shew that now he had given the Sabbath a perfect rest for ever that there should be no more ceremoniall worke he had then fulfilled all the ceremonies the sinne of man was payd for and all the troublesome ceremonies of the law were abrogate and to shew that the Sabbath was ended he celebrated it in his grave and then upon the Munday the Iewes Munday the day of his resurrection hee rose againe to shew that ours must be an active life not in idle circumstances to passe it away in ceremonies as in the law but to remaine as an eternall Sabbath for ever we keepe a publique Sabbath to God though not in the same time and in memory of the same thing yet in the remembrance of a farre greater benefit 6 From the apparitions of Christ To conclude the point our Lord graced this constitution of the Church by his own presence most of his apparitions were upon the eighth day as wee may see in the Gospell that day that he rose still he glorified it with his presence eight dayes after he rose he came and shewed himselfe to his Disciples and the next day to Thomas and the rest of the Disciples and so for the time of 40. dayes that he continued on earth after his resurrection look how many Mundayes of the Iewes there was which is our Lords day so many apparitions hee made upon that day whereby they gathered that it was the will of the Lord and that hee meant to make that day glorious by his comfortable apparitions for still as I said his apparitions were upon that day he was absent all the weeke before hee appeared to none except it were to some few persons as Peter and Iohn but he made no publique apparition but onely upon the Lords day And upon this the Church of God was induced to make this change and we see it acted Acts 20.10 Acts 20.10 1 Cor. 16. and this chapter is a publique testimony of it and likewise in Rev. 1. Rev. 1. Saint Iohn saith I was in the spirit upon the Lords day which is generally taken by the fathers of the Church and by the Interpreters of the Gospell for this that we hold instead of the Sabbath day But because these kinde of people will never be satisfied except wee can answer their reasons as well as they can heare ours give me leave a little to goe forward in this poynt and heare what they can object for this Arguments against the change of the Saâ—bâ—th which thinke the Iewish Sabbath still to remaine in force I have spent the time against my minde and purpose therefore I will but name the chiefe heads of their arguments and refute them They conclude therefore that there is no certaine warrant for the changing of the Iewish Sabbath to ours 1 There is no written word for it because there is no direct written Scripture to prove it we have no Text of Scripture to worke it into us But for that we are to answer them Answ The Apostles in this guided by the spirit of God whatsoever the Apostles did being guided by the spirit of God their practise is a sufficient direction to us it is warrant enough that they have done it before us For so we have in many other things the practise of the Apostles to be a rule of our faith Christ not determining many particular things in the Church but leaving it to the discretion of the wise those that should be well furnished with knowledge for the directing of things in their places where they were therefore that which the Apostles did it was the act of Christ for they did it not of themselves but from a higher person from him that sent them Another reason they have and that is this 2 It is a part of the decalogue the decalogue or tenne Commandements are a perpetuall law but this is a part of the decalogue therefore this is a perpetuall law and the precepts that be in the tenne Commandements are all morall they are precepts that belong to all men to all times and places in the world Thirdly God is pleased to call the Sabbath an everlasting covenant God cals the Sabbath an everlasting covenant Deut. 12.16 I have made an everlasting covnant saith the Lord Deuter. 12.16 and in divers other places hee cals it a perpetuall covenant betweene me and my people Israel therefore it follows it must last as long as the world lasts and consequently it cannot be changed for then we alter the covenant of God 4 It was aucienter then Moses A fourth objection is this all the laws that are ancienter then Moses are immutable but this was more ancient then Moses law for it was given to man in paradise the Lord there by resting upon the seventh day did consecrate the Sabbath to be kept although some of the Fathers say as Iustin Martyr Iustin Martyr that they did not keepe it before the Floud but yet there was the institutioÌ„ of it therfore seeing it was a law given before Moses and before the fall of man it follows it is immutable and unchangeable because if there be any change it must be for imperfection and if there be any imperfection it must be for sinne and there was no sinne before the fall Therefore whatsoever was commanded before the fall was so perfect that it could not be altered it had no respect of imperfection in it 5 The cause of it is perpetuall And lastly the perpetuall cause of a law makes the law continue if the cause of it remaine the law must also continue and therefore there are many lawes that are made and abrogate againe because there is no use of them they were made in such a time for such things and the cause failing the law ceaseth but where the law hath a perpetuall cause there the law is in force to continue alway but the cause of the Iewish Sabbath continueth the meditation and contemplation upon the works of God and the holy operation of his hands this is the cause of the Sabbath and this alwayes continueth therefore the Iewish sabbath must continue These are the prime and chiefe grounds of their arguments I will answer a word to these and so conclude First in that they say the decalogue or ten Commandements is a law perpetuall Ans to Ob. 2. The Iewish Sabbath partly ceremoniall and bindes the consciences of all men It is true as farre forth as it is morall it doth but those parts that bee ceremoniall as the Sabbath is partly morall and partly ceremoniall and as it is moral it binds but as it is ceremoniall it doth not For the moralitie of the Sabbath is this to worship God in a publique service that wee are bound unto that which is ceremoniall that we should serve him upon such a day upon the seventh day rather then any other that doth not binde there is no part of moralitie in that that
then bring a mighty Armado out of the bowels of the earth which in the conceit of men were gone they were given as lost for ever But the Lord shall then bring forth such an infinite army as doth exceed the wit and conceit of man to imagine For our thousands we shall have millions nay for our single persons we shall have millions at that day And those that shall survive at the comming of the Lord they shall be but a handfull in respect of the mighty army which the Lord shall raise and remount out of the earth which shall then pay her tribute with which the Lord hath intrusted her Here therefore he shewes the manner how this shall be done and he shewes the great difference between the trumpet of God and the trumpets of men For though they be both taken in a simile from war yet there is infinite difference in thē The trumpet of man summons and calls onely those that are living souldiers it calls the living to be at such an houre present in the battaile to follow their colours and to keep their ranks But the trumpet of God cals the dead themselves by a strange sound It shall penetrate the bowels of the earth and shall speak unto dust and ashes which is dissolved to nothing to rise and come in presence before the Emperour to come before God Againe there is another marvailous difference When the trumpets of men sound then the armies gather together and kill and murther each other there is nothing but death and murther slaughter vastation and destruction But the trumpet of God it calls men to no death but to life and sense and glory and abilities So contrary is the Trumpet of the Lord to the trvmpet of man and yet it hath some similitude and diverse conveniences with it which that I may in order observe Division into 6. parts We will first consider what this trumpet is Secondly why it is called the last trump in respect and difference to some other And thirdly what this trumpet shall doe when it shall sound for the trumpet shall sound Origen Origen translates it well the trumpet shall trump so the Greek words have it That is it shall sound after one manner after the musick that God shall appoint to sound out of such a hollow long musicall instrument and what shall be the effect of it in the substance and the matter for it shall be a voice significant that men may understand it Fourthly the effect and operation of it that so soone as the trumpet shall sound over the whole world presently the dead shall rise incorruptible The very wicked themselves shall then be incorruptible as concerning the integrity and perfectnesse of their members but not as concerning the happinesse and joy which the children of God shall be possest of Fiftly the Apostle shewes us the reason of all this For saith hee it behooves it should be thus for it must needs be so It must needs be so both in respect that it is impossible for this corrupt body to enter into incorruption unchanged and because also that congruity stands with divine justice that that body which had been before corrupt should be invested with and put on incorruption that every man might take and receive his reward or punishment according as he hath done in this corrupt flesh Lastly we are to consider the sweet metaphor in the word to put on Where the Lord shews us that now wee have the rags of corruption upon our backs we have this flesh but instead of that God will give us that blessed garment that fine linnen spoken of Rev. 19. Rev. 19.8 that fine silke that is the justification of Christ which shall be unto us as the soul is to the body a perpetuall rich vesture to keep us from the wrath of God and to preserve us in eternall happinesse for ever Of these things briefly and inorder as it shall please God to give assistance 1 Part. What Trumpet this is First concerning the word here used a Trumpet That the word trumpet doth signifie either properly the instrument musicall for the gathering of men together or metaphorically something else that doth the like office every man easily understands But in which of these senses it is here to be used it is not easily determined For it is very likely that indeed the meaning of the holy Ghost is that there shall be properly a trumpet that shall sound a very materiall trumpet although perhaps it shall not be of the same matter and metall that ours is of yet notwithstanding it shall be some kinde of instrument that God shall prepare to make the like sound as a trumpet doth And that this is likely to be true the letter will carry it The letter must never be shunned except there be some kinde of inconvenience that will follow upon the literall exposition For where there is no absurdity or inconvenience wee are bound in conscience to expound the Scriptures in a literall sense and where it includes any absurdity wee are to leave the literall sense and to take another which is analogicall But here because the letter will carry it and chiefly because the Apostle repeats it twice it is a great argument that it shall be a true materiall trumpet For first the Apostle saith in the verse going before the last trumpet and then hee shews the effect of this trumpet it shall blow or sound Our Lord Christ useth the same word in Mat. 24. Mat. 24.31 and St. Paul expresseth the same in 1 Thes 4. 1 Thes 4.16 Therefore it is an argument that properly and truly it is to be understood a trumpet as we in our sense doe apprehend it although the matter and effects and use of it be higher then any trumpet in the world Againe another reason is this When the Law was given in Exod. 19. Exod. 19.16 there was a trumpet with a high shrill voice which increased more and more I demand what that was Surely it was not made of metall or any artificiall composition as those that we have yet the Lord made it in the clouds even the sound of a trumpet he made it more exact and perfect by his power than any man can doe by art and invention Therefore as then at the promulgation of the Law there was a true distinct noise of a trumpet sounding that the people perceived and conceived it to be the voice of a trumpet so likewise when the new law shall be given that is when the fulnesse of all things is come at the Resurrection of the dead there shall be a created voice which shall be loud and it is likely that it shall be a true materiall trumpet Notwithstanding perhaps not after the common frame of men yet it shall be so ordered as that a man may distinguish it and say it is the voice of no other instrument but of a trumpet Lastly it appeares by this in that the great
in heaven and when a man is not cumbred with the labours of the world his minde is better and more easily induced to do good a man that is puzzelled about his worke he saith he hath other mattrrs to do then to attend a poore man he cannot be for him now he puts him off till another time and bids him come to morrow as the wise man saith Say not to thy neighbour Come againe to morrow Prov. 3. if thou have it now by thee A man being distracted with his businesse he takes his opportunitie and makes these excuses to answer God and his owne conscience with these or the like and saith he cannot now intend it he is otherwise busied But when hee hath a relaxation from his labour which is the proper fruit of the Sabbath the minde of man is made more gentle and more easily perswaded to do any good worke because it knows that therefore a man is lift up from the cares and troubles of this life to the speculation of heavenly things therefore he is the more easily perswaded to do the works of heavenly charitie and divine operation which the Spirit of God acts in the hearts and soules of all his children So that is one reason why the Apostle bids that this gathering should be on the first of the Sabbath because then men are at leasure then they are not cumbred with the world they are freed from peevishnesse and impatience which oft times hinders a poore man of an almes which if he had come when the partie was at quiet and rest he might have obtained 2 Reason The benefits received on that day Another reason is because of the benefits that we receive upon that day the commemoration of the blessings God hath vouchsafed us upon that day upon that day the root of life rose the Lord Iesus who rising againe from the dead hath opened to us a certaine gappe and hope of life everlasting the meditation of the good creatures of God the state of the Gospell cals us unto the liberty of the sonnes of God all the whole blessings of the Gospell be represented and accumulated unto us upon that day Therefore that was the fittest time to be thankfull to God for his mercies wherein God is most abundant in mercy to us that then wee should returne somewhat backe againe some small widdows mite some little portion to Gods children for all those infinite treasures we have received for this is all that God requires that we should give but something of his owne of some but the thousand part of some but the hundreth part this is all that he requires for that great store those mighty summes and infinite riches and treasures and masses of wealth he hath given us That we should make a little acknowledgement by giving some small sprinkling for all this That is another reason why the Apostle would have this collection be upon the Sunday wherin the memory of al the blessings of God upon body and soule are the goodliest in every thing therefore it makes men more prone and inclined to do some good for him that hath wrought so much good for them The third reason is Reas 3 The exercises of the day because upon that day the publique meetings were made where there was prophesie and preaching and praying and singing of Psalmes and holy revelations and instructions from heaven all which were as fire to kindle the zeale of a man to be for God and for his brethren and to joyne together the members of the Lord Iesus in a firmer conjunction then any other societie in the world If a man love a man abroad in the market he will love him ten times better in the Church if there be any pietie or any coales of love to kindle his affections elsewhere it will be much more in the Church where every word of God every Sermon every prayer every thanksgiving every Psalme that is sung brings some fuell to that heavenly flame Therefore for this cause the Apostle chuseth that time as being the most select and choise opportunitie for the conferring of that which God had blessed them withall upon the first day of the weeke that is upon the Lords day 4 Reason The Sacrament was th n received And lastly because that upon that day the Church was alway wont to receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper it was not with them then as it is with us now men will receive it when they list but every Sunday was with them a Sacrament day and oft times every day in the weeke but on the Lords day they never failed Therefore as a testimony of their thankfulnesse to God for the benefit of the body and bloud of Christ which was offered on the Crosse as a ransome and propitiation for all their sins they thought they were bound in conscience and they were easily induced and perswaded upon the receiving of the Sacrament to give something to the sacred and holy Saints that belong unto the Lord. And so indeed after our Sacrament we have still a collection in remembrance of that there it was according to the greatnesse of their spirits and the greatnesse of their meanes which were supereminent ours are according to our poore meanes and measure and according to the scantinesse of our affections which is every day colder then other For these reasons the Apostle requireth that these things should be done and layd up upon the Sabbath day For then men are best affected of all times if ever a man will give any thing he will give it then when he is at rest for God and when he is expressing his thankfulnesse to God for the great mercies that he hath powred upon him in all the course of his life then he heares the word that stirres him up to good actions then he joynes in prayer with the Church of God then he understands that God hath not spared the precious bloud of Christ much lesse therefore should he spare a peny a small thing to give for his sake that hath given his bloud for his redemption Thus wee see great reason why the Apostle appointed the collection to bee made at this time It is true the collection for the Saints is due and seasonable at all times but especially when there is the fairest and goodliest opportunitie and then it is likely to prove best when there are the strongest motives to worke men unto it Vpon the first of the weeke But now we must launch into a great Sea to prove this doctrine which I need not do for men that are setled But because these last times affoord a number of monstrous doctrines and this Citie especially is plagued with those Iewish Sabbatarians that would still retaine the Iewish Sabbath and can very hardly be drawne from it but in their conventicles they draw away Gods children and trouble them that are not able to give a reason of their faith let us therefore a little search into this