Selected quad for the lemma: christian_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
christian_n	day_n	observe_v	sabbath_n	4,146	5	9.8777	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
B09144	An explanation of the solemn advice, recommended by the Council in Connecticut Colony, to the inhabitants of that jurisdiction, respecting the reformation of those evils, which have been the procuring cause of the late judgments upon New-England. By Mr. James Fitch ...	Fitch, James, 1622-1702.; Mather, Increase, 1639-1723.; Fitch, James, 1622-1702. Brief discourse proving that the first day of the week is the Christian Sabbath.; Connecticut. Council.	1683 (1683)	Wing F1063; ESTC W24614	58,047	146

AN EXPLANATION OF THE SOLEMN ADVICE Recommended by the COVNCIL in Connecticut Colony to the Inhabitants in that Jurisdiction Respecting the Reformation of those EVILS which have been the Procuring Cause of the late Judgments upon New-England By Mr. James Fitch Pastor of the Church in Norwich 1 Sam. 7.3 And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel saying If ye do return unto the Lord with all your hearts then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you and prepare your hearts unto the LORD and serve him only and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines 2 Chron. 19.4 And Jehosaphat c. BOSTON IN NEW-ENGLAND Printed by S. Green for I. Vsher of Boston 1683. To the Reader COncerning those Brief and Nervous Discourses which are emitted herewith the Reverend and Worthy Author had no thoughts of Publishing them until such time as others did Importune him thereunto As for the first Treatise it was thus occasioned In the distressing time of the late War with the Indians in N-England many of the Rulers both Civil and Ecclesiastical in Connecticut Colony being sensible that publick Judgements seldome come but as Intimations of Heavens displeasure and that then of all Men the Leaders of the People are concerned to enquire into the Causes of the Lords Controversie 2 Sam. 21.1 they did accordingly meet for that purpose The Ministers drew up in writing what they conceived to be the mind of God respecting the solemn Question before them which Result was approved of by their Magistrates and Recommended to the Consideration of the Inhabitants in that Jurisdiction This faithful Servant of Christ did wifely take hold on that opportunity in his publick Ministry to insist upon both the Malady and the Remedy which there is so great cause to be enquiring into and did reduce his Instructions into a Catechetical Method for the better edification of the younger sort in his Congregation Sundry Persons of Worth and Judgement hapning to be present at some of those Exercises were very earnest to have them made more publick to gratifie whose desires the Worthy Author has been prevailed with to grant the Copy of what was more inlargedly viva voce delivered A Discourse of this nature is very seasonable and needful and I hope will be blessed for the good of many As for the small tractate respecting the Christian Sabbath the Author has so far as I am able to discern with very good judgement and in few words asserted and proved the Truth whose confirmation he has undertaken The most plausible Argument which our Jewish Sabbatarians insist upon is their pretending the Morality of the fourth Commandment Nor do we deny but that by virtue thereof a seventh part of time or one day in the Hebdomadel Revolution ought to be kept as an holy Rest unto God But it is evident that some expressions in the Decalogue do in a peculiar manner respect the Jewish State This is true of the Preface to the Moral Law and of the promise annexed to the fifth Commandment and some particulars in the tenth Commandment are accommodated to the then state of Israel And why some Expressions in the fourth Commandment may not be so too our seventh day Men have as yet given us no solid and sufficient reason Nay the Learned Jews themselves acknowledge it to be so And therefore they are not offended when they see Christians doing servile works upon the seventh day of the week for they say the Gentiles are not obliged to the strict and legal observation of their Sabbath The Jews in Amsterdam told Jackson Sands and other keepers of the seventh day that except they were also Circumcised their observation of that day was groundless There is no place in the New Testament which the Iews do so much object against Christians as Mat. 5.17 18. They perversely cavil and say that the Apostles did act contrary to the Doctrine of their Master Christ by telling Men that they ought not to observe the Ceremonial Law R. Maimon In misna L. 1. C. 9. has a whole Chapter full of Blasphemy against those who teach that the Law is destroyed in whole or in part The most Judicious and Learned of our Writers acknowledge that the place mentioned has respect both to the Ceremonial and to the Moral Law And that as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is set in oppposition 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as destroying is opposite to fulfilling christ did not evert the ceremonial Law he did himself conform to the ceremonies of the law and require other men to do so as long as the author of that law did see meet to continue it and every way fulfilled those Types which pointed at the Messiah that was to come Our Iewish Sabbatarians who abuse those words of Christ to countenance their Error might as well from thence argue that the Ceremonial Law is still in force For its certain it was not abolished until every tittle contained therein was fulfilled It has been objected that Christians in the Primitive times observed the seventh day The Christian Iews in the Apostles time had a religious respect not only for the seventh day Sabbath but for Circumcision and other Ceremonies until such time as the Iudaical World was utterly destroyed but the Apostles never allowed Christianized Gentiles so to Iudaize The Ebionites kept the seventh day but they were never accounted true Christians The Constitutions which pass under the Name of Clement L 7. C. 24. commend the observation both of the seventh and of the first day of the week And Eusebius speaks of some that observed both dayes Such Christians were certainly leavened with Iudaism At this day the Abyssine Christians observe the seventh day they also observe Circumcision and if Men will Iudaize in one particular it is not to to be wondred at if they be left to Iudaize in more Of later times there have not been many of any great Fame or Note in the World that have stood up for this Opinion There was in England formerly Braborn and Trask but they afterwards recanted Within these few years Mr. Bramfield of Sherborn was strangely drawn away into this Error But his weightiest Objections are answered with great judgment and candour by the Reverend Mr. William Ben of Dorchester in Dorset a Man whose Conversion was occasioned by a Sermon of his own after which he continued an eminent Light in the Church of God for fifty years together and than whom I never knew Man upon Earth that did maintain a greater intimacy of Communion with God Nor has Mr. Bramfield made any Reply to Mr. Ben's Book so far as I have seen or heard As for the present Jewish Sabbatarians in Connecticut Colony they out-do all their Predecessors as to Insolent Behaviour being arrived unto that height of impudent Prophaneness that they fear not in the sight of the Sun to bid defiance unto the Christian Sabbath by following the servile works of their particular Callings on the

this cannot be but the day spoken of hath the same honourable title and name as the Lords Supper the Word of the Lord. c. 4. That the particular Day well known to the Churches of Christ called by the same honourable and holy Title or Name as the Lords Supper is and other holy Institutions was the first day of the week And for the Proof of this let us consider Arguments of all sorts inartificial and artificial abundantly confirmed by the Holy Scriptures Light and Evidence First To begin with inartificial Arguments viz. Test●mon● of all the Churches in all ages from the Apostles times until you come nigh to our dayes take Mr. Baxter's own words It is unquestionable to any man versed in antiquity that all the Churches of Christ Greek and Latin Syrian Ethiopick Persian and Ar●b●ck called the first day of the week the Lords Day and further he and other Worthies have and do give the chalenge unto any one to cite out of approved Histories or from but one an●●ent Writer but one Church or but one Christian or but one Heretick who did gainsay this but of late times And what force there is in this Argument we may now weigh it the Word of God saith that the Testimony of two Men is true John 8.17 this is granted of all who have but humanity that it is legally true and the contrary to this is legally false and we may know what to judge of him that speaks it but the Testimony of all the Churches of Christ from the Apostles time from age to age may well have the credit which belongs to two men and somewhat more especially if we consider that it was not possible all the Churches East and West those who had no opportunity one with another that these could convene or any wayes consult to deceive their poor posterity with a lie by telling them that the first day of the week had the holy name of the Lords day and was to be kept holy when if it were false but they all spake the same thing because they were guided according to truth which came from the same spirit of truth breathing in the Apostles and guiding the Churches in the primitive time to declare the same to their Children and so to Childrens Children in all ages according as it was said in another case Psal 78.6 7. and if de facto as they call it concerning the fact for that we now speak of viz. that the first day of the week from the primitive time was called the Lords day if Histories be of no use to inform us or what they say ought not to be credited although they generally speak the same thing as to fact what was done I know not of what use they be but all the Books and Histories of the Church of Christ concerning the time of the ten Persecutions and ever since may be committed to the Flames as unworthy of credit and let us never Write and Record any thing more for the benefit of Posterity of this kind But I take it for granted that no sober minded Christian will agree to this whatever John Rogers his judgement may be And if any do desire to see more fully how it is proved that the first day of the week is the Lords day by the testimony of the antient Writers let them read Mr. Samuel Cradock's Book Entituled Knowledge and Practice and Mr. Baxter's Book concerning the first Day of the week by Divine Appointment the Lords Day in which Books may be seen the antient Writers cited in their several places and ages from the primitive time to the latter time attesting the first day of the week to be the Lords Day We have at present done with the first Argument as it respects Testimony 2. But let us proceed to that kind of Argument which by the Learned is called Artificial and argues from the Artifice Frame and Nature of the thing and must necessarily be granted to be the strongest way of Reasoning Arg. The Apostle calls the Day as it was by the Lord made and as it is or else he did miscal it the first part of this disjunct Proposition must be granted that the Apostle did call the Day as it is as the Lord had made for none will dare to say that he miscalled it unless it be those who have learned to Blaspheme The Minor follows that the first day of the Week was made by the Lord above any other day of the week to be the Lords Day in Gospel times and for the Proof of this let us now Consider 1. First this was the day in which our Lord rose John 20. ● Luk. 24.1 2. This was the day in which he appeared to the two Disciples after his Resurrection to teach them Luk. 24.13 3. This was the day in which he appeared to the Apostles and gave them their Commission and the Holy Ghost to enable them Luk. 24.33 36. John 20.19 20 21 22. 4. And this was the day he chose again to appear when Thomas was with them John 20.26 5. And this was the day promised and prophesied of and sulfilled as in the former particulars It was the day promised in Psal 118.24 called the day the Lord hath made speaking by way of Promise and Prophecie of Christs Resurrection Day as it is express in the words And that which some have mentioned in Ezek. 43.27 hath likewise its weight that the eighth day shall be the day wherein their Offering shall be accepted Arg. Take the Argument from hence either this was performed literally or typically if literally then the eighth day which is our first day of the week was Honoured and Sanctified above the seventh day and tha● by the Lords appointment but thus it was not before the Gospel times for that would be contrary to Numb 28.9 10. therefore it is to be understood typically viz. what day in Gospel times the Worship of God shall be acceptable and that is the eight day which is our first day of the week And that day of his Resurrection was the day of performing that great promise and prophecie Thou art my Son this day I have begotten thee for thus it s expounded by the Aposte Act. 13.33 God hath fulfilled the same to us in that he hath raised up Jesus again as it is written in the second Psalm Thou art my Son this day I have begotten thee For although Christ is the Son of God from everlasting yet this was the day in which he was declared to be the Son of God by Resurrection from the dead Rom. 1.4 and the first day of the week was the very day for the performance of this promise Heb. 1.5 as Pareus doth more fully explain it And to conclude this and though we cannot expect that those who are under a penal blindness and deafness will either give or take reason until the Lord shall give them an ear to hear and an eye to see and because they say they see their sin

obeyed in the same as God the Father in the other so that both these works have some thing to keep them in memory by the appointment of the Workmen Reply The Reply to John R. his Answer is First He saith the work of Creation is the greatest work and his reason is because God made all things The Reply is That if the work of Creation be the greatest then the work of Redemption is not so great as the work of Creation but a work is greater or lesser according to the greatness of wisdom power and goodness manifest in it but the wisdom of God shining in the work of Redemption excels the wisdom shining in the work of Creation 1 Cor. 2.7 wisdom in a mystery and the power made manifest in Redemption is greater than in Creation called the exceeding greatness of his power towards them that do believe Eph. 1.19 And for goodness to finners John R. cannot but confess it is the mercifullest work and yet he denieth that a day shall be appointed for a memorial of this greatest work but as it is worthy of a Day so the Lord hath appointed the first day of the week for that end as hath been proved by the Scriptures abovementioned and therefore it is in vain for John R. to deny it Qu. 5. The fifth Question is Was not the work finished at the Resurrection of Christ on the first day of the week when he entred into his rest as God did into his Ans John R. his Answer is The price was paid as soon as the Sacrifice was offered and the dead raised but the work of Redemption as yet not perfected in us for we are yet under the bondage of corruption Rom. 8.23 but to say that Christ entred into his Rest on the first day of the week I cannot for he did assemble himself with his Disciples after his Resurrection being seen of them forty dayes before he ascended up into Heaven and upon the day of his Resurrection did eat with his Disciples and did travail with them which was Labour Reply The Reply is that Iohn R. denieth that the work of Redemption was finished because it is not finished in us Whence his Argument is That if Redemption be not perfected in Believers then not finished by Christ but this is false reasoning for want of distinguishing between the work of Redemption and the work of Application Christs work of Redemption may be finished although the work of the Holy Ghost as sent from the Father and the Son to apply Redemption may not be finished and is not in this life perfected to the Elect. Obj. The second Objection is That Christ was not entred into rest on the first day of the week and his reason is because he assembled with his Disciples did eat and travail c. Reply The Reply is Either Christ was on the first day of the Week in a state of Humiliation or a state of Exaltation if in a state of Humiliation then his Resurrection was no degree of his Exaltation contrary to Rom 1.3 4 Eph. 1.20 21. if he were in a state of Exaltation then in a state of blessed and glorious Rest And although there are divers degrees of his Exaltation as his Resurrection Ascention Session at the right hand of the Father and his return at the last Day to be the Judge but Resurrection is one degree of his Exaltation and of his Rest and therefore he was entred into Rest although for the conviction and confirmation of His Disciples he did shew himself and by some sensible signs make it manifest that it was himself that very humane nature which had suffered death was raised that he that descended was raised and is the same also that ascended into Heaven Eph. 4.10 Qu. 6. Did not Christ allow this to be called his Day as the Sacrament is called his or the Loras Supper Ans Iohn R. his Answer is I cannot say that ever the first day of the week was called the Lords Day and therefore cannot say whether he allowed it or no I know that the Cup which our Lord communicated to his Disciples they called it the Lords Cup and the Table at which they sa●e to communicate of the Bread and Wine they called the Lords Table and the Apostle Iohn calleth that Day in which the Lord communicated to him those Visions in the Revelations the Lords Day but what day of the Year or of the Week I cannot tell Reply The Reply to this is there hath been Arguments given of all forts to prove both from humane and divine Testimony the word and works of the Lord the Doctrine and Examples of the Apostles of Christ that the first day of the Week was that very day called the Lords day Rev. 1.10 and if John Rogers was asked who his Father was he would be ashamed to say he could not tell and yet he cannot but know that as to humane Test mony there is more clear and infallible proof that the first day of the week was called the Lords Day than he can have who his Father was this being the Testimony of all the Churches in all Ages from the primitive time to this very day until of late some few ha●e risen up and raised the Objection But besides all these Arguments from the Scripture have been given to prove it and if yet Iohn R. will say he cannot sell we must leave him to his ●gnorance and he ought not to be off●nded with us and revile us because we do know Qu. 7. Did not Christ countenance and allow his Apostles in the practice and solemnization of that day in proper Sabbath Ordinances Ans His Answer is before saying not that I know the Ordinance of the Sabbath is rest to Man and Beast for so God ordained in the fourth Command after the six dayes work to rest Qu. 8 Are not Christ and his Apostles therein to be a pattern for Christians to follow and so vertually a divine Institution Ans Iohn Rogers his Answer is that the eighth Question is answered by the Answer to the seventh and the answer to the seventh was the same with the Answer to the sixth viz. that he could not tell that he did not know and thus he makes a quick dispatch of Answers to the Governours Questions But in this he is like those who when the Question was asked them concerning the Baptisme of John whence was it from Heaven or of Men they reasoned with themselves saying if we shall say from Heaven he will say unto us why did you not then believe him but if we shall say of Men we fear the People for all hold John as a Prophet Mat. 21.25 26. and therefore they concluded it was safest for them to say we cannot tell ver 17. Thus likewise if Iohn R. should say that the Patern and the Examples of the Apostles respecting Worship and particularly concerning the Sabbath ought to be followed then he knows it would be said why do you not follow