CHAP. I.

WE would promise some things here also very brief­ly. Sect. 1. First, to the Reader in common, then to the Reverend Minister in special that enjoyned this Task.

To the Reader, That he may be cleared in the progress of our enjoyned and undertaken sa [...]k, which was: To hold this forth from sacred Scripture, That, supp [...]sing (for we may sup­pose that of which we make no question) Christmas-Day is not to be kept holy: A godly Minister ought to teach his people so, and trouble them ab [...]ut it, and heat them off from that ob­servation whereunto they will feel themselves driven by a curs­ed thing within them. Indeed we hold to this, That he ought and must drive his p [...]ople as he can from the observation of those Times, which have not the impression and stamp of God upon them. But this we shall n [...]t meddle with here, [...]e­ferring it to its proper place, the fift Section. This onely, as we said, falls under our maintenance here, [That the Day is not to be kept holy;] And if we are able to make good this Negitive, then you may think we have causam facilem, no hard task in our hand, to cleer this from Scripture, That a godly Minist [...]r must tell his people so, as aforesaid; and shall we doubt not, through Divine Assistance, be fully cleered here­after [Page 4] in the progress of our undertaken task. So much to thee Reader.

And nextly to your self. Sir, Before we enter upon the de­bate, Sect. 2. and to maintain our undertaking, we hold it our duty, to cleer you as much as we can in this matter. And where we cannot, though we do what we can, there we will leave you to God to cleer your self before him. This we must speak out for your cleering. That you did not honour this day, while you were amongst us, with a Sermon, or any other service upon that day, though importuned so to do, as a sottish, brutish peo­ple use to do. That is all we can say for you; that which you say now, makes against you, as we suppose, and now falls un­der debate, for you say, That holy men have done it, kept the day holy, and have maintained their doings in their writ­ings: And therefore you conclude, That other matters are to be handled, and that point of observation, as to that day, not to be dealt in before the people, (let them alone with their customes) It is a controverted point, holy men are for the observation of that day, and holy men against it; Let it be left in Medio, speak neither for it nor against it, medio tu­tissimus ibis; this is your advice, and we judge it not, but thank you for it. Your intentions may be holy, your ends pure before your own eyes, and the eyes of others; And all that is nothing before God, unto which Master you stand or fall: It is not what our intentions are, but what the word of institution is, for that carries it against all the godly and learned men of the world; suppose them to be all and every one for the keeping holy that day; whereas we are verily perswaded, you will not find two godly men now adays, maintaining the Observation of that Feast, either by their writing, preaching or practise: yet if you should spye out two, we humbly conceive, they are too many by two. And we could wish that you had not spo­ken a word in favour of it; for the least word whispered in fa­vour of an Idol Day, should be as much avoided by a true Christian, we think, as was the offering the least Grain of In­cense to an Idol God, by the faithful Antipasses [Anti-papas] in days of old, whereof you have read so much, that we will Bright­man. tell you nothing.

And we are perswaded we could hold this forth (had you commanded us, but you considered our strength, and dealt with Sect. 3. us as with children in understanding; as indeed we are yet) able to cleer this from them uth of God, That this name Christmas is not to be named, unless with indignation by a godly man, truly and indeed such an one, godly in Christ Jesus. Let 1 Cor. 5. 1. Hos. 2. 17. 1 Tim. 6. 20. See Cartw. p. 576. 577. us, say the Rhemists, which is their councel also, "Keep to our fore-fathers words, and we shall keep to our fore-fathers faith, [and be as Idolatrous still as they were.] Keep up the Name of Christmas, ( [...]hat is one of their old words) and we shall keep up [the superstitious Customes, and Heathenish practises in use among us at that time.] Do not you, (if our advice may take We must do what possi­bly we can, that the ve­ry names, terms and phrases that Idolators have used might be utterly abo­lished, and remembred no more, Exod. 23. 13 Deut. 12. 3. place) a low your people the Name, for then they will allow themselves the thing, those Idolatrous services, customes and practises, before spoken of: If you will allow them an Inch here, as we say, indulgeban: sibi latius, they will take an El. Certainly, Ministers should not suffer us to come nigh Popery, they should bid us keep from the Verges of it; to abstain from the least appearance of that great evil. Ye must restrain us in our provoking ways, ye must tell us we stand not fast, while we stand neer to danger, no more then we do, standing neer those places where the Sea is bearing-in; yet if we will do so, for we are very wilful; ye should frown upon us, we think, and restrain us what ye can; assuring us, nothing is little or small, as not in Gods Law, so nor in His Worship, nor in any of those matters which lead on to the greatest and highest pro­vocations. And if ye shall not so do, ye bid us, upon the mat­ter, to speak and do as we have done: Name the 25. of De­cember as superstitiously, as we commonly name the Lords day qui non ve­lat cum po­test jubet. heathen [...]shly: Ye must estrain us in these things, else ye bid us do it; Keep-on your Heathen [...]sh Names and Customes still. Let us, say the R [...]emists. in the place [...]ore mentioned; take heed of the words of Hereticks (they mean those truly godly, all over Act. 24. 14. the world, who can speak of that Heresie as Paul did:) And should not we say as much of those Hereticks indeed, whose Religion or way of Worship is but meer error, as their head 2 Thes. 2. 3. merum s [...] ­lus. Bez. and body is but meer wickedness? Let us take heed of the words of these Hereticks, else we shall never come off cleerly from [Page 6] their works. You teach your people, we think, we know it is your duty, That it is not enough that they forb [...]a an Oath, but that they must fear an Oath; not onely not to commit sin, but to hate, yea to abominate so to do; so i [...] this case, not enough not to observe this Idol-day, but to loath to do it: We cannot choose or like that we do not love; not leave or decline that we do not loath. We must hate every false way, because God ha­teth it: And with that excellent R [...]ler, contend against those that will walk therein, stirring up our selves against superstious persons and practises, as all that truly worship the Father, must do; so they cannot but shew how much they love him, what zeal they have for him, and with what indignation they are carried out against all that and onely that, their Lord hath indig­nation against.—But we will take no more work into our hands, but what you were pleased, considering our Shoulder (for which we thank you) to impose upon us, The maintaining the Nega­tive, That Christmas Day, (commonly so called by common and unclean tongues) is not to be kept holy, that the people are to be told so, and beaten off from it, and no delay to be used in these matters, shall be we hope cleered, as was said in its re­spective place.

CHAP. 2.

HEere we must excuse you again; you like not that ancient plea for the observation of the day, old cu­stomes, Sect. 1. our Grand-parents kept this day, so did our parents, and so have we done hitherto, and so we are resolved to do while we live, stubbornly enough. This is too rotten to hold, and as wil [...] and sawey reasonning it is, as theirs was, what our Fathers did, we will do, how abomi­nable soever their doings were. And yet the little you have said, for the observation of the Day, hath no little force in it, being taken from Scripture, if your Allegation be right: that which you may borrow from the writings of holy men, and from their practise also, is of little or no account at all with us, though something may be said to it in due place: we would [Page 7] deliver our selves from your Scripture allegation. First, for that will bear you out if any will, Scripture proof being sure proof.

Your Scripture (we call it yours, for possibly it may be mis­taken, Sect. 2. if not perverted; & male dum recitas incipit esse tuus) is taken out of John 10. 22. And it was at Jerusalem, the Feast Ioh. 10. 22. Vid. Bez. of Dedication, and it was Winter, and Jesus walked in the Temple, &c. Now as we conceive, here is the very Hinge [...] the Argument from our Lords example, observing that novel Feast (for that is the force of the word, is of the Argument.) Our Lord and Saviour observed that Feast, a novel thing, and meerly of mans institution; Therefore may we observe the Feast of his Nativity. Well, It is not a day for mirth, but rather in some respects of signing, with breaking of the Loyns; yet we cannot pass over this without a smile at least, though we are se­rious for the truth; and ridentem dicere, vere quis negat? so we say on, and enquire into this farther, we mean, this Feast of Dedication, that so we may try the strength of this H [...]e, whereon this Argument holds. We read the Temple was De­dicated three times: First by Solomon, in the seventh Moneth, 2 Kings. 8. that was in the midst of Autum; Then after the Temple was restored and built again by Nehemiah and his fellow-workmen. It was Dedicated again by him, the third day of the twelfth Neh. 12. 27. Moneth, which falls out in our twelfth and first Moneths com­monly called February and March: It was a Festival time with them, as we read; but it held but that time, we mean, it was not Anniversary, it was not observed the Year after, neither by King Solomon, nor by that Prince-like Ruler Nehe­miah. The third time, after it was renewed and purged, De­dicated by Judas Machabaeus, in the Moneth Chisten, which answers our tenth Moneth, December; therefore it was said in the Text; And it was Winter. It was ordered also that [...]he Mac. 4. 59. Feast of Dedication be kept in its season from Year to Year, by the space of eight days; from the five and twentieth day of that Moneth, called with us December: Indeed to speak our mind here in passage onely, and then to go on. This their Feast, and th [...]s your Feast (we make bold to call it yours, because you seem to own it, and to hold for the observation of it (falling out pat [Page 8] upon one day, would make a wise man after the flesh (as sure­ly it doth) mad upon that Idol-day, to observe it as an holy-day, and with more strict and solemn observation, then he will, or possibly can, that onely Holy-Day which hath the stamp of the Lord upon it: but of this anon. That which is now to be done, is to vindicate our Lord, going up to that Feast: And that in so doing it will not justifie us in our observation of that Festival Day, the Church observes all over the Nation, or the Natio­nal Church there.

First then to justifie our Lords practise, [...] it needed ou [...] justi­fication: Sect. 3. This we say, That our Lord did not observe the Feast, but the season or opportu [...], [...] of [...] good: As Paul, who followed him obs [...] day of Prince? at Jerusalem, and afterward [...] Ephes [...], Acts 20. 16▪ Co [...]. 16. 8. See Calvin upon the place. There he knew he should find a grea [...] of people, very observant of their ow [...] days, which are devised of their own heart, as Jeroboams Feast was, and have their own s [...]a [...]on them; His heart was upon his work, the doing [...] will; He did it as chearfully as we eat and drink; [...] the seasons and all advantages to do good, the manner of all that walk as he walked: He went up to the Feast, though of mans institution; and as the advise is, spragit manum, some good might be done, some seeds might take, as he well knew, that knew all things: And though i [...] was winter, yet he went up: Be it fair or foul, Sun-shine or rain, Summer or Winter, it hinders not a true Christian from doing his duty; for he doth in desire and endeavour as Christ did. It is natu­ral to the new Creature, the divine Nature so to do.

But now if it be replyed here, as we think it will, That a Mi­nister is never like to find such a Concourse of people at his meet­ing place, as he may do on that day; And therefore if all advan­tages of doing good may, and ought to be taken, why may not a Minister preach a good may, and ought to be taken, why may not a Minister preach a good Sermon on that day, and take his War­rant from his Lords practise, going up to Jerusalem on that Feast day?

To this we would briefly reply these things. Sect. 4. ¶ 1.

It is not always safe to do what we read the Lord did, though we may urge him for our example. Our Lord went over the [Page 9] Sea on foot, he could that made the Sea, make the sea solid like the land, to bear him up: we must not do so unlesse we have a more then his Example, his word too, as Peter had COME, A­gain, the Lord Christ went into a chiefe Pharisees house to din­ner Mat. 14. 29. on the Sabbath day, where there was great Company, and answerably great Cheer; probable it is, it was a marriage feast. Luk. 14. 1. He did not allow of the feast, nor of the usage or manners of the guests there, nor of our feastings on the Lords day: but there he took the season to do good, and to correct the ill, and being Lord of time, and Master of the means and end, could remove as pleased him, whatever hindered all this, which the best Mini­ster in the world is not able to doe, which we take to be consi­derable at this point.

Secondly, we should say granting this, that all advantages are to be taken for doing good: That as Master Burroughs, an ex­cellent preacher in his days saith, A Sermon may be preached on that day, and another on the following day, it being a time of leisure, a vacant idle time (which no time should be, the least minute whereof is too much to give to idleness or sin, which is all one, the one is the mother, the other the daughter) his mea­ning i [...], A good Minister should take all the advantages to doe good: why then, take the season, give the people their expe­ctation, a Sermon on this day, so we may do, and do well too as he may choose his Text, and handle it before the people (which will be sure enough, if he be a good Minister and a Godly man too) to throw out the observation of this day, their super [...]iti­ons her in, and their heathenish customes, all that time along, (which wil not be a good Sermon in the peopl [...]s eares.) But if this Sermon be for the holding up of that day, the greater the concourse of people shall be, the more hurt and mischiese he will do by his Sermon. It is the word of institution from the Lord, that makes the day holy. And the words which the Minister speaks to the people, must have a word from God for it, else no word of blessing can be expected from the Lord upon it. Gods word of blessing goeth along wi [...]h his word of institution; So now we have done with the first undertaking to justifie our Lords pract [...]se.

(2) The second is, that the feast of Dedication cannot justifie Sect. 5. [Page 10] the observation of this imagenary feast devised of our own heart, as Jeroboams was, celebrated as a memorial of our Saviours Na­tivity. Our Reason is but one, and we a [...]e not careful to s [...]ek, another for this place: This Dedication feast was a known, set, and stated day, returning every year in the return of such a month, and of such a day of the month, the Temple was reformed, pur­ged, dedicated. It cannot be so said of this day, that it was the day on which our blessed Lord and Saviour was born into the world. It is true many have been daring this way, and one a­mong the rest in some of our hearing, from Luk. 2. 11. unto you is born this day (the 25. of December) But how hath God left them to their own seeking? how bewildred have they been? how benighted at noon day? declaring to all whom the Lord hath instucted to disc [...]etion, that there is no morning in them; no light at all except it be that which is in the grave, where the light is as darknesse, and how great is that darkness? we take leave to speak more to this. And,

That it hath posed the best schollers in the world, we mean Sect. 6. ¶. 2. best seen in the Records of antient times, the two Scaligers, the Father and the Son, to search out our blessed Saviours birth day; and after long search (we speak it to our best remembrance, as we are helped by one that read it thirty yeares agone, and so some mistake may be, we were saying after much search) to little purpose they gave i [...] off, as impossible to finde it out, as to finde the Philosophers stone, as Moses his grave, whom the Lord God buried there. Others not halfe so skilful, have adventured on this Search (as ever, the more blind, the more bold) and have given us the set and stated day, as you finde it in your Alma­nick, mistaken as much in the day as in the weather; So as the proverb may be verified of these Searchers, as very lyars as the Alman [...]ck is, which for one truth tells us ten lyes. The wise Go [...] befooling the Star-g [...]zers, still as once he did him in antient days (so that noble Morneus tells us) who foretold a goodly and pleasant year, the very year when the flood came, that Deluge of wrath, which swallowed up [...]ll. Princes, (as one saith) keep State in their works, I [...] all a mans-actions be level to the lowest, his person will be so too. Much more the Prince of the Kings of the earth, as he doth not love to let the Creature look [Page 11] to [...]ha [...] [...] his designs, but hideth himselfe, and as we may say, troubleth and muddeth his foot-steps; these are as in the great waters, not p [...]ssi [...]ly known to us; the creature shall not ken them, least he should say, behold I know them: So also this Isa. 45. 15. 58. 7. onely Lord of time liketh it not, that we should presume to know any more of the times and seasons then he alloweth us to know, which is neither more nor lesse then what he hath revealed to us in his word. This sufficeth u [...] to know, when the fulnesse of time was come, God sent forth his Son made of a Woman. Make we a full stop there; But if we will search farther, which is our du­ty to do, (search we this to the bottom [...], and h [...]re we may [...]ai [...]e of the very day to) Is he born in our hearts? we mean, is hee Gal. 4. 19. conceived? is he formed in us? as our godly Ministers are: have we been in travel about it? that the sa [...]ing knowl [...]dge of Christ may be formed in us? till this be we are not forme [...], for Christians; we may have a [...]me we live, but we are d [...]ad, And when we are upon this search, it will take up so much of our time, that we shall not have a minute to spare in s [...]a [...]ching out the day he was born in the world: Nor shall we regard two straws what others say of it, that dares say and do any thing but what they should say and do, which should not be a word or a work more, but by warrant from his Word and light there, which must be the Standard, whereat we [...] all we say or do in the matters of God, the neerest con [...]e [...]t of his Glory and of our own Souls; for you know non loquenaum est de Deo sine lumine. We will close this quickly, we have bene longer in it, because here is something of the Scripture, and from the practise of our blessed Saviour, to bear out the observation of this day. Therefore we would adde this to that before, which indeed carrieth much with us.

2. That this birth day of Christ in the world, lyeth as hid­den, S [...]ct. 7. ¶. 1. and as we may say buried to us, as Moses body was: and the same God hid the one who buried the other: And wi [...]l he take it well, if we search into that he hath hi [...]? and is it not ob­servable, that none of the Evangelists tell us what shape or pro­portion our Lords body had; that none might adventure to picture him sure; for he that pictureth him a Man, dishonou­reth him as much, as if he had pictured him a Worm: as he that [Page 12] presumeth to shew us the likenesse of God by an Angel, dishonou­reth God as much as they, who made him like a Calfe, if we do make him like any thing, we make him nothing. And so of this day: there is altum silentium, ne [...] quidem, not a syl­lable, not a title sounding that way. And hath the Lord God hid it from us, among the secrets of his wisedom? He hath. Then it is folly and more: it is màdnesse for a man to search into those secrets, to pluck out that Day thence, and shew it openly to the world, this is the day. The Sun will not be looked into, nor gazed upon, it is such a vehemens sensibile, that it will make the eye stark blind, which is [...]eadfastly fixed upon the ou [...]side of it. You may see, work, and walk by it, the light from it: but if you wil see [...]nto the body of this light, you shall neither see it, nor your work, nor your walk, for the Sun will put out the eye that dares so gaze upon it. And will the Maker of the Sun, the Father of lights, suffer man, wre [...]ched man, to neglect things revealed (for that is th [...] manner) and search into things hidden, the secrets of his Wisedome? we leave this upon your inmost thoughts. We will end with this plaine saying, and so the better befitting us: Where the Scripture hath no tongus, we must have no ears.

The Scripture is silent here as to the day of Christ birth, if we will be speaking to it, it is not speaking, but prating and talking like Children and foole [...]; or if we shall think that something we Tim. 5 13. 3 Joh. 10. have done, we have but magno nisu su nugas, thrown a Feather with strongth of arm. And so we are come off from your Scrip­ture Argument, taken from the practise of our Lord Jesus Christ going up to Jerusalem at the feast of Dedication. This proves no more, as we conceive, the observation of Christmas feast, then mid-day proves it is mid night, or mid night proves it is mid-day with us.

CHAP. III.

HAving now don with your Scripture Proof, such as it was, Sect. 1. and proved it (we think) to be invalid, of no fore, and to prove nothing but what makes against you: We doube not, but we shall turn over that which followeth, with a lighter hand, which is, your allegations from the writings and practise of men; for be they in repute never so holy, it is not much with ns, what they say or do, as to those matters; the very best of them are but men at the best: Yet we will hear what you say of them, They have kept the Day holy, and they have maintained their so doing by their writings.

This now we take upon your bare word, as it is meet for us to do: And we shall not here remind you what was spoken touching the Torrent of former times; Tyranny of Custome, practise of our fore-men, or leaders. &c. bearing down, like a spring-tide, or Torrent, all before it. We do not doubt but the Day hath been observed by some, with all observation, and with an honest heart: And possibly at this day, some o [...]e or two may be found, we know not where, who can say as to the ob­servation of this day, as Abimelech in a different cause, in the simplicity of my heart; we have, and do now observe this day. But aliquid dicit nil probat. This proves nothing, though in­deed had you not told us so, we could not have beleeved it so to be: Tha [...] many learned and godly hold for that day. We verily thought that here one, and there one learned and godly, had be [...]n too many by two, to hold the observation of that day, as was hinted before. You mentioned, if we forget not, Reverend Studder, speaking something that way, how long since we can­not tell; but sure it was before some of us were born; dark times then, or not so light as these are now: You remembred also, for it makes for your purpose, That Dr. Ham hath spoke [...] [Page 14] much that way after his manner, and doth operosè contend for the holiness of that day. He is as in charity may be judged, a god­ly man, as may be evidenced by his practical Catechisms; and his answer to Dr. Cheniel, taking, as some may say, some incon­siderable exceptions against it: His good learning, right under­standing, and sound judgment in the mystery of godliness, may appear also in his Scripture Expositions, or Anotations thereup­on, very well becoming, in whole and in part, an Admirer of Grotius. But whatsoever he be, how learned and godly soever, it maketh no matter to us; for Mans saying, is but the say­ing of a man: Grotius himself, that Admired man, had his fail­ings some might add, and very gross ones, speaking very much without the Book, some may say, and very much against what he found writte [...]: So possibly might his Admirer too. But as to that matter now under dehate, you can tell us what Answer hath been made to that said learned Man, by one learned and go [...] ­ly also, we think without exception. We should not have men­tioned all this or any of it, had we not p [...]rc [...]ived you spo [...]king a little, and a little might be too much, in favour of this day; enough of this. We have a cloud of witnesses, onely mind we it well, that we follow the light side of the Cloud, and so, ac­cording to the Counsel, Be followers of them, who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

We must remember here your wholesom counsel, in reference Sect. 2. to this day, and thanking you for it, speak a word to it. You would have out Minister deal in necessary things, and not to pronounce or define matters of doubtful construction, or things that neither help nor hinder, whether they be so or no. You pro­posed also an example of a very excellent man; the oldest Desci­ple the Lord Christ had in this N [...]tion; and we beleeve made as many, gaining them to Christ, as any of his fellow workman there. We shall take it in anon after, in its order. Truly we like this counsel the better, because it savoure h [...]so much o [...] ex­cellent Tindals spirit, breathed forth in a L [...]tter, to his dear Friend Jacob, indeed called John Frith. It is very good, what he spake once to hear it twice, with the sensible and inte [...]l Ctual ear both: There is not a man in the warld, in whom my heart rejoyceth as in you; not the thousand part so much for your [Page 15] learning, and what other gifts else you have, as that you will creep alow with the ground, and walk in those things that the conscience may feel, and not the imaginations of the brain; In fear and not in boldness; In open necessary things; but in things that may abide leisure, you will defer: In unity, and not in seditiou [...] opinions. We shall not willingly turn from our scope, if we set down here the two heads of Doctrine, which he would have [...]i, dear friend press upon his hearers: expound the Law truly, and open the Vail os Moses to condemn all flesh and prove all men sinners, and all deeds under the Law, before mercy hath taken away the condemnation thereof to be sin and d [...]mnable; and then as a faithful Minister, set abroach the mercy of onr Lord Jesus, and let the wounded consciences drink of the water of him. And all Doctrine that casteth a mist on these, to shadow and hide them, I mean, the Law of God, and Mercy of Christ, that resist you, with all your power; and shew you Scriptures for what you speak: and let Adversaries talk what they will, stick you stifly and stubbornly, in earnest and necessary things.

Sir, Your savory words by way of good counsel to our Pa­stor, put us in mind of those, and we bless God for it, that al Sect. 3. this fell in together with your good counsel. Now it is a point of high discretion (too high for us, unless the most high God for ever more come into us) where to take and where to leave. But according to our measure, thus we understand matters with reference, as your words tended to the observation of that day. That the taking an hours time at the fittest season for the throw­ing down that Idol day, so highly exalted, by brutishly ignorant persons, is not against the mind of Christ, or rule given us in his word or practise of his holy ones, all along the Scriptures of God, and ages of men: None preacht Christ Crucified more feelingly then Paul did? and none to our seeming, doth so thunder and lighten as he doth against those false Teachers, who preached up Circumcision, and the observation of days; so as he protested before them in some heat of spirit (for as he had much light, so h [...]d he much heat too) much after the rate of those words, That if they drank in those da [...]nable Doctrines, they would spew out Christ, or cast their spewings upon him. And for the observa­tion [Page 16] of days, he speaks much after the same rate; They had in­deed the stamp of God upon them (so hath not this day where­of hereafter) and were to be observed with all observatio [...], hol­ding forth to the eye of faith the Day of Christ to come into the world. But when that day came, called by the Apostle the ful­ness of time, and he was exhibited and manifest in the flesh, then the observation of days must cease, and the stamp or institution of God before upon them, shall be taken off from them; and a curse stampt upon those persons, which, without repentance, shall cleave unto them that will be so daringly bold, as to revive the memory of those days, and give their observation to them. And to all this (which we may find through out the Epistle, be­ginning at the first Chapter, 8. 9. verses) he addeth, That if they did observe days, they could not observe his words, so all his pains was lost upon them: he had bestowed upon them labor in vain. I [...]deed Sir, This Observation you wot of is not of doubt­ful construction, nor in the number of those matters, which may abide leisure for determination. We thought it resolved long ago, from the Word of God: The Day is not to be observed which hath no word or command for it: What the State hath done as to the observation of that Day, is known to all that would know: what the State will do more we know not; but this you know, for we suppose you have read, Christ will not wait the leisure of the State; and all true Christians have the mind of Christ, so that is their mind too. Yet as was said in ano­ther case, and to allude to it, what should the State do after the King of Kings hath so clearly resolved the case, as to the obser­vation onely of his Holy-Day, returning to us once a Week: qui deliberavit, desivit: He that makes question here, is a supersti­tious person, past all question. But more necessary truths are to be preached first, say you: We grant you, If there be a more necessary truth then this, That what opposeth our Lord Christs his truths, must be thrust away as an abomination: Let that be preached first, but then this must follow: for we are peaswad­ed, no one thing more hindreth the Gospel work, all the year long, then doth the observation of that Idol day once in a year, having so many days of cursed observation with it. It was smart­ly spoken by a Heathen man, and as wittily, for so Heathen [Page 17] Christians were reproved in ancient days, rioting in December: December mensis erat nune anuus est It was a Moneth returning once a yeer, before those Christians came amongst us; but now December is all the year long.

But we will not prevent our selves. WHAT did Father Dod, in a case very different from ours, whose pretious name is like an oyn [...]ment poured out, no sooner named, but the place is filled with the savour thereof, what did he? Thus, as we have heard, (onely a mistake there may be, but not considerable be­twix: your relation and ours) being to deal with a great Man, that had an head of hair, Absolom-like, so we read (with a Lady so, if we mistake not, garishly attired you read) seeks in the first place to hide pride from his eyes, and take down that Idol in the heart.

A sure way sure, for if the Idol within falls, it will not stand without. This was the way that Luther took also, he would not contend with the Popes Miter, or the Monks Bellies; nei­ther the one nor the other had any cars; and it were as if a man would buffet a way the darkness: he would preach Christ Jesus the Lord unto them, which is, as the b [...]inging of light into a Principate crimen ge­ner is huma­ni summus siculi reasus tota causa judicii Ido­latrie. It is the princi­pal hainous crime of mankind: It is the chief guilt of the world, and the onely or whole cause of judgment in the world Idolat. Tert. dark place, the darkness is gone, for the light is come: And yet he that shall read his Sermons, will find, that this was his practise, as it was, (if we mistake not his counse) omnis sermo adaptandus est contra Idolatriam, every Sermon must be pointed against Idolatry: And truly, many a by-blow did he lay upon e [...]rors, while he was holding out the truth; As a Minister may strike down that day, by holding up the Lords. Day. And yet sometimes he, as a good Minister may do, may take a Text pur­posely for the throwi [...]g down the Idol before the eye, as of that in the heart, wherefore else have we that choise in the Scriptures? Luther had to deal, as our Ministers now, wi [...]h no [...] very intelli­gent and understanding people, being enemies to the Cross of Christ, making their Belly their God, and their shame their glo­ry: Therefore the people, at we now, were very horn skinned, they feel you not till you pierce them to the quick; when is that? when you strike at their Heathenish Customes, and their Belly chear: they feel no quick flesh, till then: And so having in desire and endeavour made the best use of your good counsel; we come to make proof from the holy Scriptures; That it is the du­ty [Page 18] of every good Minister to bend his speech, when the season is against the observation of this Idol-day.

CHAP. IV.

For the first, how else shall he discharge a good conscience? Sect. 1. or answer his matters to God? The people go on holding fast to their Heathenish Customes, and abominable Idolatries, and think they do well: They never heard their Minister repro­ving it, or restraining them from it: The Minister knows if he knows any thing in these matters, whence our Feasts (as the days of the week, and moneths of the year, commonly called) had their first rise, ground or original. The first of November, a memorial of all their Gods; which sounded not well in the ears of those that were newly b [...]come Christians: change therefore the name, and for Gods say Saints; and keep your Feasts still, In December they had their Saturnalia, and eight days to ce­lebrate their Feast; but being newly turned from Paganism, they must not keep the Feast as they did before, to the honour of Sa­turn, but of Christ, (should we mention these things and not with indignation?) and to gratifie them further upon that score, they should have four days added to the number; before but eight, now twelve, very pleasing to the people then, as now: for who ever heard them say, as of the Lords Day, what a wea­riness? It is not pleasing to us to proceed to tell you these mat­ters which you must know much better then some of us, though you have read but only Poludore Virgil, suffiseth it to know, That these Fests are Heathenish not Christian: And so it hath been observed over since in an Heathenish manner, quite c [...]ntrary, and shaming Christians; n [...]y they were a shame to the very Hea­then too, the better part of them, and the more mo [...]alized men: for one among the rest you know, saith [...]hus of them: Christi­ans are mad once a year, that is in the Moneth of December; nay, they are so habi [...]u [...]ed to a ranting fashion that Moneth, [Page 19] that they are scarce sober all the year after: December was but one Moneth, now it is a yeer; it hath been spoken twice, that ye might hear it once, and [...]ell the people the very truth in this matter, That they honour the Devil so devou [...]ly at that time, that they cannot cease from his worship, no more then he or they [...] cease from sin all the year after. We will supply you with an Argument or two more since you have put this service upon us whereby to throw down this Idol day.

Hear how the people cry it up? It is certainly a day of their Sect. 2. own, as their sin is, they like it so well; were there any thing of God in it, we mean, had it Gods stamp upon it, how would they abhor it! how would they rise up in indignation against it? as they do against the observation of the Lords Day? The Ruler in the Country Town, or City, may (we hear they did not) save his breath in forbidding marketting on that Idol day: (clean contrary, that December, 1652. resolved by the Parliament, that the Marqu [...]ts be kept to morrow, being the 25 of Decem­ber, and that no observation shall be had of the Day, commonly called Christmas Day, nor any Solemnity used or exercised in Churches upon that Day, in respect thereof) we were saying, The Ruler need not forbid Marquetting on that day, but how hardly have they been kept from keeping Fairs on the Lords-Day? Excellent Perkins will tell you, if you please to consult with his writings: would you have a visible Character of Gods way and his Command to walk in it? of mans way and his command to walk therein? Assuredly this is it: There is a spirit of opposition against the way that God hath set; there is a rising of the heart with indignation against any thing; every thing that hath God in it: the stamp of God upon it. But now for mans way, a way of sin and death, how pleasing in mans eye? And if a Ruler shall give a command for it, he will not do it sure, or if he have, he will shame himself before the Lord for what he hath done; for he that ruleth over men, must be just, command and do just things: I but if he do command such a thing, we will (that have not another spirit) follow the Commandment: Non ju­bentur Aug. de Civ. Dei lib. 1. dec. l. 1. dura non prohibenter impura, no hard things are com­manded no unclean things are forbiden: to use Aug. words, sit down to eat, and drink, and rise up to play; what more pleas­ing [Page 20] or desireable to flesh and blood? Indeed we need not a com­mand for it, our natural course is to run from God, as the stream runs from the Fountain: but when we have a commandment for it, as so daring man may be: then we are carryed storm-like, or like a mighty Torrent, wind and tide with us: And now if an Almighty Hand give us no check by the way, we shall arrive at our own place, as soon as the stream will be at its Center the Sea; for we have but a velliety, a faint will or wish Heaven­ward: The will in the strength and power of it, beareth us down Hell-wa [...]d: The Argument is strong and will hold: There is nothing of God in the observation of this Day, for the men of the world, of a national Church there (who have nothing to plead for their Christianity, but that they were born Christians, being bapiz [...]d presently after they were born) without Christ, Aliens from the Covenant, strangers to the promises without hope surely set and setling, without God in the world, these men of the world observe this Day; there is nothing of God in it, for what is of God they abhor, their hearts are carryed out in opposition against it: But it is of the will of man and of the flesh, and most pleasing to the flesh, Feasts and merry m [...]tings are: It is not of God, but of him that is the god of the world, and rule [...] in the darkness of the world, mightily in the children of disobedience: What is of God, we mea [...] every Command­ment of God: jubet dura, he commands ha [...]d things, grievous to be born, yea impossible to flesh and blood: They will not move it with one of their fingers, i. e. not practise them in the least degree, being yet not subdued, not conquered, The carnal mind, the godli [...]ess thereof, the most excellent thing there, is [...] enmity against God, it deadly hateth and monstrously opposeth Rom. 8. 7. [...] See Beza, Mr. P. G. God: nay the word is plural, enmities against God, importing as one saith, multiplied perversness. As there are many excel­lencies in God for man, so there are many enmities in man against God, enmities against all the Atitibutes of God, enmities against all the Ordinances of God: so many commands, so many en­mities, saith Salvian: enmities against all the actings of God in the world. The spirit of man from his birth, is bitterly bent and utterly turned against God: he doth act up his spirit in re­bellion against God, blessed for ever: nor is it possible to be [Page 21] otherwise till this enmity be slain; and so it follows, This car­nal mind is not subject to the Law of God, neither indeed can be; for the Law of God prohibet impura, it forbids all impurity, be ye separate from among them, and touch not the unclean thing. Thus we have the distinguishing Character, what is of God, what is of Man. The heart riseth up with indignation, against that which is of God. It runs out with the Commandments of man, these never put the flesh to cost.

CHAP. V.

Quest. THen happily it may be said, are not fasting days, and Sect. 1. thanksgiving days (loquendum est cum vu [...]go) ap­pointed by man? and being so appoin [...]ed do not these command observation from men?

Answ. Surely yes, when it is appointed of God, that men A Governor is not impe­rious, but where his command is injurious, nor is there pride, but when due di­scipline is neglected and contem­ned. Austins Latine en­glished by Mr. P. G. 206. should appoint such days, fasting days, wherein to afflict the soul before God for all we have done against him: And feasting dayes called good days in Scripture, wherein to lift up the high praises of our God for the riches of his goodness towards us all, bu [...] (in special) for the wonderful Salvations he hath wrought for his Church, so that in all this we do not more obey man then God: The State we mean, our Ruler or Rulers there, may and ought appoint a set and stated day, whereon to afflict our soules before God; and a day also whereon to rejoyce, before him. But then they must eye and [...]bserve well Gods providence, call [...]ng them forth to all this. And so here humbly to give our opinion, be­ing called f [...]rth unto it, and pe [...]wasion in this matter, we are perswaded that our excellent Burroughs was right in this thing, That no Christian State should appoint a day once every yeare (much lesse once a month) to be a fasting day or a feasting day; and he gives his reason, because they do not know, bu [...] God may call them to rejoycing upon that day, which they have ap­pointed for mourning. All that the Rulers can do is this, when [Page 22] God calleth to fasting, they must appoint dayes of fasting; and when God calls to rejoycing, they must appoint dayes of rejoy­cing.

Quest. Why then is not (for we must tell you that we have Sect. 2. heard to justifie the observation of this f [...]stival day) the five and twentieth of December, rightly appointed by man? and to bee observed by us; thereon to give thanks to God the Father for the marvelous R [...]d [...]mp [...]ion wrought for us by his Son Christ Jesus the Lord? I [...] is alwayes seasonable to give thanks to God for this unspeakable gift, and wonderful Salvation wrought by him; Is it not?

Answ. 1. It is so; But why o [...]ce in the year, which is season­able, yea r [...]quired of us (as we shall hear presently) every day? do we put no difference betwixt a temporal Saviour as Joshuah was, and all those Saviours were and now are, which the Lord hath caused to come up on mount Zion, to jude the mount of Esau? and him that is the Eternal Saviour, and everlasting Re­deemer? no difference betwixt these? though the difference be as great as is betwixt the Creature and the Creator, in whose strength of hand the Crea [...]u [...]e moves; and doth all, and being laid out of that hand, it moves no more then an inst [...]ument can that is laid out of our hand, and now hangs up by the wall. All our prayers for our Saviours hands, that they may be sufficient for them, will prevail nothing, unlesse we pray this may be ad­ded, And be thou an help to them, D [...]ut. 33. 7. No difference then betwixt men-Saviours and the Lord God the Salvation of his people? upon which bottom God builds up as we may have leave to say all the piles and stories of Salvation? What? [...]o difference betwixt the Salvation of our bodies and outward man and the concernments hereof, and the Salvation of ou [...] Eter­nal Soules? surely the people of God, the redeemed of the Lord discern a marvelous difference here, and accordingly they behave themselves as to these matters, not keeping a day once a yeare for a memoral of these things.

Answ. 2. We say, That this is an high presumption to ap­point a day once in the year, whereon to honour the Son, as if man were more regard [...]ul of the Sons honour, then the Father is, though he hath commanded that all men should honour the John 5. 23. [Page 23] Son, even as they honour the Father. Now to doe more then is commanded, is as displeasing unto God as to do lesse. The Father was honoured by the observation of one day returning once a week, whereon his people made his name glorious for the work of Creation. And hath appointed his Son to be honoured w [...]th a day also, wherein his people sing the high praises of their God for the—glorious work of Redemption, making all new, Heavens and Earth and all.

Yea but this is not enough, saith presumptious man, the Son shall have two dayes, the one returning once a week, the other once in the year: if this be not the highest presumption, what is?

Be we at the allowance of the onely wise God? he is all suf­ficient to provide for his Sons honour, and for his Churches ho­nor † 1. too; Sons and Daughters adopted in him, they shall have a day, a stated day, return unto them once a week, whereon to record the whole hum [...]liation of Christ, his incarnation, sorrow­full life, cursed death, his Resurrection also, with his Ascension and Intercession, for is Christ divided? or have we need of a part and not of the whole? we must not parcel out his Re­demption, wrought for us, taking it out by pieces, and appoint one day for a memorial of his birth, another of his death, a third of his resurrecti [...]n: No, there is one day appointed for all this, to be a memorial of all together, the day of his Resu­rection, appointed by God, as the old Sabbath wa [...] to be a sign betwixt the Lord and his people, That he is the Lord God that sanctified them, affording unto them the means of Sanctifi­cation in his Son preached on that stated day, wherein we are to sanctifie a Rest, that we may attend upon God in the Con­scionable use of means, for our sanctification, whose will and work it is.

And s [...]e yet farther, how the Father hath provided for his † 2. Sons honour, he hath not onely appointed a day wherein by his Herolds to proclaim him to the world, and salvation by him; but also thus th [...] Father hath appointed, That whensoever we call him Father, we must call his Son Lord; and through him and his Mediat [...]on, have accesse unto him, and acceptance with him. So then, whensoever we come unto God praying for the supply [Page 24] of what we want as we are still wanting, or praising him for what we have, we must make hearty mention of the Lord Christ Epist. 2. 18. 3. 12. 5. 20. Col. 3. 17. 1 Pet. 1. 21. here, or else all is vain: every time we come to God, we tender up a Mediatour to him, else we can have nothing from him but wrath and vengeance. O its terrible, saith you know who, to think of God out of Christ. Therefore, saith Luther, upon Psal. 130. I inculcate this to my Hearers, that they should shut their eyes and their ears, and say we know no God out of Christ, nor do we expect the least crumb of mercy, but through him, and for his sake. So now, sith in seeking he [...]ace of our God the great King, we must take up his Son in the a [...]m of our [...]aith, (to allude to that know [...] story) else we shall [...]ev [...]r [...]e [...]s face. We have dayly, if not hou [...]ly cause to make m [...]ion of him; And be­sides all this we have a stated day returning [...]nce a week, whereon we may hear a voice from Heaven, the voice of Christ in the Go­spel, and the voice of the Father again Hear Him. It is pre­sumption John 5. 25. Eph. 5. 12. then that reaches to Heaven, to appoint a day of our own, whereon to celebrate the memorial of all this.

But now suppose in the last place, any of us did as devou [...]ly serve God and his Christ on that day, as the most of the Natio­nal Sect. 3. Church do serve the Devil on that day, and the twelve dayes following. Suppose it so, we did pray to God, and praise God all day long, and night also (oh how devout are we on the birth day of ou [...] bl [...]ssed Savion [...]!) suppose it so, as doub [...]less such de­vout persons men and women, there may be not a few more de­vour that day then any day: [...]or it is a day devised of our own hearts: we will be devout on that day, how d [...]ssolu [...]e so [...]ver on the L [...]rds day: the manner of these d [...]vout ones, they will do no manner of work on this day; as they say, the Bird will no carry a straw to i [...]s nest on Ascension day, it will on the Resurrection day, though it mour [...] all good Friday. But as we were saying, suppose it so, we were as devoue as devotion it selfe ou [...] that day, o [...] on some of the twelved dayes following. Hear what that ex­cellently Learned Man D. Owen saith, for it is not possible to find words more fit for our purpose. The most stopendious endea­vours of men, the most laborious drudgery of their Souls in du­ties Pag. 230. not commanded, are so far from obedience, that they are as high rebellions against God, as they can possibly engage them­selves into.

CHAP. VI.

WEe will now offer four things to your considerati [...]n, hoping you will allow them some weight in your seri­our thoughts.

God hath abolished his own d [...]yes, Jewish we mean, all those festivals that had his own stamp of institution upon them. And Sect. 1. can we think, and think like men, that he will give liberty to man to set up other dayes, as they did their Idols of old accor­ding to their own understauding? If this could be imagined, that upon Gods abolishing his own, men should have liberty to set up theirs, then the Christians were under a more heavy bondage and grievous paedagogue, then ever the Jewes were: ‘'for it is better to have an hundred days of Gods 'appointment, Ʋpon Hos. 2. 403. then one of mans:’ it is more honourable said excellent Bur­roughs.

Consider whether the rising of this day in the heart, as to the Sect. 2. observation of it, be not the sinking of the Lords day; we mean whether the observers of this day; are not most notorious pro­faners of the Lords day? and from both the horrible contempt Sect. 3. and prophanation of the Lords day; and more then heathenish Bad joy strips God of all. No evil carries the heart so totally from God as e­vil joy. It car­ries away the heart, and eve­ry heart string. A man is very heartily, very totally wicke [...], every faculty, every sinnew stretch them­selves to sin when sinrul in­joys. Mr. Lockr. Col. 1. p. 234. observation of this day, whether a deluge of damnable errors and pernicious opinions threatning a d [...]luge of wrath be not bro­ken in upon us.

Be pleased to consider whether the Devil be served by us so affectedly, so zealously, so industriously, so warrantably (as the people think, taking a command from men, and their own lust for a law) any season of the year, as at this season? Not to tell you the observation of the Heathen, which was hinted before, do men and women so exceed in the pleasures of sin, in rioting and drunkenness, in chambering and wontonnesse, in all excesse of wickedness, as they do at this time you call Christmass? It is true, the Lords day is fearfully profanned, as if it had its name from the name Bacchus, which was Plutarchs conceit, that signi­fies to live jovially, as we say, and to speud the day riotously, and in mad merriment. Yet they onely so spend the Lords day, making [Page 26] it the Devils day, who are mad upon that Idol day, making it as to their observation of it, the Lords day. So true is that saying, we are marvelously pleased with our own inventions, specially those that pleaseth flesh (as seldom or never do we invent that which crosseth the flesh, unlesse upon an after advantage, which to our seeming, shall reach as high as heaven, and so may crosse the flesh at present, in hope of after glory, the meritorious pro­duct of that Crosse.) You may have read also what a Child in years, but a Man in understanding hath written. Mans idle time Mr. Ven­ [...]ing. is the Devils working time; he doth most when men do least. For as holy Latimer said after his manner, The Devil hath more service done him in one day we call holy, then in many working dayes. Therefore in the last place,

Consider what you may have read, That a whole National Church (how is ours declined now, & tantum non unchurched Sect. 4. her self [...]) some hundred years ago, appointed a solemn Fast up­on those very dayes; we foolishly without a Scripture warrant, call the birth and circumcision day of Christ, because of the notorious abuses, heathenish customes, and dam [...]ble u­sages wont to be upon those days; we strange that they saw more clearly in their mid-night then we do in our mid-day; Are we not dark with light? we proceed to tell you our hope, and so to an end of this matter.

CHAP. VII.

WE believe Sir by this time, you see cause enough to im­prove all your Rhetorick among your people, for the throwing down of this Idol day. Y [...]t if you have not enough, we will make bold to remember you one thing more, and so draw to a close, we read the Jewes some of them, put this question to themselves: What should that sin be, which provokes God more against us then ever he was provoked? surely said they, there is some greater sin then we yet have committed, but we cannot finde any offence beside the killing of Christ, to be a grea­ter [Page 27] offence then Idolatry: surely then the great sin is the rejecting and crucifying the Son of God. If we should put this Question to our selves, what is the sin which provokes God more against us then ever he was provoked? Judge you whether this must not be the answer. We reject Christ in the offers and tenders of the Gospel, yet pretend to receive him at the Lords Table; We have no appetite, no desire after him at the hearing place; but a Dogs appetite we have to the bread on his Table, represen­ting his sacred body there. Again, we worship him according to our own understanding; we for the most part all the Natio­nal Church over, and in every parochial Church there, put all the dishonours upon the Lord Christ, and his onely holy day, such a Church are we, so notorious for our brutishness, while yet we give honour to this day of his Birth, as we call it, and serve him all the day long after our own manner. Shall not God be aven­ged of such Idolaters as we are? shall not he send a curse upon us? will he not curse our blessings? yea hath he not cursed them already, because we lay it not to heart? Hath he not punished us with the sorest punishment? what is that? A punishment made of sin. The Lord hath delivered us up, even the greatest part of that bulky body, the National Church into a reprobate mind, void of judgement: we are abominable Idolaters, we Idolize days and places, and duties, and the graces, those we have, we idolize too: we lean to any thing, to every thing, but him whom onely we should make our [...]ean to. A just judgement upon such Idola­ters as are we, and now our eares are seated against instruction. Thunder in the eare of an Idolater, a strict observer of this day, and other dayes of mans institution, and he hears no more then doth the deaf stone, nor doth he move any more then a Mill-Post. A sore judgment upon Idolaters, a superstitious Christian, a ceremonial Hypocrite, he observes a day devised of his own heart; he is more hard and Rocky then a Turk is, Jews or Pagans are, and he is as cruel too, as cruelty it self: A bloody man, if he be a super [...]itious man, so saith Luther, as bloody as Paul, while he was in his Cell; though my shoul­ders are weak with fasting, yet had he lived in those times, he [Page 28] would have carried some Faggots to make the fire wherein John, Husse, and Hirron of Prague were burnt more burning. Ido­laters, all and every one of them, men and women and all are hard-hearted and bloody ones all, as Edom was, he did pursue his brother with the sword, and did cast off all piety, his anger did tear perpetually, and kept his w [...]ath for ever: So true is that which that excellent man hath upon Jer. 15. 19. Superstition and persecu [...]ion, will-worship and tyranny are inseparable conco­mitants. Therefore Sir, bend your Tongue against these super­stitious persons, else it may be feared you will bend your Tongue the other way; and speak to your self in Pauls Language, your labour is in vain, with your people, if you prevail not with them in this thing, mind well that learned mans words, Docter Owen, of Tol. p. 78. in a case not very differing. Your not opposing here is providing you allow that you oppose not, there being no mid­dle thing betwixt those two. Lift up Christ Jesus the Lord, and you lift up his day too, and throw down man, and you throw down his Idol day also: where Christ is lifted up, self is abased, and the rising of his day will be the falling of the other. The spirit that stoopeth lowest, you have hea [...]d, and we hope you know, is best prepared to become a thrown for Christ. And to shut up, if you know those, as sure enough you do, that lift up this day, which every good man (we think) will throw down, till him or them, they have no morning in them, their light is like that in the grave, where the light is darkness, and how great is that darknesse. But here is a double comfort, (1) The folly of these is now manifest to all m [...]n, they shall not proceed much farther. (2) the Devils are Christs prisoners, and should not be suffered to walk up and down in the world, but that there is need of them. And for your sel [...]e Sir, we hope you know your duty, and are learning it every day more perfectly, and to do what you know looking up to him, and calling for his spirit, which leadeth us by the light of his word into all necessary truths, Amen.