Rom. 3.20 Errour it is to the Jewes or any else that expect to receive Righteousnesse by or for their obedience thereto But I presse men to the obedience of it because men cannot be saved without obedience to it in some measure through faith Matth. 5.19 Chap. 19.17 1 Cor. 7.19 But I doe beleeve in my heart and confesse with my mouth that justification to salvation is freely bestowed on the Beleever wholy undeserved It is not of workes but by Grace through Faith that men are saved and not of our selves it is the gift of God Ephes 2.8 2 Tim. 1.9 The Gospel published by Jesus Christ brought not a new way of Righteousnesse and Salvation into the World which was not spoken of or taught before in the Law and Prophets John 5.46 47. Acts 26.22 * See Beza in his Margent on Mat. 5.17 But it is a fuller manifestation of that which was contained in the Law and Prophets so that our conformitie to the Decalogue is not destructive or prejudiciall to our obedience to the Gospel but highly advanceth it For the Law is not against the Promise of God Gal. 3.21 Neither is the Gospel contrary to the Law for the preaching of faith doth establish it Rom. 3.31 Yea such is the Vnion betweene the Law and the Gospel that the same words which Moses used to command obedience to God by the Law in the time of the Law Deut. 6.5 the same words our Saviour useth in the Gospel to command obedience to God according to the Law Mat. 22 37. Yea such Union and communion there is between the Law and the Gospel that as Moses sendeth us to be instructed by Christ Deut. 18.15 Acts 3.22 Even so Jesus Christ sendeth us to be instructed by Moses John 5.39.46.47 Luke 16.29.31 Mat. 7.12 It being so it followeth that seeing by the Law meâ—â—re commanded to keepe a holy rest and to abstaine from servile work on the seventh day the Gospel doth not say nay Thou shalt keep a holy rest and abstaine from servile work on the first day of the week Oh no there is no such word therefore sure it is the selfe same Law which commanded men to keep a holy rest on the seventh day in the time of the Law the selfe same Law requireth us to keepe a holy rest on the seventh day in the time of the Gospel Therefore Remember to keepe holy the Sabbath day the day called Saturday the seventh and last day of the weeke for that is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God which he commandeth thee to consecrate to his Service in worshipping him on it in spirit and truth as the Gospel requireth of thee and neglect it not As the Word of God doth manifest the seventh and last day of the weeke to be the Sabbath So doth both Ancient and Moderne Writers confesse it so to be Yea Doctor Hylyn doth affirm in his History of the Sabbath par 2. chap. 2. pag. 62. that when ever for a thousand yeares and upward we meet with Sabbatum in any Writer of what name soever must be understood of no other day then the Saturday And Doctor White on the Sabbath pag. 202. saith when the Ancient Fathers distinguish and give proper names to the particular dayes of the weeke they alwayes stile the Saturday Sabbatum to wit the Sabbath c. That the Saturday the last day of the week is the Sabbath day the truth thereof is confessed by all Judicature Courts in England for when they write on the Saturday the last day of the weeke they stile it diâ—s Sabbathi to wit the Sabbath day At the end of which Sabbath the first day of the week beginneth Mat. 28.1 Mark 16.1 2 which is the day commonly called Sunday which is highly extolled although there is no word of God which commandeth the observation of it as now it is Sure it is we know no other name in Scripture for the seventh day but the Sabbath day neither know we any other name for Sunday but the first day of the week for this see Luke 24.1 John 20.1 Object If it be objected that the seventh day-day-Sabbath was given to the Jewes only and not to the Gentiles in that the Jewes were charged with the keeping of it in remembrance of their deliverance out of Egypts bondage Deut. 5.15 which the Gentiles were not Ergo I answer It is true they were delivered out of Aegypts bondage through the great mercy of God unto them and thereon were enjoyned to keep the Sabbath as a motive to stir them up to a more devout observation thereof But was it so given to the Jewes that the obedience thereof doth not appertain to us Oh no! there is no Scripture that so saith neither doth it follow that we owe no obedience to it because they were enjoyned to keepe it in remembrance of their deliverance 〈◊〉 of Egypt because then it would follow we are not enjoyned to the obedience of the other nine Commandements neither For on the same ground or consideration they were enjoyned to keep the seventh day-Sabbath upon the same ground they were enjoyned to keep the other 9 Commandements also for this see Exod. 20.2 3. c. Deut. 5.6 chap. 7.8 9 10 11. It being so it followeth If we may not omit our duty to the 9. Commandements of the morall Law we ought not to the fourth Commandement neither Again If men will exempt themselves from the duty of the seventh day-Sabbath because it was given to the Jewes then on the same ground they may exempt themselves from all duties taught by our Saviour on the Mount Mat. 5. chap. 6 chap. 7. and also from all duties taught in the Epistle to the Hebrewes and also from all duties taught by by Saint James in his Epistle on the same ground Now if it be errour to exempt our selves from these and many other heavenly Instructions because they were given to the Jewes then it is errour to exempt our selves from the duty of the fourth Commandement because it was given to the Jewes Object If it be further objected the duty of the seventh day-Sabbath belongeth not to us because our Saviour hath not commanded it to be observed in the Gospel I answer It is an ignorant Cavill against the duty commanded in the fourth Commandement because our Saviour doth as absolutely require obedience of us to the duty of the seventh day-Sabbath inclusively in Mat. 22.37 38.39 as he doth to the 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 and 10. Commandements of the morall Law Again If it be a sufficient plea to exempt our selves from the duty of the fourth Commandement because it is not expresly repeated by our Saviour in the Gospel then upon the same consideration we may as well exempt our selves from the duties taught by the 1 2 and 3 Commandements of the same Law for neither of those precepts are in expresse words laid down by our Saviour in the Gospel therefore I say If it be an errour
in regard circumcised men were forbid so to doe Deut. 4.2 chap. 12 32. It being so I affirme that whosoever doth teach or affirme that Jesus Christ did diminish from the holy law the decalogue doe charge our Saviour with sinne although they deserue it not But to defend his Innocency therein I doe affirme our Saviour Christ did not before his death nor at his death nor by his resurrection diminish any precept of that Law nor any part thereof Therefore it followes that we are as firmly and as unchangeably bound to the observation of the seventh day-Sabbath as we are to any duty commanded in that Law A second Scripture oft urged by them is Iohn 5. where mention is made of our Saviours curing the Impotent man and bidding him take up his Bed and walke verse 18. It being the Sabbath day a thing fordidden by the Law as they say therefore they infer it manifested that the Sabbath was or should be changed Answer Surely it is a very weake and slender ground to bear so weighty a matter yea so weake it is that they know not well what to infer something they would have to prove their purpose if they knew what but surely there is nothing of any force to be gathered from thence to prove that either the Sabbath was or should be abrogated and therefore I passe over this Objection as not worth the answering 3. Anti-sabatharians to prove the change of the Sabbath and to manifest the first day of the week to be of a divine institution They say The Apostles assembled on the first day of the weeke the day of our Saviours Resurrection and our Saviour honoured them with his presence Mark 16.19 Ergo the Sabbath was changed c. Answer The inference is not to be proved by Scripture the premises proveth not the thing intended and therefore I say not any of this doth prove the change of the Sabbath nor that the first day of the week is of a divine institution not in the least Neither did their assembling prove that it was for the celebration of that day in remembrance of any Grace that was brought to the Church or World by the resurrection of our Saviour from the dead as some doe surmise and that for two Reasons The first is because Saint John saith chap. 20.19 That they assembled together for feare of the Iewes had it been for any other end doubtlesse he would have made it known unto us 2 Because when they assembled they knew not that he was risen from the dead no neither did they believe the testimony of the Disciples which Reported it to them after they were assembled Mar. 16 11. for which cause our Saviour reprehended them v. 14. 4 Our Saviour appearing to his disciples after eight days Joh. 20.26 is oft vrged to prove the change of the Sabbath and that the first day of the weeke to be of a Divine Institution but this helpeth to prove their purpose as the former in regard it was not upon the next first day as many do think But it was upon some one day after the first day of the week had it been on the first day of the week that our Saviour appeared to his Disciples it had been on the eighth day But St. John expresly saith it was after eight dayes therefore not on the first day which was the eighth day It being so this serveth not in any wise to prove the abrogating of the seventh day-Sabbath nor that the first day of the weeke is of a Divine Institution for performance of publique Worship 5. Another Scripture urged to prove the first day of the week to be a set time for performance of publick worship is Act. 20.7 where it is said when the disciples came together to break bread upon the first day of the week Paul preached unto them c. This doth not prove the first day of the week to be of a Divine institution nor that their breaking of bread was the communion of the Misteries of the Lord in the Sacrament seeing it was an usuall thing for the Disciples to assemble together to break bread daily Acts 2.46 Chap. 5.42 6. Neither did the Apostles Ordination for Collection at Corinth and Galatia on the first day of the week 1 Cor. 16.1 prove that the Churches then were to assemble on the first day of the week to performe publique worship Surely there is no such word to be found in the Text or elsewhere but that which the Apostle did appoint in Corinth and at Galatia was that every one on the first day of the week should lay a part by himself as God had prospered him c. Or this it may be read for our more proper understanding of the Apostles meaning upon one of the week daies let every one of you lay apart by himselfe c. Note not at Church there is no such word but at home And so doth Mr. Tindall and Tremelius Translate it It being so what doth this serve to prove that all Christian Churches then and ever since were to assemble for performance of publique worship on the first day of the week or that those words of the Apostles did either institute or constitute it to be a Sabbath Surely nothing at all See Dr. Prideaux on the Sabbath pag. 28. And also Dr. Hylyns History upon the Sabbath Part. 2. Ch. 1. Sect. 10. Neither did the Apostles or Evangelists ever call the first day of the week by name of a Sabbath in relation to a day of Rest nor when ever they spake of the first day of the week they never cald it by the name of the Lords day or Sunday Had these Titles appertained to it doubtlesse they would not have been slack to have bestowed them on it 7. To prove the Sabbath abrogated Anti-Sabbatharians doe oft urge the Apostles words Col. 2.16.17 Let no man condemne you in meat or in drink or in respect of a Holy day or of the New Moon or of the Sabbath dayes c. Answ The Apostle speaketh not in this place of the seventh day-Sabbath Exod. 20.8 which our Saviour ratified Mat. 5. It being a part of the Morall Law yea and also commanded obedience to God by it inclusively Mat. 22.37 38. But of the Ceremoniall Sabbaths forementioned which were shadows of good things to come as Meats Drinks and New Moons were which being abolished by Christ became beggerly Rudiments Gal. 4.9 and frustrateth the work of Grace in the observers thereof v. 11. Chap. 5.4 Evident it is these things there mentioned by the Apostle were not written in Tables of stone therefore serveth not to prove the duty of the seventh day-Sabbath abrogated Yea I say certain it is there is no appearance in the New Testament that the seventh day-Sabbath was abrogated by Christ or should be after his death Or that ever the first day of the weeke was instituted or commanded by him or his Apostles to be observed for performance of publique worship Neither
affirm that Dr. Rivet one of the four Professours in Leyden doth affirm that the appointing of the Lords day for Gods publicke service was neither done by God himselfe nor by his Apostles but by the authority of the Church 18. Dr. Hylyn saith The Emperour Constantine was the first that made any law for the keeping of the Lords day see his History on the Sabbath part 2. chap. 3. sect 1. And again ibid. part 2. chap. 1. sect 3. speaking of Christ and of the Sabbath saith Neither did Christ nor his Apostles ordain another Sabbath instead of this as if they had intended onely to shift the day and to transferre this honour to another time their doctrine and their practice are directly contrary to so new a fancy It is true saith he in some tract of time the Church in honour to his Resurrection did set apart that day on which he rose to holy exercise but this on their own authority and without any warrant from above that we heare of 19. Muskulous in his Book of Common places fol. 66. thus saith We Christian men leaving the Jewes Sabbath doe keepe our holy rest upon the first day c. 20. Know also what the originall Actors or Authors of changing the Lords holy Sabbath to the first day of the week in the Remish Annotations on Apocalips chap. 1. verse 10. saith If the Church had authority and inspiration from God to make Sunday being a working day an everlasting holy day and the Saturday which was before a holy day now a common working day Why may not the same Church prescribe and appoint the other Feasts Easter Whitsuntide Christmas and the rest for the same warrant she had for the one that she had for the other c. I need not produce larger testimony to demonstrate who it was that abolished the Lords seventh day-Sabbath or who it was that instituted the first day of the week in its stead but that which is already said doth sufficiently declare who were the originall Authors of it and of all other superstitious holy dayes to the dishonour of God and the destruction of the world without Gods especiall and abundant mercy But blessed be God we have yet time to fly unto the Lord for mercy and to conforme our selves to the obedience of his will and let it be our comfort he is abundantly pardonfull Isa 55.6.7 James 1.21 To be short as it is well known the Church changed the Sabbath to the first day of the weeke so also it is known and acknowledged the Church hath power to change the day to some other day For Dr. Prideaux in his Book of the Sabbath page 34. affirmes that Calvin Bullinger Bucerius Brentius Chimnitius Vrsinus and others of the reformed Churches still affirmes the Church hath power to change the Lords day to some other day Yea happy shall the Church be that worshippeth God according to his Law and giveth him his due by placing on the seventh day the honour which God requireth to be performed on it which hath been taken from it this 1300. yeares for greatly hath God been dishonoured by mens consecrating the first day of the week to be a holy rest instead of the Sabbath seeing God never instituted it nor commanded it to be and therefore I say with Dr. Prideaux on the Sabbath page 22 sect 7. The institution of the Lords day out of the Scripture either expresly or by necessary consequence shew me he that can As I have disavowed That the honour due to God on the seventh day-day-Sabbath to be placed on the first day of the week called Sunday or Lords day or Sabbath as mens opinions leads them So I doe disavow the Title of the Lords day properly to belong to the first day of the week and therefore I say very improperly are the words of St. John Revel 1.10 applied to it for there is no such thing there manifested in the Text that the Apostle had any such meaning Yea I say there is no more reason that that Title should be given to the first day of the week the day of our Saviours Resurrection than to the day of his Birth Death or Ascension unlesse because it was anciently given to it or else because men will have something to credit that which they will have Honourable Ignatius calling it by the name of the Lords Day proves not that that Title is due to it by a Divine institution no more than his bringing in of Anthemes into the Church doth prove that it was of a Divine institution Socrat. Lib. 6 Chap. 8. Yea I say there is more reason to be given that St. John meant the seventh day of the week rather than the first because it was knowne by name the Lords day Isa 58.13 Exod. 20.11 But the first day of the week was never knowne by that name Yet I doe not say that St. John spake of that day neither but of the day of Christ or time of his Reign in Power and Glory or of the day or time of Judgment 2 Thes 2.2 2 Pet. 2.9 1 Cor 5.5 who being in the Spirit saw it in his Vision as if the day had been present What if the Roman Church hath and doth observe the first day of the week in remembrance of our Saviours Resurrection as they doe the Wednesday in remembrance that he was betrayed and the Friday in remembrance of his Passion Ought we therefore to follow their vain Idolatrous custome and tradition in these things Oh no we ought not for certainly God doth not require these things at our hands neither by Law nor Gospel If this which hath been said in this Subject will not satisfie men viz. that it is our duty to rest the seventh day to wit Saturday and worship God on it which is Gods Sabbath Exod. 20.9 10 11. As also that it is our duty to work the first day of the week called Sunday let it be proved either by Law or Gospel that it is our duty to work Saturday and to rest Sunday If this none can doe I affirme to the honour of God and the advancement of his Holy Law and for the beating off of all unrighteous and ungodly intrenching upon the Lords Holy Sabbaths and for the awaking of all those out of errour which would not willingly perish in it and to reduce all that love Gods Law to the due obedience of it I affirme that it is as great a sinne to observe the first day of the week in stead of the seventh as it is to worship an Image in stead of the true God For to doe the one is contrary to the Second Commandement of Gods Law and to doe the other is contrary to the fourth Commandement of the same Law It being so I desire my Brethren my Friends yea and all men to consider of this which condemneth Idolatry and yet justifieth themselves in a weekly trangression of the Lords seventh day-Sabbaths that they may cease to doe evill and learn
THE DOCTRINE OF THE FOURTH Commandement Deformed by Popery Reformed Restored to its Primitive purity Wherein is clearely proved by Scripture Arguments and Reasons that the Seventh day of the week and not the first viz. the day called Saturday and not the day called Sunday is the true Christian Sabbath the time Instituted and commanded by God himself for the day or time of his publique worship in the time of the Gospel as it was in the time of the Law Objections answered and the truth cleared by Gods unworthy Servant J. O. The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God In it thou shalt do no work c. Exod. 20.10 Blessed is the man that doth this and the Son of man which layeth hold on it and keepeth the Sabbath from polluting of it Isa 56.2 Be doers of the word not hearers only deceiving your own selvs Jam. 1.22 For not the hearers of the law are justified before God but the doers of the Law shall be justified Rom. 2.13 London Printed by G. Dawson and are to be sold by Iohn Hides in Blew Anchre Alley neer Pauls Alley 1650. The Author to his Booke GOE little Book perform thy work thou mayest be blamed but not shamed thou wilt meet with Enimies feare not for there are more with us then with them 2 Kings 6.16 I would not intrude thee into the world in an obscure or doubtfull Cause because of many inconveniences that might insue But thou carriest with thee the absolute truth of God conteined in his written law Exod. 20.8 9 10 11. In which regard thou art assisted and defended with the whole armour of righteousnesse the undoubted truth of God revealed by Moses and the Prophets and by Jesus Christ and his Apostles against all assaults of thy Enemies If any reprove me because of thee I desire it may be in love without racking my words or perverting my meaning but answer as the matter lyeth granting or denying the particular assertions herein contained that the Impartiall reader may profit thereby and not with scoffes or reproachfull terms If any so doe let it be a signe to all men that he maintaineth a bad Cause with an ill Conscience and that the truth standeth with me and not with him Goe goe and cause all men to know that the Law of God is perfect Exod. 20. and that there is no unnecessary thing required by any Expression therein contained In which regard make known I say that we and all men are as absolutely bound in love to the literall Expression of the fourth Commandement as we are to the literall Expression of either the 1 2 or 3. Commandements of that law or to any other of the Six To the end that God may be duly honoured and our obedience to his holy law enlarged As also to the end that our non-conformity to the law of God in working when we are to rest and our resting when we are for to work may not be an obstruction to the Jewes conversion which is the thing I desire may be performed by thee Farewell Be prosperous so be it The blessing of Iehovah go with thee Amen For the Lord is well pleased for his righteousnesse sake that he may magnifie the Law and exalt it Isay 42.21 To the discreet and sincere Reader be Salvation in the way of Righteousnesse Amen OVT of a true Devotion to God and sincere affection to thee I have presented to thy consideration a Duty which my Conscience telleth me thou oughtest to perform to the Lord thy God for the furtherance of his honour and thy salvation Namely the duty of Observation and Sanctification of the Lords seventh day-Sabbath the day called Saturday commanded by the Lord himself Exod. 20.8 Which duty we and our Fathers have neglected neer 1300. Yeers Yea and rejected it as a ceremoniall Element or beggerly Rudiment And therefore we may well complaine with the Prophet Jeremy 3.25 We lye down in confusion for our shame covereth us for we have sinned against the Lord our God we and our Fathers from our youth unto this day and have not obeyed the voyce of the Lord our God The truth of this doth clearly appeare in this ensuing Subject Therefore I desire thee to read it with an honest and good Heart without partiallity and consider what is said in it before thou blamest it or censurest me least thou speak good of evill and evill of good and bring woe upon thy selfe Isay 5.20 For certain it is no man knoweth so much but he may know more and no man so perfect but that he may erre Therefore ponder the path of thy feet and let all thy wayes be ordered aright turne not to the right hand nor to the left but remove thy foot from evill Prov. 4.26 27. Thy soules well-wishing friend JAMES OCKFORD The Doctrine of the Fourth COMMANDEMENT Deformed by Popery Reformed and Restored to its Primitive PURITIE CHAP I. The Decalogue is Morall and perpetuall nothing is to be added thereto nor diminished from it THe Law whereof I Treat of which the Fourth Commandement is a part was given of God on Mount Sinai Exod. 19. 20. Cap. And written with his owne Finger in Tables of Stone Exod. 31.18 Deut. 5.22 The Effect of which Heavenly Law was engraven in nature at mans Creation which Divine Goodnesse remaineth in the nature of man and teacheth him to doe in some measure that which God by the Law of the Letter requireth of him Rom. 2.14 15. Although the custome of sinning and the deceitfulnesse of mans heart hath blotted stained and darkned in him that which we ought to discerne know and doe But such is the Mercy and Goodnesse of God unto us that he hath not left us without a plaine Demonstration of His holy Will by His holy Law the Decalogue which Holy Law bindeth us to all Duties tending to life and Godliness * As this Law bound the Jews to all duties commanded in the time of the Law Deut. 6.5 Even so it bindeth us and all men to all duties commanded by the Gospel The reason is because he that obeyeth not the Gospel loveth not the Lord his God with all his heart and with all his soule and with all his mind as the Law by the mouth of Jesus Christ in the Gospel requireth of us Mat. 22.37 Which Decalogue or Morall Law remaineth absolutely unchangeable as it appeareth by the words of the Prophet Psalm 111. vers 7 8 9. where he alluding to the Law written in Tables of Stone speaking of God saith The Worke of His Hands are Veritie and Judgment All his Commandements are sure they stand fast for ever and ever c. A note of perpetuall unchangeablenesse And in this regard they are said to be Faithfull Psal 119. ver 86. Yea Righteous and very Faithfull vers 138. This Law is Gods Covenant Exod. 19.5 Deut. 4.13 which God hath given to man to be observed for ever Deu. 4.9.10 2 Kings 17.37
Iohn 12.26 1 Iohn 2.6 5. The Apostle Paul kept it and other Christians Acts 13.14 15 16 37 42 43 44 chap. 16.13 14. chap. 17.2 and we are to imitate them 2 Cor. 11.1 Phil. 3.17 Heb. 6.12 Blessed is the man that doth this and the sonne of man which layeth hold on it and keepeth the Sabbath from polluting of it Isay 56.3 4 5 6. CHAP. V. Severall Authors produced which affirme the Church changed the Sabbath and why they did it 2. Three Reasons given to manifest when it was done 3. Answers given to severall texts of Scripture urged to prove the first day of the weeke to be of a divine Institution 4. Four Reasons given to manifest it is not of a divine Institution EVident it is that in some tract of time after the death of the Apostles the Romish Church layd aside the duty of the seventh day-Sabbath and observed the first day of the weeke instead of it Of this Socrates gives us notice lib. 5. chap. 21. Where speaking of Customes he saith Though in manner all Christian Churches throughout the whole world doe celebrate and receive the holy misteries every Sabbath day after other Yet the people inhabiting Alexandria and Rome of an old tradition doth not use it The Aegyptians adjoyning to Alexandria together with the Inhabitants of Thebaes use to celebrate on the Sunday c. 2. Mr. Brabourn in the defence of the Sabbath against the ten Ministers page 481 declares out of the Centuries Centure 4. chap. 6. page 477. layeth it down thus There was no Ecclesiasticall or Church Assemblies at Rome as there was at other Churches c. 3. Iustin Martyr living in Rome in the yeare 150. Apol. 2. saith Vpon the Sunday all of us assemble in the Congregation c. See Dr. Hylyn on the Sabbath part 2 chap. 2 sect 6. 4. Athenasius saith The observation of the Lords day was taken up by a voluntary usage in the Church as Dr. Hylyn in his history on the Sabbath declareth part 2. chap 1. Sect. 3. page 8. 5. Mr. Perkins on Gal 4. verse 10. speaking of the superstition of the popish Church in observation of holy dayes saith First besides the Lords day they appointed many other Sabbaths c 6. Mr. Calvin in his Institutions lib. 2. chap 8. sect 33. saith The old Fathers not without choyce of their owne put in place of the Sabbath the day we call Sunday c. And a little after exhorteth us to follow the order by the Church apointed c. 7. Bullenger in his Book of godly Sermons page 140. saith They of the Primitive Church did change the Sabbath day least peradventure they should have seemed to imitate the Jewes and still to have retained their orders and ceremonie and made their assemblies and holy meetings on the first day of Sabbaths to wit the first day of the weeke called Sunday 8. John Frith Declare Bapt. page 96 saith Our Fathers which were in the beginning of the Church did abrogate the Sabbath to the intent that Christians might have an example of Christian Liberty and that they might know that neither the keeping of the Sabbath nor any other day is necessary That a day should be reserved in that the people might come together to heare the Word of God they ordained instead of the Sabbath which was Saturdy the next day following and although they might have kept Saturday with the Jewes as a thing indifferent yet did they much better to over set the day to a perpetuall memory that we are free and not bound to any day but that we may doe any worke to the pleasure of God and the profit of our Neighbour c. See Dr. White on the Sabbath page 5. 9. Mr. Tindals answer to Dr. Moore chap. 25. thus saith We be Lords over the Sabbath and may change it to munday or any other day as we see need or may make every tenth day holy day if we see cause why we may make two every weeke if it were expedient and one not enough to teach the people Neither was there any cause to change it from the Saturday then to put difference between us and the Jewes least we should become servants to the day after their superstition As Dr. White hath it Ibid. page 5. 10. Vrsinus on the Catti part 3. page 989. saith The Apostolicall Church to distinguish its selfe from the Jewish Synagogue c. Hath on good reason made choyce of the first day c. 11. Dr. Willet in his Comment on Exod. chap. 20. page 360. saith The Apostolique Church changed the holy day of rest from the seventh day to the first which is the Lords day in remembrance of our redemption by Christ 12. Dr. White on the Sabbath page 109. thus saith Although the Sunday or Lords day in the time of the Law was an ordinary working-day yet in the time under the Gospel the same is an holy day by a perpetuall Ordinance of the Catholique Church And in pag. 212 he saith It is apparent that Christian people made the Lords day of every week an ordinary Holy-day c. See also Dr. Prideaux on the Sabbath pag. 24. Sect. 6. I hasten and shall take further occasion to manifest by larger Testimonies that the first day of the weeke is not of a Divine Institution but an Ordinance of the Church But first I will briefly describe the time when it was done as near as I can I confesse I have not met with any Author which hath pointed out the time except Mr. Brabourne who in defence of the Sabbath pag. 485. speaking of the Counsell held at Laodicea Anno 364. he saith now the Sabbath began to be rejected and the Lords day to be set up as the sole Sabbath without any other Now saith he the Lords day must forsooth be preferred above the Sabbath c. Mr. Perkins in his Exposition on the Revelation Chap. 1. vers 10. moveth a question to know who changed the Jewish Sabbath and then his answer is thus It is commonly thought saith he the Jewish Sabbath was changed into the Lords day by Christian Emperours long after the Ascension of Christ c. I doe not much dissent from these mens apprehensions for there is much truth no doubt in both their expressions yet I am not fully of of their opinions for indeed I conceive it was first contrived yea and concluded on inclusively though not expressed in the first Nicen Counsell Anno 326. or thereabout and my Reasons are three The first Reason is because before that Counsell there was not any Law which commanded Christians to keep the first day of the week in performance of Religious worship neither before that time were Christians commanded to forbear labour on the Lords day But this was done by the Emperour Constantine his Edict after the Counsell was dissolved Eusebius in the life of Constant Lib. 4. Chap. 18.19 The second Reason is because after that Counsell was dissolved Constantine sent
did God or Christ ever sanctifie that day to that end as many doe imagine nor never instituted nor commanded his Church to observe it in stead of the Sabbath Therefore I say seeing we are not to presume above what is written 1 Cor. 4.6 what reason is there that the first day of the week should be held more high and holy than the seventh day-Sabbath which God instituted blessed and sanctified and commanded us and all men to observe by the Morall Law Yea what reason is there or what word of God is there to be produced to prove that it is our duty to abstain from common work on the first day of the week called Sunday As also that we ought to doe common work on the seventh day-day-Sabbath called Saturday Deceive not thy self nor let any man deceive thee or cause thee to believe that it was the practice of Christian Churches to assemhle every first day of the week to perform publique worship in the Apostles dayes for that they did not Yea I say it is not to be proved by Scripture that ever any one Congregation did three times assemble successively to perform publique worship on the first day of the week called Sunday Yea I suppose that not any Anti-Sabbatharian can prove that ever any one Congregation did assemble two first days successively in the Apostles daies or that ever it was by them esteemed more holy or more honourable than any other of the 6 daies Yet I say what if it could be proved that any Congregation in the Apostles days did assemble 6 first days successively to perform worship on it yet it would not prove the seventh day-Sabbath abrogated nor that the first day of the week was designed for publique Worship seeing Christians in those daies did daily assemble Acts 2.46 Ch. 5.42 Yea I say if such a thing could be proved which none can doe it would bind us no more to the constant performance of the former than of the latter That the first day of the week is not of a Divine Institution nor is to be observed as a Sabbath I will give 3. Reasons The first Reason is Because if men keep the first day of the week for a Sabbath and the seventh day for a working day it is to doe expresly against a Precept both Affirmative and Negative Exod 20.8 9 10. Secondly It cannot be that the first day of the week is an Ordinance of the Gospel because then the preaching of Faith would make void the Law contrary to Rom. 3.31 Thirdly The first day of the week cannot be of a Divine Institution because then the Law which commandeth the seventh dayes rest would crosse the Gospels Institution contrary to Gal. 3.31 I need not to insist to give more reasons to prove that the first day of the week is not of a Divine Institution seeing the truth is plentifully confessed by many wise and learned men whose understandings are not eclipsed with errour in this particular Yea I say Papists themselves doe confesse the observation of the Sunday is not to be proved by the written word of God and therefore oftentimes in their writings they urge at Protestants because they cry Scripture Scripture to be the Rule of their Faith and Practice in the way of Religion when they observe the first day of the week which is called Sunday in stead of the Sabbath called Saturday when there is no Word of God to prove that so they ought to doe Christians ought to make the Word of God the Rule of their Faith and Life and not the Traditions of men though never so ancient or universally received no nor the sayings of Men though wise grave and learned if they speake not according to the Law of God 1 John 4.1 Isa 8.10 and therefore good it is for every one which loveth truth and hateth errour to follow the Councel of Gracehop placed at the Beginning of the Bible Printed Anno 1603. who saith Refuse all sence of Scripture contrary to the First and Second Tables of Gods Commandements Imbrace his Counsell for it is good it tendeth to further men in the way of Godlinesse for certainly mens well meaning or acting in the way of Religion will not stand them in stead to bring them into acceptation with God except it be in the way that God requireth of them for he will not accept of any worship or service which he hath not appointed or commanded Numb 1. to 41. 2 Chron. 26.18.19 Isa 66.3.4 Mark 7.6.7.9 Col. 2.20 21 22. And therefore It is not every one that saith Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdome of Heaven but he that doth the will of my Father saith Christ Mat. 7.21 Had men that due respect to the Law of God as is meet there would not be any need to use Scripture Arguments and Reasons to move them to the obedience thereof or to manifest they are not to walke in a way contrary to it as men doe in observing the first day in stead of the seventh out of a blind Devotion through a misapprehension that it is a Gospel-Ordinance when indeed it is not but a meer humane Invention or Ecclesiasticall Institution or Popish Tradition and to manifest the truth thereof I will produce the testimony of severall Authors for an addition to the former which affirme the same 13. Dr. Whitguift against Cartwright page 553. citeth the words of Saint Agustine ad Romana Janu Thus that the Passion of Christ and his Resurrection note that is the first day of the weeke and the day of the comming down of the holy Ghost is saith he not celebrated by any command writen but by the determination of the Church 14. In the Harmony of Confessions I finde ma-many notable expressions of this nature in page 479. is said We see that in ancient Churches there were not only set houres for meetings but that also See the latter confession of Helvetia even the Lords day ever since the Apostles time was consecrated to religious exercise c We doe celebrate and keepe the Lords day and not the Sabbath and that of a free observation 15 Out of the Confession of Auspurge page 493. in their fourth Article speaking of Traditions about holy dayes saith Of which sort is the Lords day the Nativity Passover and the rest c. And again thus because it was necessary to appoint a certain day that the people might know when to come together It seemes that the Church for that purpose did appoint the Lords day c. Look the first observation on the Confession 16. Dr. White on the Sabbath page 242. speaking of the Apostles saith Immediately after them it is apparent the Christian people made the Lords day of every weeke an ordinary Festivall See also page 217 and in page 218. he saith Constantine among many other religious constitutions he ordained the weekly Sabbath of the Lords day c. 17. The translator of Dr. Predeaux on the Sabbath in his Preface doth
God in the state of innocency when there was but one estate of men therefore enjoyneth the Gentiles aswell as the Jewes So that all Magistrates all House-holders were commanded to constraine all strangers as well as their own subjects and familie to observe the Holy Sabbath c. I will forbeare to produce further Testimony of men the Word or Law of God is sufficient to teach the godly minded their duty therefore obey it and keep holy the Sabbath day to wit the seventh day and not a seventh day as many men doe thinke that if they keepe a seventh day they performe that duty which God requireth of them by the Morall Law although they keep not the 7th day successively from the Creation a great mistake For surely as God hath not given men liberty to worship in what they please neither hath God given them liberty to omit their duty of the seventh dayes rest and worship when they please but they are to doe that when he hath appointed and commanded it which indeed is the seventh day called Saturday the last day of the week which day God blessed and sanctified for men to performe publique worship on it as hath been shewn Errour therefore it is to say we obey Gods Law if we keep one day in seven if it be not the seventh day commanded in the Law Againe no man can account the first day of the week to be a seventh day unlesse men will presumptuously crosse the order of Gods appointment and overslip the first day of the worlds Creation and what warrant is there in Gods Word for mortall men so to doe let all rationall men judge Unlesse men doe so they cannot by any account conclude that the first day of the week is or can be a seventh day and therefore in observing it for a Sabbath they stand not firme to their own Principle by keeping one day in 7. seeing it is the 8. day in relation to the Creation and therefore it cannot properly be said to be one day in seven If men will refuse to keep their Sabbath on the seventh day which day God hath appointed and commanded by his holy Law and will keep one day in seven according to Gods placeing the dayes in the week and stand firm to their own Principle then they are to keep the sixth day of the week called Friday as Turkes doe or else some day or other before it if the day be left to their owne choise The Errour of this opinion may also thus appeare God commanded the Israelites to Circumcise their male children on the eighth day Gen 17.12 Had they obeyed Gods Law and performed their duty had they overslipt the first day and circumcised the ninth and accounted it for the eighth if necessity forced them not thereto certainely they had not neither could they properly have said they Circumcised one day in eight nor the eighth day Even so it now standeth with mens observation of the first day of the week for the seventh day which indeed in order from the Creation is the eight and therefore they which observe it keep one day after seven and not one day in seven The like instance I will give concerning the command of God given to the Israelites for their Eating of the Passeover on the fourteenth day of the first Month Exod. 12. Had they eaten it the fifteenth day whether had they obeyed Gods Law where necessity hindreth not certainly they had not Even so it standeth with mens observing the first day in stead of the seventh or Sunday in stead of Saturday Let wise men take this into their consideration for indeed men doe deceive themselves to thinke they obey Gods Law if they keep one day in seven accounting it the equitie of the fourth Commandement which thing indeed is not in observing the first day of the week which according to godly order is the eighth day and therefore mens practise in this particular hath neither sound nor sence for to be the equitie of the fourth Commandement If men will keep a Sabbath or day of rest according to the Equitie of the fourth Commandement then they are to keep it on the seventh day which God commandeth Exod. 20.8 9 10 11. for that indeed is the equitie of the fourth Commandement and not keeping a day of rest either before or after the seventh day for men so to doe is meer will-worship a thing forbidden by the Apostle Colos 2.20 21 22 23. Againe we shall never finde in any of the Evangelists or Apostles writings that ever the Law of the Sabbath was repealed or that ever it should be transferred to the first day of the week or that ever the first day of the week was a Sabbath or should be observed in stead of the Sabbath by Christians Well saith Dr. Prideaux in this point in the Doctrine of the Sabbath pag. 24. sec 6. Our Saviour saith he oft times disputed with the Pharisees of the * Sabbath day and many times explained the meaning of that Commandement But where is there any of the least suspition of his abrogating it Where any mention that the Lords day was instituted in the place thereof Well saith he Christ ascended up on high and left behind him his Apostles and what did they did they not keep the Jewish Sabbath without noise or scruple and gladly teach the people congregated on the Sabbath dayes * Mat. 12. Mark 2. Luke 6. Joon 5. Answerable unto this Dr White saith On the Sabbath the Apostles and likewise many successions of the Apostles for many ages at least 300. yeares kept holy the Saterday of every week in some Churches Yea Socrates lib. 6 cap. 8. declareth That some Christians after 400 yeares observed the Sabbath weekly with the first day of the weeke Mr Perkins saith on Gal. 4.10 Some men both godly and learned are of an opinion that the first day of the week was appointed by the Apostles for order sake c. It seemes saith he a truth more probable that every seventh day of the weeke must be set a part in holy rest unto God for this is the substance of the fourth Commandement c. That the seventh day-Sabbath is to be observed in the time of the Gospel as it was in the time of the Law I will briefly give five Reasons The first is because it was given to man in his Innocency Gen. 2.2 3. and therein to all the world to wit to the Gentiles as well as to the Jewes this truth is confessed by Mr. Ainsworth in his Annotations Exod. 31.17 As also by Baily in the Practice of Piety pag. 258 259. And also by Dod on the fourth Commandement pag. 125 127. 2. Because it is commanded by a divine and positive law Exod 20. 3. Because God rested on the seventh day and blessed and sanctified it for us to rest after his example Exod. 20.11 Ephes 5.1 4. Our Saviour kept the Sabbath Luke 4.16 31. Mark 6.2 and we are to imitate him