birth-day] It is a practise of great antiquitie and of long continuance (for it is the practice of many people to this day) annually to celebrate the remembrace of their birth-day in particular, as God did the worlds birth-day in generall by a solemne and weekly Sabath; whereof though we find but two examples in the Scripture, and those not of good men that did it, viz. Pharaoh in this place, and Herod, Matthew 14:6. And two examples of good men who cursed the day of their birth, Job Chap. 3. 1. &Jeremy, Chap. 20. 14. yet the example of Abraham making a Feast at the weaning of Isaac comes somewhat neere it, for at the birth of the child the mother was too weake, (and sometimes the childs birth is the mothers death, as Benjamins was to his mother Rachel, Genesis 35:18.) to beare a part in such a solemnitie; at the circumcision the child was in too much paine for an occasion of her rejoycing; and the first fit opportunitie was, when the child giving over milke was growne up in strength to feed on stronger meat: and if a birth-day be remembred with thanks giving to God, as the Lord of life and death, the author of health and strength, the giver of children, Psalms 127:3. and done without superstition, or vanitie, or excesse, or abuse of Gods creatures, learned and godly Divines give allowance to it; who teach also that it might be lawfull for Pharaoh and Herod to keepe their birth-day, and yet deny the Popish celebration of the Festivities of Peter, and Paul, and other holy men or women; for it is one thing for one to keepe a memoriall of his own, or anothers birth-day, while he is alive, another to make a perpetuall practise of it, when he is dead; one thing to doe it onely by a way of thanksgiving to God, and for his honour onely, another to performe Idolatrous devotions to the Saints, as the Papists doe.