the Lords day c. Hence it is thus argued this day is called the Lords day as the last Supper of Christ is called the Lords Supper now as Christ did substitute the last Supper in roome of the Passeouer so he substituted the Lords day in roome of the Sabbath I answere 1. it doth not followe it must be called the Lords day in the same sense as Christs Supper is called the Lords Supper for it may be called the Lords day 1. in reference to God the Creator meaninge there by the Lords Sabbath of the 7th day since thes Sabbathes were caled the Lords dayes as the lords Holy day Isa 58 13. now if the Sabbath be the Lords holy day then is it the Lords day 2. In reference to God the Redeemer it might be called the Lords day as the day is wherein Christ will come to Indgment Luk 17 24 30. that is a day wherein Christ will shewe himselfe Maruailouse to the world so did Christ in the day of his Incarnation Passion Resurrection and Ascention in euery of thes he did a remarkable worke and euery of thes might be called the Lords day and which of them Iohn had respect vnto Scripture is altogether silent and therfore can we not builde vpon infallible growndes herein and we must not set vp Sabbathes tyeinge mens consciences vpon probabilities and contingencies furthermore who wold argue from Luk 17 24. that because the day of Iudgment is called Christs day Therfore that day must then be kept for a Sabbath day but admit S. Iohn meant the day of Christs Resurrection that is a day wherein he would declare himselfe mightely to be the Sonne of God by the resurrection from the dead Rom 1 4. What is this to a Sabbath which men must celebrate how doth it appeare Christ rose one this day and called it the Lords day with this intendement that men shold for euer after keepe it a Sabbath shewe me an institution of a Sabbath day by Christs riseing one this day or by S. Iohns calling it the Lords day finally say it were a Sabbath day how will it appeare in the Canon of Holy Scripture that the Lords day was in the Apostles dayes a weekly day kept euery 7th day as now it is or rather an annuall day as Easter day is for properly Easter day is the Lords day I answere further there is not like reason of thes two the Lords day and the Lords Supper for a day and a Supper differ much so as a day may be called the Lords in one sense and a Supper may be called the Lords in an other sense I answere secondly it will not follow that there must be the same reason and likenesse betweene the Lords day and the Sabbath which was betwene the Lords Supper and the Passeouer for the Passeouer was a branche of the Ceremoniall Law and a Ceremony and a type of Christ and therfore to be abolisht at Christs comeing But the Sabbath was a branch of the Morall Law and a Morall neither euer was it made a death to life now that God Sanctified the first day of the weeke for Christ to rise on I deny not nor doe I refuse to reioyce there on and be thankfull to God for so greate a worke euen euery day in the weeke and yeere or more solemnely once in a yeere as at Easter or ofter if the Church see it expedient But that this Text doth prophecy of this day for euer to be kept for our sole Sabbath in a Rest all day long and in holy duties euery 7th day this I denye since this Text saith not this day was Sanctified for men but it was Sanctified for Christ yea we may reioyce and be glad in it annually as the Iewes were in theire annuall dayes of purim Ester 9.26.27 and yet not keepe it in a stricte Rest all day long as on a Sabbath I answer secondly by day in the Psalme is not necessarily vnderstod a shorte ordinary day of 12. or 24. howres but rather a long space of tyme as all the tyme after Dauid came to the Crowne and so it may be applied to type out the whole tyme of Christ vpon the earth ruleing as King in the Kingdom of his Church thus Abraham sawe Christs day Ioh. 8.56 thus t is called the day of Saluation 2. Cor. 6.2 If then by day here be meante the day of grace or the tyme of Christs abode one the earth then heer is no footing for a Sabbath day of 12. or 24. howres long 4. A 4th Text they produce is Act. 2.1.14 where Peter preached one Pentecost which is one our white Sunday and administred the Sacramentes of Baptisme and the Lords Supper after he had converted 3000. soules wherfore this must nedes be a Sabbath day because in it were performed the workes of a Sabbath c. Here to I answere 1. That Peters actions are no diuine institutions vnlesse backt by some precept now nor Christ nor his Apostles gaue any precept for performance of thes duties one this day 2. Peters sermone was extraordenary for it was vpon the extraordenary comeing downe of the Holy Ghost then and to remoue away the false slander of drunkenesse v. 13. and it was occasioned by the greate concourse of people extraordenarily met and assembled not to heare a sermone but to heare the Apostles myraculously speake straunge tounges v. 6. now extraordenary things binde not to ordenary practise 3. Preaching and administration of Sacraments be not proper duties of a Sabbath but commone to any day of the weeke Christ administred Lords Supper one a Thursday night the night before he was Crucified Phillip baptized the Eunuch one a trauileing day Act. 8.38.39 and for preaching it was an euery dayes worke if occation serued preach the word in season and our of season 2. Timoth. 4.2 Christ preached to the Samaritane Ioh. 4. on a working day for his Disciples were gone in to the citty to buye meate v. 8. He preached one the Mountaine Mat. 5.1 and out of a shippe at an other tyme Luk. 5.1.2.3 which dayes were no Sabbaths for on the Sabbaths Christ and the people mett in theire Synagogues Luk. 4.14 Paul preacht daily in the Temple and from house to house Act. 5.42 and daily in the schoole of Tyrannus Act. 19.9 Now vnles thes duties of preaching and administration of the Sacraments were so proper to the Sabbath as they were vsed vpon no day else how can thes duties be markes of a Sabbath no no nothing but a Commandement will establish a Sabbath day doe not we preache reade Scriptures praye administer the Sacrament and performe as many Sabbath duties on Christmas day when it falls on a weeke day as we doe on any Sabbath day and yet vvho vvill therfore gather vve keepe that Christmas day for a Sabbath 4. Note Walaeus vpon the 4th Com pag. 161. saith it is called in to question of some whither this day of Pentecost then fell vpon the Lords day
note that we may call the Lords day or first day of the weeke and other common Holy dayes Resting dayes but we must know with all that thus to call and to name them is meerly humane and of our owne deuise for God neuer named or called the Lords day nor common holy dayes Resteing dayes if therfore we will call dayes as God calleth them then must vve call only the 7th day Sabbath day or Resting day for said God Exod. 20.10 The 7th day is the Sabbath or Resting day I answere 2. Sabbath day may be vsed in reference to the 4th Com or not in any reference vnto it if it be vsed not in reference to the 4th Comm I am not against it for so may we call Christmas day when t is one a weeke day Sabbath day and so may we call dayes of publike thanksgiuing and reioycing Sabbath dayes as coronation dayes Gunpowder Treason dayes c. but if vve call any day Sabbath day religiously in relation to the 4th Comm as in that sense we call our Lords day Sabbath day then know it cannot be called Sabbath day for that this name Sabbath day in reference to 4th Com it must haue these properties 1. it must be set vpon its proper day our Saturday the which is named by God Sabbath day or Resting day 2. it must be the 7th day from the creation or last day of the vveeke 3. it must be the day which God blessed and sanctified Genes 2.3 Exod. 20.11 now none of these thinges agree to our Lords day 5. The next point to be treated one is the vvord Day Remember the Sabbath day now as before vve haue heard of the Sabbath day vvhich it is for order and place as vvhither the first or 2d c. or 7th or 8th day so now vve are to heare of the duration and length of that Sabbath day A day is commonly diuided into a day naturall of 24. howres or artificiall of 12. howres but I must craue leaue to departe from this distinction though a common receiued one because how euer it may haue its vse in ciuill affaires yet is it not Canonicall and Diuine and therfore not to be a rule in expounding the word Day in Scripture that I may not seeme sleightily to deny a common distinction note the reasons moueing me here too are 1. Because it is no vvhere founde in Scripture that they had any day of 24. howres a day of 12. howres I reade of I confesse but I neuer reade of a day of 24. howres it is not safe therfore by Day in 4th Com to interpret it of a day of 24. howres 2. By a day naturall of 24. howres vve vnderstand both the light and the darknesse the day and the night vvhich fale within compasse of these 24. howres novv I pray what a woefull confusion and jumbling of things together is here vvhat is this but to put light for darkenesse vvhen ye call the night or darknesse Day may you not as vvell put darknesse for light and call the day or light Nighte may vve not as vvell comprize Hell vnder the vvord Heauen as darkenes vnder the vvord Day vnles it be Ironically I thinke this is matchlesse But hereto it will be said doth not Scripture thus Genes 1.5 So the Euening and the morning vvere the first day by Euening here is meante the night and by morning the day or light and both these made vp the first day I answere the Euening doth no vvhere in Scripture betoken the night or darkenesse and that I am not singular in this see Perkins cases of conscience at end of 2d booke but by Euening vve are to vnderstand the afternoone as vve in this land doe saying Good euene to you Sir if once it be past noone that euening is takē for the afternoone and tyme of perfect light and before Sune set appeares by the phrase of euening sacrifice which was celebrated about 3. or 4. a clocke in after noone see these textes Ex. 29.38.39 Deu. 23.11 losh 8.29 Ezra 9.4.5 Iere. 6.4 Deut. 16.6 so then according to Scriptures sense by Euening I vnderstand the afternoone and by morning the forenoone and thus the Euening that is the afternoone and the Morning that is the forenoone made the first day Genes 1.5 Hauing thus giuen my reasons why I reiect a day naturall of 24. howres consisting of day and night both In next place I am to shewe vvhat I meane by Day in 4th Com By Day I vnderstand the tyme of light only namly all that space of tyme and light from day peepe or day breake in the morning vntill day be quite off the skye at night that by Day is meante the light see Gene. 1.5 God vvhoe know best to name things called the Light Day see 1. Thes 5.5.8 1. Cor. 3.13 and that the day begines euen vvhilst it is but a little light and much darke see Ioh. 20.1 and see Mark. 1.35 this last text is to be reade as Chemnitius vvell obserues thus In the morning vvhilst it vvas very much night c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and so Beza reades it too of dayes I may say there are 2. kindes according to Scripture 1. a naturall day and this is from first aproche of light vpon our horizon before Sune rise vnto the last departure of light after Sune sett from off our horizon 2. is an artificiall day and this consistes of 12. howres Joh. 11.9 are there not 12. howres in the day the naturall day is variable now longer as in Sommer novv shorter as in Winter The artificiall day is constantly of the same lenght 12. howres long I conclude by Day in 4th Com I rather thinke the the naturall day to be meante then the artificiall day for it is the safest to giue God the longer of the two that is the day from day breake to last shutting in of the day so long as is any light in the skye Here a case of conscience would be discussed that is if our Sabbath be but from day breake to shutting vp of day hovv shall vve doe in depth of vvinter at vvhat tyme vve haue not 12. howres of day light novv your opinion vvas euen novv that it is the safest to giue God the longer of the two dayes rather the naturall than the artificiall but in depth of vvinter the artificiall day of 12. howres is the longer day I ansvvere 1. though for that tyme the artificiall day be longer than the naturall day yet it is so but for a little vvhile during the depth of the winter only vvhich tyme excepted all the yeere after the naturall day is the longer and so these 2. dayes compared together in all tymes vve giue God the longer day vvhen vve giue him the naturall day 2. For so much as it is not likely that God would haue vs measure him his day by two diuers metevvands that is by the day naturall at one tyme of the yeere and by the day artificiall
new God 2. If all things be now become new vvhy then did S. Iohn say that he vvrote not a new commandement to the elect Lady but that vvhich they had from the begining 2. Ioh. 5. to conclude the Text 2. Corin. 5.17 is ignorantly vvrested to a sense it neuer meante fot the Apostle treates not of new lawes and ordinances but of new obedience and of regeneration that a man in Christ is not an ould man but a new man in conversation therfore saith the Apostle if any be in Christ he is a new creature c. 4. A 4th reason is to this effect That vvhich is changed is abolished but the 7th day Sabbath is changed vvherfore the 4th day Sabbath is abolished That the 7th day Sabbath is changed they proue by the standing still of the Sunne in Jos huahs tyme Iosh 10.13 vvhere t is said the Sunne abode in the midst of Heauen and vvent not downe of a vvhole day whence they gather that here tyme vvas changed and if tyme vvas changed then so vvas the 7th day changed which vvas a parte of tyme. I answere 1. A man may judge of the soundnesse of this argument by a like absurdety that vvill by as good reason be thence concluded for if the standing still of the Sunne in Ioshuahs tyme could make that tyme vvas changed and the Sabbath day then the same standing still of the Sunne then did make that tyme vvas changed and the Sabbath day too euen then at that present in Ioshuas tyme when the Sunne stood still and if then changed so then abolished and so there was no Sabbath in Gods church neuer after Ioshuas dayes yea if tymes formerly appointed in the Law vvere now changed by standing still of the Sunne how did the Iewes euer after to know vvhich was the 14th day of the month for the Passeouer and the 50th day for Pentecoste I answere 2. that it doth not followe that the Sunne standing still tyme is changed but admit it were and that the tyme being changed the 7th day Sabbath is changed as a parte of tyme yet is it not changed in such respect as God commanded it and as I vrge it Note therfore a day may be considered as a certaine duration and space of tyme consisting of so many howres or and that more properlie for the Light as Genes 1.5 God called the Light Day Now be it the 7th day Sabbath vvas changed considered as a parte of tyme yet was it not changed by the standing still of the Sunne as a Light for though standing still of the Sunne made that day a longer day as in Summer you haue a longer day then in Winter yet not an other day there was no change of light or day for all the standing still of the Sunne made one day a longer day yet did it not make the 3d day or the 7th day and light to be the 4th day or the 8th day light nor did it transplace the 7th day or light so out of its order as that no man could euer after know vvhich vvas the 6th vvhich was the 7th or which vvas the 8th day or light that the Sunne made to the world Now this is the day which God commandeth in 4th Comm and vvhich I vrge here namly the tyme of Light as for a day in respect of so many howres God in vvisedome hath said nothing of that least his 4th Comm should not be generall and extend to all nations vvho euery one haue their day light but no certain number of howres such a day is euer and in all countries variable some vvhere consisting of more some vvhere of fewer howres 5. A 5th reason may fetch its ground from my answere to the reason last aboue vvhere by Day I vnderstood only the tyme of Light and not a certaine space and duration of howres vvhence they may and commonly doe reason against the Iewes Sabbath by an absurdety thus if all nations be bounde to the Jewes Sabbath day vvhich you say is all the tyme of light then in some partes of the vvorld vvhere is halfe a yeere light together there they must keep half a yeere Sabbath then also more inconvenience for that they are to haue a Sabbath but once in the space of 3. yeeres and an halfe that is euery 7th halfe yeere now in so long space for people to vvant Gods ordinance of preaching many a soule may perish for vvant of Gods Word in the meane tyme. I answere 1. to this latter inconvenience what though they had no Sabbath for 3. yeeres and an halfe together no soule needes perish for lacke of Gods Word preacht for they may haue sermons in meane space as many as they please since ther is a Comm To preach the vvord in season and out of season at all tymes and occasions I answere 2. to the former absurdety of keeping a Sabbath halfe a yeere together I maruaile vvhy it should be thought more absurde for those nations to keepe one in 3. yeeres and an halfe half a yeere for a Sabbath then it vvas for the Iewes once in 7. yeeres by Gods expresse commandement to keepe an vvhole yeere for a Sabbath Leuit. 25.4 I answer 3. suppose it vvere absurd for those nations to keepe halfe a yeere for a Sabbath and the Church of God did judge it so that present necessity did call for a more frequent Sabbath as once in 7. twenty fowre howres in such a case of necessity it being foud there is a true necessity vpon sound judgement and vpon vveightie consultation and deliberation then I doubt not but God vvould dispense and we haue some examples to countenance the matter as Circumcision though commanded yet omitted during the tyme of Isralites trauailing through the vvildernesse Iosh 5.5 and the Passeouer commanded to be eaten on the 14th day of the first Month yet in case of necessity a man being on a farre iourney he might eate it on the 14th day of the second Month Numb 9.1.3.10.11 thus in cases of vrgent necessity God hath dispensed and I doubt not but in like cases God vvould doe the like againe But vvhat 's this to vs in our countries vvhere vve haue intercourse of day and night much vvhat as had the Iewes say it vvere absurd or impossible to thes countries so as the 4th Com cannot properly be extended to those so but they must haue a dispensation touching the vvord day to take it in an improper sense would this free vs from obedience to the 4th Com in its proper sense vvho haue no neede at all to departe from it or to seeke for any dispensation vvhat though Dauid in his hunger and necessity did eate the shewbreade Mat. 12.3 vvas it therfore lawfull for all Israelites vpon that to eate the shewbreade who vvere not in like need or hunger and vvhat though the 5th Com of honour thy Father doth not binde a King whose parents be dead doth it not therfore binde a subiect vvhose Father is
or not yea he addeth that Pentecost may fall one any day of the weeke it is not therfore so generally a granted truth with diuines that Pentecost euer was vpon our Lords day as vve hold and keepe it 5. If I may add mine ovvne opinion of the matter I thinke Pentecost then when the Holy Ghost descended vpon the Apostles in cloven fiery tounges it was vpon our Saturday which was the 7th day Sabbath not one our Sunday that this may appeare note that Pentecost by the Law Leuit. 23.16 was to be vpon the 50th day and this accounte was to begin one the morrowe after the Sabbath v. 15. by Sabbath here is not to be vnderstode the vveekly Sabbath but the first Sabbath of the Passeouer thus the Septuagint 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 v. 11 for they had 2. Sabbathes at the Passeouer to vvit the first day of vnleauened bread and the 7th day v. 6.7.8 to the former of thos had the Septuagint relation vvhen they said In the morrovv of the first of the Sahbathes to this a greeth Aynsvvorth one Leuit 23.11.15 alleageing the Chaldy and the Rabbines so reading and vnderstanding it So then vve must begine our account vpon the morrovv after the first Sabbath of the Passeouer novv that vve may knovv vvhat day this vvas on see Leuit 23.5.6.7 the Passeouer vvas on the 14th day of the Month on the 15th day of the month vvhich vvas the very next day vvas the first day of the Feast of vnleauened breade vvhich 15th day vvas the first Sabbath also novv then the morrow after this first Sabbath it vvas vpon the 16th day of the month and this 16th day must be the begining af our accounte Novv to apply this for so much as Christ suffred on good friday and eate the Passeouer on the day before at euening hence it follovveth that Christ eate the Passeouer vpon Thursday and it vvas the 14th day of the month and friday vvherein he suffred vvas the 15th day of the month and the first Sabbath of the Passeouer so as Saturday was the 16th day of the month and the morrow after the Sabbath and so the first day of our accounte to 50. dayes or to Pentecost To proceed if Saturday be the first day of the 50. then vpon a Saturday againe will fall the 50th day to make this appeare counte from Saturday taking it for one day 7. vveekes compleate Leuit. 23.15 and there you haue 49. dayes the 49th day falling vpon a friday here vn to ad the next day vvhich is Saturday and the morrovv after the 7th Sabbath or vveeke v. 16. and so you haue 50. dayes and also you see that the 50th day fell vpon the Saturday To conclude since Pentecost vvherein Peter preached Act. 2.1.14 vvas not one our Sunday but one our Saturday Hence it follovveth 1. that this Text Act. 2.1.14 maketh nothing for the prooving our Sunday or Lords day to be Sabbath day novv 2. it followeth that if those actions of Peters preaching converteing 3000. and baptizing them on that day were a sufficient proofe that the day wherein they were done was a Sabbath day and so ought to this day to be Then was Saturday at that tyme the Sabbath day and so ought â—o this day to be because one Saturday those actioÌ„s were performed But that those actions of Peters preacheing Baptizeing and the rest are 〈◊〉 sufficient argument and proofe that the day where one they were done was and is a Sabbath themselues confesse it Ergo Saturday was then and ought now to be the Sabbath day So you see theire owne argument makes strongly against them and for mee for the Saturday Sabbath 5. A 5th Text they produce is Act. 20.7 where the Disciples being come together to breake bread one the first day of the weeke Paul preached vnto them now by the phrase of breaking bread is commonly meante the Lords Supper so here againe they argue as before this must be a Sabbath because Sabbath duties were performed in it I answere 1. by refering you to those things in the answere to the Text last aboue Act. 2.14 which at first sight doe after themselues in answere to this place as they did to that the argument being the same I answere secondly though Paules preaching doth bind vs to preache also yet doth not the tyme wherein he preached bind vs to preach at the same tyme and day weekly for then were we bounde to preache euery Lords day till mid night for so did Paul here so that the day and tyme here which is our very question doth not bind vs. 3. Paules preaching now at Troas was extraordenary 1. in that he preached till mid night 2. in as much as he was to departe away from them the next day neuer to see theire faces againe v. 38. he cold doe no lesse then giue them a sermone one such an ocation had it bene one any day of the weeke 4. This preaching of Pauls at this tyme can make nothing for the Lords day for this sermon was only in the night not in the day tyme This appeareth by the tyme of celebration of the Lords Supper which in dayes of Christ and his Apostles was at Euening at Supper tyme for then our Sauiour celebrated it first Mark 14.17 and it was in vse so still in Pauls tyme 1 Cor. 11.21 now the Text saith The Disciples being come together one the first day of the weeke to breake bread or to receiue the Lords Supper now the end of theire comeing which was to receiue the Lords Supper declares plainly what tyme of the day they assembled in to wite in the Euening at Supper tyme to eate the Lords Supper there is no culler therfore to thinke they mett in the morneing about breakefast tyme for then be gines the publike duties of the Sabbath to goe to Supper and it addes a little light to the tyme of theire meteing to consider of the place where they mett that is in an upper chamber as t is in our Englishe Bibles v. 8. but Originall saith in a supping chamber 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in caenaculo so t is more then manifest they came but to Supper Now the disciples being assembled to that ende to receive the Lords Supper Paul tooke occasion of this present meteing after and I knovve not hovv long after they vvere mett to preache vnto them and after he had begune once then he held one his preaching till midnight but at vvhat hovvre of the night or Eueninge Paul begun his Sermon or hovv long after they vvere mett I can not finde T is true the disciples mett one the first day of the vveeke but it might be and it vvas most likely they mett a little afore shutting in of the day like as a man may be said to paye and discharge his bonde due one the 7th day of Iune though he bringe his mony but one quarter of an hovvre before Sune sett But here it must be remembred that t
this very ende and purpose to sanctifye it for a Sabbath daye and in obedience to the 4th Com let these 2. things be proued or else nothing is done I answere 2. as touching our Sauiour Christ vvhereas t is supposed he constantly kept the Lords day as a Sabbath I deny it let it be proved that euer Christ did sanctifye as a Sabbath any on Lords day Nay is not the contrary manifest that Christ trauailed a matter of 15. miles out and home vpon the very first Lords day that euer was it beinge the most eminent Lords day of any euer after because it was that very Lords day whereone he rose from the dead see Luk. 24.13.33 Christ wēt with the 2. Disciples from Ierusalem to Emmaus v. 15. which is in accounte 7. miles and an halfe counting 8. furlonges to a myle thence he returned to Ierusalem backe againe that night which is 7. myles and an halfe more now 15. myles is aboue a Sabbath dayes Iourney since a Sabbath dayes Iourney is in esteeme but about 2. myles Act. 1.12 Neighther can it be proued Christ went to Emmaus to preach and keepe Sabbath there for 1. he went from the Congregation of his Disciples which he lefte behinde at Ierusalem and we reade not of any assemblyes of Disciples that were at Emmaus now Christ beinge the pastor of his flocke and the minister or preacher to his Disciples can it be thought he vvold leaue them destitute of his helpe to sanctify the first Christian Sabbath that euer the Church sawe 2. how cold Christ keepe that day for a Sabbath since he was not in the Congregation but in the field travailing from about noone as is gatherable from circumstances of the texte and so forwards all the remainder of that after noone for he went alonge with the 2. Disciples they went not aboue a matter of 2. miles an howre as is probable by the ordenary pace of trauailers so then 15. miles spent them a matter of 7. howres Had Christ imitated God in the creation as is supposed in setting vp a Sabbath day then surely as God did rest on the 7th day and set vs his owne paterne so would Christ haue rested all this Lords day after the worke of redemption to haue bene an example to vs. what if Christ being risen from the dead cold now trauaile without paine so cold God in the Creation create without paine yet wold he leaue nothing to be created on the 7th day but rested on it for vs to imitate him and Adam in Innocency cold labor without paine yet he must rest on the Sabbath daye and what if Christ did open the Scriptures concerning himselfe v. 27 to the 2. Disciples as they went on their way together must this therefore be a proper Sabbath dayes worke as the Lord by Moses commanded Deut. 6.6.7 parentes that they shold talke to their children of the Law of God as they walked by the way c. on what day so euer and as euery Godly minister now rideing on the way vpon a Saturday towards Market or fayer will vpon occasion be talking to people that ride with him of heauenly and diuine things so much rather wold our blessed Sauiour be teaching and vpon all occasions instructing the people vpon euery day especially consideringe it was his office to teache and therfore a daily taske to preach in season and out of season vpon all occasions as we reade he did in the Gospell and as we reade Act. 1.3 Christ was seene of his Apostles for 40. dayes after his resurrection speaking to them of the things appertaining to the Kingdome of God now what did Christ preache more to these 2. Disciples on that Lords day then he preached to his Apostles euery day after it for 40. dayes together To add one thing more be it you make exceptions against Christs trauailing one the Lords day what exceptions doe you finde against the 2. Disciples of Christ with whome Christ travailed these trauailed one the Lords day Christ himselfe not disallowing but by his companying them justifyed them they vvent from the Congregation of Disciples at Ierusalem where the Sabbath was kept if any where they went to a towne not to keepe Sabbath for it was neere night ere they got thither and they but staied and supped and came backe againe member vvhat I haue formerly giuen in answere to the texts brought to proue the Lords day to be the Sabbath day as for Peters sermon Act. 2.14 it vvas not made vpon the Lords day but vpon Saturday or on the Lords Sabbath day as is proued as for Pauls sermon Act. 20.7 this was in the night not in the day now I hold the night is no parte of the day I say no parte of the Lords day as shall be proued here after in my exposition of the word Day in the 4th Com yea if they began their Sabbaths at Eueninge as is holden by many from euen to euen ye shall celebrate your Sabbath Leuit. 23.32 then Paul preacht not on the first day of the vveeke but on the second because he began his sermon at Euening after the Disciples vvere come togeather vpon the first day of the vveeke or else Paul trauailed and set saile on the Lords day if the Lords day began that euening when he began his sermon for next morneing he went to shipe Act. 20.11.13 as for that text 1. Cor. 16.2 here is no mention of any preaching at all onely it treates about a future collection c. as for the text Ioh. 20.19 here is no mention neither of any Sermon made when Christ appeared to his Disciples t is true the text saith they were assembled indeed but wherefore to heare a sermon no such thing but text saith they were assembled together for feare of the Iewes like as the Lords Prophets were in Caues in Obadiahs tyme 1. King 18.4 to shrowde themselues from danger of persecutores what other ende they had in assembleing the Scripture is silent lastly admit here vvas a sermon yet it vvas not vpon the Lords day for it vvas in the night following the Lords day now the night is not in Scripture account any parte of the day as shall be showne as for the text Reuel 1.10 vvhere it is called the Lords day by John here is not the least mention of any readeing or preaching at all nay not like there cold be any since reuelations vsually came to holy men vvhen they vvere solitary and alone not in assemblies vvhere preaching and sermons be thus I haue examined all the textes vvherein is any shewe of sermons and I finde not in any of them that euer any of the Apostles did so much as one single tyme preach any one sermon vpon the Lords day the vvhich if it be true as is most true vvhere is any the least groūd from Apostles practise of keeping the Lords day for a Sabbath they must needes proue me false in this point or else the foundation being shaken
put to this and not too others a reason wold be sought such a one as agrees to this Com. and not to others now if I may take leaue to deliuer mine opinion I cannot finde out a better reason than this God foreseeing that after a longe time that is about 364. yeeres after Christ this his Sabbath wold be not in part violated but vtterly and altogether blotted out of remembrance in the Church for 1200 yeeres together and so this 4th Comm forgotten and not the other 9. or this 4th aboue or rather then the other 9. therfore was a Memorandum set to this and not to the other or to this aboue the other to bring men into the Remembrance and practise of it againe I said this Sabbath was blotted out in the yeere of Christ 364. that is by the Laodicean Counsaile as hereafter you shall heare c. from thence vntill this present howre it is not Remembred for we profane it buy sell market fayer and worke in it I pray God bring this to our remembrances and close home to our consciences I said also this Comm is forgotten aboue the other 9. for thers no one thing in all the other 9. commanded that is wholly and altogether forgotten as is this seauenth day and though Papistes haue forgotten foulely the second Comm yet blessed be God the Reformed Church of Protestantes remember it well but as for the seauenth day Sabbath and the Command vpon it Remember the Sabbath day this is forgotten at all hands vtterly by both Protestantes and Papistes and so much of the word Remember 4. The next pointe to be considered is the name of this sacred Time and day t is called Sabbath Remember the Sabbath c. In this name two thinges are considerable 1. that it is vsed as a proper name for the seauenth and last day of the weeke with the Iewes of this I say no more referring you to what I haue else where afore said touching the Sabbath as a proper name c. 2. That the word Sabbath signifieth Rest The first vse I will raise bence shall be from the consideration of both those ioyned togeather and may be for information sheweing that the Hebrew word Sabbath may be translated into Englishe wordes if vve doe but ioyne these two together that is the proper name and the signification of it so for Sabbath as t is a proper name of the last day of the weeke put Saturday and then hereto add that signification of the word Sabbath Rest and then thus it may be rendred Saturday-Rest Remember Saturday-Reste to keepe it holy c. the profit that wold come of this is that there vvold be no scruple in mindes of the ignorant which day of the weeke it is that God requireth in his 4th Comm to be Sanctified Further it wold reforme the confusion of such as call our first day of the vveeke or Lords day The Sabbath day thus doeing they woefully confound thinges as times and dayes iust as if vve novv a dayes shold begine to call our Sunday by the name Saturday what a confusion wold this breede of time transplaceing the proper name of the seauenth day of the weeke vnto the first day of the weeke Hence in part is that delusion of well minded ignorant people that when they reade the 4th Comm Remember the Sabbath day c. and then bethink themselues that vve call our Sunday Sabbath day surely then conclude they our Sunday or Lords day is the day that God appointed by this his 4th Comm which is a grosse errour since vve all say the Sabbath day is changed into that which we call the Lords day and if the Sabbath day be changed as is said into the Lords day why doe vve not put away the ould name and take vp only the new name like as the name of that Father of the faithfull it was of ould Abram but when God changed his name into Abraham the Lord said neighther shall thy name be called any more Abram but thy name shall be called Abraham Genesi 17.5 and so let vs no more calle it Sabbath day but Lords day But if you will retaine the proper name Sabb. still as is not vnmeete you should since it is a name that may perpetually be kept in the Church it being a particle of the Morall Law which is perpetuall why then I beseech you let euery day haue its owne proper name doe not miscall dayes by wronge names Let our Satuday be called Sabbath day for so it of all the dayes in the weeke answeres to the Iewes Sabbath day vvitnesse the Iewes when they liued in England they kept Saturday for theire Sabbath day and as they doe likewise in other partes of the World where they live at this day and witnesse the Lattines vvho to this day call Saturday Sabbath day Dies Sabbathi I doubt not but this exhortation might preuaile were it not for an inconuenience which wold be this then that if vve called Saturday Sabbath day then our people wold growe to thinke that Saturday shold be Sanctified by Gods will in his 4th Comm. for our Sabbath day and if vve call the first day of the weeke Sunday or Lords day only then the people vvold not so easily be made beleeue that the 4th Comm. bindes them to the Lords day because the Comm. binds only to the day called Sabbath day not speaking one vvord of the day called Lords day But if vve call the Lords day Sabbath day once then it goes downe the stomacke without any lett or scruple that the 4th Comm pointes directly to our first day of the weeke or Lords day and so a wrong day is kept one day being taken for another so Superstition is vsed for Religion and one day God shall say who required this at your handes who may the people say why our watch men our ministers taught vs so and called it so and told vs it ought to be so as for vs we were not learned in the tounges and Artes we must beleeue our Ministers The Priests lippes must preserue knowledge and we must aske the Law at theire mouthes but this plea cannot altogeather free the people see Ezek 33.6 nor can the Ministrie be altogether free of a shrewde taxatiō were it not hitherto done of ignorance and of a good intente in asmuch as they are guilty of this transgression partly by misenameing of dayes which causeth an errour in the people But hereto it will be said Sabbath signifies a Rest now on our Lords day we Rest and therfore we may call it a Sabbath day I answer t is true Sabbath signifieth Rest so the Lords day might be called Sabbath day but yet in no other sense then euery common Holy day wherein we worke not may be called Sabbath day that is Resteing day now if the nameing of Holy dayes Sabbath dayes shold beget an inclination in the ignorant to sanctifie them as Sabbaths were it not time to forbeare such names Furthermore
assembly wherein they did no seruile labour v. 6.7 and this was a Sabbath day to wit a ceremoniall Sabbath day now the Iewes killing their passeouer on good friday as the 14th day then Saturday must be the 15th day and so an holy convocation and Sabbath by the Leuiticall Law and so here is an other Sabbath fell on and with the weekly Sabbath now to come to the point the parascue or preparation spoken of Mark 15.42 hath respect of these two Sabbathes only to this latter that is to the Ceremoniall Sabbath which was on the first day of vnleauened bread or on the 15th day of the month and it hath not respect vnto the Morall Sabbath now the reasons mouing me to say so are 1. because this parascue or preparation is not any vvhere applied to the Morall Sabbath but only it stands in reference to the ceremoniall and therfore we reade the Euangelist Ioh. 19.14 calling it the preparation of the passeouer not the preparation to the Sabbath as they would 2. we reade of a preparation euer on the day before the 15th day of the month the Sabbath on the first day of vnleauened bread but of none before the vveekly Sabbath see Luk. 22.8.9 and ye know there must be a preparation of the passeouer before it be eaten for it must be killed and rosted first Exod. 12.6.8 and a place where it must be eaten in must be prepared too Luk. 22.11 and to winde vp all in a word the parascue or preparation whereof Scripture speakes so oft is nothing else but the preparation and making ready of the passeouer to be eaten the which labour fell as now vpon the day before the Sabbath vnderstand whither Sabbath you will Mark. 15.42 so then this preparation ouer night being proper to the Ceremoniall Sabbath of the passeouer it belonged not to the weekly Sabbath so the weekly Sabbath began not ouer night ere the more for this Text Mark 15.42 Finally the cleering of this text Mark 15.42 by the way may be vsefull to shew their opinion is growndlesse vvho vrge a preparation to the Sabbath on Saturday afternoone or on Saturday euen pressing vs then to refraine our weekly labours and to spend that portion of tyme in holy exercises for my part I know no other preparation to the Sabbath to be performed more on Saturday after noone than in the forenoone or then on Friday or Thursday before that is I know none but this that we should remember it afore hand and so to be more and more mindfull of it as it drawes nerer and nerer vnto vs lest vvhen t is come we profane it You haue heard the first vse shewing vvhen the Sabbath doth not begine as namly not ouer night c. The 2d vse shall be to shew by vvay of instruction vvhen the Sabbath doth begine The Sabbath is to begin in the morning vvhen the day begines as breake of day this flowes naturally from the Comm for if God commanded vs to keepe holy the Day then must we begine vvith the day then vvhen the day begines to begin it afore the day as at midnight or the like is growndlesse and is more then God euer required so to delay the beginning an howre 2. or 3. after day breake is to robbe God of a part of his day by sanctifying to the Lord not a day but a peece of a day 6 The 6th and last point in the Comm as touching tyme and day is to enquire 1. vvhat day God sanctified but this nedeth no labour since t is apparant God sanctified the 7th day and last day of the vveeke that day vvhich followed his 6. dayes vvorke 2. vve are to enquire after the reason mouing God to sanctify this day of the vveeke before any other and this is plainly laid downe in the last clause of the 4th Comm and againe in Genes 2.3 So God plessed the 7th day and sanctified it Because that in it he had rested from all his vvork vvhere you see God renders the speciall reason mouing him to blesse and to sanctify the Sabbath day and it vvas Because that on that day himselfe had rested Use 1. may be to shew vs that God in his 4th Comm enioyneth not a day at randome but a particular day such a day as hath this reason of Gods Rest belonging to it now this belonged only to the 7th day of the vveeke not to the 8th day nor to the first day of the vveeke our Lords day for God the creatour rested not vpon our Lords day vvhen he had finished the vvorke of creatiō but vpon our Saturday the 7th day which goeth next before the Lords day Use 2. may be to shevv vs that the 4th Com can not be vrged or applied to the first day of the vveeke our Lords day because that reason of Gods Rest vpon the 7th day vvhich moued him to sanctify it neither doth nor can belong to the Lords day now since that reason of Gods Rest vvhich is a parte of the 4th Com can not belong to our Lords day no more can the whole Com belonge vnto it Use 3. and me thinks the reason of Gods Institution should say some thing for the morality and perpetuity of the Sabbath for as sine moued God to bringe death into the vvorld at the first vpon Adam Rom. 5.12 so the same continuing moues God still to continue death in the world vpon Adams posterity So Gods Rest vpon the 7th day mouing him at first to sanctify it the same reason remayning to vvorlds end should moue God to continue the sanctification of the 7th day for euer the ground of which consequence is taken from that axiome That God is immutable and vnchangable euer the same so as if things be the same towards him he againe is the same towards them Hence it is vve thus argue did God so to Abraham to David to Pharaoh c. if thou be to God as they were so God vvill be to thee as he vvas to them now as God is euer the same so is Gods rest on the 7th day And so we haue spake of the duty of the day and of the tyme next we should come to speake of the duties in the day and in the tyme the duties in the day are 2. Holines and Rest Remember to keepe the Sabbath day Holy and in it thou shalt not doe any worke but as touching exposition of these two Holines and Rest I purpose to desiste for asmuch as vve differ not in these sauing about the latter that it is houlden partly morall partly ceremoniall but of that by and by Hauing spoken of the duty of the day and mentioned the duties in the day here a question would be scanned touching both these comparatiuly to know whither is the more excellent that which God did first and principally aime at the duty of the day or the duties in the day a question at first sight I confesse it seemes friuolouse the rather I moue it
is theire part to proue Paul begane his Sermon in the morneinge vvhoe say Paul kept this daye a Sabbath daye by preaching in it yea moreouer they must proue that the disciples here at Troas did refraine all servile labour and the ordinary vvorkes of theire caleinge all this first day of the vveeke or Lords day from morneinge to the end of this day if they vvill prove this day kept as a Sabbath for to refraine all workes and Rest is a branch of the 4th Com and one parte of a Sabbath dayes dutie but how they can prove this oute this text passeth myn vnderstanding 5. I deny that Paul preacht now at this tyme in conscience of the 4th Com and this they must proue or else they say nothing might not Paul preach at this extraordinary tyme in conscience of that Com 2. Tim. 4.2 preache the word in season and out of season surely this text was warrant sufficient for Paul to take all occasions of preaching the word euery day or night Sabbath day or other dayes finally how will it be proued that Paul kept this Lords day here for a Sabbath day by his preaching since that preachinge it is an euery dayes worke as hath bene showne afore can it be proved that Pauls intent and purpose in preaching was to celebrate thereby that day for a Sabbath this must be proved 6 A 6th Text produced is 1. Cor. 16.2 vpon the first day of the weeke let euery one of you put aside by himselfe c. here say they vvas a constant weekely collection for the poore now collections vsed to be after the word preached and Sacramentes administred all which were done one the Sabbath day as appeares in the histories of the Church ergo this first day of the weeke was a Sabbath I answere 1. indeed our oulde translatiō gaue some waye to vs to thinke this collection was weekly when it reade the text thus Euery first day of the weeke let euery one of you put aside c. but our newe Translatores haue well amended it and doe reade it thus vpō the first day of the weeke c. as of a single action once to be done onely and this further appeares to be true by those words in latter ende of v. 2. that so there be no gatheringe when I come so as Paul wold haue this collection cease when he came emongst them but had it bene weekly Paul wold rather haue had it reuined a freshe at his presence whoe was a furtherer of all holy performances This collection therefore was extraordinary tyeth vs not to ordenary practise for if it did then were we bound euery Lords day in euery Congregation to gather for the poore as a Sabbath dayes dutie 2. This collection was extraordenary in that it was not for their owne poore at Corinthe but for the poore of other Churches and therfore this mony collected was to be sente vpon the first day of the weeke If any shall demande which first day of the weeke the Church vvas to lay aside their almes one because there were many first dayes of the weeke in a yeere I answere since I finde it not differenced from others in the text I therefore thinke it must be vnderstoode of the first Lords day or first first day of the vveek vvhich came next after the Corinthians receiued this Epistle like as if I say to a frend come to my house one Saturday it is to be vnderstoode of the next Saturday first cominge after my invitation of him 7 A 7th and last text produced is Ioh. 20.19.26 where Christs frequent apparitiones to his disciples vpon the Lords day is made an argument to proue it a Sabbath daye but by what authority or rule of just consequēce Christs apparitions must constitute a Sabbath day nor can I conceiue nor euer haue I heard nor doe I thinke euer shall heare I answere 2. whereas the frequency and constancy of Christs apparitions one the Lords day is so much vrged I wold faine see where Christ appeared one the Lords day euer aboue once onely and that in Ioh. 20.19 as for his seconde apparition in v. 26. eight dayes after vvhich is supposed to be the next Lords daye after his first apparition it is quite other wise for in the originall it goes thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and after eight dayes c. now after 8. dayes cold not be the same daye sennight vpon the 8th daye but after the 8th day as on the 9th or 10th dayes after and so this seconde apparition was not vpon the Lords daye I grante there is a phrase Mark 8.31 that Christ after three dayes must rise againe and yet it must be vnderstood thus vpon the third he must rise againe But herein we must knowe thus to reade it is a departing from the naturall and proper sense of the words which is not sufferable saue in a case of necessity as to recōcile two textes of Scripture or the like as in this instance last propounded because other textes of Scripture say Christ rose vpon the thirde day 1. Cor. 15.4 and this text Mark. 8.31 saith after 3. dayes c. therfore to recōcile these two we vnderstand this latter text and the word after to be no more but vpon but now to apply this is there the like necessity in Ioh. 20.26 to vnderstand by after vpon is there any other text affirminge that vpon the 8th day Christ appeared to Thomas and the Disciples or is there any inconveniency or absurdity to take the words in their commō proper sense if neighther of these can be showne then the readinge which I vrge is sound and good I answere 3. if Christs apparition to his disciples cold be an argument of a Sabbath day Then of Gods word for the keeping of an other day then God apointed in his morall Law or 4th Com least I partake of that brande of a wicked man prophecied of Daniel 7.25 in changing tymes and the Law now since it is a propriety of God to change tymes and seasons Dan. 2.21 had not I need be carefull there be no new day as is the Lords day set vp for a Sabbath vnles it can be expresly infallibly demonstratiuely proued to be of Gods owne doeing least I say I be accessary to the sin of changeing Godes tymes Dan. 7.25 Thus haue I answered their textes of Scripture brought for the Lords daye to be a Sabbath and the common objections now let vs in next place examine their reasons whereby the Lords day is proued a Sabbath 1 The first reason is drawne from the frequēt and constant practise of Christ and of his Apostles celebration of the Lords day the which is authority sufficient for justification of the Lords day to be a Sabbatth I answere 1. admit Christ and his Apostles did preache on the Lords day thereby honour this day aboue any of the 6. working dayes yet how doth it appeare they did this on this day to