.6. hid from scorners, and Job 28.28. Pro: 15.33. is found with them onely, that fear the Lord. And because the word Wicked hath so wide a Con­struction as none will own or apply it; Remember it is the proper and peculiar Badge of those who Ps: 1.1. Pro: 6.13. and 10.23. Isa: 5.18. Jer: 8.6. and 13:23. Hos: 10.13. Mic: 2.1. customarily and 1 K: 21.20. 2 K. 17.17. Job 20.11,12.13. Ps: 5.9. and 36.4. and 58.2. and 59.5. Pro: 4.16,17. and 6.14. and 26.25. Eccl: 8.11. Isa: 59.4. Mal: 1.42. L: 11.39. Eph: 4.19. habitually, walk contrary to, or beside the sacred Word and [Page 22] Ordinances of God, as those Texts may tell them. This by (not much out of) the way. Take them in whether sense ye will, for sinners or simplicians, they are (I say) in Gods repute, all Fools; but the second sort are they whom in this place we are to explode.

It follows, That in contemplation of this sad deficiency, dulness or darkness of understanding (so apprehended) the very 2 Sam. 14.20. 1 K. 4.30,31. Job 29.21,22,23 Ecc. 2.12. Ez 28.3. Dan. 5.11. 1 Co. 3.10. Wisest and 1 S: 13.14. 1 K: 11.22,34. 2 K: 8.19. & 19.34. Psal: 7 [...].70,71. Jer: 33.21,26. Ez: 14.14,20. Acts 9.15. dearest Saints or Servants of God have been Deu: 29.4. Is: 59 9,10. deeply dejected, even to the Gen: 18 27. Ex: 4 10. Ps: 69.5. Eccl: 2.15,16. & 7.23. & 8.17. Jer: 1.6. Dan: 2.30. 2 Co: 11.1,17,21. abasing, Ps: 73.22. Pro: 30.2. beasting, and Job 42.3,5,6. Ps: 38.5. abhorring of themselves.

Yet, (behold!) the same and other Saints of God, reco­vering the sense of his Gen: 17.1.2 Co: 12.9. Ph: 4.13. Power and All-sufficiency, his Ex: 33.14. & 3.12. & 25.22. Deu. 2.7. & 20.1. & 31.6,8. Jos. 1.5,9. & 3.7. Jud. 6.12.28.7.9. & 8.6. & 14.17. 1 Ch. 28.20. Ps. 73.23. & 139.3,18. Job 23.8,9,10. Isa. 41.10. & 43.2. Jer. 1.8,19. & 15.20. & 46.28. Ez. 3.22,27. Acts 17.27,28. & 18.10. 1 Co. 15.10. Ph. 2.12,13. 2 T. 4.17. 2 Ch. 19.6. Presence and Operation, in and upon them, (which lay but as Embers under Ashes, Ps. 80.17,18. & 119.25,32,88. Isa. 6.7,8. Am. 3.8. ready for Blowing up) they are pre­sently mounted on the siry wings of See Heb. 11. Faith, (mix'd and tem­per'd with Prayer (sometime Tears) and Wisdom: and (lo!) now, there's nothing too hard to be Pr. 14.6. & 8.8,9. & 15.19. Isa. 32.4. understood, Ex. 4.12,18. & 5.1. Num. 22.38. & 24.13. 1 K. 22.8,14,17. Job 33.3,4. Ps. 45.1. & 116.10. & 119.46. Isa. 6.7,8. & 50.7,8,9. Jer. 1.7,9,17 18. & 26.12,13. Ez. 3.8,9,10,17,26,27. Jo. 11.51. Acts 4.13,20,31. & 6.10. & 9.29. & 13.46. 1 K. 18.15,18,21. L. 21.15. spoken, Ps. 18.29,34. Acts 9.6. & 16 30. Ph. 4.12,13. done or 1 S. 3.18. 2 S. 15.26 2 K. 20.19. 1 Ch. 19.13. Est. 4.16. Job 13.15. Ps. 39.9. Jer. 20.9. & 26.14,15. Dan. 3.16,17,18. Jo. 12.25. Acts 5.41. & 20.24. & 21.13. Ph. 3.8. 1 T. 4 10. 2 T. 1.12. Heb. 10.32. & 11.25,35. Rev. 12.11. suffered by them; (insomuch as some even 2 Co. 11.23, &c. & 7.4. Ro. 5.3. Col. 1.24. 1 P. 4.12,13. glory and exult in the enumeration of their sufferings: but, to keep our Theme) They are now wiser then their Gen. 41.8,24,38,39. 1 S. 18.5,15. Ps. 119.98 Dan. 1.17,20, &c.Enemies, Ps. 119.100. their Ancients, 1 K. 4.31. Ps. 119.99. Acts 22.3. 1 Co. 3.10. 2 P. 3.15,16. their Teachers: they can discover 1 S 9.19. Acts 5 3,4. Hearts, and 1 S. 9.20. 2 S. 14 19. 2 K. 6.12,32,33. Se­crets, 1 K. 3.25, &c. Dan. 5.12. dissolve doubts and difficulties, L. 21.15. Acts 6.10. 2 T. 3.8,9. Tit. 2.8. confute and confound Adversaries, Eccl. 9.15. Jer. 5.1. Gen. 19.21. save or Jos. 8.3. to 20. destroy Cities, obtain Blessings Num. 12.13,14. 2 K. 4.19,20,34,35. Acts 3.6,7. & 9.40,41. & 20.9,10,12. per­sonal, (in recovering life) 1 K. 18.42,45. Pr. 28.2. Ja. 5.18. national, temporal and Num. 14.19,20. Dan. 9 19, to 23. eternal; Num. 16.28. to 31 1 K. 17.1. Acts 5.9,10. & 13.11. Ja. 5.17. 2 K. 1.10, &c. procure and prescribe Judgements; Jos. 10.12,13. 2 K. 20.11. stop or invert the Course of Nature; Num. 8.19. & 16.48. & 25.8. Deu 10.10. Ps. 106.23,30. Jer. 5.1. L. 15.18,20. Pr. 29.8. prevent or appease the Wrath of God, [Page 23] and therein treat with him by Gen. 18.25,27, &c. Ex. 32.11,14 & 33.12. to 17. Num. 14.16, to 20. Deu. 9.25,26, &c. Jud. 6.13. to 17. & 21.3. Job 10 2, &c. & 13.3,22,23,24,25. & 21.7, &c. Ps. 80.8 to 13. & 89.47,49. Pro. 17.16. Cant. 1.7. Isa. 63.17,18,19. Jer. 12.1,2. & 14.8,9. & 15.16,17,18. Am. 7.2,3,5,6. Jon. 4.2. Hab. [...].2,3,4,13. Mat. 8.9,13. Argument and Expostulation. (He sometimes, with reverence be it spoken, Gen. 19.20,21,22. Ex. 32,10,14. yeilding him­self overcome at his own Weapon, or Engine, even his own Wisdome, in the Heart of his own Creature) yea, they can Deu. 34.9. 2 K. 2 9,10,12,15. Acts 8.17. & 9.17. confer and propagate the Spirit of God, Jo. 20.23. forgive sins, Ph. 4.13. and What not? Yet all these See page 11. h. i. l. m. meer Men, and Here are noted the Passions of Grief or Anger only, according to the common accep­tation, Ex. 16.2,3 & 32.19 Num. 11.15. & 14.2,3. Jud. 16.30. 1 S. 25 13,22. 1 K. 19.4. 2 K. 1.10,12. & 2.14. Neh. 6.14. & 13.25. Job 3.1. &c. & 10.1. Ps. 89.47. & 106.33. & 16.11. Jer. 20.14, &c. Jon. 4.1,3,4,8,9. Mat. 26 51. M. 3.17. L. 9.54. & 22.49,50. Acts 14,15. & 15.39. & 23.3 Gal. 2.11. 2 T. 4.14. Ja. 5.17. 3 Jo. 10. subject to like Pas­sions as we are; and these Depressions or Heightnings, the Eb [...]ings or Flowings, Eclipses or Glearness of the Spirit and Wisdom of God in them.

Take two or three speciall Instances hereof: 1. In the Jos. 5.14,15. Heb. 2.10. Captain and Champion of our Salvation, (whom we must except from the Account of meer Man, and treat with all heed full and dreadfull respect.) Is He not that Pr. 8.12. toth' end. L. 11.49. 1 Co. 2.7. Rev. 5.11,12,13. Wisdom of God, or God-wisdom, in whom are hid Col. 2.3. Isa. 11.2.all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge? and consequently 1 Co. 1.30. L. 21.15. our Wisdom and Isa. 9.6. everlasting Counseller? Is it not he of whom his deadly Foes confessed, Heb. 5.7. in the days of his flesh, that Jo. 7.46. L. 2.52. Never Man spake like this Man? And yet did he not plainly affirm, that What he spake Jo. 12.49,50, & 14.10. was not of himself, but of and from the Fa­ther, who gave Influence and Efficacy to his Words? Did He not also L. 12.14. Jo. 6.15. & 8.11,15. & 12.47. decline Dignity and Judicature (with M. 13.32. some kinde of knowledge) Acts 8.33. as if he were deprived of it? Yet he saith, If I judge, my Judgement is Jo. 8.16.true and Jo. 5.30.just; and indeed he did Jo. 5.30. & 8.16,26. Isa. 42.4. Gen. 49.10. actually and effectually, though Isa. 42.2,3. Jo. 8.12. silently and meekly as­sume it, as Jo. 5.27. Mat. 28.18. Isa. 9.6. given him by the Father, who (saith he) Jo. 5.22. judgeth no man, but hath committed all Judgement to the Son, even Ver. 27. because he is the Son of Man; wherefore he affirmeth after, Jo. 9.39. For Judgement am I come into this World. And further, Mat. 9.17. L. 18.19. M. 10.18. Did he not seem to disclaim even Goodness it self to be in him? Yet again, challengeth he the Jews, Jo. 8.46. to convince him of sin; it being most faithfully and truly affirmed of him alone, Acts 10.38. that he went about doing good, and Isa. 53.9. 1 P. 2.22. 1 Jo. 2.1. that he did no sin, nei­ther was guile found in his Mouth.

Ʋse. What else can we collect hence, but the Deu: 18.18. Isa: 53.2. Mat: 20.28. Jo. 8.50. Acts 3.22. & 7.37. Ph: 2.7. humblest Mo­desty in the Ex: 34.33,35. Isa: 6.1,2. & 9.6. Mat: 17.2. Jo. 17.5,1,22,24. Ph: 2 6. Heb: 1.3. 2 P. 1.16,17,18. Rev: 7.10,11. & 11.15 16. highest Majesty? He that Isa: 9.6. Mat. 28.18. Jo: 5.22,27. & 17.2. may do what he will Job 9.12. & 33.13. Mat: 20.14,15 without Controll or Question, Mic: 6.3. yields himself accountable: that though Mat: 11.28,29,30. his yoke be most easie and his burden light, yet will he sweeten it also with a cordial Viand, an Invitation and promise of rest: that is Lam: 3.32,33. Nehem: 9.17,18,19,28,29,30,31. Psal: 78 38,39. & 103.8,9,13,14. & 106.44,45,46. Isal 53.4. & 63.9. Joel 2.13. Jon 4.2. as loth to grieve the Children of Men Ps: 78.40, & 106 43, &c. Is: 63.10,11. Eph. 4.30. as to have his own holy Spirit grieved by them: whose Mat: 26.43,44,45. & 18.33. M. 8,2,3. Bowels are sooner pierced with Compassion at any seeming Inconvenience, occasioned by him, then the Is: 1.23. & 3.14 15. Jer. 6.6.13.15 & 22.17. Ez. 22.6.7.27. & 45.9. Mic: 3.1, &c. Zep. 3.3. Faces of other Princes or People are moved so much as to blushing at their most sensible Cruelties or biting Oppressions. Such indeed is the Temper of this Is: 9.6. Dan: 4.3. 1 T. 1.17. eternal King, to his Is: 66.2. Jo: 10.3 4 docible and duci­ble Subjects; but for the L. 19.14. rebellious, that will not bear nor abide his Rule, they must know that the Is: 53.7. Jo. 1.29. Rev. 5.6. Lamb can put on both the Gen. 49.9. Rev. 5.5. Heart and Is: 31.4. Hos. 5.14. & 11.10. & 13.8. Am. 3.8. Mic. 5.8. Habit of a Lion, (which he plainly in­timates by Rev. 5.5,6. putting them together) and will be as remorsless to see them L. 19.27. slain before him, as they are regardless of his Government. 2. Doth he not upbraid his peculiar People Israel, as Deu. 32.28,29. Jer. 4.22. & 2.13. & 5.4,21. Gal. 3.1,3. void of Counsel and Ʋnderstanding; and tender­ly wish, that they were so wise as to understand, and consider their later end, and own good? Yet he insinuateth them a­gain a Deu. 4.6,7,8. wise and understanding People; their Land (as 'twere) the 1 K. 12.28. Jo. 4.20. Shrine, and their Mouth, the Oracle to all other Nati­ons, calling Ps: 60.70. Judah his Law-giver. 3. Peter and John were (for humane Breeding) Acts 4.13. unlearned and ignorant Men, and so accounted of the Jews; yet how Mat: 13.11. L. 8.10. 1 Co. 13.1,2,3. 2 P. 1.3. & 2.12. & 3.16. 1 Jo. 3.19. & 4.6,13. & 5.12,13. Eph. 3.19. profound a Knowledge (most Jer. 9.23,24. Jo. 17.3. 1 Co. [...].20. & 2.1,2. & 3.19. Ph. 3.8. properly and profitably so call'd) and how Acts 4.13,19,20. & 5.39. firm a Confidence did they both attain? 4. May we not hear that Acts 9.15. & 22.14. chosen Vessell of Ro. 9.2 [...]. 2 T. 2.2 [...]. Honour and Life, (which Ro. 8.38,39. 2 Co. 5.1,5,6. Gal. 2.20. 1 Th. 4.17,18. 1 Th. 2.16. 2 T. [...].12. & 4.8. he knew well enough) even Paul himself, somewhiles confessing, That as he had once been Tit. 3.3. foolish and bad as any; so now ( Acts 22.14. 1 T. 1.13. even af­ter his Illumination Acts. 9.15. & 22.15. his Designment and Emission to that high Ambassie and Office of Trust,) He (among others) [Page 25] 1 Co. 13.9. knew but in part, and 1 Co. 8.2. Ro. 8.26. Nothing as he ought: that he spake Ro. 3.5. & 6.19as a Man, 2 Co. 10.10. Gal. 4.13. weakly, 1 Co. 7.6,26,40 doubtfully, 2 Co. 11.17,21,23. & 12.11. foolishly, and 2 Co. 2.16. who (saith he, alas who) is sufficient for these Things? But otherwhiles again, (see the 1 Co. 2.4,10. & 3.10. 2 Co. 12.7. Gal. 1.12. Eph. 3.2,3,4,5,8. Presence and Power of God,) We are (saith the same Paul) 2 Co. 3.6. 1 Co. 3.10. able Ministers of the New Testament: Col. 1.28.We can teach every man in all Wisdom: 1 Co. 2.16. Acts 20.27. & 22 14.We know the very Minde of Christ. And though he was fain to speak Ro. 6.19. 1 Co. 3.1,2. plain and low to the shallow Capacity of some, yet he can, and doth speak as 1 Co. 2.6,7. & 3.1. & 10.15. & 15.51. Heb. 5.14. mysteriously, mightily and loftily to the higher Perfection of Others; willing to appear (unto these) as 1 Co. 3.10. & 14 37,38. 2 Co. 11.5 6,7,16. & 12.6. wise as indeed he was, and 2 P. 3.15. was accounted: Onely for Christs sake, He was content to be 1 Co. 9.19. 2 Co. 4.5. a servant, 1 Co. 4.10. a Fool, Acts 20.24. & 21.13. a Martyr, or 1 Co. 4.13. 2 Co. 12.10. any Thing, yea 1 Co. 9.22. & 2 Co. 13.9. All Things to All Men. 5. How oft may we finde, all or most of the Eph. 3.5. Rev. 18 20. holy-blessed Apostles of the Lord, bewraying their Mat. 16.7, &c. & 17.10,13. M. 9 10,32. L. 9.45. & 11.1. & 17.37. & 18.34. Jo. 12.16. & 13.36. & 14.5. & 16.18. & 20.9. weakness and igno­rance, and Mat. 15.16,17. & 16.9,11. M. 8.17. L. 24.25. M. 16.14. Christ checking them for it, even Mat. 13.11. M. 4.11. L. 8.10. after he had told them, that unto them (especially) it was (already) given to know the Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven. Yea, after his Resurrection, when they had seen the divine, miraculous, Jo. 3.2. & 15.24. & 9.30,32. incomparable Acts of his Life, and the Mat. 27.45,51,52,53. M. 15.33 38. L. 23.44,45. stupendious Prodi­gies at his Death, wherewith even Mat. 27.54. M. 15.39. L. 23.47 the Centurion, and some of the Jews themselves were convinced: notwithstanding al­so Jo. 17.6,7,8,14,25,26. he had declared all his Fathers Counsel unto them, had often shewed them, both Jo. 14.24. & 15.21, & 16.27,28. & 17.3,4,8,18,25. & 20.21. whence he came, Mat. 26.29. M. 14.25. Jo. 14.2,3,4,12,28. & 16.5,10,16,28,29. & 17.13. & 20.17. whither, Mat. 16.21. & 17.22,23. & 20.18,19. M. 9.31. & 10,33,34. L. 9.22. & 18.31,32,33. in what manner, and Jo. 14.2,3,25,26. & 15 26. & 16.7. to what end he went again, before he left them; yea (to confirm their Faith and Memory) L. 24.6,7,8,9,11. mind­ed them of his former Words by an Angel upon his Resur­rection; for all this they remained dull and incredulous: and yet these were the Mat. 9.15. M. 2.19. L. 5.34. Jo. 3.29. & 15.15 & 17.7 8,14,26. Mat. 11.27. Secretaries and Bosom Friends of Christ the Bridegroom, the Jo, 17.20. Parents, Eph. 2.20.Foundation, Gal. 2.9.Pillars of the Church, the Mat. 5.13,14. Salt of the Earth, the Light of the World, and (for their renowned Wisdom, Faith and Worthi­ness) [Page 26] are the Mat. 19.28. L. 22.30. enthroned Judges of the twelve Tribes of Israel.

In this sense then is all our Knowledge and Ability to be understood, viz. as derived from God in Christ, and to be continued and directed by him, for him, and to him. And if he make it ours Who shall murmur? Or if he call it Perfecti­on, Who may dispute it? Mat. 20.15. Is it not lawfull for him to do what or how he will with his own? See we not 1 Co. 1.26,27,28,29. many a silly Creeple or contemned poor Wretch have more Knowledge or Insight in the Word or Wayes of God (which the worst of Men dase not deny to be the best of Knowledge) then the most compo­sed Gallant that walks? Let this satisfie all sober Mindes in the point of Gods Dispensations, and let none dare Ps. 78.41. to limit the holy One of Israel, whose See pag. 21. h. Judgements are unsearchable, his ways past finding out, and whose Deu. 32.39. 2 Ch. 20.6. Job 23.13. & 11.10. & 26 14. Ps. 33.9 & 66.7. & 81.14,15. & 90.11. Isa. 14.25. & 43.13. Jer. 15.6 & 16.21. & 18.6. Ez. 6.14. Ho. 2.10 Am. 9.2. Nah. 1.2, to 6. Hab. 3.6. Jo. 19.11. Acts 11.17 & 23.9. Ro. 9 19,21. Power is irresistable (for Job 9.4. & 22.16,17. & 40.2. Ro. 9.19. Who ever hardned himself against God and prosper­ed?) I am confident no Christian arrogates to himself any stock of spiritual Gists or Graces at all, nor indeed hath he any but (as we say) from hand to mouth: while God by his Zec. 12.10. Spi­rit of Grace stands with and in us, See page 31. x. we stand or stir; when he leaves never so little we faint and fall; the Defections are our own, the Perfections (if any) are Gods: and while he reaps the Glory and Thanks, he allows us to glean the Gain.

Thus far have we seen (not fully, for 'tis impossible) the Fountain of divine Wisdom opened, and plentifully watering the World, with some Fruits and Effects thereof in general. We are now to discover some more special Dispensations thereof. And here we must either grant a Competency of Knowledge and Wisdom, communicated and distributed by God, indifferently, respectively, and particularly to every Station, Function, Calling and Person in the World, (at least to the genera singulorum) or else (which God rightly may and doth, as before noted) we may deem all Men and Angels Fools, not sinfull only (as in the precedent Distinction) but silly Fools; which were a Conclusion as unsafe as it is unsavoury. Therefore wee'l not suspect there's any such muddy Current as dareth to cross the strong and clear stream of the sacred Word of God, which runs thus, viz.

That the everliving and lasting Fountain of Wisdom (be­fore weakly described) of his 1 K. 3.5. Isa. 7.11. Mat. 21.22. Jo. 3.34. & 11.22 & 15.7. Ro. 4.21. 2 Co. 9.8. Eph. 3.20. boundless 1 K. 4.29. Ps 21.4. & 37.4. & 81.10 & 84.11. & 145.19. Cant. 5.1. Ro. 8.32. Eph. 1.8,23 Ja. 1.5. abundant, Neh. 9.13,14,20 29,30,31. Isa. 40.27,28. Jer. 44.3,4 Mat. 7.7,11. Ja. 4.2. 1 Jo. 3.22. & 5.15. Rev. 22.17. unwea­ried Bounty, in a constant course of Providence, ever did and doth communicate, dispense and propagate to the sons of men (his Saints especially) such a Measure of Knowledge, as whereby to manage and Ps. 112.5. Gen. 41.39,40,46. & 30.28, &c. 18.16.18. & 18.5,30. Pr. 15.21. Eccl. 2.21. M. 12.34. Eph. 5.15. guide their Affairs with discretion, to the Jos. 7.19. 2 Ch. 24.16. Mat. 5.16. 1 Co. 9.15. & 10.31. Glory of their Maker, the Neh. 2.18. & 5.15. Est. 2.21,22,23. & 7.9. Ro. 15 2. Eph. 4.28,29. 1 Th. 5.15. Heb. 10.24. Non nobis solum, &c. common, and ( Deu. 6.18. Job 5 27. Ro. 9.11,12. & 12.8. & 16.20 Ro. 8.28. Eph. 6.8. in event, not in their Eye or Aim) their own particular Good. See what magnificent and fit Qualifications and Endowments he con­ferreth and imparteth to every Function and Profession (ei­ther explicitly or implicitly) above or under the Sun. Wee'l rank them (so near as we can) as they seem next to himself in Place or Dignity. And here we may well silence the Mat. 14.33. & 27.54. L. 1.35. & 4.41. Jo. 1.49. & 6.69. Ro. 1.4. See page 10. f. Son of God, and Isa. 7.14. Mat. 1.23,25. & 12.8. & 16.13,16. & 9.6. & 17.22,23. & 26.49. & 27.35. & 28.1,5,6. Jo. 1.51. L. 24.39. Man, who is See page 23. p. Wisdom it self, and not to be com­prehended by us. Also the Mat. 25 31. holy Angels whose Wisdom or Knowledge is not defined in Scripture; yet by 2 S. 14.17,20. & 19.27. Comparisons (which were but Hyperbole's) we finde it, as to ours, superla­tive. Nor are we to esteem otherwise of it, in Those who are Gods Ps. 104.4. Zec. 6.5. Mat. 22.30. Heb. 1.13,14. & 2.16. spiritual and Gen. 24.7. & 28.12. & 32.1,2. Ex. 23.20. Ps. 8.5. Mat. 18.10. & 22.30. & 24.31. L. 12.8. & 15.10. Rev. 1.1. & 7.11. & 21 12. Isa. 63.9. Jo. 1.51. immediate Messengers, the most attent, active and quick, or (as one said of Servants) the most 1 Ch. 21.27. Ez. 9.11. Rev. 9.14,15. heedy, Jud. 6.21. 1 Ch. 21.12. 2 Ch. 32.21.6.11. Dan. 6.22. Zec. 2.2. Mat. 13.39,49. & 24.31. & 28.2. Acts 12.7,10,23. Rev. 8.5, &c. & 14.16,19. & 16.2, &c. deedy, and Jud. 13.20. 2 K. 19.35. Ez. 9.11. L. 2.13. Rev. 8.13. & 14.6. speedy Performers of his Will. Descend we therefore to Men Job 32.8: Ps. 64.9. & 94.10. Ro. 1.19. generally, or 1 Ch. 12.32. Ps. 111.20. Pr. 11.30. Eccl. 2.21,26. Jer 18.18. Dan. 2.21. & 12.3,10. Hos. 14.9. Mic. 6.9. 1 Co. 4.10. Eph. 1.8. 1 Jo. 5.20. Rev. 13.18. & 17.9. more specially; and herein to Lev. 19.15 Deu. 1.13. & 16.18. & 25.1. 1 K. 3.28. & 4.29. 2 Ch. 19.6. Ps. 72.2. & 105.22. Pr. 8.15. & 20.26. & 28.2. & 29.4,14. Isa. 28.6. Jer. 7.5. Ez. 18.8. Zec. 7.9. Jo. 7.24. Acts 7.10. Kings, Rulers, Judges, or other of that Notion, 2 Ch. 30.22. Ezr. 7.25. Ps. 78.72. Eccl. 1.13. & 2 9. & 12.9. Jer. 3.15. & 6.27. Mic. 3.8. Mal. 2.7. L. 21.15. Ro. 15.19. 1 Co. 2.6. & 3.10. 2 Co. 2.14. & 3.6 & 12.16. Eph. 4.11,12. 1 T. 1.12. 2 T. 2.15. Ez. 3.17. & 33.6,7,8. Jer. 18.18. Pa­stors, Teachers, Ministers, (whom he honoureth so far, as Isa. 44.26. Mat. 15.7. M. 7.6. to confirm their Word, and perform their Counsel, which he would not do, were it not ad amussim after his own Will) 1 T. 5.17. Elders, Acts 6.3.Deacons, 1 Ch. 5.18. & 12.8,33. 2 Ch. 25.5. & 26.15. Ps. 18.34. Pr. 20.18. & 24.6. Cant. 3.8. Isa. 28.6. Warriors, Enginiers, &c. Num. 12.7. Heb 3.5. L. 12.42. 1 Co. 4.1,2. Tit. 1.7. 1 P. 4.10.Stewards, [Page 28]Pr. 17.2. Mat. 24.45. & 25.23.Servants, Pr. 24.3. Mat. 7.24. L. 6.48. 1 Co. 3.10.Builders, Eccl. 10.10. Isa. 44.13.Carpenters, and the like, Isa. 41.7. & 44.12. & 54.16. Smiths, Ex. 31.4,5. 2 Ch. 2.13,14. Gold-Smiths, Gravers, &c. Ex. 28.3. & 31.3,6. & 36.1,2. 1 Ch. 22.15. & 28 21. Isa. 3.3. All kinde of Artizans, Jud. 20.16. 1 Ch. 5.18. Jer. 50 9. Ar­chers, &c. Ps. 78.72. Eccl. 12.11. Isa. 40.11. Jer. 23.4. & 31.10.Shepherds, Gen. 25.27.Hunters, Gen. 3.23. Isa. 28.24, &c. Ja. 5.7 Plowmen or Husbandmen, 1 K. 9.27. Ps. 107.23,24. Shipmen or Mariners, 1 S. 16.18. 1 Ch. 15.22. & 25.7. Ps. 33.3. & 49.4. 2 S. 23.1. Musicians, Jer. 9.17. Am. 5.16. Mourners, Pr. 1.4.Young-Men, Ex. 35.25,26. Pr. 31.13, &c. Acts 9.39. 1 T. 5.14. Tit. 2.3,4,5. Pr. 14.1.Women, Mat. 25.2,9.Virgins, Eccl. 4.13. Isa. 28.9.Children Pro 28.11 Eccl. 4.13. & 9.15,16. the Poor, Pr. 11.2. & 3.34. Ja. 4.6. the humble, Ps. 19.7. & 119.130. Pr. 1.4. the simple, Isa. 29.24. the Erring and the Isa. 32.4. rash. Nor doth his Boun­ty stay here, but extends even to Pr. 6.6,7,8. & 30.24, &c. Isa. 1.3. Jer. 8.7. Mat. 10.16. Bruits and Ps. 19.1,2. & 104.19. Isa. 23.4. L. 19.40. Inanimates, and gives them their Demensum; Nay, even to (the Job 20.5,6,7. & 21.18,19,30. Ps. 1.4. & 18.42. & 37.35,36. Pr. 10.29. Ob. 18. Nah. 1.10. Mal. 4.1. Mat. 3.12. 2 Th. 1.9 Heb. 6.8. worst and wretchedest of his Creatures) Jos. 9.4. 2 Ch. 36.22. Isa. 44.28. & 45.3. Dan. 4.34,36. Ez. 21.31. & 28.3,12. Zec. 9.2. L. 16.8 Ro. 8.32. Rev. 17.17. the Wicked, and to the worst of the wicked Num. 24.16. Ps. 58.5. Inchanters, whom we leave to their owne Master. And we envy not the Children of L. 16.8.this World to be wiser in their own Generation: theirs is but a flash; ours an Dan. 12.3. everlasting flame.

But we wave this Comparison as impertinent, and follow our purpose. It is further evident in Scripture; that as this Wisdom is plentifull and liberal, so it is full and compleat, sound and solid; the Lord layeth up Pr. 2.7. & 3.21.sound Wisdom for the Righteous. And it is said, by Jo. 14.17. & 15.26. Tit. 1.2. the Spirit of Truth, of sundry Saints in Scripture, that they should be Jer. 3.15. fed with, and Col. 3.10. renew­ed in Knowledge; that they were L. 6.40. 1 Co. 2.6. Ph. 3.15. perfect, Ex. 28.3. & 31.3. & 35.35. Deu. 34.9. [...] K. 7.14. Job 32.18,19. Mic. 3.8. Acts 6.3. Ro. 15.14. Eph 1.23. & 3.19.full, or filled with Wisdom; that they 2 Co. 8,7. Eph. 1.8. bounded with Knowledge, (even Eph. 3.19. beyond Knowledge) and Ps. 25.14. Pr. 3.32. & 18.4. & 20.5. Eccl. 1.16. Dan. 1.4.17. 1 Co. 1.5. 2 Co. 9.8. Heb. 5.14. Ja. 1.5. 1 Jo. 2,20,27. the like, (and Isa. 59. [...]. the Lords hand is not yet shortened) And least all this should be too little, they are Pr. 14.18. crowned with Knowledge: Insomuch, that some have been Dan. 5.11,14. admir'd of the Heathen, for having the Spirit and Wis­dom of God, and Acts 14.11,12,13. almost ador'd for God himself. Now in soundness, fulness and perfection we are not to imagine any flaw or infirmity, vacuity, or defect at all.

This may be amplified by the Pr. 1.5. & 9.9. & 11.12. & 13.14 & 14.1. & 15.21. & 16.23. & 17.27 & 20.5,26. & 22.3 & 24.5. & 25.12 & 29.11. & 31.10,26. Eccl. 4.13 & 8.1,5. & 10,12 & 12.11: Praise and Deu. 32.29,30. Job 22.2. Pr. 3.35. & 4.12. & 9.12. & 14.3,35. & 15.24. & 16.20. & 17.2. & 19.8. & 24.14. & 28 26. Eccl. 7.12. Dan. 12.3. Reward of the Wise; the Job 30.8. Ps. 94 8. Pr. 1.7. & 9.13 & 10.23. & 12.23. & 14.9,16. & 15.2,14. & 17.10,12,24,25. & 20.3. & 26.6,7. & 29.11. Eccl. 2.14. & 5.1,4. & 7.5. & 10.1. Ro. 1.31. Eph. 5.15. 1 P. 2.15. Reproof and Job 5.2,4, &c. Ps. 5.5. & 73.3,18, &c. 107.17. Pr. 1.32. & 3 35. & 7.22. & 10.13,14,21. & 11.29. & 13.20. & 14.1. & 18.6,7. & 19.29. & 24.30,31. Eccl. 10.12. Punishment of Fools; by the high Rate or Price which God (and Gen. 3.6,16, &c. our first Parents) put upon Wis­dom it self, above Pr. 3.14,15. and 4.7. and 8.11,19. and 16.16. and 24.11. Eccl. 7.12. Rubies, Riches, Eccl. 7.12 & 9.16,18. Pr. 24.5.strength and Gen. 2.17. & 3.6.22. Pr. 3.18,22. & 8.35. & 13.14. & 16.22. Eccl. 7.12,19. life: by its Pr. 3.16. &c. and 8.18. Eccl. 10.10. and 12.11. rare-enriching Qualities; its Pr. 2.11. and 3.13.35. and 4.12. and 8.20. and 9.11 & 11.9,30. & 17.2. & 20.18. & 24.5. & 28.26. Eccl. 7.12,19. & 8.5. Dan. 12.3,10. 2 T. 3.15. See more p. 22. i.l. &c. singular, admirable and glorious Effects, in and for the Owners or Possessors of it: Also in that it is Eph. 1.17. Ph. 1.9. Col. 1.9. & 4.12. & 2.2. 2 T. 2.7. prayed for Mat. 5.48. Eph. 5.15. Col. 1.28 & 3.16. adhorted unto, Pr. 1.2, &c. & 8.17. & 14.6. & 23.23. Mat. 6.22. Jo. 7.38. 2 P. 1.6,8. Eph. 4.12. 2 T. 3.17. asserted and Isa. 11.9. Pr. 8.21. Hab. 2.14. Jo. 14.26. promised, as a Thing attainable; in that God Isa. 56.1. Jer. 5.1. & 7.5. Zec. 7.9. requires it in his People, especially such as are in Lev. 19.15. Deu. 16.18,19. 2 Ch. 19.6. Ps. 2.10. Ez. 44.24. Mat. 10.16. 1 Co. 6.5. 1 P. 3.7. Dignity, Place or Pre­cedency; yea, so highly honours it (being his Acts 17.28,29. own Off­spring and Image) as that he not onely Gen. 18.17. Ex. 33.11. to 17. Num. 12.8. Deu. 5.4. Job 23.7 Isa. 30.1. Jer. 2.5, &c. & 11.18. & 3.7. Mic. 6.2. to 6. Mat. 13.11. Acts 20.27. 1 Co. 2.16. admits, but Job 38.1, &c. Isa. 1.18. and 43.26. and 41.1. invites his Ps. 1.4, &c. Heb. 2.7, &c. noble Creature, whom it inhabits, to Councell and See page 23. g. Ra­tiocination with him, as in a Ex. 33.11. Num. 11.17. friendly condescending Familia­rity; Deu. 5.28. and 18.17. Pr. 15.23. and 25.11. Eccl. 12.10. Mat. 15.7. Jo. 13.13. Nay, approves, and applauds his sayings, and Isa. 5.3. and 43.10. ap­peals to his Judgement.

Were not these things thus; to what end are those Eu­logies used to some, 2 K. 10.30. Mat. 25.21,23. L. 19.17. Well done, Deu. 5 28. & 18.17 Jo. 13.1.well said, Jer. 1.12.seen, and Mat. 15.7. M. 7.6. Gal. 5.7. the like? Or, why (else) are others Mat. 25.27,30. L. 19.23. argued, condemned and ca­shier'd, for Abuse or not Imployment of their Abilities, which the Donor or Lender well knew to be competent for the Receivers?

And were not this precious Jewell Wisdom (if with reve­rence we may so phrase it) one of Gods standing and staple Commodities, he would not Pr. 4.5,7. talk so much of it, especially Isa. 55 1, &c. Jo. 7.37, &c. Pr. 1.1,3, &c. make Proclamation, use Pr. 4.5,7,10. & 5 1. & 19.20. Intreaties, Dev. 32.29. tender Wishes, and (as it were) Pr. 1.22. & 7.4. & 8.4, &c. and 9.1, to 6. wooing Arguments, that Men would seek or ac­cept [Page 30] it. Not that he (to follow the Metaphor) either needs, or gains by, our Custome and Chapmanry, or feareth his Wares to stick on his hand (for He is a Mat. 10.8. Ro. 8 32. Rev. 21.6. & 22.17. Cant. 5.1. Ja. 1.5. free and bountifull Giver; We are, or should be 1 K. 3.9. Ja. 1.5. See page 29. r. humble Beggers) but that he delighteth himself Isa. 30.1,2. Ez. 36.37. Deus dona vendit Precibus. in Commerce with his rational Creature, and to see him Deu. 32.29. 2 S. 11.8. Isa 48.18. thrive; For he Gen. 3.1,5. 1 K. 8.39. 2 K. 19.27. Job 42.2. Ps. 21.8. & 44.21. & 94.10 & 138.6. Pr. 24.12. Isa. 29.15. & 66.18. Jer. 17.10. & 18.23. & 23.24. Ez. 11.5. Ob. 6. Mat. 9.4. M. 12.15. L. 11.17. & 16.15. Jo. 21.17. Rev. 2.23. knows and Lev. 26.44. Deu. 25.17. & 32.36,43. Jos. 1.5,9. 1 S. 15.2. Ps. 9.12. & 40.5. & 37.5. & 106.46. & 136.23. Isa. 43.26. Jer. 29.11. & 36.26. Mic. 4.12. & 6.5. Mat. 10.16,17. Ph. 4.6. 1 P. 5.7. Rev. 16.19. cares more then we our selves (who are 1 Co. 6.19. & 3 23. not our own, but his Acts 20.28. Col. 1.20. Heb. 9.12. 1 P. 1.29. Rev. 1.5. & 5.9. & 7.14. & 12.11. dearly Deu. 32.6. Job 19.25. Ps. 74.2. Isa. 43.1. & 44.22. Hos. 7.13. L. 1.68. [...] Co. 6.20 & 7.23. 2 P. 2.1. purchased, Deu. 14.2. & 26.18. Ps. 135.4. Tit. 3.14. 1 P. 2.9.peculiar, and Deu. 32.10. Cant. 1.10 & 4.9. Isa. 43.4. & 49.15,16. Hag. 2.23. Zec. 2.8. Mal. 3.17. most endeared People) how ma­ny bad Customers we have to retail his Commodities unto; yea, what Gen. 3.1,4,5. Ex. 1.10. Num. 25.18. Ps. 64.2,6. & 83.3. Pr. 7.10. Mat. 24.24. L. 16.8. & 20.23. Acts 13.10. 2 Co. 2.11. & 11.3. Eph. 4.14. Rev. 2.24. & 12.9. subtil and insinuative (beside Ps. 124.3. 1 P. 5.8. Isa. 37.28. Am. 1.11. fierce and cruel) Ene­mies we are to encounter in our Trading and Gen. 47.9. Job. 14.1. Isa. 38.16. Acts 14.22. Heb. 11.6. Travel.

Now, as he is 1 Ch. 29.14,16. Job. 22.4. Ps. 50.9, to 12. Ez. 16.18,19. Hos. 2.8,2. Mat. 20.15. Ro. 5.10. 1 Jo. 4.9. engaged to no Man, otherwise than of his Gen. 9.9,15. & 17.2,7. Lev. 20.6,42,45. Ps. 89.34. & 105.8,9,10. & 106.45. Isa. 55.3. Jer. 31.33. & 32.40. Ez. 16.8,60. & 37.26. L. 1.72,73. own free Will and Love) so he Gen. 4.7. Lev. 19.15. Deu. 1.17. & 10.17. 2 S. 14.14. 2 Ch. 19.7. Job 34.19. Acts 10.34. Ro. 2.11. Gal. 2.6. Eph. 6.9. Col. 3.25. 1 P. 1.17. accepts no mans Person: As he Num. 23.19. Tit. 1.2. cannot lie; so maketh he 1 S: 15.29. Ps: 89.35. no faint or fained Offers. As he knows Isa: 64.4. Jer: 31.3. Jo: 17.6,24. Ro: 9.11,13. Jo: 15.19. Acts 9.15. & 13.17. & 22.14. 1 Co: 1.28. & 2.7,9. Eph: 1.4,5,11. 2 Th: 2.13. 2 T: 1.9. Heb: 4.3. Ja: 2.5. 1 P: 2.9. Deu: 14.2. Ps: 135.4. eternally and Nah: 1.7. Mat: 20.13, &c. Jo: 10.3,11,14,16,27. & 13.18. 2 T: 2.19. 2 P: 2.9. infallibly, where to bestow his favours most fitly, so are Ps: 89.34. & 110.4. & 132.11. Isa: 45.23. Mal: 3.6. Ro: 9.11. & 11.29. 2 T: 2.13. Ja: 1.17. his Gifts and Calling without Re­pentance.

Yet neither comes this divine Grace (as we said of Scri­pture Knowledge) without Pr: 2.4. Acts 17.27. search and study, Pr: 2.4. & 8.17. seeking and suing, & 8.34. Watching and waiting at Wisdoms gates. Mistake not, I am L: 17.10. no Merit-monger; But I say, That as God gives no­thing Deu: 9.4,5 6. Ez: 36.22,32. for our Pains or Worthiness; so Nothing (usually) Gen: 4.7. Deu: 4.40. & 5.29 & 6.3.18. Isa: 3.10. & 65.23. & 45.19. Jer: 7.23. & 22.15,16. L: 10.7. & 20.35. & 21.36. Rev: 3.4,5. Col. 3.24. 2 Jo: 8. without them. He first Ro: 11.36. & 12.3,6. Gal: 1.15,16. Eph: 3.8. Ja: 4.5,6. gives all Graces and 2 Co: 3.5. Ph: 1.6. good Moti­ons, in us, and then do We, Isa: 26.12 Mat: 14.28,29. Ph: 2.12,13. & 4.13. Heb: 13.21. Acti agere.

'Tis true, he willeth us Ph. 2.12,13. & 4.13. to work out our Salvation, but it is by his strength: He bids us Pr. 23.23. Rev. 3.18. buy of him, but we must pay him in his 1 Ch. 29.14,16,17. own Coyn Isa. 55.1. or Nothing: Mat. 11.28. Come unto him, yet this we cannot do, except Jo. 6.44,65. Ps. 43.3.he draw us; (but then will we Cant. 1.4. Ps. 119.32.run after him:) Yea, but Mat. 7.7. Deu. 4.29. 1 Ch. 28.9. Am. 5.4. Zep. 2.3. Heb. 11.6. Seek him and we shall finde him, but Deu. 32.20. Job 11.7. & 13.24. & 23.3,8,9. & 34.29 & 37.23. Ps. 10.1 & 13 1. Cant. 3.1,2. & 5.6. Isa. 8.17. & 45.15. & 57.17. Ez. 39.23,24. Hos. 5.6. Jo. 13.33. Acts 17.27. Jo. 8.21. so hard is he to be found, that if Ps. 32 6. Pr. 1.24,28. Cant. 5.2, &c. Isa. 55.6. Heb. 3.7,13. either we slip our oportunity, Deu. 4.29. Jer. 29.13. or seek him sleightly, we may catch many a Job 12.25. Ps. 38.16. & 73.2. Isa. 59.10. Jer. 13.16. Hos. 5.5,6. Fall or Cant. 5.7,8. Knock before we meet with him. In brief, He must (upon the mat­ter) Isa. 26.12. 1 Co. 12.6. do all in us and for us: He must both Ps. 119.10,176. Jer. 23.3. & 31.10. Ez 34.11,12,16. Mat. 9.36. & 18.12,14. & 23.37. Jo. 11.52. seek, Deu. 33.27. Ps. 40.2. & 55 22. & 66.9. & 94.18. & 116.8. & 145.14. Can. [...]2.5. Isa. 40.11. Ez. 16.6. Hos. 11.3. sustain, Gen. 48.15. Deu. 8.3. 1 Ch. 17.6. Ps. 28.9. Isa. 40.11. Ez. 34.14,15. Hos. 4.16. Mic. 7.14. Jo. 21.15, &c. Acts 17.28. & 20,28. nourish and Ez. 34.10. protect us; or else we still 1 K. 22.17. Ps. 119.67,176. Isa. 53.6. Jer. 2.20. & 13.27. & 14.10. & 50.6. Ez. 14.11. & 34.5,6. Dan. 9.7. Hos 4.16. 1 P. 2.25. run astray, Ez. 34.2,3,8: Am. 8.11. sterve, Ps. 38.4. & 40.12. & 42.7. & 55.5. & 69.2,14,15. & 77.3. & 130.1. sink and 2 Ch. 18.31. Ez. 34.3,4,8. perish: Without Me (saith Christ) your Ps. 23.1. & 80.1. Ez. 37.24. Jo. 10.11,14. Heb. 13 20. 1 P. 2.25. & 5.4. Shepherd, your Ps. 23.2, &c. & 127.2. Ez. 34.23. Hos. 2.8,9. L. 22.35. Purveyor, your Mat. 8.26 & 14.31,32. Acts 27.23,24,41,44. 1 T. 1.19. L. 22.32. Jo. 11.42. Pilot; Ye (even ye See pag. 25. n o. Apo­stles) Jo. 15.5. can do nothing, but Ro 7.15,18,19,21,24,25. undo and Jer. 44.7,8. Hos. 13.9. destroy your selves.

We have heard what rare and admirable Effects this di­vine spark of Wisdom hath wrought in its Possessors, or (ra­ther) Possessed, and unto what sublimity it hath already lifted them. Yet we must not leave it here: Leave it here? Nay, here it leaveth us, and soareth up to its proper Seat and Throne in Heaven, even into the hand and heart of God, (We must speak after the Manner of Men, for the Infirmity of our Flesh, although the Expression seemeth to be warranted by his own Word, where he is said to have an 1 S. 13.14. & 2.35. 2 K. 10.30. Jet. 15.1. & 19.5. Ez. 23.18. Heart and Minde and that both in Heaven and 1 K. 9.3. Earth) The spirit of the Lord is the Pr. 20.27.Candle of the Lord, and the Wisdom Job 32.8. Ps 119 144. Jo. 20.22. inspi­red thereinto, a flash of his infinit flame, a sprig of himself, Acts 17.28,29. even his own most generous, glorious, eternal Off-spring. The Eccl. 12.7.dust shall return to the earth as it was, and the spirit unto the God who gave it. And such a Mixture or rather Jo. 10.30. & 17.11,21, &c. 1 Co. 6 17,19. Heb. 2.11. Oneness and [Page 32] Identity there is of the Job 27.3. Pro. 1.23. Dan: 4.8. Ro: 8,9,11. 1 Co: 3.16. 2 T: 1.14. 1 Jo: 3.24. & 4.12 15,16. Rev: 1.10 Spirit of God, and 1 S: 13.14. good spirit in Man (which comprehends all spiritual Endowments) that we may not imagine any 1 Co: 5.4. & 12 4,5,6,11. Ro: 8.16. diversity in them at all.

What Honour then can be imagined high enough to be ascribed to this royal-celestial Progeny? The tongues of Men and Angels want Words to express it. For Isa: 53.8. Who (with humble reverence to borrow the Phrase, Who) can declare this Genera­tion? How Ps: 87.3. glorious Things are spoken of thee, O City, of you O Citizens, O Saints of God! The summ is, (for a large Contemplation of Incomprehensibles doth more perplex then profit or please) the Saints for or with their inspired Wis­dom are set upon Mat: 19.28. Rev: 3.21. & 20.4 Thrones of Judgement: First, Ps: 149.5,6, &c. here (and yet Eph: 1.3,20. & 2 6. & 3.15. Ph. 3.20. L. 17.21. in Heaven too) they 1 Co. 2.15. & 6.3.judge all Things, and yet are (or ought to be) judged of no Man: then hereafter ( 1 Th. 4.17. in Heaven still) they shall judge the 1 Co. 6.2,3.whole World; yea, the most wise and glorious Creatures, the Angels. This Ps. 149.9.Honour have all his Saints. Pr. 3.13,18. Happy Souls! What may not justly, and yet what can fitly or sufficiently be said, to set forth your 1 Co. 13.12. Eph. 3.17. Knowledge and Wisdom, your Isa. 64.4. 1 Co. 2.9. 2 Co. 12.4. 1 P. 18. Ph. 3.21 1 Jo. 3.2. 1 Co. 15 49. Glory and Bliss? If the vast Thoughts of Men cannot yet comprehend it, how shall their Isa. 32.4. stam­mering Tongues, or Jer. 8.8. shallow Pens express it?

But what hear we yet? I have said, indeed (saith God himself) ye are Ps. 82.6. Gen. 3.5,22. Jo. 10.35. 1 Co. 8.5.Gods, and all of you Children of the most High; but (as ye live, so) Ps. 82.7. ye shall die like Men. Ye must re­member, that as yet ye bear an Gen. 2.7. & 3.19. & 18.27. Job 4.19. & 33.6. Ps. 103.14. & 104.29. Eccl. 3.20. & 12.7. Isa. 40.6. & 64.8. Jer. 18.6. & 22.29. 1 Co. 15 47,49. 2 Co. 5.1. 1 P. 1.24. earthly Tabernacle about you: Your Ps. 82.6. Isa. 63.16. Jo. 1.12. Ro. 8.14, &c. 2 Co. 6.18. Gal. 3.29. Eph. 1.10,11. Col. 1.12. Tit. 3.7. Heb. 1.14. & 9.15. Ja. 2.5. 1 P. 1.3,4. 1 Jo. 3.1,2. Mat. 12.50. high-born Heir must be content a while with the Eph. 1.13,14. Mat. 28.20. Jo. 14.16. & 15.26. Acts 1.4,5. Gal. 4.1,2. Earnest of his Inheritance: your 2 Co. 4.7. L. 17.21. heavenly Treasure is yet inclos'd and confin'd in earthen Vessels.

We therefore that reade or hear This are to reflect on our selves as 1 Ch. 29.15. Ps. 119.19. & 120.5. Heb. 11.13 1 P. 2.11. Sojourners here below, in this Ps. 23.4. Valley of the shadow of Death, for Ps. 31.15. & 90.6. Pro: 27.1. Ja. 4.13,14. how long ot little a while we know not; and to pray for and expect such Portion of divine Wisdom and other Graces as God shall see good or best for us; to be im­proved [Page 33] to Jer 9.24. 1 Co. 1.31. & 4.7. & 10.31. Ph. 1.9,11 1 P. 2.9. See pag. 27. h. his Glory, the Isa. 28.9,10. Acts 13.36. 1 Co. 14.12, to 19,26. See dage 27. i. Edification of others and our selves.

This Proposition (we hope) being pretty clear, that God hath dispensed to and among the sons of Men, indefinitly and generally, a respective Competency of Knowledge as a­bove: It were needless to prove Acts 17.26. Ro. 5.12,16. 1 Co. 15.22. Mankinde a Body, and the Husband a main and eminent Member or species thereof: but it wil conduce to know that He hath his Dole in the divine Largess. And this will appear by proof or Argument briefly thus.

All these Degrees or sorts of Men before mentioned, taken generally or specially (which ye will) thus plentifully, com­pleatly, and magnificently furnished with Knowledge, are but yet the Objects of Gods Liberality, in a mediate, or (as we may say) remote Consideration. Christ is not said to be incor­porate with any of these Persons or Societies, as they are such; but as being Cant. 6.9. Jo. 11 52. & 17.11,21,22,23. Acts 4.32. Ro. 12.5. 1 Co. 10.17. & 12.13. 2 Co. 11.2. Gal. 3.28. Eph. 1.10. & 4.13,16. Col. 2. [...].19. & 3.15. fitly compacted they 1 Co. 12.27. Eph. 1.22,23. & 4.12. Col. 1.18,24. make up his Body the Church, and so become his Cant. 4.8, &c. & 5.1. Spouse, his Reu. 21.9. & 19 7. Wife. In which Relation he is their Isa. 54.5. Jer. 3.14. & 31.32. Hos. 2.7,19,20. 2 Co. 11.2. Husband, and consequently the Hus­bands Husband; that is, One and the same with him, indivi­dually, specially, spiritually, mystically. Christ saith indeed, I am the good Jo. 10.11,14.Shepherd, the Jo. 14.6. Way, the Jo. 15.1. Vine, my Father is the Husbandman, &c. But we know the Shepherd and Sheep, the Traveller and Way, the Husbandman and Vine, (though near Relatives, yet) are not the same Body or Thing: Yet so is Vine and Branches, Christ and the Church, Husband and Wife. Christ and the Husband are Terms convertible and symbolical; and the Eph. 5.23. 1 Co. 11.3. Husband is Head of the Wife (in per­fection of Parts) as Christ is of the Church. Now shall we, dare we, or can we (without Impeachment of the divine Wisdom, with Improvidence at least) imagine he would leave the Husband who is so intimately related to him, and (rather) mystically incorporated with him, defective or imperfect, in any Part or Faculty whatsoever? Or not rather suppose him (for the Reasons alleadged) a more abundant share in the divine Bounty then all sorts of Men beside? And above all other, the pious Husband, who bears it as the peculiar Pr. 28.5. Eccl. 2.26. Cogni­zance and Token of his Masters, his Makers, Favour? This [Page 34] last is illustrated by the contrary, shewing in Whom onely the Eph. 4.17, &c. understanding is dark and blinde. Moreover, if we grant any Man to be a godly Husband, (that is, One that Deu. 4.29, &c. 2 Ch. 7.14. & 17.4,5. & 22.9. & 26.5. Ps. 22.26. & 34.4,10. Pr. 28.5. Isa. 45.19. & 65.10. Lam. 3.25. Am. 5.4. See the contrary page 21. u. seeketh, Ex. 23.25. Deu. 11.13,14. Job 36.11. Isa. 56.6,7 Mal. 3.18. Col. 3.24. serveth, Job 1.1,3. & 42.8,10. Mal. 3.16,17. Acts 10,2,35 feareth, and Deu. 11.22,23. Ps. 66.36. & 119.132. & 145.20. Pr. 8.21. Dan 9.4 Jo. 16.26,27. Ro. 8.28. 1 Co. 2 9. 2 T. 4.8. Ja. 2.5. loveth God) We cannot deny him Inheritance and Propriety in all Ps. 37.18. Isa. 60.21. Mat. 25.34. Acts 26.18. 1 Co. 3.21, &c. Eph. 1.11,14. Col. 1.12. Heb. 6.12. & 9.15. 1 P. 1.4. & 3.9. Rev. 21.7. See p. 32. [...]. Heavenly or Gen. 22.17. Ex. 23.30. Lev. 20.24 Num. 14.9. Deu. 4.38. 1 K. 8.36. Job 27.16,17. Ps. 25.13. & 37.9,11 34. & 69.36. & 80 8. & 78.55. & 105 44. Pr. 2.21. Eccl. 2.26. Isa. 65.9. Jer. 49.2. Mat. 5.5. Earthly Things; Interest in all See p. 22. y. z. positive and privative Mer­cies; nor 1 Co. 2.15. & 4.5. controll, prescribe or limit him in the Improve­ment of any divine Gift or Faculty, consonantly, or not con­trary to the revealed Will and Word of God. And to wipe away all seeming Cause of Cavill or Suspition in this kinde, we need not, we may not, think, that God doth, or Isa. 48.11 will lose ought by his Liberality to his Creature, animate or inani­mate; for it all returns with Advantage to Him. The more Graces, Gifts and Ornaments he confers, the more abundant Gratitude, Splendor and Glory (which is all he looks for) he gaineth by it: all 1 S. 4.5. Job 38.7. Ps. 19.1, &c. & 65.13. & 89 5. & 96.11,12. & 98.4, &c. & 148. all. & 150.6. Hos. 2.21, &c. Rev. 5.13. Hearts, Tongues and Things yielding him so sweet an Harmony, so loud Eccho's of Praise, that Heaven and Earth do ring again.

Yet in all this 1 Co. 12.6. & 15.28. Eph. 4.6. God is all in all, and in these Results enjoy­eth no more but himself, even his own All-sufficiency, Per­fection, Infinity. Job 22.2,3. & 35.6,7. Pr. 9.12. Ps. 16.2. What do we (or can we do) unto him? Or Ro. 11.35,36. Who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompenced to him again? For of him, and through him, and to him are all Things, to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

Thus have we (by Gods help) squared out this knotty Piece of Knowledge, and rendered it somewhat fitter for our spiritual Edifice; or (if you will) have wound it up into a Clew ready for the Warp & Weft; which all the idle (or rather too active) Hous-wives of the World (this slandereth none) will never be able to ravell or unready while the World or Deu. 6.7, &c. & 29.29. Ps. 119.89 111,152,160. Isa. 30.8. & 40.8. & 59.21. L. 16.17. 1 P. 1.23,25. Word of God endureth, which (we doubt not) is written in Deu. 6.6. & 11.18 & 30.14. Ro. 2.15. Jer. 31.33. Heb. 8.10. firmer Tables, and with Jer. 31.33. 2 Co. 3.3. more indeleble Characters then either the Jer. 17.1. sin or Job 19.23,24. Sanctity of Man. And when We have warped and woven, the Web may perhaps prove as durable in the Wearing as the Israelites Deu. 29 5. Neh. 9.21.Clothes.

CHAP. IV. Practical Knowledge relating to the Hus­bands Power. Sharpest Correction consistent with choicest Affection. 1. In Christ.

AS th'invisible God is the Ground of our Theo­ry, so is his revealed Word the Rule of our Practice in all Things moral and imitable. And because we are onely to treat of his oeconomical and conjugal Relation to us, we are chiefly to set forth, First, his own Pra­ctice, as Husband and Head of the Church, and then our Conformity thereunto. Herein, We are to eye his Power and good Pleasure. Wherof the first is not much disputable, Only a Tast thereof is not amiss (which the few marginal Quotations afford) To shew us, That he who made Gen. 1.1.All Things of No­thing, hath the same Right and Power, in a Word, either by strong or Gen. 18.14. Jer. 32.27. Mat. 19.26 M. 14.36. & 10.27. L. 1.37. Jud. 7.2,4.18.14.6. Job 26.7. Isa. 7.18. Joel 2.25. 1 Co. 1.28. Ps. 105.34. weak, with or without Means to Ps. 115.3. & 135 6. Isa. 40.12,15 order, dispose and transform, yea, or turn them to their Ps. 90.3. Isa. 65.17. Am. 9.5. 2 P. 3.20,12. Job 14.12. Principles. But secondly, we are to fasten upon his Affections of Love and Anger, (if so we may sever them here; For they are in Him, a Ro. 8.28. sweetly temper'd Composure fitted to his Churches Condition, as Physick to our natural Constitution; to his Friends his Anger is a Rev. 3.19. Am. 3.2. This ap­pears more plen­tifully anon. proper Effect of his Love; yea, he is in all Things to them, 1 Jo. 4.8,16. Love it self; but if it may please all Par­ties, we shall distinguish them thus,) viz. his Positive, tender and pleasing Love; his privative, tart and punitive Love. The former (being not disputed, for it is his Cant 2.4. proper Ensign) these few Texts do briefly yet clearly display, viz. in its Ex. 33.19. Deu. 4.37. & 7.7,8. & 23.5. Ps. 33.12. & 103.4. & 147.19,20. Isa. 41.2,9. & 43.4. & 63.9. Jer. 1.5. Ez. 16.6, to 15. Hos. 11.1,4. & 14.4. Mal. 1.2. Mat. 18.27. & 20.15,16. L. 1.48. & 12.32. Jo. 10.17,18. & 13.34. & 15.16. Ro. 9.15. Eph. 1.4. & 2.7,8. 2 Th. 2.13. 2 T. 1.2. Tit. 3.4,5. Ja. 2.5. 1 P. 1.3. 1 Jo. 4.10,19. Rev. 3.9. & 21.6. freeness, [Page 36] 2 K. 19.31. Car. 4.6, &c. & 7.1, to 9. Isa. 9.7. Hos. 11.8. His jealou­sie also implyes this. fervency, Ps. 36.7. & 103.4. Isa. 53.3,4,5,6 12. Jo. 3.16. & 15 13. Acts 20.28. Ro. 5.8. Gal. 2.20. Eph. 2.4,5. & 5.2.25. Col. 2.13 1 P. 3.18. 1 Jo. 3.1,16. & 4.9. Rev. 1.5. mirability, 2 S. 7.15. Neh. 9.17,31. Ps. 89.33,34. Mal. 3.6. Jo. 13.1. 2 T. 2.13. Ja. 1.17. constancy and Isa. 54.8,10. Jer. 31.3. Hos. 2.19. Jo. 10.28. Ro. 8.35,38,39. eternity. In the latter of Anger, (which we may term his 2 Ch. 36.16. Isa. 7.13. Jer. 2.32. & 15.6. Ez. 6.9. & 14.23. Jer. 44.22. forced Affection) it may be requisite to shew, (the Cause we need not, its too wel known to be sin, but) his Progress and Proceeding in it, from Ex. 20.5. & 34.14. Deu. 6.15. Jealousie (which in him is Deu. 32.16,21. 1 K. 14.22. Ps. 78.58. 1 Co. 10.22. Ez. 23.30,31. never needless) to Jer. 3.1. & 22.21. Ez. 6.9. & 16.15, to 36. & 23.5, to 22. Hos. 4.17. Exprobati­ons, Lev. 26.17, &c. Deu. 28.16, &c. & 32.23, &c. 1 K. 9.7. Isa. 65.12. Jer. 19.8,11, & 20.4. & 44.11. Ez. 5.15. & 6.11,12. & 7.25,26. & 16.37, to 41. & 21.5, to 15. & 14.21. Hos. 2.3,4. & 9.12,16. Zeph. 1.3. Rev. 2.5,16. To instance in all were more tedious then usefull. Rebukes and Threats; from these to Ps. 2.12. Isa. 9.1. & 54.8. Jer. 30.11. & 49.12. Zec. 1.15. L. 12.48. less or greater Punishments (and the Lev. 26.18,21,24,28. Job 16.14. Isa. 5.25 & 40.2. Jer. 16.18. Ez. 21.14, & 12.11. Jo. 5.14. Iterations or Aggravations thereof) as 1 S. 4.3. 2 K. 10.32. 1 Ch. 21.7. Job 9.34. & 23.2. Ps. 39.10. & 69.26. & 73.14. Isa. 9.13. Jer. 5.3. & 14.17,19. Lam. 3.1. Mic. 6.13,1 Co. 4 11.2 Co. 6.5,9. & 11.23, &c. & 12.7. Blows, Deu. 32.39. Job 5.18. & 9.17. & 34.6. Ps. 38.2,9. & 69.26. Jer. 10.19. & 30.14. Hos. 5.13. & 6.1. L. 2.35. Wounds, Job 9.17. & 16.12, &c. Ps. 22.14. & 31.12. & 38.8. & 94.5. & 129.3. Jer. 1 [...].17. & 19.10,11. & 31.28. Lam. 1.15. & 3.11. Hos. 6.1. Nah. 3.19. Bruising and Breaking Job 30.17. Ps. 22.14. & 51.8. Isa. 38.13. Lam. 1.13. & 3.4,16. of Bones, Ex. 15.26. Num. 11.33. & 16.46. & 31.16. Deu. 28 59, &c. & 29.22. Jos. 22.17. 2 Ch. 21.14. Job 2.7,8. & 7.5. & 30.18. Ps. 38.3,7. & 77.2. & 106.29. Isa. 3.17. & 38.12,21. Hos. 5.12,13. Mic. 6.13. Hab. 3.16. 1 Co. 11.30. Diseases, Gen. 21.9. Deu. 28.37. 1 K. 9.7. 2 K. 2.23. 2 Ch. 30.10. & 36.16. Neh. 2.19. & 4.1,2. Job 12.4. & 16.20. & 17.6. & 30.1,9. Ps. 22.6,7,8. & 35 16. and 44.9,13,14,16. and 69.7,10,11,12,20. and 80.6. and 109.25. and 137.3. Isa. 8.18. and 43.28. Jer. 20.7,8. and 24.9. and 51.58. Lam. 1.7. & 3.14,45,46. Ez. 5.14,15. & 20.49. & 23.32. Dan. 9.16. Hos. 7 16. Acts 2.13. 1 Co. 4.13. 2 Co. 6.8. 1 T. 4.10. Heb. 10.33. & 11.36. Jude 18. Disgraces, Deu. 20.8,31,48. Jud. 2 14. 1 S. 2.7. Jud. 6.3,4. 2 K. 17.20. & 20.17. Ezr. 9.7. Job 1.21. Ps. 44.10. and 119.61. Pr. 1.13. Isa. 42.22 24. Jer. 4.20. & 15.13. & 20.5. Lam: 2.2. Ez: 7.24. & 16.39. & 23.29. Hos: 7.1. Am. 4.9. Mic: 2.4. Hag: 2.17. 1 Co: 4.11. Ph: 3.8. Heb: 10.34. Impoverishment, Gen. 15.13. Ex. 1.14. & 6.9, Lev: 26.17. Deu: 28.48. Acts 7.6. Jer: 13.17: 2 K: 15.29. & 24.16. 2 Ch: 18.17. Ps. 127.3. L. 21.24. Bondage or Ca­ptivity, Gen: 39.20. Ps: 105.18. Num. 21.1. Jud. 16.21. 1 K. 22.27. 2 Ch. 16.10. Job 13.27. & 36.8. Ps. 79.11. & 107.10. Isa. 42.22. Jer: 32.2. & 37.15 21. & 38.6,28. Lam: 3.7,53. Ez: 7.23. & 19.4,9. Mat: 4.12. & 11.2. M. 1.14. L. 3.20. & 21.12. A &s 5.18 & 12.4. & 16.23. & 20.23. & 21.33. & 24.27. & 28.17,20. & 22.19. & 26.10. 2 Co: 6.5. & 11.23. Eph. 3.1 & 6.20. Col: 4.3,18. 2 T. 1.8. & 2.9. Phil: 1,10. Heb: 11.36. & 13.3. Rev: 2.10. Imprisonment, Death; Death not Num. 16.29. common or Ex. 21 28. Num. 35.11. Deu: 19.5. & 21.1. Jos: 20.3. 1 K: 22.34. cafual, but (as it were) Jer: 5.9. & 44.27. Ez. 7.6. & 21.9, &c. Dan: 9.14 Hos: 7.2. consulted and Jer: 13.14. & 15.2,3,5. & 16.4. & 21.7. Lam: 2.21. & 3.43. Ez: 7.3,4. & 8.18. Hos: 9.12. cruel, nor onely of Gen: 4.8. 1 S. 4.18. 2 S. 4.7,11.2 Ch: 24.21. & 35.23,24. Mat: 14.10. & 23.35. M. 6.27. Acts 7.59. & 12.2 Rev: 2.13. this or that particular Saint; but 1 S. 4.10. 2 S. 18.7. 2 K. 10.32. 2 Ch: 13.17. Ps: 79.2,3. Jer: 9.1. & 14.18. Am: 4.10. Heb: 11 37. slaying and slaughtering (even Ps: 44.22. Ro: 8.36. daily without intermission more then like Sheep or Beasts) by Num: 21.6. 1 Ch: 10.1. 1 Co: 10.5. and 11.30. Multitudes, Num: 16.49. and 25.9. Jud: 20.21,35. 1 S. 4.10. 2 S. 18.7. and 24.15. 2 Ch: 13.17. 1 Co: 10.8. Myriads, Ps: 79.2,3. and 141.7. Isa: 5.25. Jer: 7.32. and 41.9. Ez: 6.13. and 9.7. Rev: 6.9. Heaps, a Jud: 21.3,6. whole Tribe (and 2 Ch. 15.6. Ez: 39.23. Lam: 2.22. very near a Nation) together, leaving his Church [Page 37] hardly (as we say) with life, more then L. 10,30. half dead; as if his Wrath were Ps. 85.5. Jer. 15.1. & 17.1, &c. & 23.39. Lam: 2.1. Ez. 8.18. & 9.5,8,9,10. & 14.14,20. Am. 8.7. implacable, and his Revenge Isa. 1.24. & 5.25. & 9.12. & 10.4. Lam. 2.2,3, &c. insatiate. Not ta­king the Refuse or vulgar onely, but of the 2 Ch. 13.17. Ps. 78.31. chief and Choice of his People even 1 K. 19.10. Neh. 9.26. 2 Ch. 36.16. Lam. 2.20. Mat. 23.37. L. 11.49. Acts 7.52. Rev. 18.24. his Prophets. Neither, yet always cutting them off in the common Rode of violent and sudden Death, (wherein is Dispatch and Job 3.13,17. present Ease) but oft (more bitter then Death it self) in the These need no further proof then History and Experience. And note that pining and pinch­ing the Saints by Imprisonment, or any kinde of Hardship what­ever, is Martyr­dome, Heb. 11.36 various, virulent and lingering Kindes of Acts 22.20. Rev: 2.13. & 17.6. & 20.4. Martyrdom: as if he set his People at Ps. 44.12. Naught, or plainly delighted to see the Whore of Babylon Rev. 17.6,7. L. 13.1.drunk with the Bloud of his Saints: which no mervail though it struck John as well into terror as Admiration. And therefore in a deep-despairing and gasping Lam. 1.22. Agony, What grievous Moan doth she make? Jer. 4.31. Wo is me, for my soul is wea­ried because of Murderers.Lam. 1.12. Job 19.21.Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? Stay, behold and see, if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the Lord hath af­flicted me in the day of his fierce Anger. And at last (when all Job 13.4. Jer. 6.14. Hos. 5.13. Mat. 17.16. M. 5.26. L. 8.43. Jo. 10.21 helpless Physicians and Job 16.2. Lam. 1.21. miserable Comforters fail'd) in an Extasie she cries out unto him, in whose hand she knew lay both Ex. 15.26. Deu. 32.39. 1 S. 2.6. 2 K. 5.7. Job 5.18. Ps. 102.10. & 147.3. Hos. 6.1. her Wounding and Cure; Lam. 2.20. & 1.21. Behold, O Lord, and con­sider to Whom thou hast done This: even to thine own See page 33. g. Spouse, the Jer. 12.7. dearly beloved of thy Soul. What, puttest thou no diffe­rence between the Gen. 18.25. Eccl. 9.2,3. Ez. 21.3. Job 9.22 Righteous and Wicked? between thine own Deu. 4.20. & 9.29. 1 K. 8.51,53. Ps. 28.9 & 33.12. & 94.14. & 106.5. Isa. 19.25. & 63.17. Inheritance, thine Deu. 7.6. & 14.2,21. & 28.9. Isa. 62.12. Dan. 8.24 holy, See p. 30. e. f.peculiar endeared Peo­ple, and the See p. 28. l. ult. prophane and desperate Reprobates?

In all which Respects, this Deu. 7.7. 1 Ch. 16.19. Mat. 7.14. & 20.16. L. 12.31. & 13.23,24. little flock (not little Gen. 13.16. & 22.17. Ex. 32.13. Num. 23.10. 1 K. 3.8. 1 Ch. 27.23. Ps. 110.3. Jer. 33.22. Dan. 7.10. Hos. 1.10. Eph. 3.15. Heb. 12.23. Jude 14. Rev. 7.9,13,14 in it self; but in comparison of that other Jud. 7.12. Ps. 4.2. & 14.2,3. & 74.19. & 83.2, to 8. Eccl. 8.11. Isa. 29.8. Mic. 5.7. Mat. 7.13. & 20.16 L. 13.24. Ro. 3.10, &c. 1 Jo. 5.19. Rev. 13.16. numberless Job 21.30. Isa. 57.21. 2 Th. 1.8. 2 P. 2.9. Rev. 14.9,10 11, See page 28. l. ult. forlorn Rout) is properly called by the chief Shepherd, The Zec. 11.4,7.Flock of slaughter.

Now, God usually Lev. 26.21. 2 S. 3.39 Job 34.11. Ps. 62.12. Pro. 24.12. Isa. 65.7. & 66.3,4. Jer. 5.19. & 21.14. Ez. 7.27. & 11.21. & 16.59. & 22.31. Hos. 4.6,7 & 10.13. & 12.2. Zec. 1.6. Rev. 2.23. Jud. 1.7. Ex. 1.22. & 14.27. 2 S. 12.9,11. & 16 22. suiteth or proportioneth the Punish­ment to the sin: as against Idolatry, viz. spiritual Adultery, the Deu. 16.22. & 27.15. & 32.16,19. Isa. 44.19. Jer. 32.34,35. & 44.4,21,22. Ez. 18.12. Dan. 12.11. Mal. 2.11. Mat. 24.15. 1 P. 4.3. most odious in his eys of all other) his conjugal Jealou­sie (to wit, his Pr. 6.34. See pa. 36. d. Rage) Deu. 29.20. smoaketh, Ps. 79.5.burneth and Num. 25.11. Deu. 4.24. Zep. 1.18. consumeth like Fire: at the Lev. 26.15,43. 2 Ch. 36.16. Ps. 107.11,12. Pr. 1.30,21. Ez. 5.6,7,8. & 20.13. Am. 2.4. Mat. 11.21. Contempt of his Ordinances, Lev. 26.15, &c. Deu. 29.24,25. Jos. 7.15. & 23.16. Jud. 2.20,21. 2 K. 18.11,12. Jer. 11.3,4,10, &c & 22.8,9. Ez. 16.59. & 17.15,19. Hos. 8.1. Heb. 8.9. & 10.29. Breach of Covenants, Neh. 9.27,28. Ps. 106.7,13,21,23. Isa. 65.2,3,6. Hos. 2.8,9. & 11.3. Mat. 23.37,38. Ro. 2.4,5. Abuse of Mercies, Ps. 78.31,32,33. Isa. 1.5. & 9.13. & 57.17. Jer. 2.30. Am. 4.6. &c. Hag. 2.17. slighting of Judgements he is highly displeased; and so for the least Offence (though none Num. 15.32,35,36. Ps. 119.6. Mat. 5.18,19. & 12.36,37. L. 16.10. Ja. 2.10. little or venial in his eye, Num. 23.21. Isa 53.5,6. Mat. 3.17. Ro. 3.25. 2 Co. 5.19. Eph. 1.6. Col. 1.19,20. Heb. 2.17. 1 Jo. 2.1,2. not covered or vail'd by Christ) his Anger breaks out in some kinde and degree, at one time or another. I may speak here of experience; God now calling to reckoning the vain and vicious Curiosities of my youth.

But these Punishments are not all to be taken in a literal sense; and yet so, as that hereby the Church or Members of it, are Job 16.8. & 19.20. Ps. 22.17. & 102.3. &c. & 109.24. & 119.83,87. Isa. 17.4. Lam. 3.4. & 4.8. macerated and Job 13.25. Ps. 22.15. & 31.10. & 38.8,10. & 109.24. weakned; that is, brought into a Deu. 28.43. 1 S. 2.7. Ps. 79.8. & 88.6. & 106 43. & 130.1. & 142.6. low and Deu. 8.3. Jud. 2.4. 1 S. 3.18. & 33.4. 2 K. 22.19. 2 Ch. 7.13,14. & 12.5,6. & 20.2,3,4. & 32.25,26. & 33.12. Ezr. 10.14. Neh. 9.1, &c. Job 40.4. & 42.6. Ps. 39.9. & 131.2. Isa. 38.15,16. Jer. 31.18,19. & 44.10. Lam. 3.19,20. Ez. 43.11. Dan. 9.3, &c. Hos. 5.15. Joel 1.14,15. Jon. 3.4,5 Mic. 7.9. 2 Co. 12.7. 1 P. 5.6. humble Condition, to make them the more sen­sible of, and submissive to, the Deu. 32.15. & 33.27. Ps. 18.31. & 28.1. & 37.24. & 63.8. & 119.117. & 145.14. Isa. 17.10. & 41.10. Power supporting them.

The Survey and Contemplation of the said Tragedies ex­prest in sundry of the cited Texts, would strike one into Asto­nishment, that the See page 24. c. meek Lamb, even He that's so Ez. 6.9. jealously Cant. 4.1, &c. 9. [...] & 7.1, &c. enamoured of his See page 33. f. g. Spouse, his Wife, his Church, that he scarce allows the World Heb. 11.38. a Look on her (much less to touch Ex. 4.22,23. Ps. 105.14,15. Her or Jer. 12.14. Hers) nor willingly the Winde (as we say) Isa. 26.20. to blow on her, should yet deal thus roughly with her himself: that Ps. 116.15, her Death should be so precious in his sight, and yet Himself not onely assenting to it, but chief Actor in it. Had Zipporah seen such Work, she would surely have said, Here's Ex. 4.25,26. a bloudy Husband indeed; Get him bound to the good Abearing: Yet [Page 39] Job 23.13. who can turn him, or stay his hand? Or VVho will dare to say to him, Job 9.12. Dan. 4.35. What dost thou?

Object. 1. Admit all this (say some) yet Christ himself had no hand in these bloudy Scenes, but Satan or his Agents, the Wicked of the World.

Answ. 1 S. 4.2,3,10. 2 K. 10.32. Jud. 20.35. Qui agit per alios agit per se: Yea, Jos. 1.9. 2 Ch. 12.7. Isa. 42.24. & 45.7. Command is more then Execution, for it both includes and animates it. It is said by the Lord of Hosts, our Head-Husband, Ez. 20.37. Ps. 66.12.I will cause you (Israel) to pass under the Rod. And more plainly: 2 S. 7.14,15. If He (even Solomon) commit Iniquity I will chasten him with the Rod of Men, and with the stripes of the children of Men. Though thou be Jer. 22.6,7.Gilead unto me, and the head of Leba­non, &c. Yet I will prepare destroyers against thee, &c.Isa. 10.5,6,24.O Assyrian the Rod of mine Anger, &c. Jer. 25.9.I will bring my Servant Nebuchadnezzar against this Land: (And why not my Jud. 9.23. 1 K. 22.21,22. Job 1.12. & 2.6. Mat. 8.9. M. 1.27 Servant) Satan Rev. 2.10. shall cast some of you into Prison, and Lam. 1.15. Am. 3.6,11. Jer. 21.7. the like. And yet more piteous, Jer. 12.7. I have given (saith he) the dearly beloved of my Soul into the hand of her Enemies; and divers Ps. 78.59, &c. & 106.40,41. Isa. 47.6. Jer. 30.14. aequiparant Expressions: Ps. 17.13,14. O Lord (saith holy Da­vid) deliver my Soul from the Wicked which is thy Sword; from Men which are thy hand.

See here Christs own Commission and Command, yea his bare Hand, for all this (seeming) Cruelty. And why should not this be as true as the Contrary; to wit, That God im­ploys his Gen. 24.7. Ex. 23.20. Num. 20.16. Ps. 91.11. Isa. 63.9. Heb. 1.13,14. Dan. 6.22. Acts 12.7,11. Rev. 1.1. & 22.6. Angels and Gen. 45.5,7. Ex. 7.16. Num. 16.28. 1 S. 20.22,37,38. Acts 7.35. & 9.17. & 10.32,33,34. Others for the help and good of his own People? whom he pleaseth to honour with the Title of Neh. 9.27. Ob. 21. Saviours.

Object. 2. But it is said, Isa. 54.5. Thy Maker is thy Husband (the Lord of Hosts is his Name) How then is Christ the Churches Hus­band? Or, hath she two Husbands?

Answ. No surely. And therefore it follows there, Thy Redeemer the holy One of Israel, the God of the whole Earth; which is none other but Christ, the Heb. 1.3. Ph. 2.6 Col. 1.15. Brightness of the Glory of God; the express Image of his Person; Ph. 2.6. Jo. 17.5,10,11,21, &cWho thought it no Robbery [Page 40] to be equal with God;Heb. 1.2. & 11.3. Col. 1.16.by whom the Worlds (all Men, all Things) were made and are Heb. 1.3.upheld; to whom Mat. 28.18. Isa. 41.25. Jo. 17.2. Col. 1.18.all Power is given in Heaven and Earth; who will not be denied the same Power (yea magis magísque eadem) that the Isa. 41.25. & 64.8. Jer. 18.6. Ro. 9.20,21.Potter hath over the Clay; It is this very Christ the Lord, and he alone that is the Churches Husband, that Isa. 45.7.doth all these Things.

Object. 3. All these Tragical Occurrences in the Church (may some say) were in Scripture-primitive Times onely, and not before nor since.

Answ. They do stupidly mistake that so say or think; For (cer­tainly) such as have Heb. 5.14. any spiritual Exercise of their Senses; may daily and continually feel this chastening faculty of Christ either in, upon, or about them; and conclude it to have been on foot and in force ever fince Gen. 3.15. the Fall of Adam, and so to continue till Satan leave tempting, and Rev. 10.6. Time shall be no longer

Now as there are notoriously but two Sorts in the World ( Gen. 18.23,25. Deu. 25.1. 1 S. 2.9. 1 K. 8.32. Job 9.22. Ps 1.6. & 37.16, &c. & 145 20. Pr. 2.21,22. & 10.30. & 14.19. Eccl. 3.17. & 8.14. Isa. 5.23. Ez. 21.3. Dan. 12.10. Hab. 1.4. Mal. 3.18. Mat. 13.49. & 25.34,41. 1 T. 1.9. 1 P. 4.18. Godly and Wicked) that Christ in his punitive Power hath to deal withall, so he sorteth his Punishments suitably into Isa. 27.7. Chastisements and Judgements. We reade not, that he terms (or at least Ps 94.10. & 135 14. Eccl. 3.17. Zep 3.7. Heb. 10.30. 1 P. 4.17. compared. intends) his Punishing of the Wicked for Isa. 27.7. 1 Co. 11.32. Chastisement, or of the Godly for Judgement. But as even the Pr. 12.10.tender Mercies of the Wicked are cruel: so even his 1 P. 2.14. gentlest Punishing of them is Judgement; how much more his Mat. 25.46. 2 Th. 1.9. Heb. 10.28,29. 2 P. 2.9. greatest! Whereas of the Godly 'tis said, Ps. 94.12. Job 5.17. Blessed is the Man whom thou chastenest, O Lord, and teachest him out of thy Law. Lo, here's Gods end in punishing these. And therefore though he often dealt with David, (the 1 S. 13.14.Man after his own heart) Ps. 6.1. & 118.18. & 71.20 very severely, in hot displeasure, and Ps. 13.1. & 77.7, &c. & 88.14. & 89.46. at a gloomy distance; enough to drive him to Ps. 22.1,2. & 27.13. & 31.22. & 43.2. & 51.11. & 73.13. & 88.14, &c. an utter dispair of favour. Yet he (good Man) knowing well where the Fail­ing was (to wit Ps. 25.11. & 38.3,4. & 51.3,4,9. & 69.5. & 130.3. in himself, Ps. 51.4. not in God, whose Ps. 30.5. Anger also endures but a Moment) took all but as Chastenings, and fa­therly [Page 41] Tokens of Love, Ps. 33.9. & 131.2. kissed the Rod, and concluded; Ps. 119.71,67. It is good for me that I have been afflicted, and thou Ps. 119.75.in very faithfulness & favour hast done it. Had any Thing been whol­somer for him, God would not (sure) have with-held it from his most dear & cordial Servant David, for whose 1 K. 11.12,13.34. & 15.4. 2 K. 8.19. & 19.34. Ps. 132.10,11. sake even future Generations fared the better. Even holy Job also, whom God himself for Job 1.8. & 2.3. & 42.8. Perfection and Uprightness prefers to all Men on Earth of his time, at whose Mediation he Ez. 14.14,20. would have done very much too, was corrected and punished by him, even to a As poor as Job. Proverb, (yet which of us repines not to 1 P. 2.20. be buffeted for our faults?) How deals he with his most Num. 12.7. Jos. 1.7. Heb. 3.2. faith­full and Num. 12.8. Ex. 33.11. & 34.28,29. familiar Servant Moses? In stead of correcting, he Ex. 4.24. goes about to kill him, yet Num. 12.8. endures not others to give him a wry Word. The same Gen. 18.3,10. Dan. 9.17. L. 2.11 Acts 2.36. & 9.10 11,17. Christ the Lord gives Paul poor Heartening, sets him an hard Lesson at his Matriculation or Admittance into his School. As Acts 9.15. & 22 14. choice a Vessel as he was, he must be 2 Co. 4.8,9. & 11,23,24,25. Gal. 6.17. tossed, craz'd and crack'd. Acts 9.16. I will shew him (saith Christ) how great Things he must suffer for my Name. Which Lesson he had so 2 Co. 6.4, &c. patiently and perfectly conn'd within a while, that he (Doctor-like) layes it down, as an undoubted Axiom or inevitable doom (which ye will) That 2 T. 3.12. Acts 14.22. Jo. 16.33. 1 Th. 3.4. All that will live godly in Christ Jesus (not onely may, but) must suf­fer Persecution. Good Hezekiah gives the Reason of al This; Isa. 38.16. O Lord, (saith he) by these things (to wit, Chastisements) Men live, &c. As if they were as needfull and certain to the Saints as their very Ps. 23.4. Mic. 7.14. Food and Raiment, & without these were but Isa. 38.16. dead Men, or Ps. 119.67,176. Vagrants Heb. 12.8. at best. Yea, the Spirit of Christ himself saith, That if either we be Heb. 12.8. Without Chastisement, or Pr. 3.11. Heb. 12.5. weary & faint under it, We are but Pr. 24.10. weaklings, cowards & Heb. 12.8. Bastards: Nay, a Am. 6.1. Wo is pronounced to them that are at ease in Zion, and a Zep. 3.1,2,5. Curse to the Incorrigible and Impudent. By all which God would make Correction a greater Argument of his Love then most (if not all) other his Mercies, and our Deu. 8.5. com­pared with 6. strongest Tye to Obedience. And (behold!) as well Ps. 103.14. Mat. 8.17. 1 Co. 10.13, Heb. 2.18. to comfort as confirm us in this Truth, we have a most gracious and glorious 2 Co. 4.10. Gal. 6.17. Ph. 3.10. Col. 1.24. Heb. 2.17. & 12.2,3. 1 P. 2.21. & 3.18. Patern of the Isa. 53.4,5,9. Mat. 27.4,19,24. M. 9.39. & 14.55,56. L. 23.14,15,22,41. Jo. 10.32. & 14.30. & 18.38. & 19.6. most innocent, the most [Page 42] Isa. 53.3,8. Mat. 26.38. & 27.35. M. 14.34. & 15.24. L. 23.33. Jo. 19.18. Acts 2.23 & 3.15. & 4.10. 1 Co. 1.23. Gal. 3 1. Heb. 2.9. & 12 2. Rev. 5.9. & 11 8. oppressed, and yet Isa. 53.7. Acts 8.32. Mat. 26.62 63. M. 14.60. & 15.3. L. 23.9. Heb. 12.2,3. 1 P. 2.23. Rev. 1.9. most patient Sufferer set before us. In these Respects it is not Pride but Duty in the poorest Christian, to have the like Reckoning of himself, and Resolution to stand it out which Nehemiah had, when he said, Neh. 6.11. Should such a Man as I flee?

This Point may yet be briefly illustrated by the Contrary; to wit, That Silence and Impunity (upon sinfull Causes) are sad Presages of Job 12.6, &c. & 21.9,30. & 27 14, Ps. 73.5, &c. Hos. 4.14,17. & 9.12. & 13.12. final Desertion in God, and strong Argu­ments of Lev. 19.17. Pr. 13.24. & 23.13,14. hellish Hatred in Man; in whom as there is an Gen. 38,15,16. Jud. 16.15. 1 S. 18.7,20. 2 S. 13.1,2,4,15. 2 Ch. 19.2. Est. 2.2,3,4 7,9,17. Ps. 7.13, [...]8. & 21.17. Eccl. 5.10. Isa. 1.23. Jer. 4.30. Ez. 16.33. & 23.11. Hos. 2.5. Mat. 10.37. Ro. 1.24,26,27. Ph. 3.19. Col. 3.5. 1 Th. 4.5. 2 T. 3.2,4. inordinate Love and 1 S. 2.16,17.22,23,24,29. & 15.3 9,18,19. 1 K. 20 28,32,34,42. 1 Co. 5.1,2,5,13. sinfull Pity, so there is an Eccl: 3.8 Eph: 4.26. allowable and holy Anger, and oft times not to be angry is to sin.

And albeit Christ often speaks of his Fury, Wrath and In­dignation,2 Ch: 34.21,25. Isa. 42.25. Jer. 4.4. & 17.4. & 44.6. Lam: 2.3.4. Ez: 9.8. & 22.31. Dan: 9.11. Nah: 1.6.burning or powred out, and Isa: 5.25. Hos: 5.10. Am: 5.6. the like; Yet are these but Expressions and Effects of his just and gracious Jea­lousie, yea of his L. 11.49. Wisdom in way of our Isa: 1.25. & 4.4. & 27.7,9. Ez. 22.19,20,21,22. Dan: 11.35. Am: 9.9. Mal: 3.3. Mat: 3.12. Jo: 15.2. Refining, and in Order either to our Hos. 2.7. & 5.15. L. 15.14,16,17; 18,19. mediate, or Job. 5.26. Mat: 13.47,48,49. & 24,31. & 25.32. M. 13.27 final and universal Re­ducement, not utter destruction (for when he hath done he Isa: 10.12,26. & 30.31. & 37.38. Rev: 20.2,3. burns or breaks the Rod) And he saith elsewhere, that Isa: 27.4. Ps: 30.5. & 103.13,14. Lam: 3.33. Fury is not in him (toward his People.) What though his Members be slain and Job 14.14. & 19.26,27. 1 Co: 15.36,37,38,42,43,53. consumed here, as to Mans eye; yet shall they certainly be Job 19.26,27. Ps: 36.9. Isa: 26.19. & 43.6,7. Am: 9.9 M. 12.26,27. L: 20.37,38. & 21.18. Jo: 5.21. & 6.39,40. Acts 26.8,23. 1 Co: 6.14. & 15.12,13,16,20,22,23,52. 2 Co: 1.9. & 4.14. & 5.10. Col: 3.4. 1 Th: 4.14,16,18. 2 T: 4.1. Tit: 2.13. 1 P: 1.7. 1 Jo: 3.2 Rev: 20.12,13. raised and Jo: 17.2,11,21,22,23,24,26.1 T: 4.17. re-united to their Head: And if the Acts 20.23. Ph: 1.14. Phil: 10. Bonds, Job 16 20. Ps: 126.5,6. Mat: 5.4. L: 6.21. Acts 20.31. 2 Co: 2.4. Ph: 3.18. 2 T: 1.4.Tears or Jo: 12.25. Acts 20.14. & 21.13. & 21.20. Rev: 2.13. & 6.11. & 12.11. Bloud of Saints and Martyrs, be (in part) the seed of the Church militant; what manner of Fruit may we expect in the Church triumphant? Surely, Ps: 126.5,6. Isa: 25.8. 2 T: 4.8. Rev: 4.4. & 7.13,14,16 17. & 21.4. most pleasant and precious.

By all that hath been said (and Ps: 89.32,33. & 99.8. & 141.5. Pr: 3.12. & 27.6. & 29.15. Isa: 1.5. & 60.10. Jer: 2.30. Am: 3 2 & 4.9. Hag: 2.17. L: 6.22,23. Heb: 12.6,7. 1 P: 4.14. Rev: 3.19. yet more) it is evident enough to Any that will see, That the sharpest Rebuke or Cor­rection is compatible and consistent with the choicest and dear­est [Page 43] Love; which is presumed to be 'twixt Christ and his Church, Husband and Wife; and Punishment being (as above) distinguished from Judgement; whom hath Christ now to punish or Correct but the Church his Wife? and what of his Wife, but her (or rather See p: 33. e. his own) Body, which he both so See p: 30. c. d. dearly purchased, and highly prizeth, as is plentifully proved? Surely none.

In summ; his Relation, Interest, Prerogative and Power in and over his Creature, his Church, his Spouse, being so evi­dent, indisputable, infinit and irresistible; it must needs rest in his own good Pleasure, what Deportment he will use toward her. Yet, that all the World may see that he is no Tyrant, he pleaseth to prescribe to himself certain Bounds and Rules of Gen. 18.25. Job 34.23. Pr. 16.11. Isa. 3.13. & 45.19 21. Jer. 25.31. Ez. 20.35. Joel 3.2. Mic. 6.2. Zep. 3.5. Justice, Ex. 34.6. 2 Ch. 30.9. Neh. 9.17,31. Job 33.24. Ps. 103.8. & 116.5. & 145.8,9. Isa. 30.18,19. Jer. 3.12. Lam. 3.22,33. Joel 2.13. Jon. 4.2. Zec. 9.9. Ro. 2.4. 1 T. 1.16. Heb. 8.12. 2 P. 3. 9. Mercy and Moderation in Government; Which if the Children of Men, presume to violate or profane, they may be justly Hos. 5.5. & 7.10 convicted that their Ps. 9.16. Hos. 7.2. & 13.9. Punishment or Perdi­tion is of themselves. We live indeed now under Gospel-Rules, and a Zec. 9.9. Mat. 21 5. gentle-gracious King, yet a Ps. 2.6. Isa. 32.1. & 43.15. Ez. 37.22,24. Hos. 3.5. Jo. 18.37. 1 T. 6.15. Rev. 17.14. King, and One that will not be disobeyed, dishonoured or slighted, but on Ps. 2.9. Pr. 13.13 Jer. 10.10. Ez. 21 9,10, &c. Mat. 18 23.34. & 22.2,13 L. 19.12,27. 1 Co. 16.22. Rev. 2.16. sharp Terms and Penalties; who as he is the Acts 8.32. Rev. 5.12. & 7.14. & 13 8. See p. 24. e, &c. Lamb slain, so is he the Isa. 38.13. Lam. 3.10,11. See page 24. g. Lion slaying and tearing in pieces. Now, what Creature more favourable to Submission, or gratefull to Courtesie then the Lion (if we believe History)? What Rev. 6.16,17. & 14.10. & 17.14. fiercer then the Lamb Christ if justly offended?

Thus admiring and submitting to Christ the highest Hus­band in the glorious Exercise of his own Power, we come now (still within his Limits, and by his leave and strength) to view his honourable Delegation of his Vice-gerent Man.

CHAP. V. The Symbol betwixt CHRIST and the Hus­band, in the Point and Power of Practical Knowledge.

SO strong and stable a Symbol and Sympathy is there (indeed) between Christ and his Church, Husband and Wife; that it may well, and must on all hands be alleadged and insisted on. And as it is gladly granted in Point of Cherishing, so there will appear no ground of declining it in Case of Chastening other then the Tenderness of Humanity, which how far 'tis requisite and to­lerable is now to be discussed.

In Order, and for Introduction hereunto, we are first to weigh well Gods Deu. 10.17. Ps: 115.3. & 135.5,6 & 136.6. 1 T: 6.15. Rev. 17.14. & 19 16. soveraign, Num: 23.19. Ps: 111.7. Is: 25.1,2. & 48.3. & 55 11. certain, Ps: 33.11. & 111 8. & 119.160. Eccl. 3.14. Is: 14.24. & 45.23. & 46 10. Ez. 24.14. irrevocable Councels and Edicts; and chiefly (as to our present Purpose) to carry along with us, that his primitive-peremptory Decree at the Creation, viz. Gen. 3.16. Thy Desire shall be to thine Husband, and he shall rule over thee. Where note that 1. Cupimus clariora & potiora. 2. Here's not Regula but Regimen, the Man was not onely to direct but rule her: and what implies Regimen, if not (as even an Heathen defines it) Parcere Subjectis & de­bellare Superbos? How else, differs it from Parity or Equali­ty? Or, what more golden Rule of Regiment or Govern­ment can there be? Now, as the Num: 25.5. Deu. 17.12. & 25.1,2. L. 12.11,58, & 20 21. Jo: 19.10,11. Ro: 13.4. Tit: 3.1. 1 P: 2.14. Magistrate bears not the Sword, no more (doubtless) doth the Gen: 20.16. Nu: 30.8, [...]3. 1 Co: 14.35. Eph: 3.24. Husband the Sway in vain. Gods Decrees are more then Scare-Crows. Next, we finde it delivered us by divine Authority (as in Confirmation of the said Decree) That Eph: 5.23. 1 Co: 11.3. Compare and consi­der well Eph: 5.19 30. the Husband is Head of the Wife, even as Christ is Head of the Church. Not politically as in other Unions or Relations, but spiritually, mystically, sacramen­tally: He is so the Head of the Wife as Christ is the Head of the Church. And these two are to stand for impregnable Ma­xims, [Page 45] instar Omnium, adversus Omnia. The Wife is also en­joyned in sundry Places of Sacred Writ, a similar or suitable Eph. 5.22,24,33 Col. 3.18. Tit. 2.5 1 P. 3.1. Est. 1.22. Subjection and Obedience: the holy Ghost expresly direct­ing, as Col. 3.22. Servants to obey their Masters in all Things; so Eph. 5.24. Wives to be subject to their Husbands in every Thing: And especially the Tit. 2.3,4,5. aged Women, to be not Actors onely but Teachers of Obedience to Husbands, the words subjection & obedience being (it seems) Convertibles, and putting no difference 'twixt Wives and Servants, 1 P. 3.6. Sarah obeyed Abra­ham and called him Lord. And (ere we pass) lo here how the holy Spirit also pleaseth to make use of a very Hea­then to check this dear Daughter of his in case of but a sup­posed slighting of her Husband: Gen. 20.16. Behold (saith Abimelech to Sarah) He is to thee a Covering of the Eyes, unto all that are with thee, and with all other: as if her Eye ought have been terminated in Him; at least that she should not have looked out, much less abroad without his privity, leave and presence: which is a stricter (I say not more servile) Obser­vance then can be required from any Servant. So that for the too large Liberty which ('tis like) Sarah took to look about her, the Spirit saith, She was reproved. Wherein, we may not but imagine some forward or offensive Carriage in her, in her Husband Abrahams Absence, for God useth not to chide his Isa. 41.8. Ja. 2.23. Ez. 14.23. 2 Ch. 20.7. Friends without Cause. And sure it is not far from this Pur­pose, that Women are enjoyned to 1 Co. 14.35. ask their Husbands at home, and to testifie their Subjection by their 1 Is. 2.12. silence.

But it is further to be observed, That the divine Wisdom in all Places where it directeth the Conjugal Duties, Eph. 5.22. Col. 3.18. 1 P. 3.1. first layes down the VVomans Subjection and Obedience, as a Leading and Allurement to the Mans Affection, and then wills that he bear toward her in Knowledge, Love and Lenity befitting, as the cited Texts do shew. And (which is yet to be noted) least she should either insist too much on his Love without Merit, or forget her Duty, the Command is doubled and pressed upon her; Eph. 5.22,33. Let the Wife see (as the Translators render it; be sure) that she reverence (viz. fear, not affright) her Husband; im­plying, and as it were pointing at a greater proneness of Neg­lect and Forgetfulness in her, and the petulancy adhering to [Page 46] that Sex; at least inforcing the Duty more upon Her, which some good VVives do not brook to hear.

The Reasons of Gods original Decree, and the succeeding Confirmations thereof, although we are not to dispute or dive into; yet himself is pleased partly (and indeed plainly) to signifie unto us, That this very primitive Institution for the VVomans Subjection, proceeded (as Ex. 9.27. 1 S. 12 7,9. 2 Ch. 12.5,6 Ezr. 9.14,15. Neh 9.33. Job 34.10,12,23. Ps. 97.2. & 119.137. & 145.17. Pr. 8.8. Isa. 57 17. Jer. 11.20. & 21.8,9. & 32.23. Lam. 1.18. & 3.39 Ez. 14.23. Dan. 4.37. & 9.7,14. Jo. 8.16. Ro. 2.5,6. 2 Th. 1.6. Rev. 16 5,6,7. & 19 2. See p: 43. m. all other his Judgements and Dealings do) of most equitable and just Grounds, partly on his own, and partly on the Mans behalf, As 1. The Gen. 1.26. & 2.18,22. 1 Co. 11.8 1 T. 2.13. Prio­rity of the Mans Creation; Primogeniture being ever since in all Ages, had in honour, both by Ex. 4.23. & 11.5. & 13.2. Num. 3.13. Ps. 89.27. Ro. 8.29. Heb. 12.23. God and Gen. 27.1. & 44 12. & 49.3. Ex. 6.14. Num. 3.2. Jos. 6.26. & 17.1. 1 S. 17.13. 2 K. 3.27. 2 Ch. 22.1. Neh. 10.36. Job 1.13. Mic. 6.7. Zec. 12.10. Jo. 8.9. Men; yea, though Deu. 21.15, &c. & 25.6. impious or ill-deserving. (an Item for Dis-inheritors) 2. That Gen. 1.26,27. & 9.6. Image and Impress of Majesty and Magnanimity, which God immediately and privately estamped on him, in his Creation, and 1 Co. 11.7. still continues and manifesteth in his Po­sterity. 3. The 1 Co. 11.7,8,9. Dignity of Precedence and Supremacy ever intended by God to the Man. 4. The Womans being then (as often since) 1 T. 2.14. 2 Co. 11.3. before Man in the Transgression and Fall. This Reason God seems plainly to intimate by his Order and Gra­dation in the Punishment, beginning with the Gen. 3.14. first and greatest Offender, the Serpent, and so descending to the last and least the Man, who listened onely to his VVife. (see the danger of these Illecebrae) For God Gen. 3.17. chargeth no further Fault upon him, nor do his Servants and Secretaries 1 T. 2.14. 2 Co. 11.3. construe it otherwise; the Mans Eating in it self being but an improvi­dent Act and Effect of the VVomans and her Suggestors wicked Counsel. And so we see her Punishment proportionally aggravated, in that she not onely shares in the Curse of the Ground, but must be pinched with Pains in Conception and Child-bearing, and loaden the yoak of Subjection to her Husband. 5. If the former were wanting, yet (to us especial­ly 1 Co. 10.11. upon whom the Ends of the World are come) that redou­bled rational Position Eph. 5.22,23,24. aforegoing, one would think might be as perswasive and prevalent, as it is plain and forcible. But 1 Co. 2.14. & 14.37,38. spiritual Things cannot possibly be otherwise then spiritual­ly discerned. VVhich as we expect not at all in those that are Ph. 3.19. professedly carnal, so, neither do we that Ro. 7.14, &c. would fain be [Page 47] spirituall, say that we 1 Co. 8.2. & 13.9. know any thing of it as we ought to know; much less, dare promise or attempt otherwise to de­scribe this mysticall Union, then in Ps. 118.22. M. 12 10. Acts 4.11. Ro. 12.5. Eph. 1.22,23. & 4.15,16 & 5.23. Col. 1.18 24. & 2.19. the same summary ex­pressions by which the spirit of God exhibits it unto us.

And here, (not as in proof or confirmation, (it needs not) but, partly for Illustration, and partly satisfaction or Conviction, in their own element, of some Polititians (of whom a little more in due place) or others, who rest in the Heb. 7.16. carnall Commandments or Customs) we may demand (let it be answer'd at any leasure) wherfore the Statute-Laws, do make the Wives Killing the Husband, Pety Treason; and his Killing her, but Murder, and their sentence suitable; ranking her, also, with Children and Servants (his known and confessed Inferiors and Patients) as equally guiltable with them; and whether all conducent practises be not, in proportion, punishable in her? Whether do not the Laws, also, look upon the Husband as the Wises Protector, and Provider of Alimony (though in some Particulars it hapens otherwise?) Is he not answerable for all her expences, exorbitances and Abuses of others; and if so, hath he no li­berty of discretion, or Power of Coertion to regulate or re­straine her? Lastly, whether know they not some ridiculous customes or Practice (not worth the mention, but in way of disdain) to disgrace the Man, who may not command (but must obey) his Wife?

This Power, then, (such as it is) hath the meanest Man, over the most eminent Woman, if once his Wife. Therfore, let none mistake: (no matter who hears) Her highness or Honour, is (nor ought to be) no Covert or Canopy to him (whilst well conditioned.) The Scripture gives no such di­rection but rather makes him (how course soever) a Cover and confinement to her eyes, as before. Wee read, indeed of Acts 13.50. & 17.12. honourable Women; but not comparatively with their hus­bands: the Word (the Eph. 6.17. Sword of the spirit) cuts that quite off, in his Anatomy already shewed them. Their Honour (if any be theirs) belongs them as they are found the 1 P. 3 7. weak­er, meeker and humbler; not the wealthier, worthier, stronger or sturdier Vessels: for as God doth, so man must, [Page 48] (in his degree and Measure) a. 4.6. 1 P. 5. 5. Pr. 6.17. resist the Proud.) Besides, the Words (if they may carry their just weight) are expressly thus: Giving honour unto the wife, &c. Where we see Ho­nor in honorante, not in honorata, which is cleared by 1. Co. 11.7,8,9,10. Its a Gift, and lyes in Arbitrio Datoris; shee hath it not till he give it her, and then is it but an honouring Indulgence; and shee so far to be honoured and indulged, as shee is weak, not wayward or wilfull.

Digress. Its not unworthy noting by the way (for we may not tarry on it, or stand to distinguish Nobility native and dative) what should be the true Originall of this thing call'd Honour, in either sex. All wise Men, and some Women (I presume) can tell, Its not in Riches or Revenues (wee need not in­stance any more Negatives, because all other Grounds are now almost ingrossed in these; nor yet meddle we with those german, and truly generous Branches the Blood of whose most noble Ancestors, (attended with ample Reve­nues, as Gen. 13.2,6. & 32.10. & 36.7. 1 K. 3.13. & 10.23,27. 2 Ch. 17 5 & 32.27,29. Job 1.3. & 31.25 & 42.10,12. Ps. 112 1,2,3. 1 T. 4.8. Abraham, and the Patriarchs, and other pious Princes and Nobles were) do still visibly run in their veines.) It's not, I say, Jer. 9.23. in Riches or Revenues; for, if these either Eccl. 7.11. be not mixt and temper'd with Wisdom, or Pr. 23.5. take wing and away, where is, then your (Laps) Honour?

When Adam dig'd and Eve span,
then was there no Gentleman:
But, as the Rich men gather'd Good;
so came up the Gentle Blood.

The first of this Distich is a true Adage; the other, but a mock-Proverb. But even herein, also, there are that sacri­fice not onely to Hab. 1 15.16. Dan. 4.30. their own, but Satans net and drag. These (for sooth) ascribe the Rise both of Honour and Riches to their own Birth, Wit or Industry, and impute the Bereaving and ruin thereof to the Devill or his his Agents; but, as for God, they make him, Hos. 2.8. a By-stander at Job 22.13,14. [...] Ps. 10.11. & 64.5. & 73.11. & 94.7. best, though per­chance they Ps. 78.36,37. Isa. 29.13. Ez. 33.31. flatter him with their Mouth. Suitable to what I have heard said of an Atheisticall Physitian, who effecting many eminent Cures, arrogated all to himself, say­ing. [Page 49] I will hope the rest of that Fa­culty are wholly clear even from such a Conceit. What hath God to do with my Trade? What, is there any Am. 3.6.good or evill (except sin) that God doth not? David and Job knew none other Author: The one was robbed of his Honour, the other of his Riches; yet hear we not David accusing Shimei, nor Job the Sabeans or Caldees, but 2 S. 16.11. Job 1.21. both reflecting on God. As Gen. 32.10. 1 K. 3.13. 1 Ch. 29.12 14,16. Ps. 24.1. & 50.10, &c. Ecc. 2.26. Acts 14.17. 1 Co. 10.26,28. Riches (then) and all good things els; so Honour is originally derived from God himself and shines forth in divine Vertue, learning Valour or Magnani­mity. But the truth is, and in a word; its Honesty (which is to much pinched or straitned in our common use and ac­ceptation, as Etymologists do best know) I say, Non locus Ho­minem, sed Ho­mo locum Ho­nestat. 'tis plain Ho­nesty, that imports and comprehends (under God) all Grounds and accedents of Honour whatsoever. Bravery but begs Honour, Honesty begets and claims it. This, as it is the gennine Parent; so must it needs be the milchy Nurse of Honour; els it will be quickly stain'd and extinct.

Those Gentlemen (not suspecting Gentlewomen) whose Business is but Sophism, and whose Recreation or delight, but to dable, and, even, drown themselves in boun society (so call'd) sometimes in more beastly Sensualities, are but dry Nurses to their Honour. For, if by such Mis-government or Disguise they forget and forfet the Honest Man, (or haply) Man himself; how much more the Gentleman! In which regard some (if story be true) have justly assumed (not with­out supreme appointment) a Piper to their Herauld, and a Cole-rake and Malkin for their Ensigne. It was not un­fitly replyed by an honest Critick, to a debauched Gent. vaunting of his own Antiquity, and vilifying the others Novelty: Rerum omnium vicissitudo est. Be it so: (saith he) I am indeed, the First of my Family, but thou art the last of thine. These love to talk of their Generation, but they cannot endure to hear of their De­generation. Nevertheless, it is neither new nor rare conceit, That he is no Gentleman, who loves not The Attendants interpret this. good Company, an Hawk, Hound. &c. nor shee a Gentlewoman, that's not enamour'd of such a Man.

The Application ayms, especially, at the Women; in whom it were an high Point of Wisdom, that when they are conscious or sensible of their greater Honour, Wealth, Wit [Page 50] or Worth, they insist upon and improve it at first, before Marriage; For that once past, they must of necessity (for Matter of Superiority or Parity) for ever strike Sail, and, in plain Terms, keep under Hatches: which honest caution can­not justly incurr any Blame, of the unmarried, at least.

This Digression, though it be displeasing to a few, yet may profit Many. To proceed.

Its not unknown to all that know any thing, that subjection imports as well Command as Power; that actual Obedience is due to Jos. 1.9. Ex. 4.21 Lev. 25.18. Deu. 4 6. & 5.32. & 11.32. & 12.32. & 17.19. & 26.16. & 27.26. See p. 19. f. g. express, (if just and reasonable) Commands: that the neglect thereof is undoubtedly punishable according to the See p. 38. p, &c. Quality and Measure of the Contempt, and Ez. 16.50. Mat. 22.13. & 24.50,51. L. 12.46, &c. 2 Th. 1.6. Ro. 14 4. 1 P. 2.18, &c. Heb. 12.9. discre­tion (regulated with Ps. 103.13,14. Jer. 30.11. 1 Co. 10.13. Moderation) of the Commander. If therfore the Wife (how eminent soever) be Subject to law­full Command of the Husband; how is shee exempt from the Penalty of (not a weak, but a wilfull and perverse) dis­obedience? his Power and Command being inseparably sym­bolicall to that of Christ over his Church, which (we doubt not) will now be as readily beleev'd and confessed, as it is really manifested. Although, indeed, it be far easier to pro­fess it, then be throughly perswaded of it, which will appear (a Majori) if we but examine the Beating of our Pulse e­ven to Christ-ward, in the proceeding of his own immedi­ate hand upon us. We can most cheerfully embrace his cherishing Power expressed in our Health, Plenty, Prospe­rity: but how slowly do we assent unto, how grievously do we admit and accept, his chastising Power, in Poverty, Sick­ness and the like! Now, if we shrink and shuffle from un­der his own visible Hand, no marvel if we storm and startle at the vigour and dint thereof inflicted by the hand of o­thers. And therfore, in deriving this just, exercitive-prac­tick Power, from Christ to the Husband, lies all the skill and difficulty. And this, indeed, cannot otherwise be done, then (as the contrary may be endeavour'd) by proper and neces­sary diduction, and probable Argument from the Word; wherein we level only at the rational and beleeving Husband; The other, being not limitable by any Rules of Law, or Bands of Love, we leave to himself. Briefly thus.

As the Ro. 10.8,17. 1 Co. 4.15. Ja. 1 18. Word is the mean of Generation and rule of Faith; so is Faith the Mistress of Reason, which though it Gen. 22.8,13. Job 12.17. & 19.25, &c. Ps. 27.13. Isa. 50.10. Acts 27.22,34. Ro. 4.18,19. 1 Co. 1.20 & 3.19. Heb. 11.11,12,19. oft eclipseth, yet it Deu. 32.6. Eccl. 7.25. Isa. 1.18. Jo. 9.31. Acts 6.2 Ro 12.1. 1 P. 3.15. 1 Jo. 2.3.18. & 3.14,19,20,21 24. & 5.2. never excludeth: and albeit. This adds nothing to the Truth and Word of God (which is, of it self, most Ps. 12.6. & 18.30 & 19.8. & 119.140 Pr. 8.8. & 30 5. 2 P. 1.20,21. pure, compleat and Ps. 100.5. & 117 2. & 119.89. Isa. 34.16. Mat. 5.18 M. 13.31. L. 16.17. & 21.33. Jo. 10.35. 1 P. 1.23,25. permanent, as See page 17. t. above) yet Scripture seconded with reason, is the more obvious to our Jo. 16.12. 1 Co. 3.2. Heb. 5.11. dull Apprehension, more welcome to our Gen. 6.5. & 8.21 Deu. 32.15. Ps. 49 13. & 81.11. Isa. 53.6. Jer. 7.24. & 18.12. Ez. 16.30. wanton and wayward Affection, and more Ex. 4.4,5. & 19.9. & 31.13. Jos. 3.7. 1 S. 14.10,12. 1 K. 17.24. & 18.37, &c. Ps. 86.17. Isa. 7. [...]4. & 37.30. Mat. 9.5,6. L. 24.26,39,43,46. Jo. 1.50. & 4.19,29,39,41,42. & 9.37,38. & 11 15,45. & 13.19. & 14.9,22,23,29 & 16.29,30. & 17.8 & 20.8,29,31. Ro. 1.18,19. Gal, 5.19,22,24. Ph. 1 28. 2 Th. 1.5.11. 3.16. 2 T. 1.10. 1 Jo. 3.10. helpfull to our Mat. 8.26. & 16.8. M. 4.40. & 16.11,14. L. 12.28. & 17.5. & 24.25,41. Jo. 3.12. & 20.25. fee­ble Faith.

If Scripture, then, and Reason so concurr, as in the pre­sent case they seem to do; what letteth from beleeving, that the Christian Husband, being Head of his Wife as Christ is of his Church, and so compleatly qualified as before, may for urgent Cause, as well and warrantably chasten as cherish his Wise? Now Christ (we have heard) hath sundry wayes to correct his Church, his Wife; but we are here to take Correction for Blows or actual Beating of the Body. A servant, (or other offending Inferior, saith Solomon) will Pr. 29.19.not be corrected by words.

In our Progress, we are to note, that the practicall know­ledge of our (humane) Husband, is expressed of the holy spirit by the Word 1 P. 3.7. Dwelling. Which, as it is exercised in the contemplative, doctrinall or directive way, we are here to wave or omit, (for Reasons Page 20. before shewed) and apply us onely to the disciplinary Part.

To our readier Access, and proceeding, it will conduce much to know, That by my Dwelling and converse in the World, among Men and Women, I have discern'd and dis­cover'd, some odd and uncoth Tenets and Principles (the ordinary ones doe follow too) of certain-uncertain Wives; by vertue whereof, when they please, they can (as they talk of Hocus) wipe off even all Affinity with their Husbands; or at least, will live and LADY is too low a style for them. Lord it by them. They were hatched (I suppose (in Ignatius his Conclave, for they chirp on this fashion. 1. That their Husband hath nothing to do with them; [Page 52] viz. as to reprove or admonish them: For, 2. Their Soul, their Tongue, and Alls their own; they may speake what they please in their own (not their Husbands) House, with­out Controll or Question, yea, may lawfully sweare, while wronged or provoked. 3, That the disposing of unfort u­nate Marriages (so they call them) are not by appoint­ment or Providence of God, but brought about by the De­vill and his Agents. 4. That, if a Woman have had one or more former Husbands; he that she now hath, is not her Husband (longer then he pleaseth her: what is he then, I pray, and what shee?) And they cite Jo. 4.18. Isa, 4.1 Scripture for it: if any, therefore, were ignotum Ignatio, it is (likely) This. 5. If they have an Husband that is conscious of his Place and Du­ty, they presently apply this Plaister (which was hardly fit­ted) to their wounded spirit, Job 3.25. The thing I greatly feared is come upon Me; to wit, the Plague of subjection to my Husband: as with a Jer. 31.18. Bullock unaccustomed to the Yoke. 6. Though they may yeild themselves, a little a-kin to their Husband, and, perchance somewhat kind, for carnall ends; yet the See p. 48. a, &c. noble or gentle Blood bubbling and boiling in their veines; or the pregnant Mother-wit capering in their Brain; or the Dan. 4.30. inestimable-matchless Means they brought, still rolling in their mind and mouth (as indeed the most Eccl. 10.19. ob­vious and sensible Incentive;) All, or any of these (say they) is evidence enough for Priority, Predominance, or (in Eng­lish) Mastery, over the simple-honest Man, the Husband; Who, if he can but keep himself from abusing his Laydy-Lord's Allowance to surfet, or (further) Blemishing her Honour, hath as much Command and Charge as he is capa­ble of; or as many an unworthy Man cares for. And there are some good Women, under the honoured degree of La­dies-indeed, whom we know loth to bear, or be known by, their Husbands Name, whether out of Modesty or Majesty, judge yee: The Custome of this your Nation condemning them, and the Isa. 4.1. Scripture also seeming to comfirm it. But we leave this schismaticall Sect to enjoy themselves and their Husband (or what they call him) at their pleasure.

What shall we say to these Women? or, how may they be [Page 53] treated withall, to their own content or satisfaction? It would be too tedious, and almost impossible to fit them all with Answers suitable to their Fancy or Size. These their Tenets are all (no doubt) the spurious Issue or Products of adulterous Parents, Ps. 73.6. Pr. 6.16,17. & 21.4. & 30.13. Ro. 1.30.Pride and Job 21.14. Ps. 10.4. & 14.1. & 73.11. Eph. 2.12. Tit. 1.16. Atheism; the Posterity or Fry of that infamous L. 10.18. Jude 6 2 P. 2.4. Progenitor, that infernall Levia­than, who is Job 41.34. King (and Father) of them; and will not cease to spawn and spread, till God shall quite cut him off, and Rev. 20.10. cast him into the Lake of Fire and Brim­stone; and thenceforth eternally secure and cleare the Rev. 20.9. be­loved City, from his cunning Circumventions and contagi­ous Infusions.

But the five first, being more monstrous then the last, we shall at once rid them out of our way, by referring those Phoenix's (if the simile will reach and hold) the Pro­fessors thereof, to a few Gen. 2.24. & 20.16. Num. 5.27,31 & 30.6. to th'end & 36. all. Pr. 31.11. Isa. 45.7. Am. 3.6. Mal. 2.14,15 Mat. 19.5. M. 10.8. 1 Co. 6.16. & 7.4,16. & 14.35. Eph. 5.23. Ro. 7.2 They may sort these Texts themselves, and apply them. Texts of holy Scripture, which, if it will not fit our Turn as well as their's, we shall sub­scribe to their Principles.

The 6 Tenet, being more frequent and familiar (and so more infectious) we shall more intensly pursue, by an­swering and absolving it as God enableth; For under this (not excluding the rest) are couched, all the Cases where­in, or Quaere's whether the Christian Husband, dwelling or walking in a consciencious Knowledge with his Wife, is to exercise any coactive or corrective Power over her; or how he shall fadg with such harsh and hatefull Interferings, as partly are, and are to be decipher'd; and are possibly and too apparently to be found in some Wives. These will di­stinctly appeare in their Order and season, and (we con­ceive) come more clearly off, in way of Objection and An­swer, then otherwise.

CHAP. VI. Whether a good Man must or may, correct or beat his bad Wife. Objections answered.

WE are here to encounter an Army of Objecti­ons, which, on every Wing, come like Swarms buzzing about our eares. Those of most Weight and Worth, are admitted and respectively answer'd; the rest dismissed till other Oportunity. For even the best and soundest here presented, will, haply be found to relish of, and flow as much from Affection (which, indeed, is com­mendable, if not meerly naturall) as from Judgement in the Objectors, though otherwise, it may be, most judicious: Who need not be minded, what, 1 K. 11.3. Neh. 13.26. Weaknesses the wisest Men on earth have incurr'd or contracted by too much In­dulgence in this kinde. There needs no great curiosity in their Order, but take them as they come to hand. Some have either fully or in part their Answer already, to which wee'l referr as they pass.

Object. 1. 1. This Objection, indeed, may justly chalenge Prece­dence: That, Christ Jesus, the Head and Husband of his Church, being infallibly and infinitly wise, knoweth ex­actly, wherefore, when, and how to correct. But Man not so; and therefore must forbeare to beat his Wife. This was especially proposed to me, not long ago, by an inge­nuous Friend, and good Christian (I doubt not) who speaking occasionally on this Subject, did first urge (as most do) the Point of Knowledge. And when I came somewhat close unto him, he evaded (discreetly and well) replying (as in the Obj.) that Christ infallibly knows to correct in due Measure and Season; but Mans wisdom being weake and [Page 55] erroneous is apt to abuse his Authority; and so he cannot safely exercise it in that way. He Instanced, in a Man, who upon urgent occasion soon after Marriage, beat his Wife: but (saith he) it was under pretence of some Lunatica and turbida Intervalla; so as afterward, he would not own the Act, insinuating that had he then been sui Compos, he should not, or would not have done it. As if it were not fit for a Wise Man, Pr. 26.5. to answer a fool according to his folly: Or, if law­full Subjects will needs rebell, to L. 19 27. Ro. 13 1, &c. repress and reduce them by plaine and direct wayes. But, for the maine reso­lution.

Answ. I confess, that (at first) I was secretly a little swayed by the Objection, as one who 2 Co. 11.31. & 12.9. & 13.4. conscious of my own Weakness, am ever apt 1 Co. 4.4. to suspect the worst. But when I revol­ved the matter, and advised, that (at the best) we Pr. 3.5,6. Jer 10 23. Ez. 34.12. See page 31. u, walk nor act not by our own Wisdom; I took Courage, and (to confirm me) have gleaned some more special Truths and No­tions then I had before from the Word of God, which be­ing already thetically offered pag. 21. l. m. and p. 27. d. e. &c. I thither referr my said Friend and the rest of my Rea­ders, where they shall find how little Cause any Christian (especially) hath to complain, or to be accused, of scant­ness from Gods Hand, of Wisdom to manage his Place or imployment; for which we are to be as well accountant as craving.

Object. 2. The Scripture yeilds neither Precept nor example for Beating a Mans Wife.

Answ. 1. 1. For Precept. We see as slender Grounds for Womens partaking of the holy Snpper or for Infant-Baptism: Yet, the One is never disputed, and the Other (almost) general­ly practised. Look we a little aside into a like (perhaps a stronger) Case. Fathers to whom are ascribed Mal. 1.6. Heb. 12.9,10. undoubt­ed Rule over their Children, are directly forbidden Eph. 6.4. to provoke them to Wrath, and yet are elsewhere, as plainly Pr. 22.15. & 23.13,14. & 29.17. enjoyned to correct them. Now what Child see we pati­ent, or not in some degree provoked, by Correction (e­specially, when he sees his Parent, (as it were) Pr. 19.18. merci­less, not moved with his Crying? There are indeed some [Page 56] Children, whom moderate Correction enrageth more, then boisterous Usage doth others. But must it, now, be quite omitted? Whereto serves the Parents Power and Discretion? The Result is, as if he should say: parents, correct your Children; but in Measure: though he seem­eth, again, not to limit them, in that he saith Pr. 19.18. Let not thy soule spare for his crying. To apply this: There are as plain Commands (already proved) for Obedience from the Wife, as from either Child or Servant. Onely the punishment of her Disobedience, is (not gainsaid, but) silenced and pass­ed over: Perhaps disposed thus by the Divine Wisdom on purpose; that godless, barbarous, inhumane Wretches, might not have an express Rule to plead for their outragi­ous Beating their Wives: as a sword (though a lawfull Weapon) is not to be trusted in the hand of a Pr. 26.18. mad or law­less Man. So, why may we not conceive the meaning thus? That a knowing, spirituall, Godly Man, and he onely, may correct his bad Wife: He needs no minding either of Necessity, seasonableness or Moderation: Mat. 11.19. L. 7.35. Wisdom is justi­fied of her Children: And for my own part; Let the Ps. 25.6. & 51.1. & 86.15. & 89 1. & 103.4. & 111 4. & 145.8,9. Lam. 3.22. God of Compassions and tender Mercies accept Me, accor­ding to my sympathy and Tenderness to any suitable Ob­ject whatsoever.

Theres no mention of either Discipline or Doctrine used by the 1 Co. 7.12,16. believing Corinthians, in the Conversion of their unbelieving Wives: Must we therefore understand neither? or why not both? Would the Work be (likely) wrought, by meer looking on them, or walking by or before them? Briefly, to what end is See p. 50. l, &c. Command, if the Commanded, may both neglect and rebell without Controll? Or, what is Controll, if it may not Pr. 26.3. coerce and quell the stoutest and strongest Contumacy? Or, rather (it cannot be urged too oft) what more infallible Token can there be of our pious Affection to any stubborn Offender (in that sence onely) whom God subjecteth to our Government, then moderate and seasonable Correction? So far is it from Cruelty or un­kindness. In a word; as there must be granted no express Precept or Rule; so there cannot be denied, a strong Con­sequence [Page 57] from the Word of God, for the Chastisement in Question. Let but Lev. 19.17. Mat. 11.9. Eph. 5.29. these Texts and the like be prudent­ly compared and impartially weighed, and they will clear the equity of this Answer.

Answ. 2. 2. For Practice or Example: Neither do we there read, or believe, That any Beleevers Wife was ever so rampant or outragious, in affronting or abusing her Husbands Autho­rity, as to need Beating. If Wives will invent strange new Fashions and frisking strains of Disobedience, which their 1 P. 3.5. holy Ancestors (and, for ought we find by the Word, even the worst of Women) abhorred, why should not their Husbands suit them with new Forms of Discipline? To what end, els, are they to dwell with them as Men of Knowledge? Doth this Knowledge (think we) import nothing but Pu­sillanimity or Patience? Is he Gods Vice-gerent for nothing? Belongs there none Effects to the Bow but Bending? Can he not be a Saint, unless a Sot too? But wherefore (intruth) a Man of knowledge? Surely, to treat and act, according to the Jude 22. temper and strength of his Vessell: which if brittle and weak, to touch it tenderly; but if tough, rug­ged and boisterous to handle it more boldly. It is the Ex­pression of an undoubted judicious and pious Dr. S. Divine: With some, a spirit of Meekness prevaileth most, but with some a rod; some must be pulled out of the Fire with vio­lence, and they'l bless God for us in the day of their Visitati­on. — An hard Knot must have an answerable Wedg, els in a cruel Pitty we betray their souls. — The Wounds of se­cure sinners will not be healed with sweet Words. The holy Ghost came as well in firy Tongues as in the likeness of a dove, &c.

Object. 3. The Opinions of most orthodox Divines, who treat or speak on this subject or of Conjugall Duties, are against Beating of Wives: and although some seemed to allow it, yet they have since retracted, and are reduc'd into the streame of Dissenters; who leave none other Remedies or Comforts to the aggrieved Husband in his greatest Conflicts, but Humiliation for his ill Choice, together with Prayer, Patience and Yeilding. Some (I suppose, pleasantly) no­ting [Page 58] that he rather deserves Beating for chusing no better. And (for illustration or instruction) an Instance is added in a cholerick Couple, who meeting in Marriage, and the good Man asked how they could ever accord, &c. He an­swer'd, That when the Fit was on his Wife, he yeilded to her, as Abraham did to Sarah; and so shee on the con­trary.

Answ. 1. I confess, that after I had made a large entrance into this Theme, and heard of some worthy Men to be otherwise minded (especially when I was told of the said Retractati­on by a reverend Divine) I was a little disheartned from pro­ceeding to a period: And, although I never harbour'd so much as a thought of thwarting any good Mans Opinion (much less many) as labouring only to enlighten my own Judgement and conscience; yet, I have been carried on Neh. 2.18. Pr. 16.9. Ezr. 7.28. under Gods powerfull directing hand, with these and the like Considerations. As 1. That they being but Men, as others, will not (I suppose) affirme their Judgements Witness the said Retracta­tion of an esteemed or­thodox Di­vine; if yet it may be coun­ted a Retracta­tion; For I hear not so much as a syl­lable in it sounding towards a Retreat. These Words, indeed, and the like I finde therein, viz. Let nothing be counted a Sin which Scripture doth not condemn as a Sin; and what the Word (the Rule of Truth and Falshood) doth not shew us to be unlawfull, That let us hold to be law­full. Safely may one conclude in all manner of Actions: I will take that as warrantable against which I finde nothing written. Care-cl. p. 12. And—Generals not limited by God, doe give our Consciences Warrant to their utmost Generality, so farr as they may not dash against some other Commandment: Ibid. p. 20, in­fallible, in Matters wherein the Word is not express; but rather, what they speak, in such case, to be (at most) 1 Co. 7.6. by permission, and not of Commandement: and that all Men fetching their Arguments from the same Fountain, One may hit or miss the Mark as soon as another. And truly, it may stand as a just Apology for many judicious worthy Divines, That their urgent Avocations otherwise, have not allowed them a thorow Search or Pensitation of this Point; especially, the case not pinching so near upon them.

2. I could not but contract some Animation even from the said Retractation it self; which must needs be more slen­derly grounded then the Authors fore-going Assertion. 3. I have seen (I suppose) the most eminent or accepted Wri­ters [Page 59] on this Subject Heb. 11.4. who being dead, do yet speak; whose Memory I have good cause to honour. But (with humble submission to graver Judgements) these have not (perhaps, for the preceding Reason) come fully home to the Point, nor raught me satisfaction. They allow the Wife, in­deed, (which no good Man denies to his good One) to be sublevant to his Burden of guiding the Houshold; which (rightly understood) doth more betoken his Trust then her Authority, his Ease then her Honour: and shee is to take the Staff as he delivers it, not twitch it out of his hand and usurp his Authority, (for shee may chance have more need of ordering then all the rest.) This seems to be the Meaning of these good Men, in that they require a pre­cedent, strict Obedience in the Wife: but (herein I humbly conceive they come short) they leave the Husband lame and remediless in point of Coertion, the life of Power and Com­mand. 4. I presume, they hold not Marriage it self un­lawfull to All, or Any sorts of Men, because 1 Co. 7.7, &c. Paul that chast and chosen Vessel, and some few of his temper have con­tained; or yet, because Paul himself (who had good cause, to 1 Co. 7.40. think he had the spirit of God, yea to be sure, he knew 1 Co. 2 16.the Mind of Christ) 1 Co. 7.1,7 8. wished that all Men (universal­ly, indefinitly) were even as he, (to wit, unmarried or unminded that way) seeming, also, directly 1 Co. 7.37,38. 1 T. 5.11 to disswade from Marriage; or, yet, because even all the Disciples (the See p. 25. n, ult. &c. secretaries, and especiall L. 22.28,29. Jo. 16.27. Favourites of God, the Lights of the World, &c.) said Mat. 19.10. It is not good to Marry. For, then how should Gen. 1.28. & 9.7 & 35.11. Mankind be propagated, and the Isa. 66.5 Jo. 17.12,20,21. & 10.16. 1 Th. 4.15,17. elect Number (especially) made up and perfected, ac­cording to Gods Purpose and appointment? Therefore Paul (for his part) concludes 1 Co. 7.9. tis better to Marry then to burne, and Ver. 36. 1 T. 5.14. bids, let them marry; insinuating a Ne­cessity, which is, also, to be understood in our present Case (as at large anon). And for the Disciples: see in the place forecited, Christ his most wise and mild Arguing and Answer, to take off their erroneous Conceit. Besides, Gen. 15.2,4,5. & 21.2,3. & 25.21. & 49.25. Ex. 23.26. Deu. 7 13,14 Jud. 13.3,24. 1 S. 1,5,11,20. & 2.5 2 K. 4.14,16. Ps. 113 9. & 127.3. L. 1.7,13,36,57. 1 T. 2.15. & 5.14. Child-bearing is pronounced a Blessing; but Gen. 20.17,18. Lev. 20.20,21. 2 S. 6.20,23. Pr. 30.16. Jer. 22.30. Barren­ness, [Page 60] Hos. 9.14. miscarrying Womb, dry Brests, and Ps. 78.63. Maidens not given to Marriage are accounted sore Judgements. Yet, howsoever, there seemeth more restraint from Mariage, then here from Beating. For, why might we not thence argue thus? It were well, and better, the Wife could not deserve Blows; but, if they be due, or needfull, or best for her, why should they be denied her? This Branch of Answer were more genuine to the 2. Obj. but, I hope not altogether improper here. 5. That, commonly, these Men of God, have Offertures made unto them, of none but Godly-disposed, or (at least) well bred, and civilized Wo­men to Wives: Or, if they find them not so, yet the very Lev. 21.6,8. Ez. 42.14. L. 1.70. Jo. 20.22,23. Acts 3.21. 1 Co. 4.1. Tit. 1.8. 2 P. 1.21 sacred Function and sublime Parts of such Men, inviteth and inforceth an awfull-reverent Respect unto them: this again, must needs beget in Men so ingeniously ingenuous (and I think in most others, all are not 1 S. 25.17. Nabals) a tender and melting Indulgence to their Wives, and consequently in both a reciprocall and mutuall Complacence and endeer­ment. 6. They being well retired from the Noise and Tu­mult of the World, may charitably conceive, most Women like their own; at least, none so ill as they are represented (for wee'l imagine few so impudent as to bristle and brawl in the presence or hearing of their Minister) 7. Although, there may be haply found a little spice of Haughtiness or Arrogance, even in these Mens Wives; yet their better Breeding directs them to carry above that baseness (where­of by and by) that may incite unto Blows. 8. Lastly, I dispute not, whether they, of all Men, be expressly for­bidden (or others implicitly allowed) to 1 T. 3.3. strike in this Case. And therefore, no mervail, if (in these or the like regards) Beating be uncoth and odious to them: for cer­tainly no Godly Man els, can use so grievous an outward Remedy, without much inward Reluctance and secret sor­row, according to the Bowels of his Isa. 60.10. Jer. 31.20. & [...]2.10. Hos. 11.8. L. 6.36 & 15.20. compassionate Hea­venly Husband; Who is content to cover all former Faults, 2 Ch. 30.9. Job 33.22,23,24. Ps. 85.8. Jer. 3.1,7. upon condition (which is ever intended) of Return and Reformation. And, surely, in a Gracious Man (so grant­ed) we may not imagine the least Cruelty at all. He is [Page 61] mercifull to Pr. 12.10.his very beast; how much more to his Brother, Wife and own Flesh, to whom he acts or intends nothing, but temporall and eternall Good: Yea, his seeming Cruelties are Kindness and Compassion: He is but Am. 4.11. Zec. 3.2. plucking a Brand out of the Fire; but disciplining, not destroying, the Body, that 1 Co. 5.5. the spirit may be saved. For he hath, and is guided by, the Mat. 5.48. L. 6.2. Wisdom, Justice and Mercy of his heavenly Father.

Answ. 2. Touching the Choice of a Wife. I see not how any can properly deduce this chusing (which some do) from the Word 1 P. 3.7. Dwell: Choice and Cohabitation or use (we know) being different Things; though it must needs be grant­ed that a Mans Knowledge, were well and needfully ex­ercised that way. But, allowing them their full scope, we address to the Answer. Wherein, since we have no Pre­cept for Choice (more then for Chastisement) we must ap­ply our selves to Paterns, whereof the Word yeilds us Plen­ty. 1. We read not of any great fore-acquaintance, that any of the Patriarchs or Men of God (except Jacob) had with their Wives when they married them: For it is said, Gen. 11.29. Abraham and Nahor took them Wives; implying no long deliberation or time of Triall. And it may be doubted, that (there being none, or few, but Idolaters about them) their Choice was hard or scant. Of the Wife of Lot, there is little more to be said, then E. 17.32. Remember Lots Wife: On­ly, we may suspect her, either not so well principled to God-ward, or not so respective and regardfull of her leading Husband, as shee ought. Isaac's Wife Rebekah, by whom the promised and ever blessed seed was to be propagated, came meerly on a suddain, and (as it were) Gen. 24.65. a stranger to him; without Preparation either in his judgement or Af­fection for this or that Woman. And (which seemeth somewhat odd) his Father Abraham confines him for a Wife, to Gen. 24.4. his own Country and Kindred, who were Jos. 24.2. pro­bably and mostly Idolaters (perchance, then, as ill as the Canaanites). The best thing we hear in the Business, is the Servants Gen. 24.12. express Prayer and Isaac's Verse 63. own Meditati­on (which is but conjecturall) to prosper the Ambassage. Its plain that Jacob, even Gen. 32.28. Ps. 83.4. Israel, from whom we derive [Page 62] Ex. 4.22. Isa. 41.8. & 44.5. & 45.4. Jo. 1.47. our best Denomination next to Acts. 11.26. Christians, his Gen. 31.41. twice seven years service, was but for Verse 30. an Idolater's daughters; whose Religion (tis like) he understood; and (by his In­terest and Gen. 29.20. Intimacy with them) might, or should, have alter'd in all that time. Yet, we see, that even after Ra­chel was his Wife, shee was Gen. 31.32,34,35. neither wayned from her I­dols, nor well instructed in the point of Theft and Lying. Nor do we perceive that Jacob proposed ought to himself, in thus marrying, but a temporall Recompence of his cor­porall service, which seemeth Hos. 12.12. affirmed by the spirit of God himself. Did not Joseph, one that especially and Gen. 39.9. & 42.18. pro­fessedly feared God, accept such a Wife, for Gen. 41.45. Honours sake as Pharaoh gave him, an Idolatrous Egyptian. ‘Incidit in Scyllam cupiens vitare Charybdim.’ ‘While from the Gulf he quits, upon the Rock he splits.’

He that abhorred the Gen. 39.9. corporall, hazards (at least) the spiritual Adultery.

Did not Moses Deu. 33.1. Jos. 14.6.the Man of God, marry a Midianite, an Ex. 2.21. & 4.26 utter Enemy to the Circumcision. Did not Samson, a type of our triumphant Redeemer, chuse an uncircumcised Philistine, solely and apparently Jud. 14.2,3. to please his Fancy? for he durst hardly Verse 16. trust her with his secrets; herein postha­biting her to his Parents, although shee was the Pr. 5.18. Mal. 2.14,15. Wife of his Youth and Choice, and Part of himself, yea, this was said to be Jud. 14.3,4. of the Lord. (be this seriously noted by the Way and see a place somewhat parallel, Hos. 3.1,2.) What may we think of Jobs Wife, or Davids Michal? Surely, but Job 2.9,10.28.6.20,23. bad conditioned Women both. Michal, we see, was meerly intended to David as 1 S. 18.21,25. a Snare, and taken by him in an Verse 26. ambitious VVay, or (at best) but as a Verse 17. reward of his Valour, good service and success. His Wife Bath­sheba: we know (for our Caution and Profit) 2 S. 11.2,3,27. what choice he made of her. Yet this 1 S. 13.14. the Man after Gods own heart. Solomon 1 K. 4.29,30,31. & 10.23,24. Eccl. 1.16. the wisest Man on Earth, one peculiar­ly Neh. 13.26. 2 S. 7.14,15 beloved of his God: VVhere do we read that he had to do with 1 K. 11.1,2,3,4 Neh. 13.26. any Vertuous Woman or Wife? Lastly, it doth not appear, but that some of the 1 Co. 7.12. beleeving Corin­thians and other Saints, did or might marry VVives, even [Page 63] while unbeleevers, and for carnall Ends: Yet hear we not Paul checking any of them for their ill Choice, but encou­raging them, only, in the way of Conversion, whereof, (it may be) God had ordained those believing Husbands to be Instruments, and perhaps, even by plucking out of the Fire. I presume there is not expected now a dayes any larger Measure of Faith or Fear of God, then was in the Men before mentioned; and yet where do we find any One of them especially afflicted or humbled in this Respect, or that God expressly found fault with them for it? much less read we that he allowed these VVomen, their Wives, any Rivality or Vicissitude of Command with them, and least of all, 1 T. 2.12. any Authority over them in regard of their ill Choice. 2. It is said, That Jer. 10.23. it is not in Man that walk­eth, to direct his steps: That Jer. 17.9. Mat. 26.22. M. 14.19. The heart of Man is deceit­full above all things—who can know it? If, then, a Man be ignorant in his own steps, of his own heart; how shall he know hers, who is, yet, as a stranger, at a distance, and distinct from him, though very familiar with him? 3. We read of Faith, that's able even to Mat. 10.1. & 24.24. M. 6.7. & 13.22. Jo. 14.12. work Miracles, to Mat 17.20. & 21.21. M. 11.23. 1 Co: 13.2. re­move Mountains, &c. Yet apt to L. 8.6,13. & 22.32. Jo. 6.70. Acts 1.25. 1 Co. 10.12 1 Th. 3.5,8. 2 T. 4.10. Heb. 3.12,13,14. & 12.15. 2 P. 3.17. 1 Jo. 2.19. Mat. 7.22,23. fade and fall away. Now, although the Woman we wooe, and (upon good expe­rience, we hope) espouse and wed, may all this while car­ry fair, and gain the Account of a Beleever, yet, it is possible, shee may fall off, and grow wanton, wayward and insulse. Or, more plainly thus: In case a Woman out of carnall or other by-Ends, yet, under specious Ap­pearances of Religious Respect and Obedience, shall marry a Man; thinking afterward to enslave him to her Means or Humors (Experto crede Roberto) Is it, in these cases, more sinfull for the Husband to set her in the right Way, then for her to persist in the wrong?

Answ. 3. It is most gladly granted that Prayer, Patience and Hu­miliation (we need not part them here) are prime and pre­vailing Means with God; and full as much might be said of their Effects, as of See p. 22. h. &c. Wisdom, to which they are very neer of kinn if not incorporate. But 1. Although the Ia. 5.15,16. Pray­er of Faith, or of a righteous Man availeth much, yet God [Page 64] doth not ever infallibly answer it in the Thing petitioned (for Miracles are ceased): Not always according to their 2 Co. 12.8.9. pre­sent, (perchance Ja. 4.3. peccant) wishes or Ease, but his own gracious Isa. 55.8. & 64.5 ways and Ends. (This I am induced to believe, from my own Tast and Triall; I say not, in the fulness of others, but in a Measure of sweetness and Relish fitted and suited to my self). How oft hath he seemed to turn a Ps. 13.1, &c. & 22,1,2. & 44.24. & 88.14. Jer. 7.16. & 14.12. Ez. 8.18. deaf Ear to David and other his dearest Children! whose desires have thereby been sore disappointed, and their Souls deeply dejected. The most faithfull Man alive is not sure (nor like) to obtain his very Petition, without a con­scionable use of concurrent Means. As in a Body politick, where the people are not Slaves but Subjects; Have their Governours no more to do (though especially that) then pray that God will incline the people to observe their Edicts, and so expect their actuall Obedience at Pleasure? 2. If the Tongue of a Clamorous Woman be allowed to walke at large, a Man may be [...]no absurdo da­to, &c. brought to such an Exigent; that he shall not have a Pr. 19.13. & 21.9,19. & 27.15. quiet Corner in his own House or Ps. 120.5. Pr. 18.14. Heart to retire himself unto, for Prayer or any Exercise of Piety; but be forced out into the Jer. 9.2,3. Fields, Woods, or Caves (a seemly sight for a Man to over-run his own House and Wife, is this the Wifes reverencing her Husband? Eph. 5.33.) Ps. 69.10. least his humiliation (as Davids) be both interrupted and reproached: there being some Women (a sad Thing to consider) who, though Ps. 50.16,17. conversant in Scripture, do, yet, abhorr their Husbands under the 2 S. 6.20. Job 2.9. Acts 28.22. Notion of Piety, or (as they say) Preciseness; and would be apt to insult the more fiercely, upon any damp or visible dejection of spirit in them. 3. A Man of tender heart and weak Constitution, by frequent Fasting or humiliation (for which he shall sel­dom want Cause) may Ps. 6.7. & 31.9,10. & 119.83. Jer. 45.3. consume his own Body: Many an harmless true-hearted Husband (I say) may, by these means, be baffled, not onely out of his Power and Repute, but his Liberty and Life, before any sensible Reformation be wrought in his froward Wife. And shall we dare to think God so Ps. 103.9,14. Mal. 3.6. Isa. 1.18 merciless, or 1 Jo. 1.9. unjust, as for one inconsiderate or sinfull Act, repented of, to destroy his Ps. 8.4, &c. & 139.14. Heb. 2.6. so noble Crea­ture, [Page 65] or perpetuate his Punishment, for whose Ease and redemption Isa. 53.5. & 63.3 Ps. 103.4. Hos. 13.14. Ro. 5.8. 1 P. 3.18. Heb. 2.9. he died? Or, if not repented of; to an­null or inver this own Gen. 3.16. 1 Co. 11.3. Eph. 5.23. Sacred Institution, yea, to embase or rase out, his own Image and Impress; by stripping the Man of his innated soveraign [...], and transferring it to his Subject? by depraving and degrading him from better then a Woman, to worse then a Beast? God forbid. Yea, he hath fixed on him so firm a Character of Dominion over 1 Co. 11.7. Her and all Ps. 8.5,6, &c. other Creatures whatsoever (whom he is to Govern by Power or Prudence) as must not be violated, defaced, or vilipended while the World endures. In some Cases, there is, indeed, both Conquest and Comfort in yeilding; in others, it is clean contrary: and doubtless he was no Christian that did iniquam Pacem justo Bello ante­ferre. If God Ex. 17.16. will, his People must, have incessant Warr with Amalek. We may not be at Isa. 28.15.Agreement (or so much as Truce) with hell. In a Word; hath God provid­ed wholsom and seasonable Salves for all Sores, in Church or State, but this? and is this onely Malady remediless, except with a Medicin more grievous then the Disease.

Answ. 4. For Abrahams yeilding to Sarah. I have heard the like story merrily, not seriously, told; but expected not to have found it in Print from the Pen of any professed Divine as a Patern of yeilding; nor yet do I (with submission to found judgements) conceive it altogether, though in some degree imitable. We read, indeed, of 3. Yeildings (such as they were) of Abraham to Sarah. 1. His Gen. 16.1,2. Accep­tance of Hagar to Wife, at Sarahs Request. 2. His Verse 6. Leav­ing her to Sarahs Censure, when the Maid conceiving, had sleighted the Mistress for Barrenness. 3. His but Gen. 21.11. suppos­ed) granting of Ishmael to be Co-heir with Isaac. Now, for his yeilding to Sarahs first Fit (as they call it) I suppose none will make it a Precedent, and, therefore, little need­eth be said to it. The 2. was but an Act of Justice or E­quity in Abraham, to vindicate the wronged or vilified Mal. 2.14,15. Wife of his Youth. The 3. and last is least imitable. For 1. This was not so much Sarahs Fit, as (with reverence be it spoken) Gods Fit, in his own fit season; for he seemed [Page 66] to set her on, and immediatly Gen. 21.12. seconds her: Nor so much Abrahams yeilding as God's; Who, there, plainly approves and directs it to him, as consisting with, and tending to ac­complish his own eternall Counsell in the Gen. 22.18. Mat. 1.1. Ro. 9.8. Gal. 3.16,18,19,23. promised seed. 2. Its onely said, Gen. 21.11. The th [...]g was very grievous to Abra­ham: it perplexed him to hear Her, who was so dear unto him, and ought not have been denied any reasonable Re­quest, to propose a Matter oppugning the See pag. 46. u, x. ancient-customa­ry Right and Prerogative of the First-born. But, how far, or whether at all, he yeilded to her, till God interpo­sed, it appears not. 3. His yeilding referr's, and is confined, to that very singular Request of Sarah's. 4. Gen. 21.12.13. God seemeth graciously to apologize with Abraham about it. As if he had said (which Mat. 3.15. his eternall Son did in another case) suffer it to be so now, Abraham, and rest thee contented; it is my purpose and pleasure to have it thus. Let it not seem harsh or oppressive, for I will abundantly sweeten and recompence it to thee. Gen. 18.23, &c. & 19.22. Ex. 32.10. Give me leave to dispose and preferr that seed which I have Gen. 17.17. & 18.11,12, &c. Ro. 4.19. Heb. 11 11,12 miraculously, past thine Expectation, sent thee, in a Gen. 17.21. Ps. 105.6. Isa. 41.8. & 65.23. Acts 3.25. Ro. 4.13,16. & 9.8. Gal. 3.16. Rev. 12.4,13,17. spirituall and Gen. 17.19. L. 1 55. eternall way; and thy First­born shall not be a jot abridged of his Gen. 12.7. & 13.15. & 17.20. Ex. 33.1. Deu. 34.4. 2 Ch. 20.7. Jo. 8.33,37. Acts 7.5,6 temporall Preroga­tive and Profit, for, Gen. 21.13,18. I will make him a great Nation. 5. This was various from Gods common Course of Provi­dence, to express his Ps. 62.11. & 115.3 & 135.6. Ro. 9.17,18,21. & 13.1 supreme and Job 9.12. & 33.13. Dan. 4.35. Ro. 9.20. unquestionable Pow­er: Which he shewed, also, in disposing and ordering, the Gen. 27.33. Blessing to Jacob; the Gen. 48.17, &c. right Hand to Ephraim; the 1 K. 2.15,22. Kingdom to Solomon, and the like: preferring the Gen. 25.23. younger, and posthabiting the elder, according to the Eph. 1.5,9. good pleasure of his Will. Of all which, there's no more to be said, but that it was 1 K. 2.15. theirs from the Lord, and 2 Ch. 10.15. & 25.20. the Cause was of God. Further, we may conceive, a (sinfull) Condescending of Moses to Zipporah, in delay of the Cir­cumcision; but it had like to cost his life. I call it sinfull and understand it of this very same; for what other present cause could we imagine the Lord Ex. 4.24,2 [...]. of so mortall a Quarrell against (the Lev. 26.46. Num 4.49. 2 Ch. 33.8. Neh. 9.14. Ps. 77.20. Jer. 22.24. Am. 3.2. Hab. 1.13 Man of his right Hand) Moses? Yea, it is al­most evident to be onely This; for when the Act of Circum­cision was performed, it is said. Ex. 4.26. So he let him go. We need [Page 67] not tell of Adams too easy Gen. 3.17. hearkening to his Wife, nor how Ps. 49.7,8. Ro. 5 6,12,14,17,19. 1 Co. 15.3. 2 Co. 5 14,15. Acts 20.28 1 P. 1.18,19. & 3.18. soundly it hath been paid for. But we may collect from both the last, that a foolish and wicked Indulgence or yeilding, is oft, and fearfully destructive. To summ up this, I say again, that these and the like extraordinary Acts and Occurrents, are to be eyed by Faith, not reason; to be ad­mir'd not argued, nor drawn into Example; but we are chiefly to attend the primitive, stable and constant Institu­tion, Gen. 3.16. He shall rule over thee; and the 1 P. 3.5,6. generall Practice of all Godly Women; especially Sarah's, Who obeyed A­braham and called him Lord. Its no safe walking in secret or unwonted Paths.

Object. 4. We should vail our Bonets at this Objection; whose lofty­ness demanded the Leading, though it is perswaded hither. It cannot, indeed, handsomly speak out Objection, but it shrewdly mutters and lispeth it. However, we shall take it for their true Meaning, though a fain'd and feeble Objecti­on, And thus (in effect) it soundeth. That there is a kind of Parity or Equality, rather then any great Inserio­rity, in the Woman to the Man; which must needs be a clear Exemption from all corrective Power. Their Grounds (all that have as yet occurred, and all from the Pulpit) are these. 1. That Woman was taken, neither out of the head nor foot of Man, but made of a Gen. 2.21,22. Rib; to signify that shee should be used with equall and indulgent Respect, and lov­ingly laid by his side: And, (in proportion or similitude hereunto) God, in his Wisdom, found it the fittest way, of redeeming and Recovering lapsed Adam, to take (as it were) a Rib out of his own side (viz. the middle person in Trinity) to satisfy and suffer for the sin of Man. 2ly. From Col. 3.20. In a brief Exposition whereof, an equail Honour (at least) was adjudged due by Children to their Parents (the inference is easily made): and this confirmed or illustrated by that onely Instance, Lev. 19.3.

Answ. 1. Gods Power, Wisdom, Proceedings and Reasons in the Creation are in no wise to be Ro. 9.20. disputed; He is the Isa. 64.8. Jer. 18.6. Potter, we the Clay, and we are Ps. 139.14. fearfully and wonderfully made. But, (if it be safe for some to express their Fancies aswell as [Page 68] others) i. Why might not God chuse a Rib of Man (which among so many of the same sort, might best be spared, e­specially from a part less conspicuous) rather then mutilate his extreme or exterior Members, which were more rare, obvious, active and usefull? 2. We are sure, He could as easily, and with One-ness enough, have framed her at first, in her full and just Dimensions, of the same Mould and Lump of Earth with Man; and, with a Word of his Mouth, have cemented them together, in as indissoluble an Union as now they are: For, if he say, It is, or shall be thus, Num. 23.19. Ps. 89.34. Isa. 14.24. & 40.8. & 46.9,10. & 55.11. Jer. 44.28. Ez. 12.28. it cannot be otherwise, whatever 1 S. 16.7. Job 10 4. Isa. 55.8. Mic. 4.12. Men discern or deem. And therefore, we may conceive it his pleasure, thus to express his Ps. 115.3. & 135 6. unlimited Power and Wisdom, in his various Acts of Creation; to wit, That he could as well make Woman of a Bone, or a Mat. 3.9. Stone, or of any other, or Gen. 1.1. no Materiall, as of Earth. 3. Though the Gent. named Head and Foot; yet (by his expression of equall Par in Parem (said himself) non habet Potesta­tem.Respect) he seemed to make no difference of dignity betwixt them: but, as if the Wo­man, being taken out of the middle of Man, aequidistant from his Head and Foot, were equally and proportionally to par­ticipate of both. Not unlike a prick or Point, first made at the Middle of a line, and then drawn out into a Parallel with it, of even length and strength. He must mend his argu­ing, or els he leaves but little Head-ship at all for the Hus­band; at least L. 19.22. Mat. 12 27. for himself. 4. In that Gen. 2.21. He took One, (and but One) of his Ribs, it must needs imply a majus & minus, a vast disproportion in Quantity. For one Rib is but a smal Par­ticle of Mans Body, and therefore must yeild to the Major Part: so the Rib gaines no great honour in this Comparison. But 5. and chiefly, The Scripture allows no such Terms of Relation (in this Case) as Body and Rib; but confines you to Head and Body: take what part of the Body you please, it is, (or ought to be) in subjection to the Head, without whose Government and Direction, it is but a See p. 14. f. ult. dead, di­stracted or useless Trunk, 6. Since he assimilates this Rib to the second Person in Trinity; let him consider, with what Respect (or rather Rigour; both by Isa. 53.3, &c. Acts 2.23. & 4.28 Ro. 8.32. Re. 13.8 Inflictions and Mat. 27.46. M. 15.34. Desertions, corporall and spirituall), God the Father u­sed [Page 69] his Rib; and then inquire whether his female Rib (when he hath it; for I supposed him a Batchelor both Wayes) would esteem it her honour, or ease, to be so evenly placed in the Middle upon like Conditions. This, for the straight­ness and strength of the Rib; touching its Crookedness, a Word more anon.

That of Lev. 19.3. seemes to be a slender Proof, and (as to this purpose) somewhat strained and partiall. For that 3. verse and the 4. being (as 'twere) Epitomes of the two Tables; the second there precedes the first: From whence he might as well argue, that the Duties to Man are to be discharged before Divine Worship. The same Order you may see ver. 11.12. the whole Chapter, &c. contain­ing brief and cursory Memorandum's to Moses of Laws partly morall and partly ceremoniall. Whereas, that of Ex. 20.12. (written at first with the See page 10. k. Finger of God, and oft Deu. 5.16. Eph. 6.2. repeated, especially by the Mat. 15.4. & 19 19. M. 7.10. & 10 19. L. 18.20. Lord Jesus the Son of God himself, who Jo. 1.18. best knew and knows his Fathers mean­ing) is Deu. 5.29. & 6.6, &c. Ps. 119.160 Mat. 5.18. L. 16.17. fundamentall, morall, forcible and perpetuall, and generally followed in the Order of mentioning Father and Mother throughout the Scripture. He might have backed it also, with Lev. 21.3. which (if we hit it aright) helps to illustrate the other, and clears our Answer. This latter is concluded in a meer ceremoniall and Col. 2.21.22. Heb. 9 8 9,10. fading Precept; wherein the Mother was fore-named for another speciall Purpose, viz. to shew the degrees of propinquity of kin­dred in Case of defilement by dead Bodies. And we have yet a saying, That The Mother is the surer side, because she is the Vessell of Conception and Procreation. In which respect the holy Penman, begins there with the Mother, and so goes on to the remoter degrees of Kindred. Now, if we take this for her Preheminence, why may we not as well prefer the ground or soile to the seed or sower? See Gen. 3.15. (which the same Expositor, on Super. L. 8.11. another Occasion, declined.) But if some put the daughter Repentance, Why not, also, the Son before the Fa­ther? as Isa. 45.4. before the Mother Faith (which we may suppose but heedlesly or hastily done) these may as well, or better, beseem to preferr or equalize the Wife to the Husband. Its no sure dawbing Ez. 13.14. 2 Co. 4.2.with un­temper'd [Page 70] Morter. For fuller Answer to this Objection see p. 47. &c.

Object. 5.However, yet, There are some Women 1 S. 25.25. more wise and a­ble to manage either temporall or spirituall Matters then some Men; which may seem (where such are married toge­ther) not onely to debarr the Husbands Beating, but to discharge the Wife of Obedience or any Dutifull Obser­vance.

Answ. It is granted that there seemeth in some Women, a more masculine spirit then in some Men. And (if such Matching be admissible, while both are free) it is (in my weak opini­on) more tollerable for a Wise Man to take a silly Woman to Wife, then a wise Woman to admit a weak-witted Man to her Husband: From whence (may be) the taunting Pro­verb grew; For a Lock of Land (or other carnall End) to take a Fool by the Hand. Therefore, that wise Woman whatever, having made her Choice is worthily concluded (for ought we see to the contrary) under absolute Obedi­ence in Eph. 5.24. all Things lawfull, honest or indifferent (if not ridiculous) though it suit not with her Pr. 30.12,13. & 26.12. Eccl. 7.16. Pr. 3.7. presumed sound­er discretion; and, consequently, for disobedience, lya­ble to like Censure as other Women. A Vertuous Woman, indeed, is above her Husband; but how? as a Ps. 12.4. See pa. 47. Crown, not a Commander; as an Ornament, not an Officer. Yea, in this sence shee may serve as a Covering also; That is, so far as her prudence extends, shee may and must cover his Infirmities and Imperfections, not his Power; (shee is e­very way to Gen. 2.18.20. Pr 31.12. help, no way to hinder him.) Els, what doth shee (beside the sin of disobedience and 1 S. 15.23. Rebellion, which is as Witchcraft and Idolatry) but proclaim to the World her own Woe, and (silly Wretch! though never so seeming Wise,) wound Gen. 2.24. Ps. 64.8. Mat. 19.5,6 1 Co. 6.16. Eph. 5.31. her self through his sides? No doubt, but David had been appeased with the Present, or very Pre­sence of 1 S. 25.18, &c. Abigail, without her publishing and pleading her Husbands Folly; which, yet, consisted (as appears by his Verse 10,11. pertinent though perverse Reasoning) not in weakness of brain, but a wicked, churlish and base Niggardise. And since some will needs be so Eccl. 7.16. Pr. 3.7. overwise and worthy, 1 Co. 4.6. above [Page 71] that which is Written; let it not seem altogether unreason­able, to reason a little with them in their own Dialect, thus: Were they so wise before they wedded, they could not, surely, be ignorant, That their Husband, must be their 1 Co. 11.3. Eph. 5. [...]3. Head, the Gen. 20.16. Covering of their Eyes, &c. Why, then, would they make Choice of so crazy a Cranium; that, though he be call'd the Head, yet they must be both the Brains and Cap. That, instead of his Covering their Eyes, they must cover his Eyes, Head and all, and lead him hood­winck'd abroad and about, or rather, coop him up at home. Have Ps. 14.4.these workers of Iniquity no knowledge at all? Might they not, els, perceive how eminently this Badge appears upon them; to wit, that they, of all other Impudents, do most Ph. 3.19. glory in, and Jude 13.fome out, their own shame? If (I say) they be so wise, a Word is enough: They will know or learn, what is either piously to be done, or patiently endured.

Object. 6. None but drunken, disordered, profane, and (as they call them) desperate fellows, beat their Wives. Besides, it is an horrible, inhumane Thing to strike a Mans Wife; What! beat his own Flesh? why, Eph. 5.29. No Man ever yet hated his own Flesh, but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the Church.

This Objection, proceedeth either from Persons strictly pious, of a consciencious, (but (as will appear) errone­ous and cruel) pitty and tenderness; or from another lax­ed sort of Christians (the vulgar-open Prophane we heed not) whose week-day converse can suit with carnall or worse Company; and on the Lords day, who but they with their Godly Pastor? Or rather Athenians may we term them, who affect and profess to know all Things, new or old; in plainer terms, Polititians, Temporizers, or what ye will. To both these shall be shaped suitable Answers; to the one religious, to the other rationall, as God enableth. And first to the worthier, the former.

Answ. 1. The first clause of the Objection cannot be wholly or al­together true. And yet it must be granted to have too much of Truth in it; the more, the more sin and pitty. For such [Page 72] men (we beleeve) are utterly without Warrant: and of these it may be justly said, Ia. 1.20. The Wrath of Man worketh not the righteousness of God. 2. As the Objectors will have much ado to prove their negative; so, in this case, it is not ea­sy, nor, indeed, convenient, to prove the Affirmative; for this very reason (if no more) that Wise and Godly Men, do, or should, go more privatly about this Work, then the other are wont to doe, that scandall may be pre­vented.

To the second clause, may be answered. 1. Correction properly taken, is so far from betokening hatred, that its plentifully See p. 42. h. ult. proved consistent with the choisest Affection, yea the surest Argument of it. And, as the Word Eph. 5.29. hated, here, relates to, or reflects upon our own Flesh, it may be somewhat enlarged and illustrated by that of Christ, Mat. 18.9, &c. See Jo. 12.25.If thy right Eye or right hand offend thee, pluck it out, cut it off &c. VVhich most do (and likely may) take in a spiri­tuall sence of abandoning the Bosom and darling sin; for, els, the cutting, mangling and maiming of our sound Bo­dies, were degrees of Gen. 9.5,6. Ex. 20.13. Deu. 5.17 Mat. 5.21. & 19.18. M. 10.19. L. 18.20. Ro. 13.9. Murder, which is directly forbid­den. Yet, thus far (I suppose) we may take it literally; as, by any hardship or harsh discipline, (which may not endanger life) to subdue our unruly Members. Further, As God Ez. 11.19. & 36.26. takes, the stony heart out of our Flesh, which implyes a spirituall Anatomy or Incision; and as we permit the Cutting away of proud or corrupt Flesh, or a festerd Limb, to prevent Infection and spreading; so, why may not the most pious, tender hearted Husband, deal in like sort with his perverse Wife, viz. (not touching or impair­ing the Quick, the life) to pare away (as it were) her Nails or noxious Excrescences, as he would do the luxu­riant Branches, or exuberant Twigs, of his choicest Fruit-Tree) whereby to abate or allay the contagious Humours in her: and where Lenitives fail to asswage the Rankness, to apply Corrosives, though with great Care and discretion. It is said indeed, Col. 3.19. Husbands be not bitter against them; but then (see the Verse 18. leading Condition.) they must not be boi­sterous and rebellious both against God and their Husbands; [Page 73] If so, what sweetness ought they to expect from either? See again Eph. 5.29,30. 2. That Christ himself ever did, and doth (as need re­quires) actually, and oft times, extremely, chastise his Church, his Wife, as well as cherish her, and that in his Ma­ritall or Conjugall Relation, hath been amply declared. p. 36. d. &c. to which the Reader is referred.

Answ. 2. Now to our fore-named Polititians, &c. We can re­turne no fitter Answer, then refer them to rationall and civill Rules, (whereof they will disdain to be deemed ignorant) viz. to the Common or Statute Laws of their own Nation: Which, in their prudent Care of preser­ving and cherishing the life naturall, do thus provide, in case of Extremity, That the Wife may demand Surety (for the Peace, not good Behaviour) against the Husband, if he threaten to kill or outragiously to Beather, &c. Where­in is manifestly implyed and allowed a moderate Correction. And hence let us reason thus: If the Common Laws, be­ing so tender of the corporall life, do yet admit a mode­rate correcting of a Mans Wife for Reformation of civil Manners, and a temporall Quiet; how can it but follow à fortiori, that the spirituall and divine Law permits a pro­portionall Chastisement, to conserve and cherish life eter­nall, to deliver a soul Pr. 23.14.from Hell: and this by 1 Co. 5.5. destructi­on (to wit 1 Co. 9.27. subjection, for so I humbly conceive St. Paul intended) of the Flesh; thereby reducing it into a joint Frame of Regularity and Obedience with the spirit.

Object. 7. This asserting of the Husbands punitive or corrective Pow­er, may prove not onely a loosing of the Rains, to the rea­sonless Frenzy and rage of every rude Fellow; but an In-let of too much Liberty, even to loving Husbands.

Answ. 1. What God hath expressly and plainly Deu. 29.29. Ro. 1.16,17. & 16.25 Eph. 3.4,5. reveal'd, neither needeth nor ought to be See page 17. u. curted or Ex. 24.3,4. Deu. 27.8. & 31.11,12 Jos. 8.34,35. 2 K. 23.2. Ps. 119.13. Jer. 1.17. & 26.2,15. Acts 5.20. & 4.19,20. & 10.33. & 18.9. & 20.27. Col. 4.3,4. 1 Th. 2.4,16. Tit. 2.15. 1 Joh. 1.3. conceal'd, Num. 22.38. & 24.13. Deu. 18.20. 2 K. 22.13. Isa. 8.20. Jer. 1.7. & 22.1. & 23.16,28. Ez. 2.7. & 3.4. & 33.8. Jon. 3.2. Acts 4.20. 1 Th. 2.5. 1 P. 4.11. counter­feited or varnished; as if he should Num. 23.19. Isa. 14.24. & 40.8. & 46.10. Ez. 12.25. Jer. 44.28. give back or blush to avouch his Edicts, or Job 33.12,13. were accountable for his Actions to [Page 74] the Sons of Men, or needed that any Job 13.7. should speak wicked­ly or deceitfully for him. 2. The danger of perverting, may not hinder the publication of any divine Truth. For it Ps. 33.9. Isa. 55.11. Acts 6.7. & 12.24. & 13.44. & 19.20. Ro. 9.6. 2 Th. 3.1. Ps. 147.15. Jer. 1.12. accomplisheth his Pleasure; it speeds and prospers in all Things whereunto he sends it; whether in the 2 Co. 2.16. savour of death unto death, or of life unto life, and he loseth no Ex. 14.17,18. Isa. 1.24. 2 Th. 1.8. 2 T. 2.20. See pag. 34. a: b. Ho­nour by either, but gets by both. We should deem it Mad­ness, (as a Gospell-Friend fitly noteth) to go naked, lest we should be proud; to destroy Vines, lest any be drunk; or to provide Food, lest we be gluttonous. For the Bar­barous, bruitish, ferall Brood of Husbands and Wives; there will befall them a particular Word of Caution anon. But, for the Present, I know no safer, nor sounder Rule to go by, then what th' Apostle gives generally; Gal. 5.13. Brethren, ye have been called unto Liberty; Onely use not Liberty, for an Occasion to the Flesh, but by love serve one another.

I suppose all Objections of weight or Worth, have received Answer and competent satisfaction; if by chance we meet any more, we shall endeavour the like. Wherein, if ought seem bitter, tart or crude, let it be candyed or con­cocted thus: I presume all sorts of Objectors, to have godly and vertuous, or (at least) kind and quiet Wives; and so to be less sensible of others sufferings. Let it not be distastfull to tell such; Its easy to be meek unmov'd. Hee's a Tyrant or devill that's rigid and cruel without Provocation. We find the Num. 12.3. the Prototype, Deu. 18.15,18. Mat. 17.3. M. 9.4. meekest Man on Earth, (except the Mat. 11.29. the Type. Mirrour of Meekness and Patience Himself, the Ps. 16.10. Isa. 49 7. Dan. 4.13. Hos. 11.9. M. 1.24. L. 4.34. Acts 3.14. 1 Jo. 2.20. holy and Mat. 27.19,24. Act. 7.52. & 22.14 just One, who Isa. 50.6. gave his back to the smiters, and went Isa. 53.7. Acts 8.32. as a Lamb to the Slaughter, without so much as opening his Mouth) was Ex 32.19,20,22 Num. 20.10. Ps. 106.33. highly transported with Anger and perturbation of Mind (insomuch as God hath been Den. 1.37. & 32.51. Ps. 106.30. expressly displeased with him for it) yea, sometime Lev. 10.16,20. on easy or slender Occasion. And, indeed, the Spirit of God, seems Deu. 19.6. to presuppose (I say not permit) some Passion in the purest of Men. But, in imitati­on of Moses, or other Num. 25.7,8. 1 S. 25.13,22,34. M. 3.17. L. 9.54. choice Favourites or Officers of God, we are (I confess) to be very cautious and tender; and to be sure it is, as theirs, in the Cause and Quarrell of God.

I say, 'tis easy to be meek unmov'd. Hence it is, That [Page 75] some out of Tenderness, others of a conceited Equality (as above) do neither inflict nor allow Blows; Not having the Occasion themselves, they distast the Action in others; which (if they heed their Jer. 17.9. own Hearts well) they shall find true in other things too. But (briefly, as the result of what is already said) This may be modestly maintain'd, and bold­ly believed; That, as it is not possible to produce any grounded Expression or Argument, against a good Man's Beating his bad Wife; so there do appeare many strong Con­sequences, and pregnant Arguments from the sacred Word (especially) to approve it. There seeming but this diffe­rence of Power 'twixt Christ and the pious Husband; That Christ is the supreme Lord Paramount, the Other, his De­legate or vice-gerent; Christ may kill, or correct the Body at his Pleasure, Job 9.12,17. & 23.13. & 33.13. Eccl. 8.4. Jon. 1.4. without Account (though his goodness usually gives it) but Man may not do the first Ex. 20.13. Deu. 5.17. Mat. 19.18. M. 10.19. L. 18.20. Ro. 13.9. at all; nor the second in any Case, without Deu. 13.14. & 17.4 manifest and weighty Cause. But that granted; Christ is, sometimes, so near­ly concerned and so highly affronted by Offenders, that he hath not onely allowed, but enjoin'd his People of old, Deu. 13.6. to 11 & 19.11,12,13. & 25.12. to set apart all humane Relation, Affection and Compassion in Punishing: which (I confess) is not imitable by us, but with all Caution and good Conscience. And this leads us on nearer the Quick, viz. the moving Causes (if so they may seem) which may incite or warrant, a Man to the last and worst of Remedies, Correction.

CHAP. VII. Conjectures at the Causes and Measure of Correction.

IN declaring hereof, we are to have a twofold Re­spect: 1. Vnto Women who are ingenuous, a­cute and of perfect or competent Gifts or Qua­lities of Mind; who, as they may wilfully, so they cannot but knowingly offend. 2. To such as are defective, weak or silly (as they say) and may offend of simplicity: who, doubtless, are to be treated with much more Indulgence, and therefore shall be dismissed with less Ado. Yet with this generall Rule observable in them as in all others; to wit, The more Knowledge, Will, Height and Custome, do appear and prevail in sinning, the sorer stroke and dint may justly be expected in suffering. We chiefly follow the knowing and yet L. 12.47. wilfull Offenders.

And here, it must be laid for a Ground; That, as the impulsive Cause of Christs correcting his Church is sin; so the Husband must, in no Case act or attempt it, without a sinfull Cause in the Wife; nor yet for any sinfull Cause neither. Its not for every trifling Contradiction or sleight Affront to start a Fray. I am not ignorant, that, In the first place, Many familiar Compellations in a loving Way, are and ought to be embraced by the Husband from the Wife. 2. I will suppose the kindest Couples in the World (some very few excepted) to be scarce free from Houshold-talk (as they term it) or, perhaps, some hot Fits of dispute; yet ought to pass for loving and loyall too.

The Wife must not be forgotten, till shee forget her self, to be the Weaker Vessell. In this (especially) let the Ph. 2.5. Ro. 15.1. 1 P. 3.8. same heroick Mind be in us that was in Christ Jesus, To whom David complain'd Ps. 130.3. If thou Lord shouldest mark Iniquities, O Lord, Who shall stand? Even the Isa. 57.16.spirit should fail be­fore [Page 77] thee, and the souls which thou hast made. And we must not conceive of Christ, as one that expects so regular and exact a Cariage in any of us, Male or Female, as to render us harmless and blameless; much less, One that lyes at Catch or advantage to take us tripping; as if we had a strength of our own distinct from his, whereby to stand against, or without him. For why, then, needed he be Heb. 5.1,2. ordain'd an high Priest to have Compassion on the ignorant and them that are out of Jer. 6.16. Ps. 119.14.the way? (For, while we stay or start aside, to play with this or that Toy and Trifle, he tarries on us, and will not away without us: hee'l not leave, nor lose one, but the Jo. 17.12.Son of Perdition, &c. though we are inconstant, he Mal. 3.6. changeth not; yea, though we 2 T. 2.13.believe not, he abid­eth Faithfull, he cannot deny himself.) Or, what needed he beHeb. 4.15.tempted in all points as we are; but that he might be touched with the feeling of our Infirmities, and be able Heb. 2.18.to succour the tempted? to 2 Co. 12.9. Ps. 55 22. Isa. 41.10. support us in all our weaknesses, or (rather) Isa. 53.4. Mat. 8.17. sustain them for us? For, although never any Temptation Heb. 4.15. could fasten on him, or Jo. 14.30. find place with him; yet, was he more forcibly, and (no doubt) as frequent­ly assaulted as we.

Causes in par­ticular. This Correction, then (if allowable at all) must be for no less, then high, heady, habituall sins and Affronts. And these. 1. Against God; striking at his soveraignty, by denying or disputing his Power and Providence; by blas­pheming his Name and Word, with horrid Oaths and Exe­crations; by reproaching his Religion, Truth and People, with Taunts, Invectives and the like.

2. Against her Husband; Either, 1. In his superiority, as he is Gods deputy and vice-gerent over her; For, whom doth shee reproach and blaspheme? Not (Hezekiah, not) her Husband, but Isa. 37.23. 1 Th. 4.8. the holy one of Israel, and Tit. 2.5 his holy Word: by lifting up her hand against him, in the lowest or least Degree: by not onely neglecting, but contemning and rejecting his pious, just, or reasonable Commands, and pleading against his Prerogative and Power. It may be wished this Infirmity were less predominant in many of the weaker Vessels. Where subjection is yeilded due, (although [Page 78] but lame and imperfect in the Performance) it mollifieth much, and hideth a multitude of Infirmities; 1 T. 2.12. But when Gods Ordinances are struck or levell'd at so near the root; the Fence had need be the firmer, the Repulses more impetu­ous or forcible. He that magnifies the rib so much: If he shall find it not content (according to its naturall Inclinati­on) to ly crooked by his side, but a-cross at his Head; will he think it seemly or sufferable? I suspect not. Or 2. In his Personall-domestick Quiet; by customary scolding, rail­ing and Clamors, against him (especially) or others in his Presence, with uncoth and odious Names, or bitter and bi­ting Terms. Or 3. In his Credit and Reputation: by either Raising, seconding or seeming to countenance or allow any scandall or Reproach upon him, abhorring (as some do) to hear of the least Good, or good Parts in him, as if a part of her Reproach and Infamy. Or 4. In his Estate: by wilfull, excessive and sinfull Wast, unto Riot and Luxury.

3. Against their Neighbours: by sowing discord among them, or betwixt any and her Husband: by frequent scold­ing, Reviling, Tale-bearing, and the like.

And all, or any, of this, after and in contempt of the fair and frequent Expostulation of her Husband, and when neither Perswasion or Reproof can penetrate. If these, I say, or any of these, be wilfully persisted in by the Wife af­ter Reproof; where, now, lyeth a Mans Relief for him­self, or hope of her Reformation? It will not be much un­seasonable, here to insert, how that when I asked an esteem­ed able Minister of the Gospell, what course was to be tak­en for Coertion or Reducement of an unreasonable-unruly Woman, He replyed (adding that it was also the Resolu­tion of other Judicious Divines in this very Case) That even in point of Scandall where the Wife is notoriously in Fault; yet the harmless Husband is to be convened and questioned by the Church. It should seem then (I said) That you ac­count of the Husband as Judge, Justice and Bishop to the Wife: He replyed, yes.

The Ecclesiasticall Power, then (it seems) will not in­terpose [Page 79] 'twixt Man and Wife herein at all. What the Civil or secular Power can do, I perfectly know not; but, I suppose it will not meddle, except in case of extreme Cruel­ty and mortall danger. It seems the Wife is Exlex out of all Jurisdiction. So that the Husband (by like) hath no Refuge or Remedy left him, in any lower Respect, but his own Power and Prudence; Nor these neither, if he be strictly restraind (as in the Objection) to Prayer, Patience and Humiliation. But I hear it Objected again.

Object. Why, Those Virago's are but rare, that will offer any such violence or vile Indignities, to God or their Husband, as are laid down: If any do, the Man must demean and de­fend himself, as well as he may: And for the Trespass of the Tongue, 'tis not worth heeding or talking of, Words are but Wind; a Woman hath none other Weapon; shee is the weaker Vessell, and must be born with, and the like.

Answ. 1. Yea, many such Man-keen Amazons, no doubt, there are in the World; that mantle it both against God and their Hus­bands; These, God will surely, deal withall, if Man cannot.

2. David and other holy Men of God, where they treat of the Pr. 21.23. & 31.10,26. Profit and Praise; the Ps. 52.2,4. & 73 2. & 120.2. Pr. 4.24. & 18.21. & 21.9,19. & 27.15 Jer. 18.18. Poison and Pernitiousness; the Ps. 12.3. & 52.5 & 59.12,13. & 64.8 & 120.3,4. & 140.9,10,11. Plague and Punishment of the Tongue, do make no distinction of sex. And Women must shew us better War­rant for their Exemption and Liberty, then their bare Word; for that's not so easily admissible 1 Co. 14.35. 1 T. 2.11,12. in the Church, as in Market or other Meetings. But let us once more salute them in their own Logick. Words (they say) are but wind: Its true, But if Satan Its a common (not so true, yet) practis'd Proverb. That must needs go which the D— drives. blow the Bellows, it often proves so venemous and violent, as to blast or bear down all before it. Words are their onely VVeapons: Be it so, and while they are defensive, it were Cruelty and Inhumanity to disarm them: But, oft times, so unruly, keen, and rancorous are they; as that in Davids, and others Account, they are Offensive Pr. 14.3. Rods, Ps. 64.3. Jer 9.8Arrows, Ps. 55.21. & 57.4. & 64.3. & 59.7. Pr. 12.18.Swords, Ps. 140.3. Ro. 3.13. Ja. 3.8.Poison. Jeremy, who was troubled with Jer. 44.15,16,20,25, VVomens Tongues, as ill as Mens, saith, That the Jer. 18.18. Tongue smiteth. James, calls it Ja. 3.6. a Fire that sireth the Course of Nature, and for a sound Reason; it is enflamed (saith he) of Hell: Satan is, still blowing the [Page 80] Bellows. Thus we see reproachfull VVords (whose-ever they be) are firy, piercing and poisonous; and we might (in Satans own sence) add Am. 7.10. ponderous too. Now, we are exhorted Ia. 4.7. to resist the Devill. And how this? By soothing him up in his VVords? By letting him beard us, and ( 2 S. 20.9,10. Joab-like) sheath his Sword in our Bowels? crush and consume us? Surely nay. In short: VVhich of them­selves, will not censure it most unseemly and sordid for a Man to vy words, or scould it out with a VVoman, refer­ring the Victory to the last and loudest Syllable? Yet it must needs be tryed thus, when weight and worth of Argument fails him; unless he be allowed a Casting Voice, and Pow­in his hand to weild it.

3. Customary Scoulding and Clamour (which we account but the lowest Classis or Form of corrigible Offences) is no Argument of weakness, but of a stubborn and sinfull strength; and by how much ofter it resisteth Admonition, it is so much the more 1 T. 2.12. rebellious and abhominable. Shall any dare to think, That ever the holy Spirit intended a Woman to be Tongue-free? to rail, rage, swear, blaspheme and defy Isa. 37.23. Heaven and her Husband? to smite and wound whom, where and when shee likes, and fly out into all Exorbitances without Controll, because (forsooth) shee is the weaker Vessell? Surely, there's none awake, or in his right Wits will say, or think it. For, if the Conversa­tion ofPh. 3.20.Paul, and 1 Jo. 1.3. L. 17.21. other Saints be in Heaven; where shall wee conclude such as this to be? To Illustrate this An­swer a little: If there be no heed to be taken of Womens Words, why is the prudent and pious Behaviour of Ex. 1.19,20. & 35.25,26. Jos. 2.4,5, &c. Jud. 4.4,5,18. & 5. all. 1 S. 1.16,17. & 25,24 &c. 28.14.12, &c & 17.17,19. & 20 16. to 22. 2 K. 4.9 10,13,28. & 22.15,16. L. 1. 46. &c. & 2.36, &c. ma­ny of them so carefully recorded in Scripture? Are they prais-worthy and Mat. 26.13. M. 14.9. renowned when good, and not perniti­ous and worthily infamous when evill? can their vertuous Acts and Expressions be exemplary, their vicious Ones not pestilent and odious?

These, or some of these Offences before mentioned, may seem, necessary or safe Inducements, to correct or chasten Any, over whose Body we have Command, and of whose soul we take any Christian Care or Compassion at all; for [Page 81] which they that will, may see as good Warrant (at least) as for the good Abearing. Did Job 2.6,7,8. God let loose the malice and rage of Satan, to torment and mangle the Body of that harmless Patient to the very brink of Death, for but meer Triall and Triumph; and doth he restrain the pious Love of a prudent Husband, from Am. 3.11. plucking a Brand out of the fire (of Hell) even the soul of his Wife, who is a part of himself, out of the Paws of Satan? Shall it be necessary to marry, 1 Co. 7.9.rather then to burn corporally and temporally, (which burning it self is not without other Means of Cure); and is it unnecessary, unlawfull, (with a little corporall violence) to prevent a spirituall eternall Burning, which is incureable? All this, still, inforceth no Mans Faith, Let Men beleeve (not as they list, but) as they Eph. 2.8. Ja. 1.17 may.

The Mea­sure. We are, now come to the cloze. viz. in what Mea­sure this Correction (if any) is to be inflicted. Herein we find no express Rules or Limits left us by our Master Christ, other, then the Ex. 20.13. sixt morall Commandement. Which (we beleeve) he would not have omitted, if materiall, or that he had not endued our Husband (as all other superiors) with plentifull Abilities; or not given him generall Hints and directions enough, how to carry himself, becomming his Place and Power. Howbeit, even Humanity teacheth Moderation and Clemency; and the civill State (as before) hath wholsomly provided Security in this kind (for els every barbarous and brainous Fellow, may pretend Discretion and Piety enough, to cloak or colour his Cruelty, if lawfull power should not interpose to examine and determine) But chiefly Christ himself in his sacred Word, sets us forth cer­taine common Mic. 6.8. Pr. 3.3. Mat. 5.7. 1 P. 3.8. Precepts and Motives thereunto and Pr. 12.10. Mat. 15.32. & 18.33. M. 8.2,3. L. 6.36. & 9.55. & 10.33,34. Heb. 10.34. Ex­amples thereof; as also Ps. 26.9. & 27.12. & 71.4. & 59.2. Deprecation from Asperity and Cruelty, with Gen. 49.5,6. Ps. 11.5. & 109.16. Hos. 4.1. Ro. 1.31 Exprobration, Gen. 49.7. Ez. 24.9. Am. 1.11. Mat. 23.23. Ja. 2.13.Imprecation and Threat­ning for it. The former sort whereof, we may fitly and safely follow; the latter, justly fear and fly. And ther's no Christian, but takes himself to bee stronglier tyed to good Behaviour, by Gen. 20.11. & 39.9. Deu. 10.12. 2 Ch. 29.9. Neh. 5 9,15. Job 1.1. Ps. 19.9,11. & 119 38 120,161. Pr. 3.7. & 16.6. Isa. 8.13. Jer. 32.40. Acts 9.31. 2 Co. 7.1. Heb. 12.28. filiall Fear of God, whose Gen. 16.13. 2 Ch. 16.9. Job 10.14. & 14.16. & 23.10 & 31.4. & 33.11. & 34.21,22. Ps. 11.4. & 32.8. & 44.21. & 90.8. & 119.168. & 139.12. Pr. 5.21. & 15.3. & 24.12. Jer. 23.24. Hos. 14.8. Mal. 3.16,18. Mat. 6,4,6. Heb. 4.13. Eye he [Page 82] knowes, is ever upon him; and by Deu. 10.12. Ps. 119.14,16,24,32 35,47,70,97,111 162,167. Pr. 3.17 Ro. 7.22. mutuall Love to and from the divine Word and Law, which is the Deu. 6.6, &c. Job 23.11. Ps. 18 21. & 37.23. & 73 24. & 119.5,6,9,10,11,59,102,105,133,176. Pr. 3.1. Isa. 48.17. L. 10,26, &c. Acts 21.24. Rule of his life; then by the terror of my Ps. 119. 61,87,141,161. Isa. 8.12. & 51.12,13. Mat. 10,28. L. 12.5. humane Law or violence whatever. Herein I am purposly concise, because the Texts, (if turned to) are better able to speak for them­selves. Lastly, if it be safe to follow the Lev. 26.16,18,21,24,28. Isa. 59.18. Jer. 16.18. Ez. 39.23,24. L. 12.47,48. Copy; it may, for Proportion, be fitted to the Wifes Affronts and Offen­ces; and for Continuance, Jo. 5.14. while shee manifestly holds forth the Banner of Rebellion.

As a Corollary or Summary to what hath been said of the Maritall Knowledge and Power; it may be remembred how copiously and clearly the former hath been derived, from God the living and eternall Fountain thereof, into the Hearts of Men and chiefly of the Husband, his nearest Relative; enabling him to the compleat Discharge (in his gracious Ac­ceptance) of his Place and Trust. And next; how demon­strating the Carriage of Christ toward his Spouse, his Church, we have, thence, deduced a Eph. 5. [...]3. Similar Power of Practice (with Limitation) to the pious Husband; adding some Reasons and Rules (if he please) of his Procee­ding.

This Tract, or rather Bundle of Laborious Collections, (for it is but little els; save the tacking together) being a Task too low for Men of sublime Endowments and weighty Incumbencies to stoop unto, or wait upon; this laborious Collective (I say) is infinitly short of that exact and artifi­ciall Compilement, it might have received at their hands. Yet before any accuse me of a too ambitious Attempt herein, let them compare and weigh my unfain'd Apology at the En­trance, together with my urgent Incitements hereunto, and (I hope) they'l not onely absolve and Pardon, but pitty me.

Wherein, therefore, it is scanty or weak onely, let them contribute of their store and strength, to supply and confirm: where unsound or suspected, let them, on better grounds, refine and reforme. I may be erroneous, I will not be haereti­call: a calm and just Conviction shall be my acquiescent Sa­tisfaction, whereunto (I need not lose all my Labour) I am thus much nearer then before. Mine Eye is not upon a­ny [Page 83] Triumph, but the Truth. Neither affront I any; but in a modest humble way of Argument, seek onely to satisfy my self and other Christians in my Condition. Nor yet that, in any haughty Conceit of directing them (for I freely leave all Men to be steered by their strongest Motives) but chiefly to manifest, that God in his Mercy and for his Glo­ry (I disclaim even a thought of Arrogance, and Job 42.6. ab­hor my self in Dust and Ashes) hath given me such a Compe­tency of Knowledge and Composure of Mind (here's the worst and utmost of my Ambition) as to move within my own Sphaere, and to order Those, who (instead of discharging their due Observance and subjection) have sought to Order Me. I desire withall it may be remembred, that heer's no­thing determinate but discussive; nor contentious, but disquisitive. In all which regards, if it must in any Part be confuted, I cannot suspect it worse, then with Fatherly Indulgence or Brotherly Meekness.

CHAP. VIII. Some Additionals coincident with the Occasion of this Discourse.

THe diviner Parts (as we may term them) of this Treatise, being providencially disposed and included in the middle of this Manual, as the Kernell in the Shell, or, the Marrow in the Bone, and now (in such manner as God will) newly moulded and dispatched; I proceed to some further needfull or use­full Advertisements touching the Occasion, and so close up all with speed convenient.

It is to be doubted, that I have been all this while (at least) incurring the black and bitter Invectives of some, and [Page 84] the milder suspicion of most, as for a terrible Striker, and (in their sence) an Abuser of my Wife. For, what need I els (may they demand) make so much ado to vindi­cate or excuse the Matter? but, rather pass it over as other patient and prudent Men do.

Herein, I hope I shall, at once, both still the Censure of the One, and settle the suspence of the Other. For although I think it not expectable, nor much expedient, that I pro­claim or display my own Practice in Particulars; yet I shall dishonour God, and betray Christian Liberty and Integri­ty if (in gross) I conceal all the Truth. I or mine shall not make dainty of a little disgrace, rather then God (since he puts me to it) shall be pinched in his Glory.

practice 1 I do therefore, 2 Co. 1.23. & 11 3 1. & 12.19. Ro. 9.1. Gal. 1.20. call God for a record upon my soul, be­fore Men and Angels, that (to spare and indulge her Per­son, how warrantable I am not well assured) it never yet entred into mine Intent to beat my Wife; much less hath a­ny stroke over-slipt me to her since we met; unless this may be called beating or striking, That, at one time onely (of innumerable Provocations) when, after mild Admonition, shee would not forbear Swearing; but let fly 2. or 3. blou­dy, horrid Oaths in my Face, I bestowed so many Flaps with my bare hand alone on her Mouth, the Part offend­ing; which is more (too) then can be testified. Neither did I offer this, but on the same Terms I will gladly accept the like, from Ps. 141.5. any Christian other then my Wife, what­ever. Besides, as I am (in generall) assured, that God so eyeth his Ps. 2.7. Jo. 1.14,1.8. & 3.16. 1 Jo. 4 9. Heb. 5 5. onely-begotten and Mat. 3.17. & 17.5. M. 12.6 L. 9.35 2 P. 1.17. Isa. 42.1 & 53.11. M. 1.11. L. 3.22. best-beloved Son, Job 19.25. Ps. 19.14. & 31.5. & 71.23. Isa. 38.17. & 43.1. L. 1.47. Gal. 2.20. my Isa. 59.16. & 63.3,5. Acts 4.12. 1 T. 2.5. 1 P. 2.24 Hos. 13.4. Sole Gal. 3 19. Heb. 8 6. & 12.24. 1 Jo. 2.1,2. Mediator and Ps. 34.22. & 130 7. Isa. 41.14. & 49 26. & 62 12. Ro. 3.24. 1 Co. 1.30. Gal. 3.13. Eph. 1.7 Heb. 9.12. 800 pa. 30 c d. first. Redeemer, that he Num. 23.21. Isa. 38.17. over-sees, 2K. 14.27. Ps. 51 9 Ja. 5.20. conceals and Is. 43.25. & 44.22. Act. 3 19. Col. 2.14. cancel's my Sin: So, have I more then com­mon Grounds to beleeve, that He did positively approve that speciall Act as to her-ward. Howsoever; if Wife-Beat­ing be wicked or sinfull, (which it either is, or is not; Ro. 14.23 Faith makes no Medium) I cannot have justly incurred th' Account of a Wife-Beater, (one Swallow makes no Sum­mer): Nor, if my fore-going Affirmative may carry Cre­dence, shall I be deemed (with Christians) any great Bracticer in that Faculty, neither very prone or apt unto it. [Page 85] Yea, so sound and sensible civill Arguments (besides reli­gious) may be render'd for it; as that any rationall, inge­nuous, unprejudiced Person, would beleeve my bare As­sertion; or rather not believe me, though I should swear I would do it. But some are so transcendently sharp-sight­ed, that Mat. 13.13. Isa. 29.14. seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not, neither will they understand. So much for that.

practice 2 It is not my Office nor Aym (though some have reason to expect it) to dive into and discover the Life or Actions of O­thers, (I have Ps. 38.4. & 40.12. & 51.3. 1 T. 1.15. Faults enough of my own) Nor was I like­ly to have 1 Th. 4.11. 1 P. 4.15. medled with any other at all; had not their Pressures (as I conceiv'd) insued so hard upon Me, as to pull me out of my Cell with Tartness and Insolence; to interrupt and distract mine harmless Studies, which were hatching no Mischief against Any (as Satan would have perswaded Me) but were the honest Business, yea, the wholsome Food Job 23.11,12. and Viaticum of my Life: to dishonour my God, my Lord and Master, and to endanger (by Admissi­on of evill Precedents) the Corruption of the Common-Wealth. Onely, give me leave, (not as touching or in­tending any private-particular Person, but an Officer; not for Exprobration, but fair and needfull Caution) to recite a short Passage in my own Presence. It happened, That while I was (but once, as yet, in all my dayes) engaged in the attendance of a Constable home to his house; R. C. He find­ing his Wife somewhat loud with a girl, which it seemed was his (not her) daughter; He menaced her, That if shee spake another Word, he would set her Head in the Fire, or bind her to a Tree and beat her: and to that end went forth and fetched a strong Rope and a Cudgell and shewed her; devoutly swearing (for you'l imagin him a sworn-Man) that he would do it, if Justice such a One (whom he knew me to know) stood over him. (he was then no further active, though its reported usuall with him) Indeed he threatned his daughter also, and more cause (I conceiv'd) he had; for, in my hearing, the Maid both Thou-ed and threatned the Mother, which was more then ever I heard before. The good Wife wept, and yet wrought hard (in [Page 86] making Bread for her fierce Husband and his Family) but her Tongue still as busy as her hands, not in any abusive Terms to her Husband, but as being daily thus affronted (as she said, and not unlikely) by her Inferior. This same Consta­ble a few dayes after, arguing Me of stiffness (for standing on my Innocence) I replyed: Will you Ro. 2.21,22, &ccondemn me for but the suspicion of That, whereof you both confess and manifest your self really guilty? He roundly answer'd me in these Terms; What tell'st thou Me? I dare do that which thou darest not. Meaning (which we are not ignorant of) he had a Friend in Court: and he had plainly affirmed to me before, that I was juggled withall and over-power'd. It seems the plain-old Proverb continues true, Some may better steal an Horse, then others look over the Hedge.

There are some, whose hand or Ps. 73.9. songue may walk and ramble through the Earth, and strike and wound without Controll or Question: Yea, such Hold or Ground hath Prophaneness and Impiety got of Many, as that my self have heard some Gallants, jeer the Godly or well-disposed under the Name of Hein— (they mean Heaven—) Seekers. As if they had higher Matters in hand, and Hein (as their uncir­cumscribed-uncircumcised lips and Tongues are pleased to contract it) were not worth looking after, by any but Hob-nail-Fellows; their stalking Majesty may not stoop so low (but David, and 1 K. 15.14. & 22 43. 2 K. 12.2. & 14 3. & 15.3,34. & 18.3. & 20.3. & 22.2. & 23.25. many others, could; who, though as 1 S. 16.18. & 17.36. & 18.7. 2 S. 17 7,8. 1 Ch. 28.3. Ps. 144. [...]. & 89.20,21. magnanimous and 1 S. 16.13. & 18 30 & 22.14. 2 S. 2 4. & 7.9. & 23.1. Ps. 7.5. & 89.20,21. honourable, 1 S. 16.18. & 18.5,14. 2 S. 14.20. Ps. 119.98, &c. wise and 1 S. 16.12,18. amiable, I beleeve, as they; yet most 2 S. 6.21,22. Ps. 22.6. & 35.13,14 & 69.11, &c. & 101.5. & 102.7. & 131.1,2. humble and Ps. 69.9. zealously 1 K. 9.4. Ps. 18.24. & 26.1,2,6. & 41.12. & 86.2. & 101.2,3,4. & 119 63 & 139,23,24. holy too): their Ps. 64.6. dispansed endless Thoughts have excogitat­ed, and their prospective-piercing Eyes have discovered, some Haven of Happiness (they Am. 6.3. & 9.10. Isa. 28.15. scorne the Conceit of Hell and Horror) far above and beyond Him, 1 K. 8.27. Job 22.12. Ps. 68.4,33 & 148.4. Eccl. 5.8 whom the Heaven and Heaven of Heavens cannot containe. They measure or terminate th' invisible Convexity of the Presence-Chamber of our God (to speak with Reverence) by its visi­ble Concavity. Therefore what tell we them of Christ Jo. 14.6. the Way to our Heaven, whose utmost Dimensions (say they) were but a Womb, a Manger, a Cross or a Grave? Or, of Scripture, Jo. 5.39. our Guide, which is portable in our [Page 87] Pocket? Away with these fantastick Precisians, Puritans, Round-heads, Heaven-Seekers, Babes of Grace and the like (Titles far truer, better and choicer (would they wist it) then the Speakers wish, or Reu. 2.17. wot of: Not painted Pa­geants, as their's; but Badges and Ensigns of highest Ho­nour and Excellency in the Bearers, however Blots and Brands of basest Envy and Infamy from the Objectors: and I doubt not, but at this day there are many Saints, even among us, that are, as Ps. 45.13. & 51.6. Cant. 4.1. Ro. 2.29. & 7.22. 2 Co. 4.16. beautifull and glorious within, as these black Mouths would render them ugly and odious without; yet) Under these Terms of Reproach (so intend­ed) they hunt Religion, and (vainly) hope or endeavour, to chase it out of the World. The best is, they but hunt it and the Professors homeward; for, if in this 1 Co. 15.19.life onely we have hope in Christ, we are of all Men most miserable.

If these brave Censors honour our Assemblies, with their great or gay Presence (perhaps, but to sleep, censure, or invite the Eyes of idle Hearers) it's more then they ow God or us. What are these (if it be safe to name Christ upon them) but Christ'ned Job 22.14. Tit. 1.16. Atheists? And whom, think we, will Christ more oppose, or punish (if they persist) then Those, who not onely wilfully Jonah 2.8. forsake their own Mercy, but spitefully Jer. 6.10. reproach and Job 15.25. & 21 15. & 22.17. Ps. 14,6. & 73.9. Ez. 35.12,13. 1 Th. 4.8. oppugn God and Goodness in Others; Mat. 10.33. M. 8.38. Ro. 1.18. 2 P. 2 1. Jude 4. denying, Heb. 10.29. Ph. 3.18. despising, 2 P. 3.3,4. deriding Him, who is crucified so Gal. 3.1. evidently and Isa. 53.4,5,6,8,12. Mat 26.28. Jo. 10.15. & 15.13. Ro. 3.24,25. 1 Co. 1.18. & 15 3. Gal. 1.4. & 6.14. Eph. 1.7. & 2.13,16. Col. 1.20. & 2.14. Tit. 2.14. Heb. 9.12,14. & 10.14,19. P. 1 19. & 2.24. 1 Jo. 1.7. Rev. 1.5. effectually before them, and Ps. 68.18. Mat. 9.13. Jo. 1.29. & 3.16,17. & 11.25,26,51,52. Acts 3 19. & 10.39,43. 2 Co. 5.19. 1 T. 1.15. & 4.10. Heb. 13.12. 1 Jo. 2.2. sufficiently for them? Yet, Lo, Ps. 73.12. Job 21.7, &c. & 24.1, to 6. Eccl. 7.15. Jer. 12.1,2. Job 12.6. Ps. 55.19.these are the ungodly, who prosper in the World; they increase in Riches, &c.!

When the Lord, hath Isa. 42.7. L. 1.79. & 4.18. Acts 26.18. opened their Eyes, and Eares, (Job 15.21.) he will Job 5.16. Ps. 63.1. & 107.42. shut their Mouths; unless it be 1 P. 2.12. to glorify God, in the day of their Visitation, and to say, as David; Ps. 66.16.Come, and hear all yee that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.

Others, again, are made Isa. 29.21. Offenders for a Word; yea, [Page 88] He Isa. 59.15.that departeth from evill (that sticks at an Oath, or Eph. 4.17,18,19 1 P. 4.3,4. ex­cessive Cup, and starts aside from a Pr. 7.6. to the end. Strumpet) makes himself a Prey, or a Reproach at best. Yea, a Man is de­spised of Those, and for Acts 28.22. That, of whom, and for which he should be most endeared. Ps. 120.5. Woe is me (have Gods Chil­dren said in like Cases) that I sojourn in Mesech; that I dwell in the Tents of Kedar. Ps. 55.6.O that I had Wings like a Dove; then would I flee away and be at rest, &c. Jer. 9.2.O that I had in the Wilderness a Lodging of wayfaring Men, &c. What then? 1 Ch. 29.15. Ps. 39.12,13. He. 11.3. 1 P. 1.17. & 2.11. (Pilgrim soul!) The Mat. 4.9. L. 4.6. Eph. 2.2. Prince of the Power of the Air, hath his Scouts in every Jer. 16.16. Coast, Corner and Cave, who ly ready at catch as Tinder for sparks: thy Breath is no sooner articulate and express, but blasted; thine Issue is no sooner Rev. 12.4. delivered, but (ready to be) devoured by the Dragon. Miserum me! quid agam? quo me vertam? Why, first Isa. 2.22. Cease from Man; then fly to God, the Deu. 32.4,31. 1 S. 2.2. 28.23. 3. Ps. 18.31. & 27.5 & 40.2. & 78.35. Isa. 17.10. 1 Co. 10.4. Rock of Israel, even those Isa. 33.16. Munitions of Rocks, those Deu. 33.15. lasting Hills, which Ps. 89.28. & 102 26,27. Isa. 40.28 Heb. 1.12. stand for ever, both Ps. 125.2. & 150 1. Isa. 28.19. & 32.18. Dan. 6.26. 2 T. 2.19. Heb. 6.18. Mal. 3.6. steady and Gen. 21.16,17. &c. Ex. 14.13 14 &c. & 15.24,25. Deu. 4.7. Jos. 24.7. Jud. 4.3,23. & 10.11,12. 1 S. 30 6.8. 2 Ch. 14.11,12. & 18.31. Ps. 22.24. & 34.6. & 37.32,39. & 46.1. & 85.9. & 102 20. & 107.6,13,19 & 119.151. & 145.18. Isa. 38.20. Jer. 36.26. Rev. 12.16. ready for Isa 32.2. shadow, Isa. 32.18. shelter and See p. 31. x support to any weary Land, to every feeble-fainting Traveller: that Ps. 36.9. & 68.26. Jer. 17.13. See p. 21. g. Fountain of living Waters, which is still and ever Ps. 87.7. Isa. 35.6,7. & 41.18. Zec 13.1. & 14.8. open and running to Cant. 5.1. Isa. 40.31. & 41.17. & 49.10. Joel 3.18. Jo. 4.14. & 7.38. Rev. 21.6. fill and refresh thee: that Mat. 10.16. galless Mat. 3.16 L. 3.22. Jo. 1.32. Dove: that Neh 9.20. Isa. 63.10. Jo. 14.16,17. & 15.26. Eph. 4.30. gen­tle-good Spirit, which will Ro. 8.26,27. Ps. 10.17. help and excuse, not aggravate or upbraid, thine Infirmities. He Ps. 38.9. & 65.2. & 94.9. hears, understands and graciously interprets, hee admits and answers, (e­ven before thou speakest. Isa. 65.24. Dan. 9.20,21.) all thy Deu. 5.28. Ps. 119.26. & 139.4. Hos. 14.8. Mal. 3.16. Dan. 10.12. Words ' Jud. 13 8,9. 1 K. 9.3,2 K. 19.20. 2 Ch. 7.12,14. & 20.9. & 30.27. Neh. 1.11. & 2.4,5, &c. Job 22.27. Ps. 4.3. & 31.22 & 66.19. & 102.17. & 116.1,2. Mat. 7.7,8. & 18.19. L. 11.9,10. Jo. 14.13. & 16.23,24. Prayers, Gen. 28.20,21 & 31.13. Num. 21.2,3. Deu. 23 21. 1 Ch. 28.2,3. Ps. 132.2,3,4,5. & 61.5. Eccl. 5.4. Vows, Ex. 3.7. & 22.23,27. Num. 20.16. Deu. 26.7. 1 S. 7.9. Neh. 9.9. Is. 3.4. & 18.6. & 22.24. & 77.1. & 138.3. Isa. 30.19. Joh. 2.2. Complaints and Cryes; thy Ex. 4.10, &c. Isa. 32.4. Jer. 1.6,7. Zep: 3.9. Lispings, 1 S. 1.12,13,15. Ps. 45.1. Mutterings and Ps. 10.17 & 37.4. & 145.19 secret Desires; thy Job 5.1 [...]. Ps. 30.11. Isa. 38.14,20. & 57.18. & 61.2,3. Jer: 30.1,13,18,20. Ez. 9.4,11. Dan. 10.2,12. Mat. 5 4. Jo. 16.20,22. Mournings 2 K. 22.19. Ps. 6.8. & 56.8: & 126.5,6 Isa. 25.8. & 38.5. Jer. 31.15,16. L. 6.21. Rev. 7.17. Tears, Ex. 2.23. Ps. 12.5. Isa. 35.10. Ez. 9.4,11. Sighs, Ex. 6.5. & 14.15. Jud. 2.18. Ps. 3 8.9. & 102.19,20. Ro. 8.26. Groans, Ps. 42.1. & 119.131. Lam. 3.56,57. Pantings [Page 89] or Num. 12.13. 2 K. 6.17. Neh. 2.4 Pious Ejaculations whatsoever; with the very Gen. 4.10. Ps. 50.21. & 55.19. Isa. 37.4,6. Ez. 35 12,13. Zep. 2.8. Acts 9.4,5. Ja 5.4. See pag. 30 z. Causes thereof, though unexpressed or (perhaps) unknown by thee, even Eph. 3.20. above all thou canst ask or think; he Jos. 1.5. 2 Ch. 32.22. Neh. 9.20. Ex. 15.13. Ps. 32.8. & 48.14. & 73 24 & 78.52. Isa. 58.11. Jo. 16.13. Heb. 13.5. guid­eth, See page 38. h. & 31. x, &c. supporteth and secureth thee in them.

Here's thy onely Job 5.15,16. & 31.24,28. Ps. 27.13,14. & 42.11. & 71.5. & 78.7. & 146.5. Jer. 14.8. & 17.7.13,17 Joel 3.16, Acts 28.20. Eph. 2.12 1 T. 1,1. 1 P. 1.21. Hope, Deu. 33.27. Ru. 2.12. Ps. 9.9. & 36.7. & 46.1. & 61.4. & 73.25. & 91. all. Isa. 25.4. Jer. 16.19. Heb. 6 18.Refuge and Ex. 33.14. Jos. 1 13. Job 34.29. Ps. 94.12,13. Isa. 11.10. & 32.17,18. & 57.2. & 63.13,14. Jer. 30.10. & 50.6. Mic. 2.10. Mat 11.28,29. Jo. 16.33. Heb. 4.9,11. Rest; and here art thou above the Reach of all wicked Hands, Tongues and Thoughts. In the mean time, stay thy self with such Cant. 2 5. Fla­gons, Caudels or Cordials as this and the Mat. 10.28. L. 12.4. Ps. 3.5,6. & 27.1,2. like; Isa. 51.12. I, even I, am he that comforteth you; who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a Man that shall dy, or of the Son of Man, which shall be made as Grass?

If this seem either a Digression, or too great Enlarge­ment; I must, of force acquaint the Reader, that (in refe­rence to this Affair) I have been too much known to the former sort of these Persons, and Ps. 42 4. too little to the latter. Of whom a few, I may not unfitly esteem as Jobs Friends; Good Men, but Job 16.2,2 T. 4.16. Miserable Comforters. As Christ ex­pected no L. 17.16. Thanks, no more can we L. 10.33, &c. Pity from a Mat. 10.5. Jo. 4.9. & 8.48. Sa­maritan, though his good Providence may cast it upon us. But it seems a Calamity cleaving to the Afflicted, That they cannot be under Gods hand in any Degree; but they must also incurr Ps. 69.26 Ob. 12. Zec. 1.15. Censure and scorn from the Worst, and Job 19.13,14. Ps. 31.11. & 38.11. & 88.8,18. Mat. 26.56. L. 23.49. su­spence of Affection and Familiarity even from the Best. I proceed.

practice 3 Much less, 3ly is any thing here offered in a vindictive or jeering Way; though Examples of 1 K. 18.27. Job 12.2. & 40.7,10, &c. Ps. 50.21. Pr. 30.4. Eccl. 11 9. Ez. 23.6,12. & 27.4, &c. & 28.3,4 5. Ja. 4.13. M. 7.9. Ironia's are not wanting even out of holy Writ; but I willingly forbear. Let none therefore so ill requite my Candor, as to cast a An, si quis atro dente me petiverit, indultus ut flebo puer? scornfull Eye, or scurrilous Invective, on any Passage or Expression herein. But first reflect, and see how they find all at home, not in the House only, but in the Heart: remembring how God Pr. 3.34.scorneth the scorners, and hath Pr. 19.29. Judgements ready for them. And if ought seeme or be ridiculous indeed, [Page 90] let the Reproach light where it belongs; on the Actors, not the Sufferers, who have their share already.

practice 4 And 4ly, Least of all am I apt to study, or act in, any State or Statute-Affairs, further then a conscionable Obe­dience requires, or a petitionary Way permits; to wit, Humbly wishing and praying, That all Acts and Proceedings of Statute-Judicature, might be founded on sufficient Oath, or firm and good Grounds, under fit Penalties both to the Judge and Suggestor: That, in Expedition of all such Acts, Unseemly Seats of Justice. Ale-houses might be avoided, unless in Itinere, for ur­gent Cause, or eminent Conveniency: That a civil-honest Man in Travell, and a Gent. at any time, might not be de­barr'd, or checkt for the wearing of a Sword; especially, when it is not notoriously offensive, but his needfully defen­sive Arms, which Christ himself L. 22.36.38. seems to allow: That the Rules of civill Obedience, might be obvious, plain and open, suitable herein, at least, to the Ex. 24.3,4. & 35.1. Deu. 5.22. & 6,7,8,9. & 27.2,3.8. Jos. 8.34,35. 2. K. 23.2. Jer. 36.2,3. & 43. 1. Hab. 2.2. Act. 20.27 divine Law. It is the received Axiom; Lex scripta est vigilantibus, non dormientibus. But, to what end are Mens Eyes open, if the Law be Isa. 29.11,12. Sealed, shut, or shadowed upon them? The lack of this Candor and openness in the Carriage of the Laws, enforceth Men into more Errors, then els they needed or would incurr: 'Tis not unknown to many I speak expe­rimentally. If, indeed, there were less Law, and more Gospel, a privater Composure of conjugall Discord (at least) might be assayed by some in Authority, rather then (at first dash, and parte altera inaudita) the Matter promoted to their Judicatories: unless the Offender be notorious, refractory and reasonless.

But if, under, Constablery and Conservation of Peace, (which I confess, may be wronged, also, by fained Infor­mation) an honest harmless Man, shall be hurried out of Doores to Prison or Bondage; Or, if poor Commoners shall be ordered or exampled by such Constables and Conser­vators as afore described (which we are confident, never was nor is intended, or understood by supreme Authority) Nos Miseros! Quis enim conservabit ipsos Conservatores? What Inno cence or Integrity is it that shall protect or se­cure [Page 91] a Man? Or, how shall he know when he hath or is his own? Should the Staff and Sword be put or kept in such Hands, to lay about them as they list; whom may they not (whom will they care to) hit, hurt or wound? being alike apt to Ps. 37.14. slay the upright, and 1 K. 20.42. 1 S. 15.9. Isa. 5.23. Pr. 17.15. spare the wicked. Doubtless, such were never mercifully disign'd by God, ad Pacem conservandam, but wrathfully destinated by him ad pacem consternandam. Flagella Sponsi: whereof (we may suppose) he meaneth where he saith, Mat. 10.34. I came not to send Peace, but a Sword. Places of Judicature give no Liberty to exercise or express Passion, but Pains; they are, or ought to be, esteemed rather Onus then Honos, Moses being conscious hereof, complained, Num. 11.14,15. I am not able to bear all this People alone, because it is too heavy for Me. And if thou deal thus with me kill me I pray thee, out of hand, &c. And therefore no doubt but a Writ of Ease is as welcom to an upright Man, as a Commission of Power; so that all Seekers in this kind (especially) may justly be suspected.

Some Motives to the divulging hereof, are declared at the Page 8. &c. Beginning. Let none take Offence (so God be glori­fied) that I add one or 2. Moe. As 1. That in my Defences, I have not had to deal with simple Swains, like my self; but with politick and powerfull Persons; and not a single, but a twined Authority. (a strong disswasive to One naturall bashfull, not bold.) 2. With Her, also, Who, as shee could not alledge Inmaturity of Years, so scorned shee to acknowledge Ignorance or simplicity: One that, indeed, was ingenuous, aged, experienced; a frequent Reader in Scripture; an audible and earnest Orator at set hours of Prayer; a publique Hearer of Sermons (but not in society with, or subjection to her Husband, that were base; and yet debar her the House of God (so shee accounted the Com­mon Place of Assembly) o that were damnable!) One (when shee pleased) of a seeming-civil Deportment, and good (I mean, composed) Expression: One (which I might have placed before) that was expressly approved to me by a god­ly Minister, without which Encouragement I had not ad­ventur'd: [Page 92] Goodness (God is Witness) being, even then, my optimate and ultimate (I need not say my sole) Aym and End in Marriage. Let the choicest of Gods Children exa­mine their heart herein, and reflect on the 2. Ans. to the 3. Obj. And (which is the drift hereof) let them consider withall, how easily the World may be gull'd, or even their own charitable opinions deluded, with the specious Appear­ances of those that can be Saints in Profession, but Devils in Practice ( Mat. 24.24. 2 Co. 11.14. its possible there may be such): How far a smooth Tale, perhaps soupled with Tears, and tip'd with a seeming-lawfull Oath, may slide, insinuate and prevaile, especially into prepared Ears; and what a Gangrene this may grow to (if not wisely foreseen and salved) in the Common­wealth. 3. The Eyes of a County (at least) was upon this Proceeding which (for ought you have heard) might have kept within the Curtains: and it hath been told me (nemo ringatur aut sugilles) That I had already given ill Example against good Wives, many of whom (by like) had used, or looked, to rule a little more then the Rost: and lest mad Husbands get too much Head, it were (said they) good looking to them betime; they had a fair Hint given for helping themselves.

Now (we must, here, needs enlarge a little) Whether we ought to obey Women (not to say, Acts 5.29. & 4.19. Men) rather then God, Judge Yee. Let no Tit 2 15.Man (much less a Est. 1.17. Tant [...] eru aliis, quant [...] tibi fu [...]ris. Woman, thy Wise) despise thee, for shame, apage! I know not whether of the two, were more tollerable to suffer that, or to say this, Oderint dum metuant. But, verily, even Est 1.22. Ahasuerus and his Heathens, shall rise in Judgement against those We are What we dare. Hic Mulier. A pretty hearing. hind­ish Husbands, Who (Men of Parts especialy) do basely betray Gods Image and Authority, imprinted in, and en­trusted to them, unto scorn and reproach: Not in a godly, discreet and compassionate yeilding, as to the weaker Vessell; but in a sheepish Lenity (at best, but to gain applause of loving and lowly) and slavish succumbing unto, and there­by fomenting, the petulant and malignant, yea the lofty, violent and vicious Humours of their Wives. Which, it seems, is not attended onely with Reproach, but disprofit: [Page 93]

Ill thrives that luckless Family that shows
A Cock thats silent, and a Hen that Crows, &c.
Incerti Auth.

The rest I have not ready in mind, nor will stay for it.

Of this sort, for certain, are even those Levites, Who cannot allow themselves of the 1 Co. 9.14. Fruits of their own preci­ous Labours, Whether these be Objects of pi­ty, or reproof and reproach, I dispute not. Quo decenter amiciantur; while Pride pre­vails so far with Covetousness in their Wives, (who are pre­sumed the best and humblest of Women) as to rufflle it in Silks. They give him leave to preach, but they'l practice. Do not these Men, more then all other, forget themselves, yea their Ps. 44.21. God and Husband? are these fit 1 P. 5.3. Ph. 3.17 1 T. 4.12. Tit. 2.7Examples for the Flock of Christ and Beleevers? Shall these be Isa. 50.7. & 58.1. Faces of Flint, or Je. 1.18. & 15.20. Ez. 3.8,9. brasen Walls, against a Rebellious whole-Nati­on, that are Noses of Wax to their owne Wives, their weaker Vessell, whom they may (presumedly) cast almost in any Mould? Tit. 2.15. Let no Man (or Woman) despise thee, is primary and proper to them. Let them, therefore, ei­ther lift up their Head-ship, and shew it us, or els lay by the Title, least it mislead us. They best know, sunt quod audent: No more but so.

These and other more private and powerfull Incentives, have concurred to the publication hereof; as if it had been prepared by divine providence (against or beside which I know nothing can be; but, I say purposly framed and fit­ted) to be publique and exemplary; And who knoweth whether God hath chosen so weak and worthless an Instru­ment to resist and baffle base Pride and Insolence? Or, whe­ther I be the silly Wretch designed by him for Est. 4.14.such a Time and service as this? And, surely, high time it is that ma­ny of our willfull-weak Vessells were talked withall in some Way obvious to their Sences; seeing the Heb. 4.12. See p. 14. y. quick and power­full Word of God seemeth so dull and despicable a Thing to their spirits; some of them by contracting an habituall Insolence, being already turned Amazons, and al­most (viz. in high degree) Gen. 6.4. Which of some, is con­ceived to be meant not so much of their en­larged stature of Body, as their swelling inso­lence of minde above Men, a­gainst God: and so not to be ta­ken in the same sense with those Num. 13.32,33. Deu. 2.10,11,20,21. & 3.11. 1 S. 17.4. Giants, or Monsters of Wo­man-kind. Permit this light Expression upon as light a Subject.

CHAP. IX. The Conclusion.

I Summe up all in a swasive Address or Applicati­on: and I suppose, I shall speak the Mind of all or most that beare the name of honest or good Men. Let it, in the 1. Place be odious to hear of meum & tuum, mine and thine, betwixt Man and Wife. Certainly, Christ never intended it; He refused to divide betwixt L. 12.14.two Brethen; how much more would he have done 'twixt Mat. 19.6. one Flesh? But, if there be any distinction at all, let it be understood aright, and the Prerogative and Property ascribed as God hath appointed. 2. Let our animous Women begin to do, or endeavour their due Homage, and they shall have due Honour: Let them first (for so they must) walk carefully to please God and their Husband; and then shall he dwell knowingly (yea, in their own sence, kindly, tenderly and patiently) with them: Let them perform or yeild their due Obedience; and then, if they fall short of due Benevolence or other fit Obsequies and fair Allowances of Love, they may take their best and next Remedy. And (let other men do as they list or may) I will expect that if I speak in honest-sensible-sober Earnest, my Wife, if I have her, shall be silent when I bid her: which I am sure is agreeable to the Teutonick Transla­tion or sence of the Sacred Scripture, and I suppose to the Brittish too. On these Conditions, let him be branded for a Barbarian and Heathen, that in the least wise abuseth or evill intreateth his Wife. Were there more Sarah's and A­bigail's, there would (probably) be more Abraham's and fewer Nabal's. They begin at the wrong End of the Pro­verb (if they apply it hither-ward) that say, A good Jack [Page 95] maketh a good Jill. For (for by their Leave) its the Jill that must lead the Duty.

But, if they will needs forget themselves to be Wives, their Husbands must yet remember they are so: If they be so in­sulse and impudent, as to vilify, affront and defy their Husband (under that Notion especially) That is, if they will be so 2 P. 3.5. willingly & grossly ignorant, as not to know their Head from their Feet, they must be satisfied with Fare sui­table to their Ps. 32.9. Manners, not their Means or Mannors: for, how can they in reason claim so copious an Alimony, or kind Ʋsage, if they scorn or scant their Husband of that Authority afterward, which God gave and themselves granted him, at First. Or, if they make no dainty to strike at their Head (though but in Word onely, they have heard it wounds deeply) they must not disdain a little scratch on their Body, or to be deplum'd of a little Pride by their dis­creet and consciencious Husband for their good. I beleeve the direfull Martyrdom of but a Member of the Lambs be­loved Wife before described, is sowrer Sawce then 1000. dry Blows (or if a little bloody) bestowed on some of our coy, cross, domineering Dames. In short, if they cannot or will not carry, in some degree, conformable to the Pre­script and Patern of that 1 P. 3.1, &c. weaker Vessell set them down as moulded and framed by the holy Ghost; they must permit their Husband, in some proportion, to exercise that Know­ledge and coactive Power which God hath imparted to him, while not contradicted, but commended by his revealed Word: That, after they have suffered a while for their 1 P. 2.20. Faults or Pr. 26.5. Folly, they may 1 P. 2.12.glorify God their day of Visi­tation; and (at last) with their Fellow Servants and L. 23.40,41. 1 P. 2.20. just Sufferers, have all Rev. 7.17. & 21.4. Teares wiped away from their Eyes.

We know Christs little See page 37. i. ultFlock, consisteth of good Men and good Women, with their 1 Co. 7.14. holy Issue; which are evi­dently See page 37. m. farr fewer then the wicked Ones of the World (the comparing of Men with Women, I refer to the Alt. Eccl. 7.28. Kingly Preacher) and therefore (in proportion) as of Men, so of Women, we must look for the lesser Number of good then bad. From many of these (better and worse) am I [Page 96] liable to like Censure which some far worthier then my self incurred before me ('tis doubtfull I shall not live to make my Peace, or recover my repute upon their Terms if they be not wronged in the report, which I willingly suspect) but from which side to expect the severer, I stand in doubt. The Worser I weigh not; they must either bene agere, or male audire; I am neither to follow their Documents, affect their Approofs, nor fear their Detractions. The Better, I would either satisfy, or (on fairer grounds) submit unto. There are (I know) many good Men uxorious (some de­servedly, I doubt not) whose Affection may be apt (as is already touched) to transcend their Judgement, and (just­ly endearing their Wives as themselves) make them tender of hearing ought against Women in generall, lest it seem to touch at Theirs. But let no vertuous, discreet or modest Here I first name the Wo­man, because she will be first apt to take offence. Woman; no pious or prudent Man, be troubled or take distast hereat: Here's nothing taxeth or tasketh them, fur­ther then to incite their Christian Admonition and reproof of Others, where they find Mat. 5.9. Ro. 14 19. Ja. 3.18. Cause and 1 Mat. 7.6. Pr. 9.7,8. & 23.9. Place for it.

As for the gracious and godly Women, who do conscienci­ously submit to their Husbands indifferent Commands, as duty binds (yea, 1 P. 3.1 though their Husband obey not the Word, but be wicked) who being harmless, I say, have yet churlish or cruel Husbands; 1 P. 4.19. let them commit their souls to God in well doing as unto a faithfull Creator; their Amends lying mostly or mainly in his hand, who will either Ex. 2.2 7. Ps. 9.9. & 103.6. & 106 7. right them here, or richly and unspeakably Ro. 8.18. 2 Co. 4.17. Rev. 7.14, &c. reward them here­after. I beleeve there are in the World many wronged-good Women, that would fain be remedied of their down-right outragious Husbands, and want not temporall-civill Means and Opportunity for it, yet are patient and silent: For, who so skittish as they that are least hurt? Who so bold as Byard?

But to the other, I may say as in the Case of Servants (very near a-kin to theirs) 1 P. 2.20. If when ye be buffeted for your Faults, you not onely, not take it patiently (which though you did, you gained neither L. 17.9,10. glory nor thanks) but most impudently kick and rebell, yea without pressure or provo­cation; [Page 97] yee do but incur the Ja. 3.1.greater, even a double, or perchance deeper, Condemnation. For (as the Apostle there insinuateth) some Body must be Master; not all, nor many; (for so the World might soon be turn'd topsy-turvy) and Brethren [he saith] not sisters; Women were not then so much as suspected to come in Competition for Mastery. Remember, or know, that as 1 Co. 14.33. God is Author of Peace, so not of Gen. 11.9.Confusion. We never read of Parity or Equality, that was or shall be consistent or permanent in any Relation or Body animate but in the sacred-mysterious Trinity of God. And, truly, I beleeve, that some good Women among us, who are (upon the Matter) Commanders in Chief. would blush to confess it, or be so accounted. See [by the way] the shifty and slinking Nature of sin: The Gen. 3.12,13Woman that thou gavest to be with me shee gave me, &c. (said Adam, and so may his grand-sons often say) The Serpent (saies Eve) beguiled Me. Nothing holds Water nor wards the least Blow or Assault, but Truth and Integrity; these on­ly are impregnable, impenetrable. These Women (the last I mean) do grant a Thing call'd Subjection; but they nei­ther know, nor care to learn the Meaning, much less the Practice of it: they are pleased not to dispute it; but they abhor to discharge it. Thus beats the Pulse (I suspect) in many a formall Family: But from the beginning it was not so.

Lastly, here's not the least Animation intended to any Libertine of either Sex. Therefore, let no prophane, drunken, disorder'd Fellow dare to beat his Wife, (though Turpe est dectori, &c. Hands off. Mat. 7.4,5. never so bad.) Who proposeth no better End therein then to express his Power, because (forsooth) hee'l not be crossed, though in a very Toy; commanding her, oft­times, meer Trifles to try Obedience. Let not these dream but they, also, have a Eph. 6.9. Master (for they do justly forget the Notion, and Relation of Husband) a Master I say, in Heaven, whose Eye is never off them; who will one day exact a strict and severe Account of their doing.

Neither let those Women think to catch any Protection, Countenance or Comfort, from the Word or hand of God, [Page 98] who know none other use of their Husbands, then to be Co­verts of, or Caters for their Lust, Pride and Luxury.

I come now, by Gods blessed Conduct, to the Period of my crabbed and tedious Parenthesis; wherein you have a Spark, or Glimpse of that native Intellect, conferred by our common Maker the Fountain of Wisdom, on Me the meanest or worst of his Creatures, which he more abun­dantly and splendidly sheds forth in Others. What spiri­tuall Improvement he hath also given it heer, you have seen. As for humane Acquisitions or Accessions of Learning, &c. Aeque' doctus ac vestitus; neutiquā mediocriter. I may grate fully affirm as of other like. He hath ever sup­peditated (perhaps not what I wished, but) what I need­ed, which if they seem too low and short for so high a De­sign as This, I cannot help it, you have already the best Rea­sons I am able to give of mine Enterprise; which I conceive included in These, That 1 Co. 7.7. every Man hath his proper Gift of God, one after this Manner, and another after that: 1 Co. 12.4,6,11And there are diversities of Gifts but the same Spirit; di­versities of Operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all: and All these worketh that One and the self same Spirit, dividing to every Man severally as be will. I crave onely this simple Courtesy at the houds of All (especially such as pretend to know me by these Expressions) That, if my poor-single Talent be not worth communicating, I may quietly enjoy it my self; or so improve it, Mat. 25.14, &c. L. 19.13, &c. as I may be ho­nestly accountable to my Master.

And now do I most willingly wind out of this, once, un­known-unfeared Labyrinth (wherein, it hath fared with Me, as with him, That, having begun a Building, can neither with Ease of Purse proceed, nor with Credit, or Quiet of Mind, desist) to be at my Plough again, which, all this while stands idle. But Acts 11.17. what am I, that I should seem to withstand, hinder or regulate, the Ezr. 7.9,28. Neh 2.8. good Hand of my God; or Ps. 78.41. limit the holy One of Israel Eph. 1.11.who worketh all things after the Counsell of his own Will? He that gives my Gen. 2.7. Job 27 3. & 33.4. Ps. 104.28, &c. & 132.5,13, &c. Eccl. 12.7. Ez. 37.3,5, &c. Acts 17.28. Breath and Job 23.14. Ps. 138.8. Isa. 26.12. Ph. 2.13. 2 Co. 3.5 Abilities, my Ps. 31.15. Pr. 27 1. Ja. 4.13.14. Time and Ps. 38.11. & 102 6,7. & 142.4. & 77.6. Job 16.7. Isa. 49.21. Jer. 15.17. Rev. 1.9, &c. Retiredness; hath high Reason and Right to set and suit, or (at his Pleasure) to vary my Task, and expect my sedulous and Ro. 12.1. reasonable [Page 99] Service. Which soveraign Propriety he Jo. 10.30,38. & 24.13. & 17.11,21,22. himself justly arro­gates; as he insinuated by that short Reply of his to Peters too curious-impertinent Demand: Jo. 21.21.22. Lord, and what shall this Man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou Me. (A ve­ry Heathen tells Me, Qua dij vocant eundum.) And, tru­ly, he hath manifestly controll'd and convinced even Me of it (as in sundry other, so) in this very Particular. How­ever; He 2 S. 7.20. Isa. 38 3. 2 Co. 11.11,31 1 Jo. 3.20. knoweth, and 2 S. 7.17. Neh. 9.20. Ps. 16.7. Ro. 8.16. 2 Co. 3 5 giveth Me and others (Ps. 37.6.) to know, that his Service is my 1 Co. 7.22. Liberty and Ps. 37.4 & 40.8. & 119.32,60,77,97,72,14,174. Ro. 7.22. Rea­sons, Pr. 3.17. Mat. 11.30. 1 Jo. 5.3. delight; though I be sore and heavily clogged with my Corruption, as his See p. 24. s. ult. chosen vessell and 1 Co. 1.1. Gal. 1.1. 1 T. 1.1. Apostle hath Ro. 7.14, &c. fitly declared for Me. So that, if the small Remnant of the days of my Pilgri­mage with my weak Body may not extend; or, if my God think it not fit I should perform or perfect, What I have purposed or propos'd; I trust I shall be 1 K. 8.18,19. 2 Co. 8.12. disblamed: He will cause it better done after and without Me; all Ages, Persons and Actions, being at once and ever 2 Ch. 16.9. Ps. 11 4. Pr. 15.3. Isa. 46.10. Heb. 4.13. & 13.8. 2 P. 3.8,9 present, un­der his sacred Eye, and Soveraign Power: and, it may be, he hath judged these Notions, more needfull both for the Times and Me, then some other. And therefore,

O Thou eternall God, who Jo. 15.7. 1 Jo. 5.14. allowest and Hos. 14.2,3. Jer. 2.6. Joel. 1.14,15 & 2.17. Mat 6.9. L. 11.1,2. & 17.10 appointest us, to approach, adore and implore thee, in thine own Language Who art so mysteriously, miraculously and mercifully, beyond all hu­mane Comprehension, the Gen. 1.27. Isa. 54.5. Mat. 19.4. M. 10.6. Creator, Ps. 34.22. & 71.23. & 74.2. & 78.35 Isa. 41.14. & 48.17. & 54.8. Jer. 50.34. Zec. 10.8. L. 1.68. Acts 20.28. 1 P. 1 18,19. Rev. 5.9. Redeemer, Isa. 63,16. Jer. 31.9. Mal. 2.10. & 1.6. Mat. 5.16. & 23.9. Jo. 20.17 Isa. 9.6. Ph. 4.20. See page 18. l. Father, 1 Co. 11.3. Eph. 1.22. & 5.23. Head and Jer. 3.14. & 31.32. Hos. 2.7 19,20 2 Co. 11.2. Husband of thy Church: Who Jo. 1.18. & 3.16. Ph. 2.6,7,8. Heb. 2.9,18. & 4.15. 1 P. 2.24. condescending to our frail Condition, Capacity and L. 24.46,47. Acts 17.3. Ro. 8.3. 1 Co. 15.3,4,17. 2 Co. 1.9. Eph. 2.1,5. Heb. 2.10,17. & 9.2 [...]. Necessity, hast in thine Gal. 4.4. Ro. 5.6. own full and fit season, L. 1.35 & 24.39. Jo. 1.14. Ro. 8 3. & 9.5. Gal 4.4. 1 T. 3.16. Heb. 2.16. 1 Jo. 1.1,2,3. manifested thy self to us in the Flesh; hast made us (silly Job 7.5. & 25.6. Ps. 22 6. Ro. 7.24. Worms and Wretches, Gen. 3.19. & 18.27. Job 10.9. & 34.15. Ps. 30.9. & 103.14. & 104.29. Eccl. 3.20. & 12.7 dust and Ashes) Eph. 5.30. Jo. 15.5. 1 Co. 6.15. Members of thy Body, of thy Flesh and of thy Bones, and Tit. 2.14. purified us to thy self a Peculiar People, even 2 P. 1.4. Partakers of thy divine Nature (yet, not intending our [Page 100] Mat. 10.21,22. M. 13.12,13. L. 21.16,17. Jo. 16.1,2. 1 Th. 3.4. 1 T. 4.10. temporall-carnall Ease, but our Ro. 6.3. 2 Co. 4.11. Ph. 1.29. & 3.10. Col. 1.24. 1 P. 3.17,18. & 4.1. Conformity to thy death; that so Ro. 6.5. & 8.18 Ph. 3.8. 1 P. 4.13. by suffering, and Acts 14.22. Ro. 8.17. 2 T. 3.12. 1 P. 2.21. Heb. 12.8. not beside, nor without it, we may at last be Ph. 3.21. 1 Io. 3 2. Dan. 12.3. like thy glorious Body): Who, Heb. 5.7 Col. 1 22. in the dayes of thy Flesh, vouchsafedst to honour the Solemnizati­on of Jo: 2.1,2. Marriage (the Anti-type of thy mysticall Vnion with us) not onely with thy sacred Presence, but with thy first Practise and Verse 11. Beginning of Miracles: Who hast Mat. 18.7. & 17 1. pronoun­ced it necessary, that Offences come (to the Worlds end) but a Woe to them by whom the Offence cometh: Who hast di­rected us to 1 Co. 12.25. care and Ja. 5.16. Eph. 6.18,19. 1 T. 2.1,2. 1 Th. 5.25. pray one for another, to wit such as mutually belong to thine Mat 20.16. & 22.14. & 25.32,33. M. 13.20. Io. 13.18 & 15.19. & 17.9. 2 T: 2.19 Election of Life; for further thy revealed Word Jo: 17.9. 1 Jo: 5 16 doth not warrant us; thou art as large and illustrious in the Hab: 3.3. Glory of thy Ps: 18.7,8, &c. & 97.3. Isa: 13.6, &c. & 30.33. & 33.14. Jer: 10.10 & 30.23. & 51.45. Ioel 2.11. Nah: 1.2, &c Zep: 3.8. L. 23.30,31. 2 Th. 1.8. Heb. 10.27. Rev. 6.15,16. & 16.19. terrible and Ex: 17.14,16. Nū: 24.20. Deu. 25.19. 1 S. 15.3,8,20,23,28,29. & 28.16, &c. 1 Ch. 4.43. Isa. 1.24. Jer. 20.16. & 23.40. Ez. 24.14. Hos: 13.14. Zec: 8.14. Ro: 9.22. Rev: 14.10,11. & 19 3. & 20.10. inflexible Ex: 14.18. Job 21.19. Ps. 9.16. Ez. 21.5. & 25.7. & 35.11,12. & 39.21. Ro: 2.6, &c. & 9.22,23. 2 T. 2.20. Rev: 11.13. & 12.10. & 19.1, to 6. Justice, as of thy Ps: 25.6, & 103.4. & 119.156 & 145.9. tender and Isa: 54.8. Jer: 31.20. Hos: 11.8. L: 15.20,22, &c. melting Mercies. Let, now the Power And Influence of thy sacred Spirit (God Jo: 16.14. Acts 20.28. 1 Jo. 5.7. coequall and Heb: 9.14. coeternall with thee, Ro: 1.25. & 9.5. 2 Co: 11.31. blessed for ever) sway and sancti­fie the Hearts of thine Elect; turn our Jo: 2.9. nuptial Water into Wine, Ex: 15.23,25. the bitter and 2 K. 2.19,21,22. banefull into sweet and sanative, the L. 1.17. Hearts of the Fathers to the Children, the Disobedi­ent to the Wisdom of the Just; root out every Heb: 12.15. Root of Bitterness, especially in Those, whom thou hast so nearly u­nited Eph 5.21. See p: 53. u. One with another, and See p. 99. o. with thy self; perswade or compell the Wives to submit unto the Husbands, Eph: 5.22. as unto thee the Lord, and the Husbands to love and cherish the Wives V. 29.30. as thou dost thy Church.

And all This not for ours (to whom belongeth Dan: 9.7. Ezr: 9.6. Ez. 36.32. confusion of Faces) but for thine own Lev: 22.2,32. 1 Ch: 16.35 Ps: 33.21. & 99.3. & 103.1. & 111.9. & 145.21. Isa: 57.15. Ez: 36.21,22. & 39.25. Am: 2.7. L: 1.49. holy, Ex: 22.27. & 34.6. 2 Ch. 30.9. Neh: 9.17,31. Job 33.24. Ps: 86.15. & 116.5. Isa: 30.18,19. Joel 2.13. Jon: 4.2 1 P. 2.3. gracious and Deu: 28.58. 1 Ch: 29.13. Neh: 9.5. Ps: 72.19. glorious Ps: 44.3. Isa: 48.9. Ez: 20.9,14,22,44. Names sake. 1 Ch. 16 36. Neh: 5.13. & 8.6. Ps: 41.13. & 72.19. & 106.48. Mat: 6.13. Ro: 1.25 Eph: 3.21. 1 T: 6.16. Rev: 7.11,12. & 22.20. Amen.

To the King eternall, immortall, invisible, the only Wise GOD, be honour and glory for ever and ever: Amen.

1 T. 1.17.
FINIS.

POST-SCRIPT.

SInce th' Epistle may not prevent, let this Post­script appease a carnall (it can be no better) Censure, viz. The Margin is so needlesly over­loaden with Proofs, that it will bee generally neg­lected. So. But we make no Bones at the swelling and boisterous Notes even of some pro­fessing Divines, meerly displaying their own Learning and Readings of (sometimes humane or prophane) Authors, or citing of Scripture (hap­ly) to small Purpose. And are our Stomachs so queasy, as to nauseate and strain at the mild and Sincere Milk of the Word, properly, seasonably and plentifully applyed? Too many, indeed, are deadly sick of this Surfet: And 'tis granted, that these (as to their own sence and Appetite) may here meet with Superfluity; but it's hoped (if justly ponder'd) none or little Impertinency.

It's almost impossible for any Com­posure of this Kind, to escape exactly faultless; especially from so limited a Deliberation as here befell both the Author and Printer. Be the Author's (for this time) charitably con­niv'd at; the Printer's may be rectified thus.

Epist. page 2. line 2. read would; & l. 22. r. loth. Matter, p. 3. l. 3. r. defied; p. 4. l. 8 r. (my then too; p. 28. l. 21. r. abounded; p. 31. l. 23,24. r. spirit of Man; p. 38. l. 2. r. (viz. p. 41. l. 26. r. they were; p. 46. l. 14. r. primarily; l. 30. r. with the; p. 49. l. 22. r. or (haply; p. 51. l. 34. r. suppose) p. 80. l. 12. r. Power; p. 84. l. 16. r. warrantably.

Lesser faults in Pointing, &c. are left to the Readers Prudence.

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