worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and Truth by the light of nature u Act. 14 15 17 23 24 God is glorified as hee is Creator I answere That it is not so for A seuēth day though not Saturday is still sanctified Which to be sufficient to celebrate the Creator the fourth Commandement prescribeth neither this nor that seuenth day but one of seuen doth euidētly proue So that wheras Sonday is The Lords day and withall A seuenth day we may obserue that Christians * Ioh. 14. 13. glorifie the Father in the Sonne and celebrate the Creator with the Redeemer By whom a New creation though spirituall was performed x Isa 65. 17. 66. 21. 22 according to the prophecy of Isaiah Lastly If it may appeare by the word that Sonday was confirmed by the Apostles practise and preceptiue execution then Sonday hath authoritie not from the Church but from Christ But it appeareth by the word that Sonday was so confirmed therfore it hath authority not from the Church but from Christ. That the sequele of the Maior may better appeare I will manifest the Minor by these three places of holy writ viz. Act. 20 6 7. and 1. Cor. 16 2. and Reuel 1 10. For in the first place three things are to be obserued 1. That Paul abode at Troas seuen daies 2. That it is not said The Disciples were called of purpose to his preaching but Being come together to breake bread that is to be partakers of the Lords Supper And 3. That ready to depart on the morow he cōtinued his preaching till midnight Then it will appeare that Sonday there called The first day of the weeke in respect of the Iewes their account to whom Saturday was the seuēth that is the last day of the weeke was sanctified to holy meetings and exercises And that Paul waited as at Philippi y Act. 16. 12. 13. for the Sabbath of the Iewes so at Troas for the Christians their Lords day Which he would not haue done being an Apostle and hauing such hast of departure if Sonday had not been sanctified by greater authority than the ordinary authority of the Elders and Brethren If it be obiected that according to the originall the words bee One of the Sabbathes in the two former places and therfore it is vncertaine whether Sonday bee meant in those places rather than Saturday I answere That by the same reason it is vncertaine whether our blessed Sauiour did arise againe the third day z 1. Cor. 15. 4. according to the Scriptures For all the Euangelists a Mat. 28. 1 Mark 16. 2. Luke 24. 1. Ioh. 20. 1. vse the same words when they report That Mary Magdalen went to seeke Christ when he was risen But more fully to confute this Argument three things are to be noted 1. That in the originall the numerall One is put for the ordinall First For Marke hauing said in the second verse of his 16. chapter One of the Sabbathes speaking of Mary Magdalen her seeking of Christ chaungeth the words in the 9. verse and saith The First day shewing that Christ was risen And that Sabbathes is put for Weekes As in Leuit. 25. 8. it is written Thou shalt number 7. Sabbathes that is weekes of yeeres Secondly it is to be obserued That in both places only Christians are said to haue these meetings For they who came together are called Disciples Churches and are said To breake bread that is To receiue the Communion b 1. Cor. 10. 16. 17. 18. which none but Christians may do And therefore in both places the Spirit of God in two sundry writers Luke and Paul vseth these words The first day of the weeke rather than The Sabbath day more distinctly to expresse that day which was sanctified by Christians Whereas at Philippi where no Disciples were as yet Paul is said c Act. 16. 12. 18. to go on The Sabbath to the place where the Iewes were wont to pray after he had bin there certaine daies For what neede had the Christians being none but themselues to neglect the Lords day for the Iewes Sabbath Thirdly note that it is said Euery first day 1. Cor. 16. 2. and consider whether there be any probability that the Apostle would haue them come together euery Saturday If not it followeth necessarily that by The first day of the weeke Sonday is vnderstood In 1. Cor. 16. 1. 2. we are yet further to consider that the Apostle saith As I haue ordained in the Churches of Galatia which argueth Generality and Euery first day which argueth Perpetuity So that by this place holy assemblies vpon Sonday may seeme as generall in those times so confirmed for euer by a preceptiue exhortation For as in this speech d 2. Tim. 2. 19. Let euery one that calleth on the name of Christ depart from iniquitie a preceptiue exhortation to call on the name of Christ is implied howsoeuer only departing from iniquity bee expressely commaunded So in this speech deliuered by an Apostle Euery first day of the weeke let euery one of you put aside is implied a preceptiue exhortation to come together vpon the first day of the weeke howsoeuer only putting aside be expresly commanded If it be obiected That these meetings were only to gather for the Saints I deny it For it is said Act. 20. 7. That the Disciples came together to break bread which importeth other holy exercises Againe If no more were vnderstood than expressed then Christians cōfirmed in the faith were lesse religious vpon their setled and sanctified holy day than they were ordinarily if not euery day at their first enterance into their holy profession For then they mette together e Act. 2. 42. 46. not only to breake bread but vnto doctrine also and prayers Lastly The Apostle who was so zealous to sanctifie the Lords day at Troas would no doubt reproue in this place so great neglect of The Lords day if such a matter were then to be supposed As for Reuel 1. 10. if nothing else were vrged but the consideration of the two former places it doth sufficiētly appeare that by The Lords day is meant The first day of the weeke now called Sonday according to the iudgement of all the learned Against which streame to striue by making a doubt without reason at least probable is to bewray a proud conceipt of a priuate opinion But howsoeuer this be sufficient yet for the godly their sake I will say somewhat more than inough It is the iudgement of the learned and I see nothing to the contrarie That as Paul praying in the Temple * Act. 22. 17 fell into a traunce so Iohn sanctifying the Lords day was rauished in spirit If so how can we imagine That Iohn banished f Reuel 1. 9 in the isle Patmos hauing no cause to cōstraine him nor occasion to induce him should rather sanctifie the Iewes Sabbath than the Christians holy day Againe If
holy Apostles are sufficient to perswade an humble Christian to receiue it as the Lords ordinance though it be not certainly knowne when Christ did ordaine it But it is probable that he gaue commandement concerning the same within those 40. daies after his resurrection When as it is written x Act. 1. 2. 3 in expresse words he gaue through the Holy Ghost Commandements vnto the Apostles whom he had chosen and spake of those things which appertaine to the Kingdome of God Now doth it not especially appertaine to the kingdome of God that Christians should sanctifie their Lords day wherein y 1. Cor. 1. 23. 24. Christ crucified z 1. Tim. 3. 16. The mystery of godlines and a Mat. 1. 21. Sauiour of the world should be * Act. 10. 42. 43. preached as well as the Iewes had their Sabbath on which Moses A schoole master b Gal. 3. 24 to Christ and A minister of the Letter c 2. Cor. 3. 6. which killeth was d Act. 15. 21. preached Againe If in those 40. daies Christ e Eph 4. 8. 10. 11. appointed what Ministers should teach his Church for euer how can it be but that theÌ„ also he appointed some Sabbath wheron they should ordinarily performe the worke of their ministerie as hee was wont f Luk. 4. 16. to do himselfe Seeing it is prophecied g Psal 110. 2. 3. That the power of his rod should be such that His people should come willingly at the time of assembling his army in holy beauty Seeing his Father whose works * Ioh. 5. 19. he imitateth appointed h Leuit. 16. 2. 29. as an high Priest so a time when once in a yeere he should enter into the Most holy place and as other Priests i Exod. 29. 44. 38. so morning and euening sacrifices and considering it is written k Eccles 3. 1. To euery purpose vnder heauen there is an appointed time Lastly If the Sonne be like his Father as in teaching his Apostles 40. daies for so long l Exod. 24. 12. 18. 39. 42. was Moses with the Father vpon the mount so in speaking those things which appertaine to the kingdome of God as his Father taught Moses al things belonging to the furnishing of the Tabernacle and If the Sonne be like his Father in sanctifying a day to his owne honor as hath been declared Why may not Christians beleeue that Christ sanctified The Lords day within those 40. daies as the Father m Deut. 9. 9 confirmed The seuenth day in those 40. daies that Moses was with him on the mount And the rather because it is te be obserued That the Disciples n Ioh. 20. 19. 26. assembled the two first daies of the two weeks immediatly following Christ his resurrection and that our Lord not only of purpose sanctified both those assemblies with his holy and miraculous presence but also immediatly before his Ascension commanded his Apostles o Act. 1. 4. 5. 7. 9. to wait a few daies for the promise of the Father Which by his prouidence in whose power bee times and seasons as Christ affirmed euen in this case was fulfilled p Mark 16. 1. 2. Leuit. 23. 15. 16. Act. 2. 1. 4. 14. vpon a Sonday and at the same time the Apostles first began the execution of their ministery and preached Christ publiquely But publique preaching q Num. 10. 7. 8. Isa 58. 1. Ezech. 44. 23. 24. Act. 23. 14. 42. is a speciall worke of the Sabbath day It may therefore bee gathered That Christ appointed his Apostles to sanctifie Sonday whereon he would manifest himselfe r 1. 6. 7. 8 to be King of Israel as his Father instituted A seuenth day as on which he was manifested to bee GOD of heauen and earth To conclude If Saturday were made common not by man but by God himselfe and that not for a Ceremony but for some other cause If God sanctified a Sabbath as well to Christians as to Iewes If euery ordinance of Christ were an ordinance of God If Christ were as faithfull in all his owne house as Moses about the Tabernacle If Christ came to fulfill the fourth Commandement which prescribeth one day of seuen If the Church of God bee not easily to bee condemned as neglecting the ordinance of God in sanctifying Sonday for many huÌ„dred yeeres If Christ were like his Father in sanctifying that day to his owne honor whereon he was declared to be the Sonne of God and King of Israel to wit Sonday If the day be so appointed that the Creator is glorified with the Redeemer If it appeare by the Word that the first day of the week was confirmed by the Apostles practise and preceptiue exhortation If by the first day of the week be meant that day wheron Christ did rise againe and that was Sonday If in the Word Sonday be called The Lords day to the honour of Christ our Lord If the warrant of Sonday consisteth not in the ordinarie authoritie of the Church because it was established by the Apostles If euery spirituall man be to acknowledge the ordinances of the Apostles to bee the ordinances of the Lord and If the Apostles were informed by Christ touching the Lords day within those 40. daies after his resurrection I may safely hold this my Position The Lords day commonly called Sonday is an ordinance of God THE SECOND POSITION THE CHVRCH OF ROME IS not the Catholike Church neither yet hath continued an apparant member of the same euer since the Apostles time 1 THe Church is said to be Catholike in regard of the vniuersality thereof for this word Catholike signifieth Vniuerfall The Vniuersalitie thereof consisteth in Times Persons and Places For there is no age of the world no nation on the earth and no sort of people that can be exempted from the same And therefore it is called The celestial Hierusalem and said to be the congregation Heb. 12. 22. 23. of the first borne which are written in heauen So that we are to beleeue That as there hath been euer an head to wit Christ so there hath been also a body to wit the Church some where or other but the Church of Rome is a particular Church confined within a certaine compasse and hath not been a Câ—â—â—â—â— but since Christ his comming in tâ—◠〈◊〉 therfore it is not the Catholique Câ—â—â—â—â— 2 The Catholique Church is an obiect of faith according to the Apostles Creed and therefore inuisible howsoeuer the members thereof called by Peter Liuely 1. Pet. 2. 5. Heb. 11. 1. stones be visible as they be men For faith is the euidence of things not seene But the Church of Rome is visible therefore not the Catholique Church 3 I grant that as one man so one particular Church may be called Catholike but it is only in regard of the Catholique faith as being one the same throughout the Catholique Church which that one man or
CARPENTERS CHIPPES OR SIMPLE TOKENS OF vnfeined good will to the Christian Friends of IAMES BALMFORD vnworthie seruant of Iesus Christ a poore Carpenters Sonne Act. 3. 6. Such as I haue that giue I thee Printed for Richard Boyle 1607. THREE POSITIONS Concerning the 1 Authoritie of the Lords day 2 State of the Church of Rome 3 Execution of Priests ALL WRITTEN VPON SPEciall occasion by IAMES BALMFORD Minister 2. Tim. 2. 7. Consider what I say and the Lord giue thee vnderstanding in all things AT LONDON Imprinted by Felix Kyngston for RICHARD BOYLE 1607. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE AND VERTVOVS LADY THE LADY MARGARET Countisse of Cumberland IAMES BALMFORD an vnprofitable seruant of Iesus Christ wisheth all true honor in this life and eternall glorie in the life to come I Will honor them who 1. Sam. 2. 30 honor me saith the Lord of Lords but in no one thing is that Lord more honored than in a religious sanctifying of the Lords day which is an holy Signe Exod. 31. 13 betweene the Lord and vs that he doth sanctifie vs to be his people and that we sanctifie him to be our God Of which day it is thus written If thou turne away Isa 58. 13. 14. thy foote from the Sabbath frō doing thy will on mine holy day and call the Sabbath a delight to cōsecrate it as glorious to the Lord and shalt honour him not doing thine owne waies nor seeking thine own wil nor speaking a vaine word Then shalt thou delight in the Lord and I will cause thee to mount vpon the high places of the earth and feed thee with the heritage of Iacob thy father For the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it In which words we may obserue 1. How highly the Lord esteemeth his Sabbath 2. How religiously the people of God are to sanctifie the same 3. That they who make no conscience of such sanctifying the Sabbath can neuer delight in the Lord what profession soeuer they make and 4. That religious sanctifying the Sabbath as it is a principall part of Godlinesse so it hath a speciall promise of speciall blessings euen in this life With these and many other most gracious words would God perswade man to bee holy But man hath sought out many inuentions and amongst the rest this conceipt That the Lords day is not the ordinance of God Vpon which ground many make no more conscience of sanctifying the Lords day than of keeping holie daies so called ordained only by humane authoritie and some by writing not yet published haue opened a gappe to much licentiousnesse To sloppe which gappe as I may I haue endeuoured to proue That the Lords day is an ordinance of God Which Position with two other concerning the Church of Rome and Execution of Priests written vpon iust occasions and by perswasion the former of your Honor the other of that right Christian Noble-man of most honorable memorie Henry late Earle of Huntington I houe published vnder your Right Honorable name As knowing your well informed zeale for the Lords day and against the Synagogue of Rome to be such that England were the happiest nation in the world if all noble personages were indued with the like And withall hoping that by these and other more Diuine Treatises the same shall be yet more and more inflamed to the glorie of God and comfort of your owne Soule THE FIRST POSITION THE LORDS DAY commonly called Sonday is an ordinance of GOD. IF this bee true that man is not to pollute a Act. 10 15 what God hath sanctified and If Saturday so called were sanctified by God I appeale to the consciences of Gods people for iudgement whether Man can make Saturday common without warrant from God himselfe If not then Saturday is made common either in regard of some Ceremonie or by God himselfe for some other speciall cause As hee permitted a man vncleane b Numb 9 10 11. or in a long iourney to make common the Passeouer which otherwise was to be kept in the first moneth That there was no Ceremony in the Iewes Sabbath to bee abrogated by the comming of Christ I haue proued in another Discourse which with sundrie points concerning the Sabbath I am desirous to publish hereafter if God will In the meane while I desire the Reader to consider these briefe notes 1. That the Sabbath was made c Mark 2 27. Deut. 5. 14 15. for man yea so that great care is had of seruants their rest which is no ceremoniall respect 2. That the Learned do so disagree about the supposed Ceremony that one affirmeth Rest and denieth The seuenth day another affirmeth the seuenth day and denieth Rest to be the Ceremony 3. That the fourth Commandement which by cōsequence gaue confirmation to Saturday before Christ his death as now to Sonday and euery word thereof was d Exod. 34. 1. twise written by the finger of God in tables of stone To shew e 19 11. 20 1. Deut. 4 12 13. 14. Gen. 17 9 10 22 23. That the Decalogue as it was preached to the Church immediately by God himselfe before it was written by God and deliuered to Moses on the Mount so it is eternall as God himselfe As the Gospell preached by Christ himselfe who was God as well as Man is eternall Gal. 3. 19. Heb. 12. 27. 28. 21. c. 8. 2. Whereas Circumcision and the ceremoniall Law brought from God to the Church by Abraham and Moses was temporall 4. That none of the other nine Commandements except the second by Papists is said to be in any part ceremoniall 5. That Saturday of it selfe without the consideration of Rest or the number Seuen both which are also liable to Sonday cannot signifie any thing to come 6. That it was sanctified f Gen. 2. 3. in Paradise though not expressely named and therfore not instituted at the first to signifie Christ to come and therefore no more a Ceremonie to be abrogated by the comming of Christ than Marriage which g Gen. 2. 23. 24. was also instituted in Paradise and is figuratiuely applied to signifie h Ephes 5. 25. c. the spirituall coniunction betweene Christ and his Church But let it be supposed that Saturday was ceremoniall What other thing is thereupon to be inferred but that therefore it ceaseth to be Gods Holy day But can we imagine that God would take no order that another day should be established for his owne worship Did hee sanctifie a Sabbath in the time of innocency and when there were none to keep it but Adam and Eue And would he not appoint a Sabbath in the time i Mat. 19 28. of Regeneration when his people were k Isa 2 2 3. multiplied his Sonne l Psal 110. 1 2 3. King in Sion and the power of his rod such that as it was prophecied His people should come willingly at the time of assembling his army in holy beautie