The Bibles Abstract and Epitome, Part 100
Of Feasts and Feastings.
THe name of a Feast importeth the living, conversing, and familiaritie of one man with another, for that men are not made like wilde Savages to eate their morsels apart, but in civill manner to repast with others: for that Feasting is the Mother and Nurce of Amitle, the Salve and Repairer of continued Love, and theExod. 5. 1. Chap. 10. 9. Rev. 3. Luke 14. 8. Ioh. 2. Isai. 25. 6. signe of never intermitted friendship: To which purpose our Saviour speaketh, promising to come in and sup with us, assuring us that all displeasures are forgotten, and all offences forgiven. And to shew the honour of Feastings, Christ sheweth it by a Parable: as also at a Feast did his first miracle in Canaan, turning water into wine: and the Lord himselfe is said to make a Feast unto all people of dain…i…s and pleasant things.
Again, Feastings are not amisse, so that they be used in remembrance of Gods benefits, for maintainance of mutuall friendships, and for reliefe of poore diseased persons; only we ought to take heed that we use not cu…ious diet, but mirth at meales in stead of delicates, because Sine arte mensa & plus salis quàm sumptus: Great Feasts are not without dangers, they serve not to suffice nature, but to nourish corruption. Observable it is, that Ioseph kept Christ twelve yeeres, but at a Feast lost him, but found him again in the Temple. Iobs sonnes were banquettingLuke 2. 44. when the house fell on them, Io… said they had sinned.
Let us therefore take heed especially of these three feastings:
To feast in Rioting and drunkennesse, that is to feast with the World.
To feast in Chambering & wantonnesse, that is to feast with the Flesh.Rom. 13. 13.
To feast in Strife and envyings, that is to feast with the Devill.
A feast was held by
Abraham at Isaacs weaning.Gen. …8. 7. Chap. 19. 5. Chap. 6. 50. Chap. 29. 22.Gen. 21.
Ahasuerus unto his Frinces.Esth. 1.
Queen Esther unto AhasuerusChap. 5.
Isaac unto King AblmelcohJewes. Nehem. 8. 12. Davi…. 2 Sam 3. 20. E…sha. 2 King. 9. 21. Cap…ins, 1 C…. 12. 39.Gen. 26. 30.
Iacob unto Labar.Gen. 31.
Ioseph unto his brethren.Chap. 43. 34.
Herod at his birth-day.Mark 6.
Iohs children each his day.Ioh 1. 4.
Labanat Iacobs marriage day.Gen. …9. 22.
Matthew at his new born dayMatth. 9.
Samson at his day of marriageJudg. 14. 1 King. 3. 15. Chap. 8. 65.
Salomon unto all his Princes.
And the Israelites held the Feast of
The Sabbath: of the Passe-over:Levit. 23. of the first fruits: of trumpets: of unleavenedDeut. 26. 11, &c. bread: and of Whitsuntide.
W…ē thou holdest a feast (saith Christ) call not thy friends, nor Luke 14. 1….thy brethren, nor thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours, left they also hid thee again: but call the poor, the maimed, &c.
Read Ecclus. 32. 5. Neh. 8. 1…. Exod. 5. 1. 2 Sam. 3. 20. Esth. …. 20. Pro 21. 17. 1 Ki. 3. 15.Gen. 40. 2…. 1 Sam. 25. 36. & 8. 65. & 19. 21. 1 Chr. 12. 39. Esth. 2. 18. & 9. 18. Eccl. 10. 19. 1 Cor. 10. …7.
Of Mournings and Weepings.
David Mourned and wept Being pursued by Saul; departing from Ionathan.1 Sam. 20. Chap. 30. 2 Sam. 12. C…ap. 15. Psal. 6. 6.
David Mourned and wept For the Citie Ziklag being burnt; for the child born in adulterie; for Absalom his sonne, conspiring against him; and for the sins committed by him, so as he made his bed and couch with teares to swim, and for Abner being by Ioah slain.2 Sam. 3. 51. Dan. 10. 3. Gen. 27. & 33. 2 King. 8. Mar. 9. 2 Ki. 20. 1 Sā. 1. Esth. 6. Gen 21. & 29. Gen. 45.
Daniel Mourned and wept Three dayes of weekes together eating no pleasant thing.
Esau Mourned and wept For losse of his blessing: and for joy of Iacob… meeting.
Elisha Mourned and wept Seeing the evill Hazael should do to the Israelites children.
The Father Mourned and wept For his childe possessed: and Hezektah being by God visited.
Hannah Mourned and wept Being by Peninnah vexed: & Ham… seeing Mordecai advanc'd.
Hagar Mourned and wept In the wildernesse wandring: Iacob at Rachcls coming.
Ioseph Mourned and wept For joy seeing his Father Iacob and his brethren.
Iosiah Mourned and wept Hearing the Word of the Lord by the Prophet spoken.2 King. …2. 2 Ki. 13. Ioh 2. 12. Ch. …0. 25. & 16. 20. 1 Sam. 20. Isai. 22.
Ioash Mourned and wept For Elisha being ready to dye: Iohs friends for his miserie.
Ioh Mourned and wept For such as were in trouble, and for his own afflictions.
Ionathan Mourned and wept For David, seeing Saul his Father to hate him.
Isaiah Mourned and wept With Ieremiah for the miserie of the Israelites to come.Ier. 13. Lam. 1. Rev. 5. 4.
Iohn Mourned and wept Because no mā was foūd worthy to opē the book shew'd him.
The Israelites Mourned and wept For flesh in the wildernesle: at the Angels rebuking ofNumb. 14. 4. Judg. 2. & 20. Chap. 11. 1 Sam. 11. P…l. 1, 7. 1. E…r… ….1…. them: seeing the Benjamites to overcome them: for the Benjamites being destroyed by them: At Nahash speech unto them: and for their captivitie in Babylon.
Mordecai Mourned and wept Hearing of Hamans decree against the Jewes and him.Esth. 4. Luk. 7. Ioh. 20. Ruth 1. Neh. 1. Luk. 22. Act. 21. 13. Gen. 37. 1 Sam. …4. Iudg. 14. Mat. …. Luk. 23. 28.
Magdalene Mourned and wept At her coming to Christ, & at his s…pulchre not finding him.
Naomi Mourned and wept Departing frō her country: Nehemiah for Jerusalems misery.
Peter Mourned and wept Bitterly, having denied Christ at the voice of a maiden.
The people Mourned and wept Aboundantly hearing Paul should be bound at Jerusalem.
Reuben Mourned and wept Affectionately for Ioseph being cast into a pit by his brethrē.
Saul Mourned and wept Hypocritically, hearing the voice of David his sonne.
Samsons wife Mourned and wept Fallaciously, to know the riddle propounded by Samson.
Women Mourned and wept For their children slain by Herod… other for Christ crucified.
Christ Mourned and wept For Lazaru…, raising him; over Jerusalem, pittying them, inIohn 11. 13. Luk. 19. Heb. 5. 7. Isai. 53. Rom. 12. 15. Matth. 5. 4. Eccl. 7. 2. the garden before his passion with drops of bloud trickling from him, and that by reason of Gods wrath being heavie upon him for the sin only of man.
Weep with them that weep: Blessed are they that mourn. Better to be in the house of mourning then in the house of feasting.
Christ commanded weeping, Luk. 2…. 28.
Mourning for deceased persons.
Abraham Mourned & wept for Sarah his wife.Gen. 23. 2 Sam. 11. 2 Sam. 1. Gen. 50. Chap. 37. Gen. 50. Chap. 38. Iob 1. 20.
Abigai… Mourned & wept for Ʋriah her husband.
David Mourned & wept for Saul, Abner, Ionathan.
Egyptians Mourned & wept for Ia…ob dayes seven.
Iacob Mourned & wept for Ioseph supposing him dead
Ioseph Mourned & wept for Iacob being dead.
Iudah Mourned & wept for His wife Shuahs daughter.
Iob Mourned & wept for His sonnes and daughters.
Ieremiah Mourned & wept for Iosiah with lamētatiō2 Chro. 35. 25. Numb. 20. 29. Deut. 34. 8.
The Israelites Mourned & wept for Thirtie daies for Moses and Aaron.
Israelites Mourned & wept for Four dayes yearly for
daughters Mourned & wept for Iephthahs daughter.Iudg. 11. Act. 8. Chap. 9. 1 King. 13. 30. Eccl. 7. 2.
Certain mō Mourned & wept for Steven stoned.
Ce…t-women Mourned & wept for Dorcas forth stretch'd
The Proph▪ Mourned & wept for The prophet seduced.
Saint Paul Willeth men not to sorrow for them that are asleep as other that1 Thes. 4. 13. Rom. 8. 11. have no hope: for if we beleeve that Jesus is dead and risen again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
The wise man Willeth men to poure forth teares over the dead, and to mourn as if thou hadst sustered great harme thy self: yea to make a grievous lamentation, and to be earnest in mourning, and toEcclus. 38. 16. Chap. 22. 11. use lamentations as he is worthy, and that a day or two, lest thou be evill spoken of, and then to comfort thy self again.
A Description of Death.
There are two sorts of death: The one Corporall.
There are two sorts of death: The other Eternall.
Corporall death Is the separation of the soul from the bodie, with all the evils Gen. 9. 13. Eccl. 12. 7. Deut. 28. 15.that attend thereon, to wit, sorrowes, griefes, sicknesses, diseases, and such like.
Spirituall death Is the finall separation of the whole man in Hell for ever, from2 Thes. 1. 19. 2 Tim. 2. 26. Ephes. 2. 2. Heb. 10. 27. Isai. 33. 14. Gods favourable presence and fellowship, together with present bondage under Satans hellish horrours, and such like fore-runners of damnation.
There are three other kinds of death defined, to wit,
Death In Sinne: Such are they that are Reprobates.Rom. 8. 6. Exod. 22. 12. Rom. 8. 13.
Death For Sinne: Such are they that are Malefactours.
Death To Sinne: Such are they that are Gods elected Ones.
There are three Heraulds or Messengers going before Death:
1. Casualtie, which tels every one of a Doubtfull End.
2. Sicknesses, which tels every one of a Painfull End.
3. Old age, which tels every one of a Certain End.
Constitutum est omnibus semel mori. Heb. 9. 27.
It is appointed unto all men once to die. Heb. 9. 27.
What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from Psal. 89. 48.the hand of the grave? Selah.
Names and Titles given unto Death.
Death is called
A bed to rest in.Isai. 57. 2. Phil. 1. 23. Iob 3. 17. 1 C…r. 15. 51. Iob 14. 2. Iob 6. …. Gen. 5. 5. Isa. 38. 10. Phil. 1. 23. 2 Cor. 5. 1.
A being with Christ.
A ceasing from troubling.
A changing.
A cutting down.
A cutting off of dayes.
Death it selfe.
A depriving of yeares.
A dissolution of the bodie.
A destruction of the Earth, Bodie▪
A day of darknesse.Ecc. 12. 7. Luk. 2▪ 29. Psa. 146. 4
A departing in peace.
A departing of breath.
An Entrance into the way of all the world.Iosh. 23. 9. Psa. 49. 19.
An Entrance into the generation of the Fathers.
The end of all flesh.Gen. 6. 13. 1 Sā. 26. 10 2 Sā. 3. 18. Act. 7. 60. 2 Tim. 4. 7. Iob 20. 8. Gen. 25. 8. Iob 5. 26. 1 Ki. 2. 10. Gen. 15. 15 2 Sā. 12. 23 Ps. 115. 17. Iob 33. 24. Ps. 39. 13▪ Eccl. 12. 5. Iob 17. 16
The end of mans dayes.
A falling.
A falling asleep.
A finishing of our course.
A fleeting away.
A gathering to the people.
A going To the grave.
A going The way of al the earth.
A going To our fathers.
A going To the dead.
A going To the place of silence.
A going Into the pit.
A going Home.
A going To mans long home.
A going Down to the barres of the pit.
A going Into the land of darknesse.Iob 10. 21
A hiding in the Grave.Iob 14. 13 Iob 30. 23 Iob 3. 13.
A house for the living.
A lying still.
Death is called
A laying With our Fathers.Dan. 13. 65. Iob 14. 1…. Iob 21. 26. 2 Pet. 1. 14.
A laying Down.
A laying In the Dust.
A laying Down of our Tabernacle.
The land of Darknesse.Iob 10. 21▪ Psal. 88. 12. Phil. 1. 23. 2 Tim. 4. 6. Iob 20. 8. Iob 34. 20: Gen. 7. 22. Iob 34. 15. Psal. 115. 17. Io…. 9. 4. Iob 3. 13. R…. 14. 13. Iob 3. 17. Iob 21. 32. 2 Cor. 5. 8. Gen. 3. 9. Psal. 146. 4. Iob 14. 20. Iob 11. 10. Iob 3. 13. 1 Thes. 4. 14. 1 King. 1. 21. Io… 7. …1. Iob 34. 15. Gen. 5. 24. Psal. 104. 29. 1 King. 19. 4. Heb. 11. 15. Wis. 4. 10 Iob 14. 2. 1 Ki. 17. 17. Iosh. 23. 14. Iob 16. 22.
The land of Oblivion.
A loosing from the bodie.
An offering up.
A passage.
A passing away.
A perishing.
A perishing of the flesh.
A place of silence.
Night.
A quiet resting.
A rest from labour.
A rest for the wearied.
A remaining in the Tombe.
A removing out of the body.
Returning to the Dust.
Returning to the Earth▪
A sending away.
A shutting up.
A sleep.
A sleep in Jesus.
A sleeping with the fathers.
A sleeping in the dust.
A turning unto the dust.
A taking away by God.
A taking away of mans breath, and Soule.
A Translation.
A vanishing.
A want of breath.
The way of all flesh.
The way to goe in without returning.
An yeelding up of the Ghost, andGen. 35. Chap. 25. 8. of the spirit.
Death is common to all.
A Terrour to the Rich: a desire of the poore: a separation of all: a thing inheritable: a rest from travell: a depth eternall: a shadow of life: of many a thiefe: the end of all strife: a voyage uncertain: a *Gen. 27. 2.Pilgrimage not knowne: the dissolution of every one: of the dead a companion: the beginning of Eternitie, and the end of those that die.
And is compared unto an Archer making Man his But, or M…rk, who when he shooteth, striketh in this manner following:
In shooting over us, he strikes our Ancestours.
In shooting behinde us, he strikes our Servants.
In shooting on our right hand, he strikes our Wives and Children.
In shooting on our left hand, he strikes our Friends.
In shooting in the middest, he strikes our Our selves.
So that no one can escape him, for as St Paul saith, Constitutum est omnibus semel mori: It is appointed unto all men that they shall once die: Omnibus semel, pleris{que} …is: toHeb. 9. …7. Hos. 13. 14. … Cor. 15. R…vel. 21. 4. Job 14. 5, 14▪ Joh. 13. 1. Job 10. 9. Wisd. 7 6. 1 Tim. 6. 7. all once, to many twice: for there is a second death, and that is truly a death, because it is Mo…s vitae, the death of life: The other rather a life, because it is Mors mortis, the death of death, after which mors nō erit ultra, there shalbe no more death.
Now as Iob saith, Mans time is appointed, his months determined, and his dayes numbred, yea, and (as Christ saith) his very last hour is limited: He was made of the mould of the earth, he shall return again to the earth; And as all have one entrance▪ into life, the like going out shall they have to death: Nothing we brought in, nothing shall we carry out.
A Change then shall come, which of
the wicked is to be feared.Eccl. 7. 2.
the Godly is to be desired.
all people is to be expected.
For
Vita citò avolat, nec potest retineri.
Mors quotidiè ingruit, nec potest resisti.
Life fleeth away speedily, and cannot be retained.Psal. 89. 48.
Death cometh on hastily, and cannot be resisted.
Better (saith Salomon) is the day of Death, then of Birth: and yet
The
Athe…st dares not die for fear nō esse, to be no more remembred.
Usurer dares not die for fear malè esse, that he shall be damned.
and dares not die for fear An sit, an non sit, an damnatu… sit.
Doubtfull dares not die for fear Whether he shall be, or not be, or be condemned, or saved.
conscience dares not die for fear
The Faithfull only dares die, because of his Election he is assured.