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A78427 Sabbatum redivivum: or The Christian sabbath vindicated; in a full discourse concerning the sabbath, and the Lords day. Wherein, whatsoever hath been written of late for, or against the Christian sabbath, is exactly, but modestly examined: and the perpetuity of a sabbath deduced, from grounds of nature, and religious reason. / By Daniel Cawdrey, and Herbert Palmer: members of the Assembly of Divines. Divided into foure parts. 1. Of the decalogue in generall, and other laws of God, together with the relation of time to religion. 2. Of the fourth commandement of the decalogue in speciall. 3. Of the old sabbath, 4. Of the Lords day, in particular. The first part.; Sabbatum redivivum. Part 1 Cawdrey, Daniel, 1588-1664.; Palmer, Herbert, 1601-1647. 1645 (1645) Wing C1634; Thomason E280_3; ESTC R200035 350,191 408

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of Moses 1. In the Law or the five Books of Moses so called we have first as we doubt not to prove the Institution of it in Genesis 2. The solemne Promulgation of it in Exodus 3. The manner of Sanctification of it in Leviticus 4. The Profanation Vindicated in the Book of Numbers 5. Pressing arguments for the Observation of it in Deuteronomie 2. Then the Historicall parts of Scripture 2. In the Historicall parts have some Remembrances of it either as observed or profaned 3. There is in the Book of Psalmes 3. In the Psalmes Psalme 92.1 4. In the Prophets a speciall Psalme appointed for it 4. The Prophets are much and frequent in the complaining of the Violation and pressing on the Observation of it 5. 5. In the Gospels 6. In the Acts. The Gospels have often mention of it 6. The story of the Acts hath likewise touches both of the old and New Sabbath 7. 7. In the Epistles The Epistles do hint and insinuate an Institution of a Christian Sabbath 8. And lastly 8. In the Revelation the Revelation discovers Gods right unto it giving it the Title of The Lords Day All which shall be vindicated in due season from those objections and evasions which the Adversaries do put upon them 3. Besides all this the observation of the Sabbath 3. It is ranked amongst Substantials is ranked by the Prophets amongst the most substantiall and perpetuall Duties of Religion 4. 4. The great care of God I D●…ing the commandement 1. In the Length 2. Affirmatively and Negatively The speciall Cost if we may so say and care of God in delivering the Commandement argues much worth and wa ght As 1. In the Length and largenesse of it to make it plain and evident 2. That whereas other Commandements are propounded either Affirmatively only or Negatively only this is both Affirmative and Negative 3. 3. Charged upon all sorts It is Charged upon all sorts of people particularly especially Superiours to look well to the observation of it 4. 4. Urged by many Reasons It is Urged by many Reasons As first Gods Interest in it It is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God Secondly Gods Example He wrought six dayes and rested the seventh Thirdly His Sanctification and blessing of the Sabbath Fourthly The equity of the proportions for Continuance 5. With a speciall Memento and Frequency but one whole Day of seven for six allowed unto men Lastly it is stamped with a speciall Memento in the very front of it Remember the Sabbath Day c. lest it should be forgotten and as a Watch-word of solemne preparation for it 5. It is called a Gift and Favour Exod. 16.29 Ezek. 20.12 Nehem. 9.14 5. The Sabbath is so far from being esteemed by the people of God to be a ceremoniall Yoke or burden that it is divers times called a Gift and sometimes acknowledged as a speciall Favour of God 6. The Observation hath speciall promises Nationall and Personall Temporall and Spirituall 6. The Observation of it hath as great Encouragements by many speciall promises as any one Duty in all the Book of God Both Nationall as Jer. 17.27 Isai 58.14 and Personall even to unlikely persons Isai 56.2 4. 6. Both Temporall and Spirituall in the same places which may serve as Comments upon the Blessing mentioned Gen. 2. and in the Commandement Exod. 20. Fulfilled on our Nation And here give us leave a little to demonstrate the exemplification and fulfilling of this Promise and Blessing to this Nation of ours above any other Nation round about us As we do not find any other Reformed Church hath either so clearly maintained the doctrine of the Sabbath as ours hath both in the Homily of the Time and place of Prayers and in so many Authorized Writers for more than sixty yeares or so solemnly observed it by Command of Lawes Injunctions and Canons and the Conscientiousnesse of Governours of families and private Christians So we find a speciall Ratification of the promised Blessing both in Spirituall and Temporall respects 1. For the Spirituall Travellers of all Countries 1. Spirituall Blessings that look toward Religion do testifie that no Country among the Reformed hath more visible Piety and Schollers that travell amongst Books find no where more exact Treatises of Sanctification than in England 2. For Temporall 2. Temporall the world is witnesse how fully Temporall Blessings have been made good to us of this Nation And which is singularly observable our prosperity began to be clear when the Doctrine of the Sabbath was owned as the Doctrine of our Church by the aforesaid Homily which that it was not in King Edwards time appears by an Act Anno regni 5 6. speaking of all Dayes as alike by Gods Word Whence we observe further that though all the Stories of the Time worthily do magnifie Edw. 6. in his own Person as one of the most excellent Princes that ever raigned yet they speak of his reigne but as a Sad and Dark Day to the State Temporall by reason of ill successe abroad and dissentions of the Nobles at home After which followed a black Night in Queen Maries time by the bloody persecutions of her best Subjects her Forraign-match and losse of all we held in France But when Queen Elizabeth succeeding had restored the Gospell and withall the Doctrine of the Sabbath was Resumed and Professed the Heavens cleared up so bright over our Heads as never had England a more Glorious Day even Temporally than all her reigne after 7. The Transgression of it is 1. Aggravated 7. The Transgression of that Law of the fourth Commandement and the Profanation of the Sabbath is 1. Aggravated by speciall circumstances and reckoned amongst the greatest Abominations Ezek. 20. 22. 2. Threatned 2. Threatned with severest vengeance both Personally with Death Exo. 31.14 and nationally with fearfull judgements as Fire in their habitations Jer. 17.27 3. Punished and Desolation to their Country Levit. 26.34 43. 3. And Punished accordingly with death Numb 15. and Desolation of their Nation 2 Chron. 36.21 and so acknowledged as the cause thereof Nehem 13.18 Exemplified also in our Nation And if we might not b● troublesome we might no lesse Exemplifie the remarkable Judgements upon this Nation of ours than we did the Blessings in former times since the time that people began to profane the Sabbath and the Doctrine of it not only disclaimed by some of our Writers but also the Profanation of the Lords Day authorised by the Book of Sports It is observed by others how many dreadfull examples there have been of Personall Profanations of that Day and we think one main Cause of these nationall Judgements under which this Land now grones was the publique Toleration of the Profanation of that Day To say nothing of the manifest decay of Piety and the Power of Godlinesse since that Edict came abroad we
party and only or principally because of the fourth Commandment which they are unwilling to honour with the title and dignity of a Morall Law without some qualification or distinction The others indeed they yeeld Morall but not this as knowing they loose their whole cause unlesse they refuse the fourth Commandment We therefore who have undertaken the speciall defence of the fourth Commandment must take speciall paines to maintain the whole Decalogue together and so that Law as one of the tenne to be Morall and Perpetuall by arguments which are common to all those Lawes together Concerning which we thus proceed First for the stating of the Question II. The question stated we premise this consideration That by any of those Lawes being in force we mean that it is in force in the Words of it according to their Litterall and Gramaticall sence and not in any mysticall or Spirituall meaning or forsaking the words to fly only to a generall equity as some speak For both all Lawyers say and reason it self shewes That a Law is no longer in force then the Words of it are in force at least those that contain the substance of it And therefore to forsake the Words and fly only to a Spirituall meaning or generall equity is in true construction As well may we say that the whole ceremoniall or Iudiciall Law is still in force as any command of the Decalogue whose words are not in force but only a Spirituall meaning or generall equity to flye from the Law and forsake it altogether and pronounce it Void For the Spirituall meaning or Generall equity are precedent to a particular Law and have no need of such a particular Law to confirme or hold them up For they would have been in force though that particular Law had never been we mean though those Words which now are said to be voyd had never been given for a Law and are no lesse strong when that particular Law is made voyd altogether So that that particular Law is altogether made voyd when the Words of it are rejected as no longer obligatory Therefore we say by a Law in force we understand the Words of each Commandment in their substance and according to the Literall and Gramaticall sence of them which that we may evince to be true of all the Tenne Commandements we thus argue III. 1. Argument From the Testament of the Church in all ages First we Alledge the Testimony of the Church of God many wayes notified 1. In the Vniversall usage of the Name of the Decalogue or Tenne Commandements derived from God himself first who so denominates then Exod. 34. Deut. 4. and Deut. 10. Taken up by all Churches at this Day and continued through all Ages of the Church unto this day 2. In putting all of them in the Words and syllables into their Catechismes to be taught in the very Words of them unto all Children and ignorants only indeed the Idolatrous Church of Rome hath left the 2d wholly out of their Catechismes as too grossely contradicting their abhominations of Image making and Image-worshipping 3. Accordingly Expounding all of them in all Catechisticall Sermons and Treatises Though in them we confesse they do diverse of them Forsake the Words of some Commandements and particularly of the fourth too much 4. But further the Reformed Churches in many places if not in all have all the Tenne Commandements at large written upon the Walls of their Churches that he that runs may read them and learn even from thence that they hold them all perpetuall 5. They appoint them to be all publikely repeated in the Church every Lords day 6. Our Church of England hath gone beyond all in this This was penned while the book of Common Prayes was in use in the Church and highly magnified by those who are Adversaries in this Cause against whom it still remains a convincing Argument requiring besides all the former things 1. A promise of the observation of them by the childe that is to be baptized viz. from the Sureties in the childes name 2. The Sureties that present the childe to Baptisme by a particular charge after it is baptized That they see it be taught as a chiefe necessary thing the Ten Commandements in the English tongue 3. After the solemn publike rehearsall of them severally and distinctly all the Congregation to say Lord have mercy upon us and incline our hearts to keep this Law 4. And finally at the close of all to say Lord have mercy upon us and write all these thy Lawes in our hearts we beseech thee In all which it cannot be avoyded but it must be acknowledged IV. Otherwise guilty of a double sin 1. That All generally agree in avouching our Rule That all the Decalogue is perpetuated to this day and every one of the ten Commandements in the very words of it concerne us all as well at this day as any people or persons in any former age since it was first given Or else they are very unwise in all this to say the least that can be But indeed more must be said For hence it will follow also 2. That if the whole Decalogue be not now in force and that there be not ten Commandements now perpetual but nine or eight only and so if the words of any one of the ten be not now at all in force no more then the Law of the Passeover or those of the other Jewish Festivals as some private men have been bold to speak this kind of language then is the Church universally in all Ages and at this day in all parts of the World undeniably and grievously guilty of a double sinne 1. In laying a fearfull stumbling block before all her children 1. In laying a stumbling block before children in the very name of the Decalogue or Ten Commandements there being not so many now to us And specially in teaching all ignorant persons the words of them all and most of all the words of the 4 th Commandement which are so many and so plaine for but six dayes work together and then a seventh dayes rest to be kept holy which while they heare and must learne and repeat the words constantly they cannot but think but the very words bind them and not a meere generall equity only or we know not what spirituall meaning far remote from the words For that they believe that should only have been taught them now if that only had been in force and they not to be troubled to learn a great many words which doe not at all concerne them there being no such thing to be looked to as the words pretend commanded by God and which are only apt to ensnare their consciences in needlesse superstition and scrupulositie Therefore we must needs confesse that though the Church of Rome be Idolatrous in making and worshipping of Images yet are they wiser in their generation and more true to their Principles in leaving out the second Commandement wholly
God had made undeniably any exclusive determination for the generall of Religion we must not have argued against it for as much as His Will so far as we can know it is the only Rule of Good But according to the Principles He hath put into us both in Nature and from Scripture together We cannot possibly conceive it profitable to His Honour which is infinite His glorious Name is exalted above all blessing and praise Neh. 9.5 to have a restraint put upon mankind never to imploy Time upon His immediate service longer or oftener or sooner then according to any particular strict Exclusive Determination Much lesse profitable to Men their Soules being their best part and their good being advanced even toward an eternall happinesse the more the larger proportion of Time is by them imployed in Religion Therefore also no such Exclusive Determination is to be found any where in Scripture with relation to the generall businesse of Religion Only for some particular occasions of Worship God was pleased of old to determine some Time exclusively as the eighth Day from the birth of a Child for Circumcision and the eighth Day for the sacrificing of the firstling Males of Cattell neither sooner nor later and some others of the like nature may be found Bur these also which is a remarkable note are only Determination of the Quando Season or Order of Time And no such that we can remember are found Exclusive even for particular occasions of Worship either for the Frequencie unlesse such as were only once in a yeere to be performed as the Passeover and such like feasts of memoriall of particular benefits or once in a life as Circumcision of old was and Baptisme is now held to be or much lesse for the Continuance it being never forbidden to say no more now to give God the longest Continuance at any Time when any Continuance at all was determined But infallibly certain it is as we said that for the generall businesse of Religion the Scripture knowes no Exclusive Determination Also it is not possible for Man to obtaine any such Wisedome unlesse God would miraculously reveale it which cannot be imagined in this case that he should be able to say antecedently My worldly occasions or other mens will never at any Time while we live admit any more or oftener or sooner then this particular Continuance Frequencie and Season exprest in this or that Determination made or to be made by us or any other No Exclusive Determination then can be conceived to be profitable for the generall businesse of Religion All which we note as well to prevent the mistake of any unjudicious Conscience who specially by the suggestion of others might fancie perhaps the fourth Commandement injoyning one Day of seven for Religion to be an Exclusive Determination and that it were forbidden to imploy any other Time considerably upon Gods worship or looking after their soules as also and that chiefly to confute the untowardnesse of some profane Cavillers Objection prevented who though they are far enough from observing the Continuance and Frequencie Religiously of one Day in seven according to the fourth Commandement yet dogmatically and most perversly contend that if that Commandement be in force for one Day in seven for Religion then it is also for six Dayes working and following worldly businesse equally necessarily And that so it is equally a sin to goe to heare a Sermon on a Week-Day as to work upon the Sabbath and that the fourth Commandement forbids the one as well as the other Now this were to make the fourth Commandement an Exclusive Determination The contrary whereunto may sufficiently appeare from what hath been already said Yet for more complete conviction and perfect rooting out any such scruple in the minds of any that are not wilfull we adde That it is most evident That God never meant the fourth Commandement for an Exclusive Determination nor was it ever so no not to the Jewes and therefore neither can it be so to us now as both Gods other determinations and Mens also even strictly besides remisse ones doth undeniably manifest For we finde in Scripture that not only before the fourth Commandement given with the rest in that Majesticke manner on Mount Sinai the Feast of the Passeover and herein two Dayes the first and the last of unleavened Bread were determined by God himselfe Exod. 12. But afterward in the Books of Moses He besides determined the Feast of Weekes and that of Tabernacles this againe having two Dayes the first and the last as Sabbaths and the Dayes of the New Moones every moneth and the Day of Attonement yeerly and dayly also every Day a double Frequencie of Time for the Morning and Evening Sacrifice All much Times were indeed specially instituted for particular reasons except the dayly Frequencie of the Morning and Evening Oblation and had to the Jewes Typicall relations each of them in the particularities of their seasons and the manner of their observations Yet also were all those Solemne Dayes serviceable likewise to the Generall businesse of Religion for increase of Knowledge of God and Affection toward Him though in no proportion comparable with the Weekely Sabbath by reason of their Rarity and its Frequencie as appeares both in reason and by the Shunamites using to goe to the Prophet upon the New Moones By all which it is most undoubted that God meant not the determination of the Weekely Sabbath for an Exclusive determination of Time for the Generall of Religion As also by that Holy Men did yet further determine Times for themselves as David and Daniel three Times every Day for Prayer and for others too as the Dayes of Purim and the Feast of Dedication forenoted and Extraordinary Dayes of Fasts upon extraordinary occasions Besides all voluntary Times imployed by pious soules every where intimated Likewise the Generall Precepts of Praying continually and without ceasing and many such like formerly mentioned and others to be named anon doe certainly imply that men ought to bestow more Time upon Religion Gods solemne Worship and their own and others soules as they can redeeme opportunity then God hath expresly determined these being remisse determinations as we shall shew by and by together with the reason of them There is then no such thing as an Exclusive determination to be fancied with relation to the Generall of Religion as being expresly contrary to all the Rules and practise of it in Scripture and the Church in all ages Only we grant and desire it may be remembred that no man may determine either for himselfe or much lesse for others Time in any of the respects So as 1. to March for Holinesse and Necessitie with Gods determined Times which is the fault of the Popish Holy-dayes all of them besides the Idolatry ef some of them being specially intended to the honour of Creatures Angels and Saints the blessed Virgin and others As also in their Canonicall houres they put speciall Holinesse
since the service of God is our perfect freedome if our Church say true in her prayers and are not to give God attendance constantly in Publique Worship and so constantly look after their soules And then what becomes of the Morality of the fourth Commandement for Publique VVorship and what of Publique Worship and a sufficient Time at least for it Morall Naturall It is beyond our wits how our adversaries can expedite themselves out of the intanglements of these contradictions whereas in our way all is plaine in three words God determining the Time to all all even sevants and inferiours are bound to observe it to His honour and the good of their soules so to be willing and carefull of it and they are free to observe it being willing notwithstanding any opposition of men Masters Parents or others And though they may and must regard Gods reservations and so stay at home to tend a sick person and do any thing which is truly necessary yet not upon slight pretences or trifling occasions and when they are at home they are to redeeme all Time possible to serve God and look after their soules by themselves And if for this they incurre their superiours displeasure they must trust God in that as well as if they would urge them to lye or do any other wickednesse XXXIII Proved by reason 2. Another proofe of our Antecedent against the Churches authority even for the Publique Worship in a word according to what hath been touch● in a former argument is that If the Church hath authority to commanded all its members to observe constantly that Time in Publique Worship which it determines to them It may command them 2 3 4 5. Dayes in a Weeke and 5. or 6. or 8. Houres of each of those Dayes both Masters and Servants Inferiours and Superiours and call them from their workes to publique Worship so often and so long But this must not be therefore the Church hath no such authority even for the Publique Worship and the Times for it A sixth argument is this XXXIIII Argument sixth The Church cannot make a perpetuall determination If the Church hath authority to make this determination of the chiefe solemne Time necessary and sufficient to its members for Religion Then it hath authority to make a perpetuall determination But the Church hath no authority to make a perpetuall determination Ergo The Church hath not authority to make this determination The Consequence may be thus confirmed that proportion of Time which is both necessary for Religion sufficient for Religion for the chiefe Time of Worship is in reference to men not to say in the nature of Perpetual For nothing can be taken from that which is necessary nor added by mans authority to that which is sufficient So that if the determination of the Church hath made the Time necessary and sufficient to Religion it hath made it withall perpetuall and unalterable The Antecedent that the Church cannot make a determination perpetuall Is partly proved by the confession of the adversaries in this case in hand For they dispute and argue divers of them for the Churches authority at this day to alter and change the Time the Lords Day not onely to some other Day of the week but to some other number greater or smaller Partly by the general confession of all Orthodoxe Divines even the Hereticall Papists also that all institutions determinations law● of men even of the Church universall are in their own not ●e alterable and at least the Church universall may alter them in a generall Councell And so that it belongs to God only to make lawes perpetuall and unchangeable And therefore say we it belongs only to Him to make this determination of the necessary and sufficient chiefe solemne Time for all men and particularly for all the members of the Church which doing it is unquestionably in reference to men XXXIV Argument seventh perpetuall and unalterable A seventh Argument thu● proceeds If God have given the Christian Church this authority to determine the necessary sufficient chiefe solemne Time for Religion It is a burden to Christians that the Church have this authority to all its members Then it is by way of spirituall priviledge and liberty for Christians But it is not a spirituall priviledge or liberty to Christians to have this authority given to the Church Ergo God hath not given to the Church this authority The Consequence is not to be denyed 1. Because our adversaries do so much and so oft urge the notion of Christian liberty to prove Christians free from all Gods former determinations of Times even that of one day in seven for a Weekely Sabbath in the fourth Commandement and to prove that the Church is to determine the necessary and sufficient Time now 2. Indeed there can be no other reason imagined why God should set His Christian Church to make this determination or make voyde all His own former determinations but in favour to His people now for a spirituall priviledge and Christian liberty The Time of the Gospell being a Time of spirituall freedome above the Time of the Old Testament The Antecedent may be verifyed severall wayes 1. By the confession of the adversaries who say sometimes and offer at some reasons for it that the Christian Church may appoint and determine more and oftener dayes than the Jewes had determined to them by God himselfe And if it be absolutely left to the Church to determine they may determine as many as they will And so there wil be lesse liberty in that sence they plead for it lesse freedom for worldly occasions work and sports then the Jewes had or then we urge from the fourth Commandement for one whole Day in seven For two Dayes in a week or even twenty seven Holy dayes in a yeare besides the Lords dayes weekely which are in our Church if they must be observed at least by abstaining from all work as some urge in their bookes and to be sure the Ecclesiasticall Courts did urge in practise punishing all those that they could prove did work on any part even of a Holy day This we say was and would be lesse freedome then the Jewes had or then we would have if the Lords day were wholly observed and no other dayes strictly besides But they may determine as hath been said even twise thrise as many more dayes if they have such authority as we dispute of Where then is the liberty talked of 2. If the Church had not such an absolute authority to determine but as much as was of old one whole Day in seven And without an expresse prohibition or pregnant reasons to the contrary which our adversaries in their way have not yet alledged this cannot be denied by them And so keep the number and continuance still and onely change the Day as we say is done but by God not men We aske again where is the liberty talked of unlesse they will say
Sabbatum Redivivum OR THE Christian Sabbath VINDICATED IN A Full Discourse concerning the Sabbath And the LORDS DAY Wherein whatsoever hath been written of late for or against the Christian Sabbath is exactly but modestly Examined And the perpetuity of a Sabbath deduced from grounds Of Nature and Religious Reason By Daniel Cawdrey and Herbert Palmer Members Of the Assembly of Divines Divided into Foure Parts 1. Of the Decalogue in generall and other Laws of God together with the Relation of Time to Religion 2. Of the fourth Commandement of the Decalogue in speciall 3. Of the old Sabbath in particular 4. Of the Lords Day in particular The FIRST PART Ezek. 22.26 They have hid their eyes from my Sabbaths and I am profaned amongst them Mark 2.28 The SONNE OF MAN is Lord also of the Sabbath London Printed by Robert White for Thomas Vnderhill and are to be sold at the Signe of the Bible in Woodstreete 1645. The License THis Treatise entituled Sabbatum Redivivum Or the Christian Sabbath vindicated as in my opinion the most satisfactory of any I have seen and that in a point of Divinity wherein as appeares by the many Books written against it the wisdome of the flesh maintaines as great an enmity against God as in any whatsoever I recommend unto the Presse as of excellent use in these times CHARLES HERLE The Contents of the first Part. CHAP. I. OF the Term of a Morall Law and the distinction of Laws into Ceremoniall Judiciall and Morall And of Morall Laws into Naturall and Positive CHAP. II. Rules to know a Law to be Morall though but positive CHAP. III. Every Law of the Decalogue is a Morall and Perpetuall Law CHAP. IV. The Exceptions to the former Rule answered CHAP. V. Christ hath confirmed all the Commandements of the Decalogue as perpetuall Mat. 5.17 c. CHAP. VI. Solemne Worship is Morall-Naturall both Solitary and conjoyned in Families and Churches and how far CHAP. VII Generall Considerations about Time and its profitablenesse in reference to Morall actions of importance CHAP. VIII Considerations of Time in relation to Religion and the Worship of God how far it may be profitable thereunto CHAP. IX A Determinate Solemn Time for Gods Worship is Morall-Naturall and that in the first ●ommandement And what kinde and manner of Determination of Time for Religion may be proved Necessary by the Law or Light of Nature and generall Rules of Scripture CHAP. X. The Determination of the chiefe Solemn Time of Worship for all men Necessarily and Ordinarily Sufficient for the chief Time as also of the particular day for it belongs not to Men but to GOD. CHAP. XI Two Corollaries from the former Discourses about Solemne Time 1. All Times and Dayes are not equall under the Gospell 2. Time and Place are not equall circumstances in Religion CHAP. XII The Necessary sufficient chief Time for Religion together with the particular Day for it is a part of Worship and not a meer Adjunct or Circumstance only Errata PAge 108. Line 2. And specially c. unto the end of that Paragraph should have been inserted line 16. after the word pleases p. 136. l. 33. for much read which p. 168. l. 7. for coninuance r. continuance p. 233. l. 34. for lets r. let p. 242. l. 16. for mahomet r. Mahomet l. 33. for if r. If p. 260. l. 19. for puplique r. publique p. 261. l. 17. after of r. it p. 266. l. 32. for Chhistian r. Christian p. 273. l. 3. for Pimitive r. Primitive p. 274. l. 25. for justification r. institution p. 275. l. 12. for possibilies r. possibilities p. 276. l. 33. for Apostle r. Apostles p. 277. l. 4. for the r. that p. 282. l. 23. for ver 16. r. ver 14. p. 283. l. 25. blot out not p. 296. l. 30. for them r. that l. 36. for charity r. Charybdis p. 305. l. 13. for mianly r. mainly p. 314. l. 5. for referoed r. referred p. 318. l. 27. for continue r. containe p. 322. l. 7. for oligatory r. obligatory p. 332. l. 25. for Lev. 23. r. Lev. 27. p. 346. l. 28. for viz. r. both p. 352. l. 15. for that r. the To the Christian Reader WE are now Christian Reader to enter upon a very great work not so much in respect of the bulk and length as containing under it many controversies as in respect of the subject matter it selfe the worth and Dignity of it The vindication of the Christian Sabbath In the entrance and Preface whereunto we think it not amisse to give thee a briefe account of some particulars which may not being satisfied stand as prejudices in the reading of the following Discourse and they are these 1. What is the concernment of a Sabbath that we are so large in vindication of it 2. Why after so many books of this subject we adde any more 3. Why seeing there are three parts more this part comes forth alone without its fellowes For the first of these In reading of the Scriptures 1. The Elogies of a Sabbath we do observe that there is not any one part of Religion except but the mystery of our Redemption of which more is spoken than of the Sabbath The Elogies of it are so many that they would easily swell into a volume if we listed to enlarge our selves We shall therefore give thee but a touch or taste of the chiefest Heads 1. In Generall it is the Compendium of all Religion And first of all in generall we may call the Sabbath and the due observation of it the Compendium or Continent of all Religion Hereupon it is very observable that as the commandement of it stands in the Heart of the Decalogue as the bond of both the Tables so it is in other places of Scripture joyned with the chiefest Duties of both Of the first Table in that place You shall keep my Sabbaths Levit. 26.2 and reverence my Sanctuary Of the second Table in that other place You shall feare every man his father and his mother Levit. 19.3 Having all the Priviledges that Commend the most Substantiall Lawes in Scripture and sanctifie my Sabbaths The Law of the Sabbath hath all those priviledges that do commend any the most substantiall Lawes in Scripture It is one of the Ten spoken by God himself with Majesty and Terror written in the Tables of stone with his own finger put in the Arke by his own command together with the rest to signifie as even one of the Adversaries sayes the perpetuity of it 2. In Particular 1. The Frequent mention of it in all parts of sacred Scripture More Particularly 1. There is as frequent mention of it as of any one Commandement implying as on the one side the Importance of it so on the other Mens untowardnesse and backwardnesse in the observation of it There is no part of Scripture wherein there is not something remarkable of a Sabbath 1. In the Law or five Books
himselfe to be determined unto by some vow of his owne or Gods command or some Superiours whom he dare not disobey So that whatsoever is left indeterminate to such is to be reckoned as nothing as never any of it imployed for God and the soule Therefore the determination of the Continuance and Frequencie of Time for Religion is so Profitable that it cannot be too large or too frequent if it leave but enough for bodily necessities and and other necessary worldly occasions Religion also being the chiefe and most necessary businesse as hath beene said 2. But now for the Quando XIX 2. The season or order of beginning hath of it selfe no substantiall profitablenesse toward Religion though accidentally it may have some or Season of Beginning what day of any number of dayes or what houre or part of any day there being no validity or efficacie in it indeterminately and voluntarily applyed to Religion as we have also shewed unlesse meerely by accident A determination of it is no further profitable then as it may Accidentally serve to secure the other respects of Continuance and Frequencie before determined As if some hours foure or six of a day were determined It is profitable that the beginning be determined somewhat early that so interruptions may not prevent the observation of so many hours Also if a whole day be determined as for solemne humiliation once a quarter It is profitable to determine some particular day some while at least before hand least interruptions of busines not so well ordered as might have been upon foresight of such a day determined do disturbe the orderly and religious observation of it even by himselfe alone Also so farre as in any other accidentall respect a man can foresee any helpe on such a day or houre or the freedome of his owne spirits or better disposition of body or the like it may be profitable to him to determine such a season of beginning for himselfe Otherwise it is not ordinarily profitable at all what particular season whether it be this day or that the first or third or seventh or tenth of that revolution or this or that houre or beginning of such Continuance that is before determined God nor the Soule gaine not nor loose not either way XX. The Quando season or order of Time that is the particular dayes may be accidentally profitab●y determined namely to preserve the memoriall of some worke of God on such a day and accordingly to helpe to affect with thankfulnesse specially when appointed by God to that purpose But we must not forget that in Religion or toward it that is toward some particular Consideration in Religion there may be some Accidentall profit in some determination of the Quando or Season of Beginning some solemne Worship like unto which there is nothing for study or any civill businesse which we toucht in the beginning of the foregoing Chapter Namely some Memoriall of a speciall worke of God done upon that season that day Of which sort God instituted divers under the Old Testament undeniably and we say he did also one such Day under the New Testament the first Day of the weeke cald therefore the Lords Day in stead of the Old Seventh Day-Sabbath which was in memory of Christs rest from the worke of redemption as the former of Gods rest from the worke of Creation And men also both under the Old and New Testament have instituted some particular dayes in memoriall of Gods workes as upon such dayes as the dayes of purim in the booke of Ester and the feast of the dedication mentioned Joh. 10.22 and instituted in the Time of the Maccabees as we read 1. Mac. 4.59 And no man doubts but the Christian Church hath instituted divers such dayes of memoriall Our Adversaries affirming it even of the Lords Day it selfe But that we shall dispute with them about in due season Now for the profit of these institutions so farre and so long as God commanded or commands yet any there is no doubt some profit in that by a spirituall blessing even upon that day above another not commanded by him All his Ordinances being ever accompanied with a blessing unto and upon the right observers of them and accordingly at the very first institution of the Seventh Day Sabbath God is said to blesse it as well as to sanctifie it Nay first to blesse it then to sanctifie it though it was doubtles the same act as of purpose to secure the blessing to the observers of its sanctification Gen. 2.3 And withall it may serve in a degree to quicken not the memory only but the affections also toward God for such a benefit as the Worlds Creation and so for the other benefits of which some other dayes were appointed memorialls Gods command certainly make these memorials lively and operative for these purposes so long as he would have them to be so used XXI How far and in what case the Quando or particular day appointed by man only for a memoriall of any worke or benefit of God may be Profitable As for dayes instituted by men for memorials some little profit there may also be in determining the particular day in a revolution as somewhat serving to quicken and affect the mind with the occasion But then this must also be where it is certaine and clear that the day determined is answerable to the day of the benefit Or else if that be doubted of it is like to affect but very little indeed And the services also of the Day must be specially and affectingly applied to the occasion of the memoriall Or else again there will be very little if at all any profit by the determination of such a particular day Likewise it is to be remembred that upon the particular Dayes which God instituted under the Old Testament XXII The Quando or particular dayes appointed by God under the Old Testament were ordained by Him partly for a Typicall signification and so also had an accident●ll profit But it is not 〈◊〉 with any under the New Testament appointed by God and much lesse of any appointed by Men. He was pleased to put some particular typicall signification relating to Christ the body of all those shadowes as the Apostle generally tells us of them all Col. 2.16 So that He made them for the time being for that infancie of the Church yet more profitable in this consideration of being Documents of some of the Mysteries of Christ In which use no Day appointed by Man of old ever did or could serve for any Profit Neither doth any Day now either of Gods or much lesse of Mans appointment God having put an end to all Typicall uses by the comming of Christ in the flesh and His suffering and resurrection But we say before His comming even the Quando or seasons of Times determined by God had some profit in them in those two Considerations and the Lords day hath still as a memoriall appointed by