did both sanctifie and celebrate the seventh-day Sabbath and that before sin and consequently before any need of a Saviour or Ceremony shadowing him As for the arguments levelled against the Morality of the Sabbath they do most of them strike at the morality of the whole Decalogue For if the Sabbath be ceremonial because the Jews were obliged by their deliverance from Egipt to observe it Deut. 5.15 upon the same account the whole Decalogue is ceremonial since they are laid under equall engagements to the whole Law Exo. 20. I am the Lord thy God which brought thee out of the Land of Egipt from the house of Servants Rev. 11.8 Thou shalt have no other Gods before me c. Wherefore let such as are experienced of their greater deliverance from all the slavery of spiritual Egipt religiously observe every jot and tittle of this Moral holy just spiritual Law as spiritually as is possible and God will teach such sincere souls that 't is a strong delusion to talk of keeping that seventh day Sabbath spiritually whiles 't is prophaned litterally 'T is true our Lord Jesus enjoyneth a more intrinsecal and spiritual observation of the Decalogue Math. 5. but withal he ratifieth and establisheth every tittle he that dare bee so deluded as to prophane the Seventh day under pretence of keeping a spiritual Sabbath dare not commit corporal uncleanness or murther under the like colour of the spiritual observation of these Laws The truth is such consciences dare be bolder with God in robbing him of holy time then they dare be with Man in stealing his common goods Christian thy Redeemer hath obtained as well corporal as spiritual mercies for thee Wherefore glorifie thy God in sanctifying his Sabbath with the whole Law both with thy body and with thy spirit which he hath purchased 1 Cor. 6.20 Such who study contention instead of obedience labour to undermine the Morality of the Law from that promise which they say was peculiar to Israel of long life in the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee 1. But first this smites at the whole Law out of hatred to Gods seventh day Sabbath 2. Let it be considered that those words are rather a motive then a mandate 3. 'T is dull Atheism to fancy the possession of a foot of Land that is not Gods gift and therefore binding us to obedience Acts 17.26 For he hath made of one blood all the Nations of men for to dwell over all the face of the earth and hath determined the times before appointed and the bounds of their habitations 4. 'T is high ingratitude in us above all people in the middest of so much peace plenty light and liberty to contend against Gods holy Laws rather then to submit to his holy Sabbath 5. The promise of long life was not peculiar to Palestine but a motive to Israels obedience both in the Wilderness and in Babylon Act. 2.5 yea and to the Gentile Proselytes in all Nations Eph. 6.2 and 't is worthy our consideration how the Apostle renders it Not land but earth that thou maist live long on the earth and so the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 properly signifies and the statute word for word runs thus Ex. 21.15 17. Pro. 20.20 Mat. 15 4 6 9. Honour thy father and thy mother that they may prolong thy dayes upon the earth Thereby freeing obedien children from untimely death and investing them with the comforts of life Hence 't is manifest that both Jews and Gentiles are bound to improve their blessings unto obedience and no longer endeavour to defile the whole Decalogue rather then set to the sanctification of Gods true Sabbath But the Sabbath hath another sort of adversaries who assert the whole Laws morality and yet plead the Sabbaths mutability which scarce savours of rationality And that the depraved creature may sin with an high hand against that very place where first he sinned he endeavours to divert Paradise of the glory of the Sabbaths institution boldly asserting that mans sin was more ancient then Gods Sabbath And this fancy is fathered upon the Psalmist whence 't is asserted Psal 49.12 That Adam being in honour did not abide a night and therefore his sin prevented the Sabbath But the text is abused for the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is future Hiphil and thus word for word rendred Man in honour shall not abide a night that is such as the context mentions Vers 19. that trust in their wealth c. But saith the spirit He shall go to the generation of his father they shall never see the light this cannot be applied to Adam unless the Preacher of Peters Colchester or some of the same fancy whom I would modestly provoke to a reply can shew what fathers Adam could go to But to prove that the Sabbath was instituted before sin and consequently no Ceremony leading to a Saviour take notice that man the last and best piece of the visible creation yea and Angels also stood in their integrity with the closure of the sixth day for then all things were very good And no sooner did the sixth day end Gen. 1.31 2.1 with Job 38.7 Luke 2.13 Ex. 31.17 and the seventh begin but God rested sanctified and celebrated his holy Sabbath in which he was refreshed or exceedingly well fatisfied with the goodness of all his creatures which must needs precede sin by which the creature became very bad Some time must be allowed for the sin of Angels and after that for the parley with the woman It was no little space wherein Adam gave significant names to every creature one by one But enough is shewed of the Sabbaths precedency of sin and so for the vanishing of this invention But 't is further objected though faintly that Adam having no servants Object c. was not in a capacity of keeping the fourth Commandement This is such a shift that it opens the door of licentiousness too wide for all persons that have no servants rich Citizens that use no cattel c. So that still Gods first and mans best and most delightfull Law for spiritual solace shines in full glory out of Paradise and though the decayed Prelates would render it improper for pure Adam Mar. 2.27 yet since 't was observed by the pure God and declared by Christ to be made for * Man doubtless if Adam were a man 't was made for for him yea and for all his posterity that bare the image of God and are called Man or Woman The first invention thus failling and no possibility of expelling the Sabbath out of Paradise a second design is endeavoured Viz. to confine this royal Law within the precincts of Palestine as a legal ceremony peculiar to the Jews This was the account given of a pretended conference at Peters Colchester where they were carefull to prevent opposition by continued dictates far differing from the nature of a conference The Person
the Father Established by the Son Approved by the Spirit and Observed by the Saints And if these will not prevail with Christians so called to break off their weekly prophanation of this sanctified Sabbath I shall leave them to the righteous judgement of the great day and for their sakes who obtain the grace of self-denial to cast off their carnal encumbrances and joyn with the ancient Gospel Saints in observing the Sabbath I shall now descend to the 4th part of my general Pofition and as I have confirmed the Sabbaths Authority so I doubt not through Christ strengthening me to prove its Porpetuity THE Fourth head Perpetuity of the seventh day Sabbath The infinite wisdome who is Lord of the Sabbath foreseeing the high presumption of the little horn such as to change both times and lawes and knowing that all truths ebbe and flow in the sonls esteeme as holy time is sleighted and observed was graciously pleased most strongly to secure that law against which Satan and his eldest Son would make their first and fiercest assault For t is to be observed that the horn attempted first to change times and then laws well knowing that holy laws are taught and learned especially in holy times and therefore he first prevailed with Constantine as is declared to change the Sabbath time into the first day But against this designe doth the good God graciously guard his Sabbath and Alarm his Saints to be especially mindfull of this truth setting a superscription as it were a watchword upon the portall of this precept REMEMBER the Sabbath day to keep it holy telling us expresly what day it is The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God so that if the Lord be indeed thy God thou must observe that seventh day for his Sabbath which he hath so carefully required thee to remember as knowing that Antichrist would doe his utmost to cause thee to forget it either in slighting of it as a ceremony or else in changing this blessed day Jeroboam-like and burying its very name under the odious and most detestable name of Saturday that it may therefore be known to his Saints as no ceremony but a perpetual unchangeable Royall Law the Lord hath fenced it above all other Laws first positively keep it holy Secondly negatively doe not work upon it and that thou maist never be insnared to change or alter it I charge thee carefully to Remember this Law in a speciall singular manner This may for ever silence their conceits who would slight the seventh day Sabbath as a jewish ceremony though their consciences know it was instituted before any Jew or ceremony had being Ten Royall Laws the Lord delivers to his Saints and knowing that all of them would be more or lesse observed as his Sabbath should be sanctified or slighted he bids he forbids he marks it above all the rest that it may be remembred and yet disobedient spirits dare reject it as ceremoniall and put upon the highest an absurdity as grosse as likely can be imagined As if wisdome it selfe should with so much care command the exact remembrance of a ceremony above all his morall Laws for thus vaine man would render his maker I your Lord God doe here deliver you ten precents nine of which are perpetuall but one â—s a changeable ceremony wherefore I chang you to observe all my nine royall precepts but especially observe my perishing Sabbath which is but a meer ceremony besure you sanctifie that besure you doe not prophane that besure you remember that I lay it as a speciall command upon your souls to remember my mutable ceremoniall seventh day Sabbath more especially Me thinks gracious hearts should tremble to put such an absurdity upon God himselfe as binding us to remember that which as a mutable ceremony should be forgotten and buried in oblivion yea and which is yet more absurd if more may be they render the reason of sanctifying the seventh day Sabbath on this wise For in six dayes the Lord made Heaven and Earth and rested the first day wherefore the Lord blessed the first day for his Sabbath and sanctified it either we must put this absurdity also upon our God or else we must cast off the fourth commandement at least the reason of it must be rejected or else which is better then a thousand shifts we must returne from the little horn to our first husband and do the Saints first works and religiously remember the seventh day Sabbath to sanctifie it Thou meetest him that rejoyceth and worketh righteousnesse Isa 64.5 those that remember thee in thy wayes If it be objected that not Christians but Jewes are commanded to remember and observe the seventh day Sabbath I answer 1. That not the Christians but the Jewes were first commanded the rest of the ten commandements If Christians are to walke by the Jewes nine commandements as a righteous rule they are no lesse oblieged to every jott and tittle of the Jewes ten commandements The Royall Law of God was dispenced to the Jewes not only for themselves Act. 7.38 But to give unto us as that first faithfull martyr of the Lord Jesus taught in his funerall sermon when filled with the irresistable wisdome of the holy Spirit he sealed the faith of the Gospell with his blood and amongst the rest of those Evangelicall verities which the protomartyr prized as the Christians priviledges this is undeniably an eternall truth That the Jewes did receive those lively Oracles from mount Sinai to give unto us Here then 't is evident first what Lawes are Gods lively Oracles namely those precious precepts which God himselfe by the Angell of his presence delivered with a lively voice in the mount Sinai one of which lively Oracles is the seventh day Sabbath 2. To whom these lively Oracles were delivered and this is agreed on all hands that the only people so highly priviledged above all the world were the beloved Israelites 3. For whom and to what end were these lively Oracles from mount Sinai delivered to Israel And this is as cleare by blessed Stephens divine Testimony They received the lively Oracles from the mount Sinai to give unto us that is unto me Stephen an Officer in the church of Christ and to all my brethren for whose faith in the true Messiah I am now pleading my last they received the lively Oracles to give unto us Christians this is cleare that the Jewes received the lively Oracles from the Mount Sinai to give unto us though we have no heart to receive them yet God hath a heart of love to give them not only to the Jewes but even to us Christians 4. Then the fourth inquiry will be whether these lively Oracles from Sinai were given us to be broken or kept to be slighted or observed If to be kept and observed then either we must deny the seventh day Sabbath to be one of Sinai's lively Oracles or deny Stephens doctrine of their being delivered to the Jewes to
his servants Gen 22.5 at the bottom of the hill whiles he ascended to sacrifice his son Isaac No work may be done in our ordinary callings 1 Works of necessitie Josh 6.14.15 1 Kings 20.19 Acts 20.6 27.20 2 Works of piety unlesse in case of necessitie as soudiers in War Saylers in their voyages though I supose no warrant can be found for setting forth on Gods Sabbath Physicians Chirurgeons Midwives and any other in straits Ministers may and must Labor at all seasons but especially in this season I mean Ministers of Christ who Preach freely and live honourably of whatsoever is freely given but for hirelings bargaining Preachers who pretend to Gods work yet dare not trust him for wages Mic. 3.5.11 these do their own works and not Gods work like to the tradesman that labours for advantage This holy day the poor may be supplied the sick visited and a sabbath dayes journey lawfully performed which I conceive is so far as a person may ride or go without toil to such meeting where his soul may be most refreshed For where no Law is there is no transgression A sabbath days journey is Scripture 3 Works of conveniency the extent of it is left to conscience Convenient food is to be received with thanks which each sincere Sabbath keeper will remember so to provide and prepare before the sabbath that his servants souls be not deprived of sustenance by staying at home to provide for his body We find the Lord of the sabbath content with bread Luke 14.1 and his Disciples with ears of corn on the sabbath day As for the Jewish prohibition of kindling a fire it is not mentioned but in the ceremonial Law and so concerns not Christians who though not in danger of stoning yet I hope will find somewhat else to do then gather stickes on the sabbath In brief I doubt not but a person principled with the love of God will so remember to sanctifie the sabbath as to order all his business to be as much as possible in the worship of Jehovah 3. As we must leave our unlawful lusts and servile labours so we must part with our own lawful pleasures and be sure we plead not for any pastimes or whatsoever may please the flesh further then Gods word will warrant and what can please or delight a devout soul like Christs presence amidst his saints in the use of gospel ordinances T is the revealed will of God that we should turn away our foot from defiling the Sabbath and from doing our pleasures on his holy day that we should call the Sabbath our delight the holy of the Lord honourable and honour our God upon it not doing our own wayes nor finding our own pleasures nor speaking our own words Is 58.13 And therefore being thus prepared by removing all obstructions making all possible preparations and being furnished with heavenly directions let us religiously set to the observation and sanctification of this blessed Sabbath And upon our entrance into Sabbath duties If there be the hapy conveniency of saints that may assemble together as through mercy is our priviledge when the sixth day is done then be sure to turn away thy foot from sabbath pollution and being shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace take the wise mans precept Eccl. 5.1 Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God If thou shouldest have no society to sanctifie the Sabbath with thee yet thou canst not want company having the promised presence of the Lord of the Sabbath and his holy Angels to attend thee Heb. 1. ult When thy beloved hath been lodged all night between thy brests and thy soul is warmed with his bosom embraces let not the sun shame thee by his salute before thou salute thy Lord in secret in the private family if such advantage be given thee or else the garden fields grove or water side may furnish thee with matter enough for meditation Indeed no place can exclude the Creators glory from a contemplative sabbath keeper When the doves begin to flee to their windows Is 60.8 let no secret or private duty much lesse emcumbrance keep thee from the flocks of Christs companions and being assembled stir up the gift and grace that is in thee till Jacobs ladder mount thy soul to Jacobs height of admiration How dreadful is this place this is none other but the house of God and this is the gate of heaven surely the Lord is in this place Gen. 28.16.17 And now let the awfull dread of the Lord of the Sabbath before whose peircing eyes thy actions and affections are naked and open engage thy soul and body to such a mannerly demeanour as becoms a saint in so great a service Keep thy heart with all diligence because of the Almighty Prov. 24.23 1 Cor. 11.10 keep thy body in a comely deportment because of the Angels Remember thou art upon a moral duty wherefore do all things decently and in order pray when the saints pray Saints must be like Aaron Hur holding up Moses hands 1 Cor. 14.40 they must be like the heavenly host singing forth the praises of God together they must doe all things as becoms the blessed communion of Saints breath after the fullest communion with God that is attainable in this state of grace the communion to be sought by every Sabbath keeper must be 1. A choice communion such as the saint must prefer to all enjoyments Never let the soul think to sanctifie Gods Sabbath that does not esteem one day in Gods courts better then a thousand Psal 84.10 Let him never imagine his service shall be accepted unlesse he endeavour at least to make a Moses a Maries a Davids choice One thing have I desired of the Lord that will I seek after He that makes such a a choice he shall enjoy the comforts promised to Christians Psalm 27.4 Is 56.4 5 6 7 that keep Gods Sabbath from polluting it even them saith the Lord will I bring to my holy mountain and make them joyful in my house of prayer God cannot choose but delight in that soul who makes his choice of Sabbath communion with his maker 2 It must be a close communion Thâ— Sabbath keeper must be in his Saviours â—osome all the day Can. 8.1 O saith the spouse that thou wert my brother that suâ—ked thâ— brests of my mother I would kiss thee c. It is good for me saith the Psalmist to draw near to God O Christian keep close and let him not go till he send thee to thy house with a blessing in thine heart 3. Thou must labour for a clear communion 3. Ps 63.2 Content not thy self till thou seest his power and his glory as his saints hase seen him in his sanctuary 2 Cor. 3.18 Acts 2. Presse after primitive experience to behold as in a glâ—sse the glory of the Lord till thou be changed
THE SEVENTH-DAY SABBATH Sought out and celebrated OR The Saints last Design upon the man of sin with their advance of Gods first institution to its primitive perfection being a clear discovery of that black character in the head of the little Horn Dan. 7.25 THE Change of TIMES LAWS With the Christians glorious Conquest over that mark of the Beast and recovery of the long-slighted seventh day to its antient glory wherein Mr. Aspinwal may receive full answer to his late piece against the SABBATH By Tho. Tillam Minister of the Gospel Psalm 102.13 14. Thou shalt arise have mercy upon Sion for the time to favour her yea the set time is come For thy servants take pleasure in her stones and favour the dust thereof London Printed for the Author and are to be sold by Livewell Chapman at the Crown in Popes-head Alley 1637. To the Church of Christ which is at Colchester gathered by Gods grace with the Authors Ministry into the beautiful order of the Gospel Precious and therefore Beloved WHat hath the holy one done for you what hath Gospel grace wrought in you who are these that flie as a cloud and as doves to their winâ—ows Isa 60.8 Happy day when the eternal spirit broke open your doors and led you through the pangs of the new birth into the favour of God by Christ Blessed season when the Almighty displayed his bright beams of evangelical light forming Christ in your souls by the same way that the blessed virgin conceived viz. by the ear alluring you out of Bâ—bylonish abominations worldlly pollutions and unscriptural mazes to follow the Lamb in all his pretious appointments Look my beloved from the top of the mountain to which grace hath advanced you and behold the woful world still wallowing in wickedness and weltring in blood under the wrath of a jealous God 1 Cor. 6.11 in a hopeless graceless christless condition And such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified no more strangers and forreiners but fellow Citizens with the Saints and of the houshould of God founded upon your Rock of Ages whose mysterious habitation and temple ye are Now what shall we return to the Lord for these invaluable benefits I hope there is not a soul of you that dare slight such unsearchable riches of grace I trust you are truly enlightned purely principled which with the sence of your former weight of sin the intolerable burthen of an awakened conscience will cause you for ever to delight in Christs shadow and sit with soul-satisfaction under the spread wings of the eternal Saviour that soul hath onely a name to live that loves not such a Lord. Amongst all the blessings bestowed upon man God made for him a holy sabbath and this of old was the honour of Gods Israel and shall be again the glory of such as stand in the antient path enquiring for the good old way Now since Jehovah hath graciously revealed Sabbath lâ—ght amongst you and laid you under many endearments let each soul that is indeed a Saint take up with the Psalmist Return unto thy rest O my soul for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee for truly you have need of rest amidst all your reproaches for the Law of your God and to strengthen you for new trials especially if you and I who have hitherto enjoyed our pretious liberty should experience what we hear namely that the present powers make no conscience of Oaths or Acts if this should prove so indeed what can be expected to Sabbath-keepers but new prelatical persecution There is a solumn Oath taken before God and men to protect such as professe faith in God by Jesus Christ though differing from the doctrine or discipline of the nation which is seconded by the present Parlament who have enacted Inster for Gover. Artic. 36 37. That such as professe faith in God Father Son and Spirit and own the scriptures Parl. Petit. advic 1657. pag. 13. shall not be compelled by penalties nor restrained from their profession though differing from the publick Doctrine and discipline but shall be protected in the peacable exercise of their religion But notwithstanding these great engagements there would be little prohability of peace should their principles be as some are perswaded Wherefore flie with speed to your experienced City of resuge and improve your interest in heaven for the suppression of Jeroboams sin 1 Ring 32.33 who did not onely advance the device of his own heart in the time of worship but imposed it on the people and so made Israel to sin Strive with your prayers against the remaining corruptions rising oppressions appearing persecutions a manifold enormities of a revolting nation God hath eminently punished the princes and the Kings children and threatens all such as are clothed in strange Apparrel Zeph. 1.8 and yet how this abomination abounds amongst us yea t is feared that as Jehu pulled down one Baal and advanced two golden Calves In Hebr. Lord. so the suppression of one proud Prelate may be attended with the promotion of many persecuting Presbyters and then farwell our precious Gospel priviledges if ever our liberty should be at their allowance They have already put forth their sting by underhand attempts to obstruct this great truth of Gods sabbath Their contentious Lecture at Colchester termed your Gospel Baptism an infant damning doctrine and the minsters thereof the Devils Factors stirring up Rulers against us which prebably may prove their strongest arguments in opposing the Sabbath As for such either Presbyterian or any other opinion who are of a Gospel frame of Spirit free from Ishmaelitish persecuting principles I do not in the least reflect upon them but highly prize all the lovely appearances of Christ in them knowing that such though our elder Brethren dare not murmure at our fathers love who hath enlightened our minds with the revived glory of his Royal Sabbath but will like noble Bereans weigh this serious and I hope sober work in the balance of the sanctuary If such as would have a precept of this high import smothered or concealed under a bed of security or Bushel of plenty were throughly a wakened by the whisperings of Christ they would readily proclaim this glorious truth upon the house top If this lively oracle of Gods seventh day Sabbath be not clearly Instituted by the Father Ratified by the Son Approved by the spirit and observed by the Saints Let it be confuted and rejected but if this Royal Law be thus established how dreadful must be the continued weekly pollution of it after Christs call to repentance and reformation God hath long winked at the dayes of our ignorance but he will not long bear with wilfulness As for you the beloved spouse of Christ Elders Deacons and Brethren I do bless the Almighty for you I can never sufficiently admire that unexpected passage of providence that made plain my path unto you
Disciples to pray Mat. 24.20 That their slight might not be in the Winter nor on the Sabbath day of grace i. e. that they might not flye at all when as yet he had commanded them to flye 2. If the day of grace be our enjoyned Sabbath then we must be sure as long as the Gospel lasts to do no servile work according to the Commandement but here it 's also conceived that the works now prohibited are our sins Answ 1. The Law did no less prohibit sin then the Gospel 2. This conceit supposeth God thus commanding six days of the Laws duration thou shalt or mayest labour and do all thy work of sin but the day of grace is the Sabbath in it thou shalt not sin thou thy son and which is extreamly absurd thy cattle and the stranger that is within thy gates Either this opinion must reject the rest of the fourth Commandement as it doth the seventh day or els it puts it self upon more then an Egiptian task to keep his son servants strangers from sin As for the poor cattle they are uncapable of such a Rest as cessation from sin and the merciless Notionist is reasoning them out of that natural rest wherewith the merciful God hath priviledged them so that if there be no rest required but from sin the poor bruits may rue the time of Christs comming into the world 't were well for them that Peter had prevailed to build Tabernacles that they might have still enjoyed the good dayes of Moses And as for English servants their condition would be little different from Turkish slaves so that they might well bewail MESSIAH's birth should this opinion prevail for the boundless desires of earthy-minded Masters would seldome be weary of the way of getting wealth neither would their pretended spirituality dictate what day to spare their wearied servants But instead of the Angels good tydings of great joy to all people servants would soon cry out sad tidings of great sorrow to be thus deprived of the happy rest for soul and body and constrained to toil and travel on the Sabbath Thus by Origens allegorical Divinity making cessation from sin the onely Gospel Sabbath the letter of Gods Law which cals for corporal rest and spiritual service is perverted Christs Sermon abused Exe. 20. Is 58.13 the Royal Sabbath like a typical ceremony rejected the poor bruits wearied servants defrauded and manifold absurdities introduced to the great dishonour of the great Law-giver and grievous sin of such as assert the onely Sabbath is to abstain from sin which that soul shall do indeed who abstains from labour on Gods Sabbath servile work being the known sin of the fourth Commandement Cease from thy shallow conceits thou deluded slighter of holy Sabbaths The Saints day of eternal cestation from sin and sorrow is not yet come we see Babylon yet in beeing the Jews uncalled all the eath in confusion the day of peace is indeed approaching when such onely as are found in ways of obedience shall enter in by the gate to the glorious City of everlasting Rest Thus having through Divine aid vindicated the Sabbaths morality from those inventions and aspersions raised against it I shall now proceed to the second part in the Position Viz. The select season or precise time determined by him who is hasting to the ruine of that blasphemous Little Horn for his change of Times and Laws THat the seventh day was the Lords holy Sabbath Gen. 2.2 Heb. 4.3 from the Worlds foundation to our Saviours Passion is undeniable And yet such is satans envie at the Sabbath that he suggests a possibility of alteration by the Suns station in Joshua's time and retrogradation in Hezekiah's dayes But it may easily bee understood that when the same power who placed the Sun in its Sphere stayed its course one day and commanded it to return backwards another this did only lengthen those individual days and then returned to its natural motion but altered not the next day at all 2. It must be concluded that our Saviour who fulfilled the Law exactly observed punctually the very Sabbath and the scripture testifies that the holy women rested the Sabbath day according to the Commandement Luk. 23. ult that is upon the very seventh day which God instituted and required to bee observed And the whole world though different in Religion will give full testimony that neither the Heathens saturday so called long before Christs time the Turks friday the Papists sunday nor any other day in the week hath since met with any change so that I may with as much reason question whether my right hand be that the world calls so as I may question whether saturday be the very seventh day seeing the Jews also dispersed through the world punctually observe it And yet what a deal of dust hath been raised from the Prelates ashes by an old Professour of New England-way against their principles and his own conscience his great Argument borrowed from the Bishops is this That since all Regions cannot observe the same hours for the Sabbath by reason of the various rising and setting of the Sun therefore the seventh day is not universally moral Answ What will not enmity to Gods Sabbath set upon seeing such a one as Capt. Jenison is not ashamed to use the old Prelates worm-eaten Arguments in flat opposition to his Brethren Me thinks it should wound his soul to receive answer from Mr. Shepheard with approbation of the consociated Elders of New England in detestation of such deceit thus The fourth Commandement must stand firm Shep. sab pag. 147. the Heaven and Earth must fall asunder the Lord will rather waste Kingdomes and the whole Christian world with fire and sword then let one tittle of his Law perish the Land must rest when Gods Sabbath cannot c. And surely it may sadly affect their hearts in New-England if ever this reacheth their eye or ear that one of their professed members in a great publick assembly should combat the Sabbath with the same weapons foyled by them And in hopes it will make the Captain ashamed and silence all adversaries I shall transcribe the solid answer of reverend Mr. Shepheard to the cloudy argument which he saith Carpanter and Heylin compassed the whole earth and heavens to find out To think saith he that the Sabbath was proper to the Jews Shep. sab pag. 148. because they onely were able to keep and exactly observe the time of it being shut up as Mr. Primvose saith within a little corner of the earth and that the Gentiles are not therefore bound to it because they cannot exactly observe the time of it in several quarters of the earth so far distant is a very feeble argument for why might not all Nations exactly observe the rising and setting of the Sun according to several Climates by which the natural day and so this if the Sabbath is exactly measured and which God hath appointed without limitation
be glad in But as the Sabbath day enjoyned in the fourth Commandement against the reason there rendred For in six dayes the Lord made heaven and earth and rested the seventh day wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and sanctified it Saints For your souls sake search the Scripture if ever you find the Lord resting upon the first day I have proveâ— unto you that when he arose the first daâ— he was so far from resting that he travelled 15 miles that very day and encouraged his Disciples so to doe Ask your consciences in the fear of God if this were sanctifying a new Sabbath The ancient Christians who called it the Lords day did never terme it the Sabbath day but religiously celebrated the seventh day Sabbath with it But see what partiality this is to avouch that to be the Lords day which is so uncertain in Scripture and to reject the seventh day which is constantly called the Sabbath And thus I have faithfully opened the 3 Scriptures which neither singly nor joyntly give the least ground to observe the first day as a Sabbath So that Scriptures failing they flee to unscripturall consequences to support their supposed change First Arg. 1 They tell us that the worke of Redemption is greater then the worke of Creation and therefore the greater worke deserves the honour of the day Answ 1 I may demand with the Almighty to lost Adam who told thee that thou wast naked who told thee the work of Redemption was the greater who told thee the greater â—ork if it were so deserves the honour of the day hath God no other way to bear up the honour and preserve the memory of Redemption but thy supposed Sabbath Then learne to know that for the honour of the glorious work of creation God hath instituted his holy Sabbath and for the commemoration of the gracious work of Redemption he invites thee if thou hast grace to his sacred Supper Wherefore cease presumptuous man to set up thy posts by Gods Pillars blesse his name for his Royall Sabbath to meditate on the worke of his hands and sound forth his praise for his precious Supper that sets forth the Love of his heart Arg. 2 A second reason is raised from the Israelites obligation to offer their first-borne and first-fruits and therefore t is thought more equall to offer the first day for a Sabbath then first to serve our selves six dayes and put of Gods Sabbath till the seventh Answ 1 T is most equall to offer unto God what he requires and therefore none other Sabbath will bâ— accepted but that very seventh day which God hath sanctified I freely joyne thus far with the adversaries argument That it is most meet for man to offer unto God his first day But I feare my Antagonists will not stick to their own conclusions when they are remembred that the seventh day is mans first day he being made on the sixth day and immediately the seventh day Sabbath made for him to offer his first fruites unto his maker who in very deed accepts no other Sabbath but mans first day since then the adversary himselfe hath concluded that mans first day is most equall to offer unto God for his Sabbath let him either stand to his own argument Job 5.12.13 1 Cor. 1.1 and see that he offer none other Sabbath to the Lord then mans first day or else be for ever condemned by his own mouth Thus the Lord disappointeth the devices of the crafty and snareth them in their own wisdome yet will they not cease their vaine jangling Arg. 3 But tell the people that as no Manna was to be found on the seventh day so those that observe the seventh day Sabbath cannot find Christ the true Manna upon it Ans Then the Apostle was unwise to preach constantly upon that day whereon no spirituall Manna fell Act. 2.41 1â— 42 44 45. 6.13.14 but blessed be the Lord of the Sabbath that multitudes of Jewes and Gentiles have found such plenty of the heavenly Manna upon this blessed seventh day Sabbath that the adversary may stop his mouth with shame yea many living witnesses can bear their joyfull testimony to the free effusion of Gospel grace upon the true sanctified seventh day Sabbath Another reason is rendred why the first day should be observed viz. Arg. 4 from the successe of sermons in the conversion of souls on that day Ans It may be feared many are judged converts that never knew the power of the Spirit Conversion is a turning from sin to the faith and order of the Gospell which many supposed converts will be found short of If more persons be truely converted on the first day then upon other days the honour is due to Gods grace in that meanes which more abounds on the first day then other dayes and he that commands the word to be preached in season and out of season will not faile to follow it with his blessing at all seasons witnesse the notable successe of Lectures But if conversion of souls be a seale to Gods Sabbath never was day so crowned with true converts in the Scripture as the seventh day instances whereof have been already given in that famous 50 day Acts 2. and 13. and 16. and 18. cap. Argu. 5 But 't is supposed that serveing God on the seventh day Sabbath is to put new wine into old bottles Old things are passed away all things are become new 'T is true Answ Old sins are passed away and all old Ordinances Curses and Covenants but surely old Scriptures and old promises and Gods old loving kindnesses are not passed away The good old way promising rest to our soules Jer. 6.16 Heb. 10.20 is none other then the Gospel New and living way The new commandement of Christs Apostle is the old commandement that was from the beginning John 3.17.8 And the very first institution that we here of in the beginning is the seventh day Sabbath therefore if we are Christs Disciples indeed let us reform in observing the true Sabbath as we are directed about the true marriage Mat. 14.5.6 i. e. looke to the beginning we do no more put new wine into old bottles by celebrating the Antient Sabbath then by joyning in the antient way of marriage The purest water is at the spring head 1 Joh. 2.24 Let that therefore abide in you which you have heard from the beginning if that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you ye also shall continue in the Son and in the Father If you will not believe that the Sabbath which was from the beginning doth still remaine to be observed unlesse you hear the same in so many words give me leave to take off the Translators vail and let but Gods Spirit speake in his owne language wherein the holy Oracles were written and you will soon be informed Heb. 4.9 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thero remaineth therefore the celebration of the Sabbath to the
whereunto the Apostle presseth v. 11. Let us therefore labour to enter into that Rest Heb. 4.11 lest any man fall after Israels example of Disobedience And thus in opening the five-sold rest contained though promiscuously in the third and fourth to the Hebrews I hope it is convincingly manifested that the seventh day Sabbath by a double obligation remaines to the people of God And indeed it is impossible to change it without violation to the confessed morality of the commandement for whereas our adversaries assert a just seventh part of time yea and a seventh day as truly Moral they know the seventh day from the Creation was instituted in Paradise and the same day commanded from Mount Sinai and certain it is that if the Jewes had observed any other day they had destroyed the morality neither can the wisest Christian in the World contrive a change but he destroys the morality for let him change the Sabbath to the sixth day and that cannot be a seventh day or seventh part of time Let him translate it to the eighth day and then seven daies passe without any one Sabbath Let him keep the seventh day and the eighth or first day at his change of the sabbath and then he keeps two sabbaths within the circuit of seven daies So that do what he can the morality is subverted either he must deny the morality of a seventh day or seventh part of time or else he must stick to the good old seventh-day-Sabbath I would not smother any objection that might carry the least shew for any other Sabbath then this lively oracle of the Seventh day knowing therefore that some endeavours have been used by such my soul honours for the image of God upon them I shall weigh their apprehensions as they are declared and first from Mark 16.1 Object 1 Object Mark 16.1 1. T is supposed that the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may signifie being dissolved and so it may be rendred when the Sabbath was dissolved Answ Answ T is strange that any tender conscience should take liberty from a strained participle to live in the weekly pollution of the Royall Sabbath but the word is fairly translated when the Sabbath was past or the sabbath being passed over or compleatly finished 2. It onely intends the passing over and compleat finishing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of that one individual sabbath there is not the least appearance of abolishing that lively oracle which enjoines the seventh day sabbath Behold the Wisdome of the spirit overturning this device while he secures what the Objectors strike at for it is not the Sabbath they contend against but the seventh day now if they will strain at the word let them stick to the word which mentions not the seventh day at all but the sabbath St. Mark doth not say the seventh day was finished but when the sabbath was ended so that they cannot hence reject the seventh day and retain the sabbath 4. The scope of the Evangelist is to hold forth the passing over of that rest which prevented the womens applications of their spices Luke 23. ult and that was the sabbathday or the duty not one syllable expressed of the time or seventh day and though I am aboundantly satisfyed that the sabbath and the seventh day are unseparable never to be divided yet the objectors can distinguish as clearly as my self between the seventh day which is the time and the sabbath which is the duty so that if they 'l dissolve any thing from a squeezed participle it must not be the seventh day which lies unmentioned but the sabbath duty which is expressed And doubtless many great professors had rather cashier the sabbath duty morality of the fourth commandement yea and the morality of all the commandements as no way concerning Christians then set to the celebration of the seventh daie The Lord pity them whiles I return to another precious to the Lord and faithfull amongst the Saints who yet objecteth Object that Saint Matthews 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may signifie the ultimate end of the sabbath Math. 18.1 never to be celebrated more amongst Christians 1 Answ This may receive the same answer with the former for if it destroy any thing it must be the duty which is expresly in the word sabbaths and not the day and time of the rest which is not mentioned If persons will strain at expressions they must keep to these expressions This adverb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth not primarily or properly signifie the end but the genuine signification of it is vespere the evening and to it should be rendred viz. the evening of the Sabbaths Let the scriptures be consulted where this advâ—â—b is used which is but twice that I can find in the new testament Mark 11.19 and 13.25 in both which places it signifies the evening for the sence would be mar'd to render it other wise and so here the evening of the Sabbaths termed Sabbath in the plural as being not onely the seventh day sabbath but the Jews passover sabbath as is evident well I hope it is not possible for Satan to delude tender consciences long with such sory slights Luke 23. with John 19.24.31 as to neglect a royal statute of Jehovah upon such slender terms But since the seventh day sabbath is undoubtedly one of those lively oracles which Israel received from Sina to give unto us O Christians embrace it love it lay it in your bosomes it in vites and will conduct you weekly into the Princes presence where it will open unto you all the rest of those lively oracles and divine mysteries that are coupled with it while such as slight and reject this heavenly law and still assert a chang without book shall run themselves upon many dangerous rocks and sands which tender hearts should tremble at As first they must affront the holy spirit who was most punctual in sundry scriptures for the solemn repeal and abrogation of circumcision and all those typical Sabbaths which were against us and contrary to us shaddowing good things to come with the visible burial of the whole body of the ceremonial law and yet this blessed spirit purposely appointed to lead us into all truth was so far from repealing the seventh day Sabbath that he constantly calls that and none other the Sabbath day that is the Lords holy rest-day and pours down his graces in most abundant measure that day So that if the sabbath day be altered Gods holy spirit cannot escape an affront for concealing the change from us Certainly there is need of a clear word for the change or repeal of such a royall Law and lively oracle Next to their traducing of Gods spirit Acts 20. The sabbath changers must needs bring a high charge against the Apostle for calling God to record that he had not shunned to declare all the counsel of God and yet never opened his mouth about the change of the royal seventh day sabbath He manifestly
and given to the Jews and will shortly come in his glory to make them a glorious people neither will any thing more hasten mercy to Sion Ps 102.13 14. then Christians taking pleasure in her stones and favouring the dust thereof that is the times and Laws changed by Antichrist For 't is impossible that ever that beloved people should receive the Messiah while they see his Disciples disobedient to Gods royal commands We who were once drown'd in the delusion can now discern and detest that Popish impiety of image-worship in defiance of the second Commandement and yet they can plead as plausibly for Idolatry by their wretched distinction of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as wee can possibly for change of the Sabbath As their image-worship is one great stumbling-block to long forsaken Israel so our weekly wallowing in Sabbath pollutions sadly obstructs the hopes of their conversion Heb. 6.6 and indeed puts our dear Saviour to an open shame as may appear by a passage lately communicated which exceedingly affects my soul and so I hope it will my Readers thus The Jews in London are very much affected with our keeping of the Sabbath and do frequent our meeting places every Sabbath in the latter part of the day and truly I hope the Lord will in time awake upon them to imbrace the truth As yet they keep on their Hats in the time of prayer I am well acquainted with their Rabbi He and the rest of the Jews with him were so taken with Brother Sallars prayer for the restauration of the Kingdome to Israel Acts 1.6 as that they desired that they might have it in writing promising that they would print it and send it to all the places where the Jews inhabit I told them also your resolution to preach up the Sabbath and they are very much taken therewith desiring the Lord to prosper you in your endeavours therein I perceive it is a great stumbling block to them as to believe Christ to be the Messiah because Christians violate the Sabbath for say they if Christ were not a Sabbath-breaker why are Christians and if Christ were a Sabbath breaker then he was a sinner and if a sinner what benefit can we expect by the death of an evil doer And thus you see what evil consequents follow the non-observance of the Lords holy Sabbath I hope this may be usefull to your Auditors especially to those of your society Reader doth not thy heart with mine tremble before the Lord in the perusal of these lines why if the offence of one little one deserve so great punishment Mat. 18.6 what will be the doom of Sabbath-breakers after warning whose weekly disobedience so much dishonours Christ and stumbles all the Tribes of Israel how vain are their petitions for Israels conversion whose practise so much obstructs the glorious work Cast ye up Isa 57.14 cast ye up prepare the way take up the stumbling blocks out of the way of my people Awake awake Saints the seventh seal is opened and the seventh day Sabbath breaks through those Romish fogs that long obscured it under the Heathenish title of saturday or Saturns day The same blasphemous Horn that rob'd us of the Holy Scriptures hath long deprived us of the Holy SABBATH telling us that it was Jewish 'T is high time wholly to depart from Popish pollutions Zech. 8.13 and fulfill part of that Prophesie in taking such hold on the skirts of the Jews as to observe all their Moral Laws with delight Let nor the unscriptural odium of a jewish Sabbath startle us any more then a jewish SAVIOUR But let us put on Ruths resolution in meeting the Jews saying Thy Scriptures shall be my Scriptures thy Promises shall be my portion thy salvation shall be my expectation thy seventh day shall be my Sabbath thy Messiah shall be my SAVIOUR and thy God my God And thus shall we take up the stumbling blocks obstructing their return who can neither brook Babels abominations in the breach of Gods second Royal Law nor Protestants weekly prophanation of the Sabbath with deep disobediance to the fourth Commandement Which is most dreadfull in such as continue sabbath-breakers for earthly advantage after some light of Gods Law hath broken in upon their souls at least to suspect that it may be Gods Sabbath So that they have nothing to say against it and yet through the worlds snares and love of relations dare continue to act against it wallowing Weeke after Weeke in Sabbath pollutions till the just judgement of GOD at last leave them through custome of sin to a scared conscience Another odium cast upon the seventh day Sabbath by Gallio like indifferents and luke-warm Laodiceans is that 't is but a circumstance of time But the wise experienced Preacher doth speedily confute their folly in a sentence worthy our observation Who so keepeth the Commandement shall feel no evil thing and a wise mans heart discerneth both TIME and judgement Eccl. 3.5 Such as dare be careless of keeping the Commandements and judge themselves so wise as to contemn that TIME which God hath ordained to make men wiser we shall leave to that wisdome which is meer foolishness with God 1 Cor. 3.19 even to trifle with that precious time which weekly conveys precious plants into the Palace and special presence of their Prince But whereas 't is objected That holy time and holy place were both of like force Let such shew us the least syllable in Gods moral Law enjoyning holy place 2 Tim. 4.1.2 Joh. 4.20 21. 1 Tim. 2.8 and we shall well weigh it and in the mean time do our duty in that holy time which is expresly commanded us of God knowing that our Law-giver hath as fully confirmed this holy time as he hath laid common all holy place Thus these devices fail as not able to foyl this shining season Gods sanctified seventh day Sabbath which stands with strength in Gospel times Let our next business therefore be to know when to enter upon this holy rest for it cannot be conceived that God who hath been so punctual in prescribing the precise time of Circumcision the Passeover Penticost and other ceremonies should leave us to our liberty for the beginning of his holy Sabbath But oh the amusing Meanders perplexing and distracting Labyrinths that do even drink up their spirits who assert the Sabbaths change to the first week-day being not able to find when to begin their supposed Sabbath Some affirming it beins in the morning when the Lord arose but what hour they are not able to say since God hath purposely concealed Christs rising as he did Moses burial place to prevent our sin so that whether to begin their Sabbath at break of day or Sun-rising they are uncertain and know not what to do Others are moved but by what rule or reason I know not to appoint midnight for the entrance of their Sabbath when most are asleep
wilt or shalt labour or as it is rendred elsewhere six days may work be done God gives us leave to serve our selves six days Exo. 31.15 that we may not murmur or repine in devoting the seventh wholly to his service but he is no Aegyptian Task-master to bind us to six days incessant labour for then Paul sinned in such a charge to preach in season out of season and God himselfe should cross his own Command in requiring Israel to observe the Passeover Penticost Feast of Tabernacles c. taking up as many days as the year hath weeks which ceremonial days Christ hath abolished and therefore we should not grudge to give unto God every first day as an addition to the Sabbath with thankfulness for our double benefit Creation and Redemption especially if both days be anthorized by the word of truth As for the scriptures quoted in the New Testament for the change of the seventh day Sabbath to the first day of the week I shall demonstrate in due time that not any one of them nor all together can make up an argument to satisfie a truly enlightened soul But that the Resurrection day is designed for a rejoycing day to Christs Disciples seems undeniable by the Psalmists saying Ps 118.24 This is the day which the Lord hath made we will rejoyce and be glad in it Which being compared with Peters speech * Act. 4.10 11. must needs be meant the Resurrection day And whereas some who are loath to appear in Gods presence too often do suppose this rejoycing day to be onely Easter day once in a year I shal forbear to answer them til they can better agree about the celebration of their traditional Easter and excite Gods people to rejoice and be glad on the Resurrection day as oft as the week brings it about But is this impossible to be done unless we reject Gods ancient 7th day Sabbath why may not the Sabbath stand with the first day amongst Christians as it stood with so many holy days amongst the Jews especially since the mercy of a free Redeemer is added to the blessings of a bountifull Creator 'T is sad to see persons spend more time in sin to satisfie their lusts then Profestors can part with to serve the Lord. Welf it seems to be Scriptural that the Lord made the Resurrection day a rejoyoing day but he never made it a Sabbath day and if it be allowed that honourable title of the Lords Day Rev. 1. yet doth it no more cashier the seventh day Sabbath then did the ceremonial Feasts called Sabbaths of old Those many Jewish holy dayes honoured with the title of Sabbaths did not then weaken the Royal Sabbath nor can the supposed title given to the first week-day now do it seeing Christ hath for ever confirmed each point and parcel of the Moral Law Jam. 2.8 10 11. Both days may lovingly live amongst Christians redeemed from the earth And though many would be accounted Saints that think they should be undone in so doing yet the spotless Spouse of Christ whiles arayed in those royal robes of Sun-like Majesty Rev. 12. and decked with that diadem of infallibility trampling under feet all sublunary fading mutable glories I say in this her primitive purity during the first three Centuries she constantly observed both these dayes in honour of her Creator and Redeemer till the little Horn changed her Times and Laws This is so generally confessed even by the adversaries of the seventh day Sabbath that other proof would be needless in this place It cannot be denied that the primitive saints did honour the Resurrection day with the honourable title of their Lord so that it became a proverbial question in their greetings Servasti Dominicum hast thou kept the Lords day to which the other would answer Christianâ—â— sum intermittere non possum I am a Christian I may not omit it This I conceive is a second ground for observing the first day and although the decree of Constantine with the Councel of Laodicea do not any way concern us in this point 2 Chr. 10.10.3 Neh. 9.27 Est. 9.20 yet the statutes enacted by a just authority for the observation of daies should be observed provided that such decrees be no way destructive to the Sabbath of the Lord our God Matth. 15.2 3. This I offer as a third ground of rejoycing on the Resurrection day commonly called the Lords day which we should more readily embrace then any Lecture day According to the good old Christian custom of Saints and it may be fitly termed the Lords day Rom. 14.6 when with delight we observe it to the Lord. Reasons for observing both daies are these 1. Christians have more engagements upon them then ever ancient Israel had to devote as much of their time to God shall the greatness of his graces straighten us in the advancement of his glory 2. We have as frequent necessity of heavenly supplies as they had why should we be seldomer at the throne of grace 3. We are set free from those great burdens and bondages long journeys and vast expences sacrifices and ceremonies under which they groaned and are two daies in seven such a task Is our fathers presence and saints fellowship so itksome Doubtless 't is so to drossie Disciples whose love extends no further then the Leaves why we are invited into the holy of holies to make sure work of eternal mansions to bear up Gods standard and honour in the world for a little season and are two daies for God and our souls so tedious and troublesome when we have more then twice two for our perishing bodies we should not be weary to approach the presence of an earthy Prince so often for wealth and honour 4. The highest pretender to spirituality had need enough to get often into Gods Courts and Saints company to shake off his earthy shackles the durty face of our earthly Mother too frequently dulls our affections to our heavenly Father we have little cause to couzen our consciences with with a device to honour God by disobeying him in slighting his precepts under pretence of spiritual performances as if frequent attendance at heavens gates could hinder our spiritual growth or Gods Sabbath suppress one sanctity 5. We are marvailously delivered from all those Mass daies upheld by the Beast and his image to which Saints were compelled by Parators as Candle Mass Christ-Mass Michael-Mass and I know not how many Mastes and is it now such a matter with the Sabbath day to devote the first day of the week to Gods worship as Saints have done I fear such Professors did never count the cost before they took up Christianity and therefore they fail in that measure of self-denial which the Sabbath calls for which I confess is more then all other Ordinances but let such know they will find it as hard for flesh and bloud to inherit the Kingdome of God as now they feel the observance of Gods
for in Acts 20.7 they tell us that Paul preached on the first day but in Acts 18.4 they say Paul reasoned every Sabbath day and yet the Greek word is the very same in both places Neither was this Pauls single practise But the constant custome of all the Disciples that ever accompanied him we finde one companie with Paul Acts 13.13 14. who solemnly observed the Sabbath in holy duties Other associates he selects Acts 15.40 and these celebrate the Sabbath Acts 16.13 17. 17.1 2. Thus we may follow Paul and his companions from place to place and constantly find them observing the seventh day Sabbath And though he solemnly professed He had not shunned to declare the whole counsel of God Act. 20. yet this great slighter of ceremonies never gives the least hint of a change which undoubtedly he would have done had it been any way altered Nay he strictly requires all beleevers to follow his example as he followed Christs and certainly in the observation of the Sabbath he followed Christ as close as in any Ordinance whatsoever Object There are conceits that Paul onely took that opportunity to preach to the people Answ But 1. They speak without book and fancy is no fuel for a Christians faith 2. They render this Apostle of the Gentiles a constant dissembler 3. They may as warrantably lay this crrime to Christ that he did but take such opportunities and not in conscience of the Sabbath for it 's proved that Christs custome herein is the very same with Pauls Such as assert that Paul onely observed the Sabbath among the Jews and not among the Gentiles may be better informed Act. 18.4 13.42 where it is evident That when the Iews were gone out of the Synagogue the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached the next Sabbath Here the Apostle had the fairest opportunity that possibly could be desired in the Jews absence to instruct the Gentiles in a first day Sabbath if ever such a change had been intended for why should publick preaching be deferred till the next seventh day Sabbath especially to the Gentiles if the first day had been a Sabbath The Apostles silence at this time and occasion will not allow any rational conjecture of such an intention of a first day Sabbath But here it is objected Object That the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth the week between or Sabbath between 1. I demand between what Answ The fairest conjecture is that the Gentiles might beseech Paul to preach the Sabbath between their desire and his departure and without some such supposition this translation of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 will scarce be good sense 2. If we may rely on the schollarship of Arius Montanus who was a professed enemy to the seventh day Sabbath he will tell us 't is sequens Sabbatum the following Sabbath 3. However this is manifest Act. 13.44 that the next Sabbath day Paul did p each and either it was in answer to the request made or else if the Gentiles desired him to preach to them on some week day and yet the Apostle deferred it to the known Sabbath day this will much more abundantly testifie his special respect to the seventh day Sabbath So that beyond all contradiction the Apostle and the Christians with him did as constantly observe the seventh day Sabbath as Christ himself and if none other ground next to Gods command be given us why they did so but that we should be followers of Paul as he was of Christ we must either press after our pattern or resolve to rest in disobedience to so great a Commandement Me thinks ingenious saints should even read Christs confirmation of the seventh day Sabbath in the Apostles practice for undoubtedly such as Pauls constant custome was such was his Commission It was not onely in the Lords Suppet that Paul delivered the same to the Church by precept or president which he received of the Lord but his constancy was equal in observing the Lords Sabbath as the Lords Supper 1 Cor. 11.1 2. and in requiring the same Church in the same Chapter to follow him as he followed Christ in all things There is a heavenly haâ—mony between Christs commission and Pauls custome both in the observation of the Lords Supper and the Lords Sabbath And seeing it is so manifest that Paul and the saints with him did constantly observe the known seventh day Sabbath both amongst Jews and Gentiles and that the blessed spirit gives us none other reason of Pauls custome but that we should be followers of that blessed Apostle even as he also was of Christ set us not coin or invent reasons without book of the Apostles constant observation of the Sabbath to justifie our own prophaneness but bethink our selves what we shall answer in the day of judgement when it shall be set fairly before us that as it was Christs custome to observe the Sabbath even so it was Pauls custome with his companions punctually to tread in the same steps and since the Spirit of truth never gave other reason why the Apostle did so but that we should follow him as he followed Christ in this divine duty which is so plain possible peaceable evangelical unrepealed Ah Christian ask thy conscience if thou canst judge this a sufficient answer for thy weekly pollution of the seventh day Sabbath That thou badst thought Paul had onely practised it to please the sews when it will appear plainly that he did it purposely for a pattern to the Gentiles And that thou mayest be utterly silent and for ever left without excuse take notice if thy spirit be not too much prejudiced and thy heart hardened against this truth that one of the fairest patterns of the Apostles for Sabbath-keeping was set before these very Gentile Corinthians whom he so strictly enjoyns to follow him as he followed Christ For in their famous Citie it was that the blessed man abode and preached in the Sinagogue EVERY Sabbath day Acts 18.1 3 4. and perswaded the Jews and the Greeks If any should contend that I term that preaching here which is translated reasoning let them mind that the word is the very same which is rendred preaching Acts 20.7 Well to these Greeks he gives that pattern which he commands them to follow and truly Christian out best way will be to walk with them in the same narrow path to new Jerusalem especially seeing their Epistle is expresly directed to us 1 Cor. 1.2 with 11 1. as well as to them Under this fourth point of the Saints observation of the seventh day Sabbath next to the Apostles constant custome I shall offer the practise of the purest times as the best anâ—iquity affords And in the first place that blessed Clement whose name is written in * Phil. 4.3 the book of life and himself now in glory instructs us in that undoubted Epistle of his to the Corinthians How God hath ordered that oblations and other dutie of his
give unto us or else we must become followers of God as dear children in sanctifying this lively Oracle of his seventh day Sabbath This divine truth of the Sabbaths perpetuity is in words confessed by our English assembly who doe not only acknowledge that the Law in generall doth for ever binde Christians Confes Pag. 33 and that Christ did not ANY WAY dissolve it but much more strengthen this obligation in the Gospell But in particular they confesse that God by a positive morall and perpetuall commandement doth bind all men in all ages to that particular seventh day which himselfe hath appointed Idem Pag. 39. And whereas they say this is changed in the Gospell from that seventh day to the first day of the week I shall with the candle of Gods word search their grounds which will be found too shallow to satisfie an awakened conscience for if Christ doth perpetually bind his Saints to exact intire personall obedience to his lively Oracles then surely no power is able to absolve his people from that obedience And if it be as they say that Christ did not any way dissolve but much strengthen this obligation in the Gospell then it is impossible to prove any kind of alteration yet Further If God by a positive morall and perpetuall commandement doth binde all men in all ages to such a particular seventh day as himselfe appointed then either they must prove that God hath made his morall Law mutable by appointing some other day or else the seventh day Sabbath must be restored to its primitive glory Their first ground for change of the Sahbath to the first day is raised from Christs resurrection and apparition to his Disciples But the very great difference between the fathers example at the worlds creation and the Sons action at his resurrection will soone discover the vanity of this argument For upon the Creation of the world God did solemnly sanctisie the seventh day for his Sabbath and rested on it giving as an example for the ground of our obedience but upon the resurrection there 's not the least syllable of a change institution sanctification or celebration yea so farre was Christ from resting upon his resurrection day that be travelled 15 Miles upon this supposed New-Sabbath and this not to any Church-meeting but from Jerusalem the place where most of his Disciples were purposely joyning with the two Disciples that were journeing on foot 7 miles and a halfe into the Countrey Luke 24.13.15 Mar. 16.13 Why Christians awake in the name of the Lord and polute your soules no longer with weekly prophanation upon such a salf supposition of a change at Christs resurrection you see your Creator sanctified his seventh day Sabbath and solemnly rested upon it but for the resutrection day you have not one word of a command to keep it as a sabbath and for an example you have indeed a lively one in your Saviours refusing to appeare all that day to his Disciples at Jerusalem and travelling with two upon their private occasions not giving them the least admonition about Sabbath observation which undoubtedly he would have done as freely as in other things had he intended that day for his new Sabbath Now I beseech you consider whether this be likely that Christ who was saithfull in all his house should intend the first day for his Sabbath and yet never leave one word of institution nor any other pattern but journeying 15 miles And whereas 't is gloried that our Lord appeared severall first dayes to his Disciples as they were assembled I believe upon diligent search it will be found but a vainflourish and that he never appeared to any assembly no not any one first day For it is most certaine that the day upon the Scripture account begins with the evening And now let us observe that upon the first day Luke 24.29 30. he arose we find him at the Village 7 Miles from Jerusalem when it was towards evening and the day far spent Luk. 24.29 30. after which he supped with the two which tooke up some time then they returned that 7 miles and a halfe to Jerusalem on foot So that if the day were far spent before they entred the Village it must doubtlesse be quite spent before they could provide and eate their suppers and returne 7 miles and a halfe And so before Christ appeared to the eleven Luk. 24.22 John 20.19 the first day must needs be done and whereas 't is said he appeared the first day at evening yet you must know that the first day was then as fully ended as it is plaine the sabbath * Mar. 1.32 was ended at evening when the Sun did set and the people brought their sick to be healed which they were forbidden to doe on the Sabbath day As for Christs second appearing to the assembled Disciples John 20.26 it 's expresly said it was after eight dayes and therefore could not be on the first day of the Week And for his third apparition John 21. surely they will not say 't was on the first day seeing they were at their trade But indeed the Lord was seene of some Acts 1.2.3 or other of them fourty dayes never being idle all the time 1 Cor. 15.6 so that his apparations prove not any thing as to a change of the Sabbath There is a conceit that the cause of the Disciples assembling on the first day was to celebrate the new Sabbath in honour of Christs resurrection when as they were so far from believing Christ was risen that the womens tydings there of Luk. 24.11 Mar. 16.13 seemed to them as idle tales Yea the first day was finished before they beleeved so that they could not in faith doe any such thing But here 't is evident how sadly they are put to it that must say something for their first day Sabbath and yet can say no better For although they would make some shew of Scripture yet all amounts to a bare endeavour to draw some support for an unwarantable Sabbath from any Text that doth but mention the first day of the Week Act. 20.7 As first from the Disciples occasionall meeting to breake bread upon Paul's departing by Sea they suppose this may make something for a first day Sabbath and truly they may as groundly plead for an every day Sabbath Act. 2.26 since it is as clear that the Saints assembled and brake bread every day 2. We find the Saints at Troas no sooner assembled but many lights are seen in their upper chamber So that 't is not probable they met till towards evening which is no good example for celebrating a Sabbath 3. If breaking of bread had been a service designed for the honour of the first day the Apostle who so much pressed to Church-order 1 Cor. 11. ulâ— and particularly in this Ordinance would not have deferred breaking of bread till the second day especially now that he was to