to fall into the belly of Hell ¶ 2) Mr L consuted Mr L who keeps Never a day Sabbath but slights the Sabbath as Ceremonial is to consider 1 The Sabbath was not given first to the Jews or seed of Abram as Ceremonies were Sabbath was made for Man but it was given to Adam as a Publick person for him and his posterity to be obeyed whether man stood or fell and this in Innocency before Ceremonies were in use And though Adam was not subject to wearinesse before sin yet a Sabbath was suitable for him as a Sacred cessation from his calling So God gave Adam a Sabbath and Blessed it i e to make it a blessing to him that kept it and Sanctified it †Gen. 2.3 i e he set it apart for holy use 2 The Sabbath was Certainly observed from Adam to the Law on Sinai though not much expressed in Genesis which is but a very short Epitomy of 2000 years Acts in which time many excellent acts were done which are omitted and not recorded Abrahams observation of the Sabbath day is without dispute because he is so commended for keeping Gods commandments * Ch. 26.5 And that the Sabbath was known to Israel before Sinai you may See †Exo. 16.23 the breach of which command is counted as the breach of all * Ver. 28. 3 This command for a Sabbath is one of the Ten delivered on Sinai before Ceremonies Josephus's Sabbatical river that runs six dayes and rests one will rise up in judgement with Mr L and Mr A. and wrote on two tables of Stone and put into the Ark as no Ceremony ever was Mr L playes the Papist who takes away one and leaves but nine 4 Christs precept for Prayer to prevent flight on the Sabbath which flight was to be 40 years after Ceremonies ceased proves the Sabbath no Ceremony Pray that your flight be not in the Winter q d that will wrong your Bodies neither on the Sabbath †Mat. 24.20 q d that will wrong your Souls Mr A and Mr L are brethren both under a 7-fold deceit to undeceive them let us put them together again to consider viz God in wisdom did so order the change of the Day that though it occasioned two Sabbaths to come together yet there was not Two in a week nor a week without One to signifie there must be nor more nor lesse than One Sabbath in One Week Fath. What say you of Mr S and of the change of the Sabbath Day Min. As for Mr S who denies the change of the Day The chang of the Sabbath I say Though the Change of the Sabbath be not founded out with a Trumpet on Sinai as the Command of the Sabbath was yet have we so much in Scripture as may Satisfie concerning it They that say Give me a plain precept for a practice or I will not regard it may mean Honestly but they speak Ignorantly For if from a Text we can draw a direct sound Inference to prove a practice that being the Sense of Scripture is to be regarded as Scripture it self The sense of Scripture we are to seek as Silver and if this be not to be regarded its vain to use any Scriptural Reason or Argument in discourse as Paul used to do * Act. 17.2 Ch. 18.4 19. Ch. 24.25 or to Study and expound the Scripture by preaching Then put a Boy into a pulpit to read a Chapter for what other Sermon can an able Minister make if nothing but the very words of Scripture must be delivered But let us see some Scriptural proof for this practice ¶ 1 The stone the builders refused O T proof i e for a foundation for Faith and Practice is become the head †Ps 118.22 of the work of Redemption he hath laid the foundation and finished it by his Resurrection This is the day the Lord hath made i e the day of the week on which Jesus rose we will rejoyce and be glad in it * Ver. 24. i e to foresee it by Faith if we live not to see it by Sight Yet prayes pathetically and speedily for it Save now I beseech the O Lord †Ver. 25. God is the Lord which hath shewed us light * Ver. 27. i e to foresse this Day ¶ 2 Thus saith the Lord my salvation is near to come †Isa 56.1 i e Actually it was come before Virtually Blessed is the man that doth This and the son of man that layeth Hold on it that keepth the Sabbath * Ver. 2. i e a Sabbath in remembrance of Christ's Actual redemption ¶ 3 When these 7 dayes are expired i e Eight is a Sabbatical and Vital Number by the death and Resurrectiof Jesus it i e the Sabbath shall be upon the Eight day and so forward the first day added to seven is the eight day and I will accept you saith the Lord God †Ezek. 43.27 ¶ 1 After Jesus's resurrection he said to his Disciples All power is given to me in Heaven and in Earth * Mat. 28.18 which implies power to change the Sabbath And Christ gave them Commission to teach the Nations to observe all things whatsoever he had commanded them †Ver. 19 20. i e nor more nor lesse N B If Jesus did not ordain the first day Sabbath the Disciples by their practice have taught England and other Nations to observe a New Sabbath of their Own invention ¶ 2 The Disciples assembled on the first day and shut the doors for fear of the Jews i e because it was in opposition to their seventh day Sabbath and Christ came and Sealed their New Sabbath with his sweet presence * Joh. 20.19 20. ¶ 2 Jesus was seen of the Apostles 40 dayes speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God †Act. 1.3 of which the Sabbath is One and none of the least ¶ 4 The Disciples came together to break bread upon the first day of the week * Chap. 20.7 in remembrance of Jesus for whose sake they observed that day ¶ 5 The congregation and Collection of the Churches of Galatia and Corinth upon the first day of the week was by the Apostles order †1 Cor. 16.1 2. to these at Corinth by writing and saith he the things which I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord * Ch. 14.37 ¶ 6 John being in Patmos said I was in the spirit on the Lords day †Rev. 1.10 A desert Island in the Aegean Sea He does not give the day this name but the day on which he was in the spirit he Signifies by its name so well know to the Churches to whom he wrote i e the Lords day so called upon the same account as the Supper is called the Lords Supper viz because Jesus who is Lord of all did institute both to be kept in remembrance of him ¶ 7. The first day is
The resurrection was Tipified to be on the first day of the 50 by the Wave-Sheaf of first fruits which was a pregnant Type of Christs resurrection on that day who was waved before the Lord by the Earthquake at his rising that morning and called the first fruits * 1 Cor. 15.20 And the 50 day that famous Pentecost was Sealed for a New Sabbath by the gift of the holy Ghost to the Apostles by vertue of which 3000 souls †Act 2.41 were converted as first fruits to God and the Lamb. And this Harmony hath been a Confirmation of this opinion viz Christs death on the Sixth day for many generations Min. If so its high time it was laid low I hope the best of that Bp he was no horned Beast but this his opinion I approve not If I had no better foundation for my opposite opinion I am not ashamed to tell you I should be ashamed to own it This is such another Proof as Adams fall was and to as much purpose as the Story in the Greek Epigram viz Two deaf men pleaded a Cause before a deaf Judge But let us look on these 50 dayes The 50 dayes discussed in the letter of the Law And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the Sabbath from the day that ye brought the Sheaf of the Wave-offering 7 Sabbaths shall be complete even unto the morrow after the seventh Sabbath shall ye number 50 dayes * Lev. 23.15 16. This morrow or Wave-day is the first of the 50 dayes 7 weeks is 49 dayes the morrow after the seventh Sabbath is the fiftieth day as the Greek word Pentecost signifies and when the day of Pentecost was Fully come †Act. 2.1 i e when the seventh Sabbath was past the 7 weeks were complete then the Pentecost was fully come N B The 50 day begins another week on the same day of the week that the first day of the 50 began the first week of the 7 so that the first day and 50 day fall both on the same day of the week This a Child can tell but I mind you of it though a man that you may see your 2 great dayes for confirmation of your opinion Stand and Fall together And now I tell you these 2 dayes did not fall on the first day of the week Your famous Pentecost fell Not on the first day But why do I talk let us to work That the Passeover was killed on the 14 day that the Passeover Sabbath was on the 15 day on which Jesus died and that the Sheaf was waved on the 16 of Nisan is as plain as A B C by your rule Jesus rose from the dead the next day after his death buried at Even and rose in the Morning But suppose Jesus had rose on this Shake-sheaf day †As your Author calls it yet what Type of Christs resurrection was this Sheaf there was an he-lamb without blemish * Lev. 23.12 offered on that day too which was as much a Type of Christs Death on that day as the Sheaf could be of his Resurrection by this rule Jesus both died and rose in a day into what a wildernesse will the wit of man lead us N B This wave-day on which you say Jesus rose was the first day he lay in the grave if your Author had said The lamb was a Type of Jesus's death Before that day and the wave-sheaf a Type of his resurrection After that day there had been some shadow of Reason in his assertion So you may see that your Pentecost proof is perished and your invincible Arguments are overcome Fath. You say the Jews translated the Passeover to the next day did they not also translate the Pentecost from their Sabbath to our Sabbath and so make it fall on the first day Min. If so that proves a false Pentecost to fall on the first day but it s no proof for Christs resurrection on the Wave-day nor is the Pentecost to be reckoned from Christs resurrection as our Calender men count but the 16 of Nisan is the Standing Rule to count the Pentecost from Calender count false 2 If the Pentecost fell on the 7 day Sabbath the Jews would translate it to the first day by their rule 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gahaz Godwyn but that year the Pentecost did not fall on the 7 day nor on the first day not on their Sabbath nor on Ours neither Fath. If the Pentecost fell not on the first day why did the Disciples observe it and countenance Ceremonies which were to cease Min. The Disciples being few about 120 †Act. 1.15 were at Jerusalem because Christ had commanded them to continue there * Ver. 4. The Pentecost being an holy Convocation in which work was forbid †Lev. 23.21 the Disciples might meet on that day though the Pentecost was to cease as a Church may do now if work be forbid by Authority though they approve not the day 2 Suppose the Pentecost not to be observed yet the Disciples might not understand the cessation of Ceremonies so suddenly they were hardly brought off Ceremonies some years after 3 The Pentecost keeping the day of the month changed the day of the week every year and could not be on the first day 2 years together Paul's Pentecost practice yet it was Pauls yearly practice to be at Jerusalem at Pentecost e g I will tarry at Ephesus untill Pentecost for a great door and effectual is opened unto me * 1 Cor. 16.8 9. i e at Ephesus and yet q d I will tarry but till Pentecost and then I am for Jerusalem When they desired him to tarry longer with them he consented not but bad them farewell saying I must by All means keep this Feast that cometh in Jerusalem †Act. 18.20 21. Paul hasted if it were Possible for him to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost * Ch. 20.16 Not because it was the first day as your Authors imagine of this †Act. 2.1 for the first day was the unlikest day of All for Christians to regard the Pentecost after Christs resurrection because on that day they met in remembrance of That Nor to support the Pentecost though he went on the account of no other day but for advantagious opportunities of preaching Jesus to the Jews Paul could call the Gentiles together but he could not command the Jews therefore he would watch for such Prizes as Ceremonial Sabbaths pun into his hands by bringing the multitude together And sometime for his encouragement he had liberty of preaching in their Synagogue on a Sabbath freely offered the rulers of the Synagogue sent unto them saying Ye men and brethren if ye have any word of exhortation for the people say on then Paul stood up as in his Element and said Men of Israel give audience * Act. 13.15 16. And Paul thought good to smile on some Ceremonies for a season for
sayings in a Literal sense is absurd foolish agrees not with faith or good life N B Blessed are your eyes †Mat. 13.16 take this literally and its ridiculous to think their eyes were Blessed and all the body and soul beside Cursed but this is by your figure Synechdoche when a Part is put for the Whole or è contra but the whole 3 dayes and 3 nights are not put for parts bits and moments as you imagine ¶ If your Qu be An let us come towards a Close I have given you a true account of the Day of Jesus's death of the Time of his burial of the Time he lay dead of the Time of his resurrection But you neither tell when Jesus Died or how long he lay Dead or when he Rose for you have nothing in the Bible to prove your opinion by 1 The day of Jesus's death is not said to be the 6 day 2 The Sabbath ensuing is not said to be the 7 day 3 The first day is not said to be the morrow after That Sabbath but when it s spoken of it s thus phrased viz the first day of the week * Joh. 20.1 When the Sabbath was past †Mar. 16.1 i e the moral Sabbath 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the end of the Sabbaths * Mat. 28.1 i e Ceremonial and Moral N B This moral Sabbath fell in between two Ceremonial Sabbaths viz the first and last dayes of unleavened bread and after the 16 of Nisan Such a Sabbath we read of called the second Sabbath after the first †Lu. 6.1 Mat. 12.1 idem so called because it followed the first i e the Passeover Sabbath 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Second first Sabbath so called because it fell after the first and before the second Ceremonial Sabbath Scaliger de emend temp It was the next Moral Sabbath after the 16 of Nisan which day was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Deutera or second day of the 7 the Wave-day from whence they counted the Pentecost The Disciples rubbing the cars of Corn * Lu. 6.1 tell us it was at this time of year which we are treating of i e at beginning of Harvest which began the 16 of Nisan the first of the 50 dayes Hence the name of the month 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Abib which signifies an ear of corn this is in March †Buxtorf Heb LEX Pag 1. The fiftieth day was at end of Harvest in April or May. Fath. Well! you go quite crosse to the common account of the Church for Ages and to Christians and learned Ministers now living I fear this will be offensive if I should make it known Min. And as crosse to my self you would say if you knew how much its against the hair with me to displease men I design not to displease or please men farther than for their profit My main design is to please God and my Conscience if in so doing I do accidentally displease men I must harden my self in that sorrow †Job 6.10 And may I but engage God and my Conscience to stand by me I have enough were all the world to rise up in arms against me As for mens Hearts they are in Gods Hand and with him I leave it to turn them To or Fro me as he please I have learned to know I am not to live by mens Smiles nor to die by their Frowns ¶ Sir Concession you are at liberty to tell your Authors what I have told you but counsel them not to Back-bite me for that is uncomely If they have any thing to reply more than your Self desire them to do it to my Face But let them know their Replication must come from holy Scripture else it will be lost labour It will be in vain to tell me I oppose the opinion of the Church for So many ages or I am opposite to the Church that now is National or Congregational †I mean all in separation from the National and so in Pag 213. or to this or that learned Minister or Dr. The Question with me concerning an opinion is not Whose is it but What is it If they bring any thing out of Philo Josephus Manasse Ben Israel or any of the Talmudical Doctors or Jewish Rabbies that will give light to a Dark Text I will embrace it but if it comes to darken a Clear Text or to disprove a Plain Text I shall utterly reject it and therefore to convince me it will be in vain to produce it Fath. I presume you have not been long of this perswasion Did you never speak of the time of Christs resurrection in Preaching pray what account did you give the people of it Min. Sir I shall deal ingeniously with you The Author's way in his Work I have sometime preached a Sermon for the observation of the Sabbath day For a beginning I directed to the morning supposing it to be the time of Jesus's rising But I secretly thought I wanted a bottom for I could not tell what time in the morning Jesus rose and was as if my heart did not stand by me in it I marvel now in what Mist I was groping at Noon day for the time of Jesus's rising in the morning for that was not at all to be expected Nor need the time of his resurrection be expressed when the time of his Burial viz Even and the time of continuance in the Grave viz 3 dayes and 3 nights are both expressed The shame of this Bottomlesse counsel for a beginning of the Sabbath I am willing to bear but I knew no better yet my ignorance will not excuse my negligence I should have made better Search But I was never concerned about it till you and I had talked under the Tree since that I have been much perswaded that the Common count for the day of Christs death was not True but that he lay longer dead And because I had never discoursed any man concerning it I searched some Expositors of Texts relating to it and found them all opposite to me so I see if I went on I must go against the Stream And seeing I could find nothing For me I sought to find all I could Against me and to know the Full strength of this Stream This being found I laid these learned Authors By and fell to work by the search of the Scriptures and Prayer for I could not give it over And though many a time after Much study and Little hope I have been Crushed as if I should give up the ghost yet I could Not give it over but continued in prayer to God viz that if the Common count of the day of Christs death was true he would cause me to acquiesce in it but if my perswasion was true that he would be pleased to help me to understand it and make it out to You and not leave me to erre in it To this purpose I did implore God with many prayers and