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christian_n day_n observation_n sabbath_n 1,995 5 9.7332 5 true
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A38645 Essayes upon several subjects not unworthy consideration in these times communicated by letters to private friends and at their request to the publick. 1651 (1651) Wing E3303; ESTC R214416 20,887 42

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common-wealth then such a corrupt vicious one as theirs then was Hee is the best Artist that applies his work to the matter not hee that pretends to make the most curious statues of the crookedest timber The crookednesse of mens minds in this age is such that hee must bee a God that would bring in an universall Reformation all at once It will be then requisite to consider the temper of the people and what they are susceptible of as well as the nature of that we desire to introduce or take away There hath been enough if not too much already hinted concerning the former as to the latter wee shall find the civil as well as the religious part if I may so speak of these Festivalls much insisted on The first is a strong advocate for the second the entertainments and recreations wherewith they are usually accompanyed have made them more gracious and wee need not wonder since so many make their gain to bee godliness if some would have their pleasure also to pass for such The best way to convince those of the errors of their judgment that plead so strictly for the observation of these Holy times as they are pleased to call them were to find out some means how to reform the errors of their lives but that being so difficult where men generally are faln into the dregs of vice let us briefly consider what is commonly said for the religious part of them And here the long continuance of some of them at least amongst Christians of all ages is much pleaded for and the famous contests about their punctuall observation especially that of Easter between the Eastern and Western Churches not a little insisted on What was judged lawfull for the Christians of those times they conceive ought not to bee condemned as superstitious now and the many abuses that later times have brought upon them which were not of the originall institution might as they suppose more easily be removed then the thing it self utterly and at once abolished There was the Freewill offering as well as the Daily sacrifice in the Temple and they presume there may bee a liberty for Christians to set apart some dayes for a more particular memoriall of Christs Incarnation c. though there bee no express command for it in scripture if there bee none against it They instance further that they are so farre from attributing any sanctity to these times as such that they think no day amongst Christians ought to bee accounted holy of it self otherwise then in relation to those exercises of piety that are performed therein And they much wonder which is not sleightly to be past over that all observation of these times is strictly forbidden as superstitious when a kind of Judaicall observation of the Sabbath seems to be enjoined as sanctimonious It would be tedious to repeat what may be said in these contests if we desire our own or others satisfaction herein let us be carefull how we impose a necessity where God hath left us in an indifferency The Apostle tells us That he that regards a day regards it unto the Lord and hee that regards not a day unto the Lord he doth not regard it and why we should be more severe then he I know not If we look upon the observation of dayes as part of the Ceremoniall law which is now abolished why doe we attribute a sanctity to the Lords day more then to any other further then as it is designed for our meeting together to hear Gods Word and perform other acts of devotion If we understood rightly the body and substance of our Religion which is Christ wee should not dwell any longer in these shadows nor would wee neglect the greater things of the law which are Justice and Judgement whilst wee spend so much time about tything of Mint and Cummin in pursuance of small matters which would follow of themselves if we could once be so happy as rightly to establish things of moment I shall trouble you no further at present but only to crave pardon for intrenching too much on your time in presenting you with this sleight Discourse of the times ever remaining SIR Your FINIS