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A16568 A discourse vpon the Sabbath day Wherin are handled these particulares ensuinge. 1. That the Lords day is not Sabbath day, by divine iustification. 2. An exposition of the 4. commandement, so farr fort has may give light vnto the ensueinge discourse: and particularly, here it is showne, at what time the Sabbath day should begine and end; for the satisfaction of those who are doubtfull in this point. 3. That the seaventh day Sabbath is not abolished. 4. That the seaventh day Sabbath is now still in force. 5. The authors exhortation and reasones, that neverthelesse there be no rente from our Church as touching practise. Written by Theophilus Brabourne. Brabourne, Theophilus, b. 1590. 1628 (1628) STC 3474; ESTC S120444 95,505 198

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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
you make your Sabbath on Ascentiō day being Thursday or rather you must tarry till the worlds end till Christ hath conquered sines death 1. Cor. 15.26.56 if therfore by reasons we shall institute Sabbathes it may be thought good Friday is the only day for our new Sabbath or else to tarry till this worlds end 4 A 4th maine reason of all is to this effect If the Iewes kept a Sabbath in memory of Gods Creation Then much more ought Christians keepe an other Sabbath in memory of Christs Redemption and the common reason hereof is because the worke of Redemption is a greater worke then the worke of Creation I answere 1. the reason is not the same and therfore it followeth not for the Iewes they did not set vp a Sabbath on their owne heads with out a precept for their direction only to commemorate the creation if they had it had beene no better then will worship but they stayed for a Commandement from the God of the creation to command them a Sabbath by his 4th Comm and to tell them which day of the 7. to keepe it was Gods Commandement principally that set them one worke to keep a Sabbath novv this which is the maine for the keeping of a Sabbath day is left on t in their argument as if Gods Comm were but a by thing and not necessarily presupposed in euery Sabbath wherfore let them put into their argument the main and principall thing mouing the Iewes to keepe the Sabbath that is Gods 4th Com and then I fault not their argument as novv I doe but I bide them proue likewise that we Christians haue such strong reasons to keep our Lords day a Sabbath as Jevves had for their day that is I require to shew me where Christ or his Apostles left vs an expresse Commandement to sanctify the Lords day as God did to the Iewes to sanctify the 7th day and then I say indeed If the Iewes kept the 7th day vve Christians ought keep the 8th day Or thus is greater then the worke of creation if it be greater the answere vvill be to the elect and to the redeemed it is greater vvell be it so but what is this to our question which is generall of all Christians that liue vvith in the pale of the Church affirming that if Iewes that is all Iewes kept a Sabbath for the creation then ought Christians that is all men vvith in the pale of the Church keep a Sabbath for redemption so the question being generall of all men with in the Church you bring a reason to enforce all these men to keepe a new Sabbath which reason is proper to some of these men only as if you wold thus argue all men are bound to keep the Lords day for a Sabbath because the Lord died for some of these men this arguing is much like absurde to this If the Iewes vnder King Ahashuerosh Ester 9.17 did solemnize a day euery yeere with feasting and ioye in memory of their deliuerance from Hamans conspiracy Then so ought Christians both English French Dutchmen and Spanyardes c. that is all Christians solemnize a day euery yeare with like feasting and ioye in memory of our deliuerance from Spanyardes in the yeare 88. or from Papistes powder treason on 5 th Nouember and here to may be added a like reason as that our deliuerance in 88. or on 5 th of Nouember vvas as great as that of the Iewes from Haman now vvho doth not see the vanity of this kinde of arguing yet just thus doe they argue to set vp the Lords day for a Sabbath as here t is argued from a particular deliuerance of some Christians as English men to all Christians as French Dutch and Spanyards vvhoe had no share in that deliuerance of 88. and 5th of Nouember just so doe they argue from a particular deliuerance of some Christians as Gods elect vnto all Christians both elect and reprobate beleeuers and vnbeleeuers what reason is it that such as haue no parte in Christ as a Redeemer shold weekely celebrate on whole day neglecting their proffit and callings in memory of Christ the Redeemer of right therfore only such a day shold be a Sabbath as bindes all and euery man one as well as an other and such is the 7th day Sabhath in memory of the creation for in the creation we all beleeuers and vnbeleeuers haue our share not so in the redemption I conclude therfore that though the worke of redemption be greater then the worke of creation and therfore doth require a Sabbath as well as the creation yet doth it not require so generall universall a Sabbath as did the work of creation all men are not bounde to the one as they are to the other Nor can I conceiue how any more men shold be bound to keep this Sabbath by this reason then only a fewe which doe actually beleeue in Christ an handfull of most free Agentes so as they eighther of thē produce effectes at their pleasure by Counsaile so as they be not tyed euer to produce the same effectes the one as doth the other that this is so will appeare euen in these pointes in question it pleased God to create the vvorld by action but it pleased Christ to redeeme the vvorld by passion 2. it pleased the Father to be 6. dayes in creation but it pleased the Sonne to be but 3. dayes in redemption 3. it pleased the Father to rest on the Sabbath day but it pleased the Sonne not to rest on the Lords day but to trauaile 15. miles to Emmaus and backe againe 4. it pleased God to leaue a commandement in wrighting to posterity to keepe the Sabbath day but it pleased not our Sauiour Christ to leaue any commandement for the keeping the Lords day if therfore God Christ be so variouse in their actions how will it follow that if God kept a Sabbath or instituted one in creation then Christ must necessarily institute an other like Sabbath at redemption 5 A 5th reason seemes to ground on the 4th Com thus The 4th Comm enioynes a 7th day for the Sabbath now our Lords day is a 7th day for we keepe it euery 7th day for a Sabbath I answere 1. the 4th Comm enioyneth such a 7th day for a Sabbath as is and vvas amongst the Jewes called by his proper name the Sabbath day also now our Lords day vvas called vvith them eighther the first day of the vveeke or the first day after the Sabbath so it can not be that 7th day there meante 2. if we call our Lords day the 7th day vve departe from all churches vvhich call it the 8th day or the first day of the vveeke as doe all the 4. Euangelistes in the Gospell 3. if you call the Lords day a 7th day I pray vvhere or at what day vvill you begin to reckone for your first day of the 7 you must begine at some renowmed day as at the first day of vvorlds
one answere that may serue for both those textes the 6th and the 7th wher to I haue last answered that is to the text Colos 2.16.17 and to the Text Exod. 31.13 say I should grante them out of these two Textes euen all which they desire to haue as namly that by Sabbathes in Colos 2.16 is meante the Morall Sabbath of the 4rd Com and that it was reckoned for a shadow of Christ to come too yea let it be granted them that the Sabbathes Exod. 31.13 were signes shadowes of Christ to come why yet it will not follow that these Morall Sabbaths of the 7th day be abolisht absolutly and altogether To this purpose note with me The 7th day Sabbath may be cōsidered absolutly or relatiuely and significatiuely for instance John the Baptist was a man there is his absolute nature againe he vvas the fore runner of Christ there is his office and relatiue nature vvhere by he pointed out Christ for to come after him now when Christ vvas already comne in Johns presence so as Iohn pointed to him saying Behold the Lambe of God now forth vvith Iohn lost his relatiue nature of being any longer Christs forerunner and to preach of Christ as to come because Christ was already comne Neuerthelesse Iohn lost not but still retayned his absolute nature of being a man for he vvas a man still after Christ comne as well as before An other instance an Iuye bushe hung vp at a vinteners house it is an Iuy bushe and also it is a signe of vvyne to sell in that house now take downe the bushe or pull downe the house vvhere the wyne vvas and then the bushe ceaseth to be a signe any longer yet it remaines to be an Iuy bushe still Iust so the Sabbath it hath an absolute nature as it is a Sabbath and it hath a relatiue and significatiue nature as it is a signe of Christ as they say now be it at Christs coming the body thing signified being comne and in presence the signe or shadow then is to vanish vvhy be it so let the relatiue and significatiue nature or quality of the Sabbath vanish as it vvas a signe of Christ vvhy yet it followeth not therfore the Sabbath as a Sabbath in its absolute nature should also vanish but you vvill diuerse respects if they kept it significatiuely vve morally Also Paul might abolish theirs as significatiue by Col. 2.16.17 and yet not medle vvith ours no more then he abolisht fasting by this text We may not make an Image to worship yet may vve make an Image for ornament and not violate the 2d Com so you see respects doe alter things not a litlle 2. The Rocke vvas made a signe of Christ 1. Corin. 10.4 They drancke of the Rocke that followed them which rocke was Christ now vvhen the Rocke ceased to be a signe of Christ yet it ceased not to be a Rocke still it lost but its significatiue nature onely by the coming of Christ and so the Sabbath lost but its significatiue nature neither but your arguing is as if once a thing be abrogate in its significatiue nature why so it must be also in its absolute nature vvhich you see is false 3. Holy dayes had a significatiue nature being shadowes of Christ to come Col. 2.16.17 now at Christs coming in this respect they were abolisht and yet to this day in other respects we retayne Holy dayes for we keepe Pentecost or whitsuntide now still to this day if therfore we may retayne a Jewish Feast day as Pentecost notwithstanding it had a significatiue nature and notwithstanding that Paul expressely forbad it Col. 2.16.17 why may we not by like reason retaine the Jewish 7th day Sabbath though it had beene significatiue and though Paul in that respect had forbad it Col. 2.16.17 if vve yeeld not this our owne practise in still keeping Pentecost day will condemne vs Moreouer you know all difference of dayes vvas taken away Rom. 14.5 and Gal. 4.10 namly as shadowes of Christ or as Heathenishe superstition Neuerthelesse to this day vve obserue difference of dayes in other respects in a morall regard for we keepe fast dayes solemnely and vve keepe the Lords day euery Sunday so as our owne practise telleth vs a day abolish in some one regard is not forth with therfore abolisht in all respects absolutly by those textes vvhich speake against them 4. Dauid a signe shadowe or type of Christ to come Ps 2. Ps 118.22.24 he had a relatiue or significatiue nature as he vvas a King so as his Kingly office vvas a type of Christs Kingly office vvhy yet vvhen Christ the body came all Kingly offices did not cease for we retaine them to this day The High Priest he was a type of Christ now that very High Priest who liued before and after and at Christs passion so soone as Christ had finisht all vpon the crosse that High Priest lost his typicall nature he was no longer High Priest or type of Christ yet he ceased not to be a man still or a Seruant of God and the like 5. Circumcision it was a signe Genes 17.11 Rom. 4.11 now those infants that were borne and circumcised a little before Christs passion the cuting of their foreskine vvas a signe of Christ to come vntill Christ had suffred vpon the crosse and no sooner had Christ suffred but their circumcision ceased to be any signe of Christ to come and yet for all that their circumcision ceased not then also for they remained euer after with the foreskine cut of yea and it is not to be passed by vvithout obseruation that though there was a meanes by the arte of chirurgry to draw on the foreskine againe and so to nullify and vncircumcise themselues yet Paul vvould not haue them take away their circumcision see 1. Cor. 7.18 if then it had beene necessary that at Christs passion all things that had formerly bene made signes should then haue bene abolished amongst christians vvhy then vvould not Paul haue giuen way to these christians newly called to haue gathered their vncircumcision or vndone their circumcision and taken away the scarre so you see the incision or scarre might and and did remaine though the signe annexed to it vvas abolished By all vvhich examples it is more then manifest that though they could proue the Sabbath day a signe or a shadowe yet it can not follow that therfore it must be vtterly and absolutly abolisht in all respects by those two textes Col. 2.16.17 Exod. 31.13 nor vvill it follow necessarily that ought in a Sabbath is abolisht saue its typicalnesse and significatiue nature only Thus you see all their textes fully as I trust answered so as they haue no ground in Gods Booke for abolishing of Gods Sabbath and to conclude I can but wonder vvhat should sett wise and religiouse men on worke thus to sharpen their vvittes against the Lords Sabbath it being a branch of that inviolable eternall Law of God wrote in
appointed of God to be a signe and remembrancer vnto vs that Jehouah the Holy God is that fountaine and authour of our sanctification and holinesse Well then since vve Christians haue as much need of helpes and meanes to minde vs of the authour of our sanctification as those Israelites had and God hath giuen vs no other helpes or meanes in the roome of those he gaue to the Israelites then it followeth that we now and the 7th day doe both notify but one tyme which is the last day of the weeke so them conioyned by God and also permiseously vsed Exo. 20.10 Leuit. 23.3 Exod. 31.15 there you haue them conioyned by way of apposition Gen. 2.3 Exod 20.11 Exod. 16.29 Luk. 13.14 here you haue them permiscously vsed the one for the other so as the name Sabbath and the tyme the 7th day cannot be separated 2 Whereas they deny me the accident of tyme the 7th day see it expressely commanded in so many words Exod. 16.29 Exod. 20.10 Exod. 23.12 Exod. 31.15 Exod. 35.2 and so you see not only the Sabbath is in force now but also the tyme and 7th day The other commone answere is that the 4th Com and so the Sabbath day are now in force indeed as touching the Morality of them but not as touching their speciall application vnto the Iewish state Here vnto I say it is but a fained thing to thinke that eighther the 4th Com or the Sabbath day were so commanded and appointed of God to the Iewe as if made peculiar and proper to their state and not common to all nations To this end perpende we the particulars of the 4th Comm to see if ought there be that might giue vs occasion to thinke it vvas applied to the Iewish nation exclusiuely or if all Nationes might not equally participate vvith them in this Commandement as vvell as in the other 9. Commandements In the Com ye haue these things enioyned 1. Remember the Sabbath 2. to rest in it 3. to keep it holy 4. a daye 5. the 7th day or last of 7.6 because God resteth on that day What is here now that is peculiar to the Iewe so as other nations cannot obserue the same Cannot we in England as well as they in Ierusalē 1. Remember the Sabbath 2. rest in it 3. keep it holy 4. a whole day 5. the 7th day and last of 7 6. in imitation of God because he rested on this day could no nation beside the Iewe obserue thes 6. things Perhaps it vvill be said The Sabbath and so the Comm was applied to the Iewish state because of that reason mouing them to obedience of it which is annexed to the Com Deut. 5.15 namely Gods bringing them out of Egypt Here vnto I say This motiue and reason may be said to be applied indeed to the Iewish state exclusiuely as not belonging to other nations and if they meane no more but thus that the 4th Com and so the Sabbath are not now in force as touching this speciall application only to the Iewish state because the Lord brought them out of Egypt that this reason should not now be properly pressed vpon vs Christians I am not against it nor doth it at all helpe them who goeth about to proue the Sabbath is in force now to vs with relation to that reason of Gods bringing Israel out of Egypt or to moue Christianes to obedience by that reason The 4th Com stands on two partes The one is Law commanding or forbidding some thing to be done this part only I vrge The other part is reason or motiue to enforce to obedience of the Law now this I vrge not nor neede I for it is no Law properly for it nor forbides nor commandes any thing Be it that the Law as touching the motiues be applied specially to the Iewish state yet the Law as touching all things commanded or forbidden in it is vniuersall to all nations Thus hauing proued the 7th day Sabbath is still in force to this day in next place I will shew you how this Sabbath hath beene practised and in vse in the Christian Church both in the dayes of the Apostles after Christ his resurrection and after also in the more primitiue churches for the practise of the Apostles I doe the rather produce it because the contrary side I see leane much vpō their practise labouring much though all in vaine as hath beene showne to proue the practise of the Apostles vpon the Lords day vvherfore since Apostles practise is vvith them of so great strength if I shall proue now that the Apostles practised the 7th day Sabbath I trust they will forth with yeeld that the 7th day Sabbath is now in force make no further question of the matter For this purpose looke Act. 13.14.15.16 Act. 13.42.44 Act. 16.13 here ye see 3. seuerall Sabbaths and in two seuerall places the Apostles preached vpon the Sabbath day and see Act. 17.2 Paul as his manner was vvēt in vnto them and three Sabbath dayes disputed with them by the Scriptures Here you see in an other place and Church three Sabbaths more kept by Paul and those that trauailed with him nor was this any extraordenary thing for the Text saith it vvas an vsuall thing for Paul so to doe Paul as his manner vvas c. and see Act. 18.4 here Paul in an other place and Church namely in the Church of Corinthe v. 1. disputed in the Synagogue euery Sabbath day so here was a constant practise Sabbath by Sabbath Euery Sabbath day saith the Text and thus I trust I haue more soundly proued that the Apostles kept the Sabbath day and that constantly and the same in soundery Churches then they haue proued that the Apostles kept the Lords day The keeping the Sabbath day was an Apostolicall practise but so was not the Lords day Let the indifferent reader judge now and let him choose to practise that day of the twaine vvhich he seeth most soundly and plainly proued before his eyes practised by the Apostles Against this be sondry answeres brought as 1. True Paul preached on the Sabbath day amongst the Sabbath day but they vndertooke indeed but neuer did nor euer will be able to proue the Apostles did constantly keep the Lords day so in this point of Apostles practise I haue the better of them since they can not proue Apostles constantly kept the Lords day amongst nor Iewes nor Gentiles no nor Iewes and Gentiles mixt Secondly I produce an other Text against theire answere shewing the Apostles preached amongst the Gentiles in which Text is not the least grownd for any such exception as to say there was a mixture of Iewes and Gentiles see Act. 16.12.13 here Paul and Timothie preached on the Sabbath day and note 1. that there was no thing constrayning them to preach rather on this then on any other day vnles it were the 4th Comm they had beene there as the Text saith certaine dayes and of all thes dayes the Sabbath
day vvas chosen what can be thought should incline them to this choise but the 4th Comm 2. Note here is not any reason to thinke here were any Iewes because vve reade not of any Synagues the Iewes had here the people assembled in the open fields besides a riuer to pray as the Text speaketh and therfore not with the Iewes in their Synagogues as they were wonte to doe where the Jewes had Synagogues As for Lydia it will not follow shee was a Iewesse because the Text saith shee was a vvorshipper of God for so was Cornelius Act. 10.2 but yet no Iewe no nor any proselyte for he vvas vncircumcised then Act. 11.3 finally I say suppose here was a mixture of Iewes and Gentiles and also in that other place Act 13.42.44 yet ther is no cause of scruple or doubt that the Apostles would vse any ceremonies as they suppose the Sabbath to be amongst those Iewes that vvere mingled with the Gentiles no more then they would amongst the Gentiles alone for saith the Text Act. 21.21 Paul taught those Jewes that were mixed among the Gentiles to forsake Ceremonies c. and you see it his practise Gal. 2.11 he would not endure no not a Peter to Iudaize it amongst the Gentiles and can we thinke himselfe would doe vvhat he reproued in an other besides it was against reason for so he should builde vp things as ceremonies which he labored to destroy Gal. 5.1.2 I say build vp for Paul counted Judaising amongst Gentiles a constraining of those Gentiles vnto Judaizme Gal. 2.14 for all this I deny not but Paul did Iudaize but it was only in such places of assemblie where vvere none but Iewes only as at Ierusalem and the like places Act. 21.17.20.26 but in assemblies mixed of Iewes and Gentiles there he would not Iudaize lest he should constraine the Gentiles to Iudaizme as hath beene said An other and seconde answer vsually brought against this practise of the Apostles is that Paul did keepe Sabbath here vvith the Iewes to beare with their weakenesse for a tyme and as he did Iudaize it by circumcision of Timothie Here vnto I say 1. it appeareth he did not keepe Sabbath only for the Iewes sake for then vvould he not haue kept the Sabbath with the Gentiles as he did 2. vvas it a weakenesse in the Iewes to yeeld obedience to a morall precepts to the 4th Com 3. The things vvherin properly Paul was said to Iudaize were Ceremoniall things standing in force by the Ceremoniall Law as Circumcision and the Rest but things standing in force by the Morall Law as doth the Sabbath day performance of these is no Iudaizing but Moralizing if I may so speake A 3d answere is that the Apostles must take such dayes as they found in vse in the Church then or else they cold not preach and divulge the Gospell and the Iewes then would assemble on no dayes but the Sabbath Here vnto I say the Apostles cold make knowne the Gospell though they had neuer frequented the Iewes vsuall assemblies for the Apostles taught and preached Christ in priuate housen from house to house Act. 5.42 and when Paul forsooke preaching in the Synagogue he taught else where as in the Schoole of one Tyrannus and there frequented him both Iewes and Grecians Act. 19.9.10 yea Paul cold assemble the Iewes them selues vpon occasion the very chiefe of them refused not to assemble at his calle Act. 28.17.20 wherefore necessity compelled him not to keepe the Sabbath vvith them To make a more full answere to those common obiections vvhich they bring against the practise of the Apostles in keeping the Sabbath day one of vvhich maine obiections is that fore spoken of to this effecte true the Apostles practised the 7th day Sabbath but it was amongst the Iewes not amongst the Gentiles where vnto I say vvhat and if it vvere only amongst the Ievves are therefore the Apostles practises and actions vnvvareantable and vnimitable because they vvere done amongst the Iewes are all their actions amongst Jewes but of an indifferent nature if such obiections be lawfull if a preacher confirmes his doctrines in the pulp it by the practise of the Apostles then is it lawfull for any thus to cauill against it oh but that it vvas done among Jewes for instance suppose this the doctrine Ministers must preach constantly on the Sabbath day novv after it is proued c. then he confirmes it by the constant practise of the Apostles Act. 13.14.44 Act. 17.2 Act. 18.4 is it tollerable for an auditor to cauill thus oh this it dience and reference vnto some of those Commandements The last obiection is that t is true indeed the Apostles kept the Sabbath but it was but for a tyme till the Iewes vvere better instructed the vvhich if they had refused to keepe the Iewes vvould neuer haue heard them preach of Christ c. Here vnto I answere this obiection presupposeth now as granted two false suppositions the one that the Apostles vvould not if they cold haue auoided it haue kept this Sabbath the other that the Iewes vvere needlesly religiouse making conscience of this Sabbath now vvhen they neded not for the former for any thus to imagine or say is growndlesse for vvhere hath any of the Apostles declared themselues any enemies to the Morall Sabbath that it should be thought they had rather not to haue kept the Sabbath then to haue kept it for the latter t is true of Circumcision it might be said the Iewes vvere needlessely religious and carefull of it because vve finde the Apostle inueighing against it Galat. 5.2 but how can vve say so of the Iewes as touching the Sabbath day since vve no where finde the Apostles inueighing against it or reprehending the Iewes for keeping it as they did for Circumcision The maine errour in these obiections is that they take it for granted vvhich is not granted that is supposing the Sabbath day in the 10. Commandements to be a Ceremony as vvell as Circumcision and that so it vvas abolisht by Christ vvhereof there is no grownd in Scripture as else vvhere I haue largely shewed nay farther for any to say the Sabbath is a ceremony or that any vvord or letter of the Law or 10. Commandements is Ceremoniall is no better then blasphemy against Gods Law and Truth to speake euill of the way of God Thus you see I haue proued the practise of the Apostles vvas constantly to keep the Sabbath day and the keeping of the Sabbath day vvas an Apostolicall practise the vvhich proofe I haue made to this end that you might see vve haue better grounds for the Apostles keeping the Sabbath day then for their keeping the Lords day nay there is good ground for the Sabbath day but no ground at all for the Lords day Further more as by the way you may see it hath beene showne the Apostles kept the Sabbath day 1. constantly not once or twice or thrice and no no more 2.
yea remoued the building must fale if Apostles neighther left precept for the Lords daye no nor their owne practise vvhoe can imagine it shold be a Sabbath by Gods appointment I answere lastly vvhereas they builde vpon the practise of the Apostles preaching so as on all is because there is not in all the newe nor ould Testaments any commandement to set vp any other Sabbath then that 7th day from the creation no nor ought else that hath the force of a commandement as no practise of Christ nor his Apostles as haue beene showne afore nay we haue Gods apointement to the contrary that no day of the 6. can be Sabbath day for in the 6. dayes vve may labour Exod. 20.9 Sixe dayes shalt thou labour c. I answere 2. Be it that Saturday Sabbath being abrogated an other Sabbath must rise vp in its roome yet it followeth not that Sunday or the Lords day on first day of the vveeke must necessarily be the new day for there may be a Sabbath though none vpō the first day of the weeke if there be one kept vpon any of the 6. dayes Moneday Tewsday Wensday or Thursday c. But hereto it vvill be said though the newe Sabbath may be on any of the 6. dayes yet we ought to choose the first day of the weeke before all others because on it vve receiued a greater a greater blessing then one any other of the 6. dayes since on that day our Lord Christ rose from the dead and therfore it is caled the Lords day I answere 1. be it so that in choosinge a day vve ought to take that day which hath neere relation to the greatest blessing yet vvold we imitate God in instituting a Sabbath at Creation we shold not set a parte for a Sabbath that very day vvhereon vve receiued that blessing or whereon Christ performed it but the day after it so God hauing finished his vvorke of creation on the 6th day he then sanctifyed the day after the 7th day so it seemeth the beleeuing Iewes learned of God to set a parte the day after a deliuerance not the very day see Ester 9.17.18 vvhere the Iewes that conquered their enemies on the 13th day of the moneth they rested on the 14th day of the month and keept it a day of feasting and ioye and those Iewes that conquered on the 13th and 14th dayes they rested on the 15th daye But vve immitate neither God nor those Godly Iewes for vve rest vpon the very day where on we receiued that great blessing that is vpon the first day of the weeke wherein the Lord rose and we shold rest rather on the second day of the vveeke which is Moneday I answere 2. be it so that the Lords day were to be kept of vs aboue any other day in memory of the resurrection of our Lord yet it followeth not that vve shold count and keepe euery first day of the vveeke and one day in 7. for a Sabbath for this were Iewish as it is caled and to imitate God in the creation but we Christians haue an other patterne that is Christ the Lord and Redemer to imitate and that in respect of the worke of Redemption So as if we hold it best to sanctify the very day whereon Christ rose why then must we sanctifye euery third day for our new Sabbath and cale and counte euery third day since the first Lords day vvhereon Christ rose The Lords day let it fale vpon the first day of the weeke or on the 2th or 3th or 4th c. one any day of the weeke my reason is because the Scriptures telleth vs that our Lord Christ rose vpon the 3th daye as God rested on the 7th day so then Christ being crucified one good Friday and riseing againe one our Suneday it appeares he was but 3. dayes vpon the worke of redemption Now if vve Christians must imitate Christ in the worke of redemption as did the Iewes God in the worke of creation Then looke as God working 6. dayes and resting the 7th the Iewes also wrought 6. dayes and rested the 7th So as Christ was 3. dayes or 3. partes of 3. dayes in the worke of redemption and rested from the same sufferings on the third day In like manner shold we Christians in imitation of Christ worke 3. dayes or 3. partes of three dayes and rest on the third keeping it for a Sabbath So we shold not then keepe these we now call Lords dayes for our Sabbath but others nor keepe a Sabbath once in 7. dayes but on t once euery 3. dayes I answere now to the reason whereby they wold choose out the Lords day afore any other of the 6. dayes for a Sabbath because on that day we receiued the Lord from the dead the greatest worke and mercy that euer we receiued c. here vnto I answere if the greatest worke shall determine the day which it shall be Then in myn account as farr at yet I can see good Friday shold be our new Sabbath day for on that day Christ performed the greatest work of any other day let vs therefore compare these 3. dayes vvorkes on good Friday not to mention the the particulares of his grieueousse passion Christ vpon the crosse hanging there in our roomes bare that most intollerable and insupportable wrath of God which was due for the sins of all Gods elect from beginning to the end of the world vvhich wrath was so hote as caused him to vtter these words My God my God why hast thou forsaken me and then as hauing borne the vtmost of his fathers wrath for sins of his elect he yeelded vp his Spirit with these words It is finished Ioh. 19.30 as for the next day the 2d. day of his passion our Saturday and so also for the 3d. day of his passion our Sunday vntill he rose what cold he suffer his soule vvas in paradise his body in the graue dead and senselesse now judge vvhither of these 3. dayes had the greatest worke done in in which of them but Friday was the greatest passion or if you vvill compare Christs resurrection with his passion I trust it vvill be fond a greater vvorke for his Deity to supporte the Humanity vpon the crosse then to send his soule from heauen into his dead body in the graue to quicken and raise it vp But you will say on the 3d. day Christ rose with out which all the former had beene insufficient 1. Cor. 15.14 if Christ be not risen our preaching and your faith is in vaine c. and Christ died for our sines and rose againe for our justification Rom. 4.25 so that it is rather the day wherein all was perfectly finished then the day wherin the greatest worke was done that we shold keepe for our Sabbath where to I answere 1. Christ vpon the crosse on good Friday said then it is finished Ioh. 19.30 secōdly if you will stay for a day where in euery complement vvas fulfilled then must
church doth better become vs all that I aime at hereby is no more but this that we alleage not the practise of our church as an infallible rule touch stone of truth but though a Paul preacht it yet with these Bareanes Act. 17.11 rather to serche the Scriptures then to rely vpon the Testimony of man Finally that our church hath kept this Lords day so longe and therfore the more strange it should be an errour I answere t is true the Lords day hath beene kept for about this 1200. yeeres as nere as I can guesse from about the yeere 364. at which tyme the Laodicean counsaile enacted a Law for the abolishing the Sabbath day and for the sole setting vp the Lords day till then both dayes were in vse saue that as hath beene showne the Lords day was sometymes omitted since then only the Lords day hath beene in request and that is about a 1200. yeeres but here it is to be noted what church it is that principally ground of our future discourse I thinke it needfull therfore in the first place to stay a while vpon the exposition of it or rather of some such things in it as may make way for our future discourse First as touching the substance of the Com note that as in a bonde you haue two essentiall things th one is the summe of mony to be paide the other is the day when it is to be paide and as in circumcision there was two things commanded the one vvas the acte of circumcision the other was the tyme and day when to be done that is on the 8th day Genes 17.12 and as in that other Sacrament the passeouer two things were commanded the one was the slaying and eating of the passeouer the other was the tyme and day when to be done that is on the 14th day of the month Exod. 12.6.8 Iust so in this 4th Com God commandeth vs expresly two things as essentiall partes of his Com the one is Holinesse and Rest the other is the tyme when these ought to be performed and that is in the Sabbath day which is the 7th day the former may be called the duties in the day the latter the dutie of the day the duties in the day ye haue in these wordes To keepe it holy Exod. 20.8 the other duty in these wordes In it thou shalt not doe any worke v. 10. the duty of the day ye haue in these wordes Remember the Sabbath day v. 8. the 7th day is the Sabbath v. 10. The vse of this point serues for confutation Is it so that God in his 4th Com straightly chargeth vs two things that is the duties in the day and the dutie of the day or thus the duties to be performed and the tyme when they be to be performed how is it then that so many say of the tyme of the 4th com oh the tyme that is but an accident but a circumstance God regards not circumstances so much it is the substance of the duties to be performed in the tyme that God lookes at c. and therfore you are but superstitiouse and vaine to stand so much vpon tyme where to I answere 1. tyme may here be considered two wayes 1. in relation to the duties of Holinesse and Rest and so I grant the tyme is an adiuncte wherein these duties were to be performed 2. in relation to the commandement it selfe considered as a thing commanded together with Holines and Rest and thus it is no adjuncte but thus it is an essentiall part of the Com the tyme being no lesse commanded then the duties of Holines and Rest I answere 2. but admite that tyme here were an accident or adjuncte to the Com and that you esteeme of adjunctes as light and triuiale matters little or nothing to be regard for their nature as in them selues in comparison of things substātiall c. I say be it the tyme here were as mynte and annyse and commine and the duties to be performed Sabbath day Remember the Sabbath day c. vvhere it is to be noted that this phrase Sabbath day was emong the Iewes a proper name for one of theire weeke dayes namly for that weeke day which is the last of the weeke as Saturday is with vs and it answeres to our Saturday in so much as if we shold translate the Hebrew words Sabbath day we shold reade it Saturday Remember Saturday to keepe it holy c. now that Sabbath day was a proper name of one of their weeke dayes is apparant to all since they counted all the other 6. dayes of the weeke by the Sabbath day thus the 7th and last day of the weeke they called Sabbath day the first day of the vveeke our Suneday they called the first of the Sabbath the second day of the weeke our Moonday they called the seconde of the Sabbath our Tewsday the thirde of the Sabbath c. so as you see no day of the weeke was called Sabbath day but this one only I confesse the word Sabbath signifieth a Rest but it also signifieth a proper name of the last day of their weeke Secondly if this be not enough to shew that God had sett aparte one certaine well knowne day afore any of the other 6. dayes for Holy duties Then marke what the Lord saith further in this Com The Seaventh day is the Sabbath c. not the third day nor the 4th day nor the first day of the weeke but the 7th day is the Sabbath where to take hence all scruples aboute the order of the day it hath pleased God for our certaine information to pointe directly and distinctly to the day which he wold haue kept as by the finger saying The Seaventh day Thouchinge which word of number Seaventh it is to be noted that it is not a Cardinall number but an Ordinall notifying which for order the propertie whereof is to denote 1. one and one only 2. it notes that indiuiduall particular one which for order is the last of that number for instance The Thirde it is not any of the three as the second nor the first but it is the last of the three so the fifthe it is not the 4th nor the second but it is the last of the 5 so the Seaventh day is the Sabbath not the 6th day nor the third day nor the first day of the weeke but the last day of the weeke the 7th is the Sabbath so againe you see the Lord hath culled out the last day of the 7. for his Sabbath and hath not lefte it indefinitly and vndetermined Furthermore left any shold thinke the 7th day may be separated from that day called the Sabbath day as is vsually thought therefore note 1. the Lord God hath ioyned them together in his Comm. The 7th day is the Sabbath see Levit 23.3 and Exod 35.2 Luk 13.14 not the 8th nor the first now what God hath ioyned let noe man put asunder 2. Note that these two The 7th day and
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
In sondry places in diuerse churches not at one place or two but at more 3. that vvhere they abode diuerse dayes they chose the Sabbath day not the Lords day to teache and to preache in as Act. 16.12.13 Act. 13.42.44 Act. 17.2 Act. 18.4 4. They kept Sabbath with both Jewes and Gentiles together sometyme with you see the duties of a Sabbath meditation in Gods Law vvith ioy and delight and admiration of the workes of God There be I confesse that would haue all this vnderstood of the Lords day but Ignatius speakes both of the Sabbath also of the Lords day distinctly in the same Text for the very next words are thus And after the Sabbath let the Lords day be celebrated c. Athanasius in his Homilie de semente saith thus We assemble together in the Sabbath day not as if vve were sicke of Iudaizme but therefore we meete on the Sabbath that we may vvorship Iesus the Lord of the Sabbath vvhere ye see Athanasius not only auowching that they of this tyme kept the Sabbath but also he defendeth theire keeping of it from superstition or Iudaizme but our tymes are now of a contrary minde thinking and saying if we should keepe the Sabbath day we should play the Iewes and be infected with Judaizme Socrates in his History chap 8. booke 6th saith Assemblies were vvonte to be in the Churches euery weeke vpon the Sabbath vpon the Lords day Zanchie ypon the 4th Com Thes 1. saith out of Sozomen That thos of Constantinople almost all others haue Ecclesiasticall assemblies to heare Gods Word on the Sabbath day and on the Lords day Doctour Prideaux on the Sabbath saith The Churches after Christ kept both the Sabbath the Lords day for diuerse yeeres with holy assemblies and this thing is so manifest saith he as it needeth no proofe c. In a word is it not plaine the Sabbath was in vse in the Church vntill the yeere of Christ 364. at vvhat tyme the Laodicean counsaile enacted a Law against it and for the Lords day Hosp de Orig. Fest cap. 9. pag. 27. but how vniustifiable this their acte was may appeare in that they enacted a Law against Gods Law and were guilty of that brande in Dan. 7.25 of vnlawfull changing of Tymes and the Law yea how full of suspition this their facte was may appeare in this that Church of Laodicea it was the worst of all the 7. churches that S. Iohn wrote vnto in his Reuelations yea and in that this change was not made till the yeere 364. t is of small accounte since the elder the church grewe the more corrupt it grewe for 364. yeeres after Christ crept into the church superstition and so dayly thence forwards popery by degrees But how soeuer it is plaine that the Sabbath day was in vse in the church at that tyme in which they enacted a Lavv against it or else they made a Law against nothing Here it shall not be amisse to adde the testimony of two or three of our owne Diuines auowching the morality of the 7th day Sabbath I could produce many but two or three for all strengthen my selfe and vvronge not them 3. Doctour Prideaux vpon the Sabbath lately comne forth pag. 140. saith Where did Christ abrogate the Sabbath vvhere is there any mention of setting the Lords day in the roome of it well Christ ascendeth he left his Apostles preachers and did not they vvithout any scruple obserue the Sabbath of the Iewes wich the Iewes did not they institute most freely assemblies in the Sabbath day did not the succeding churches the like c And now let me propounded vnto your choise these two dayes The Sabbath day on Saturday or the Lords day on Suneday and keepe whither of the twaine you shall in conscience finde the more safe If you keepe the Lords day but prophane the Sabbath day you vvalke in great danger and perill to say the last of transgressing one of Gods eternall inviolable Laws the 4th Com but on the other side if you keep the Sabbath day though you prophane the Lords day you are out of all guneshot and danger for so you transgresse no Law at all since Christ nor his Apostles did euer leaue any Law for it 1. To conclude let me take away two or three obiections and so an end Say some what a doe is here about a day is God so strict for a day so be he hath the duties it matters not so much for the tyme To whom I answere and make not you as much a doe too as you can for the Lords day the 8th day else why may not Mooneday or Tewsday or some other day be kept in memory of Christs Resurrection as well as Sunday the first day of the vveeke and doe not our diuines of best ranke lay it downe as their judgement that the Church the whole Church cannot now alter the Lords day to any other it seemes then in your owne judgement that tyme and day how light a circumstance soeuer you make it when you dispute about the 7th day in the 4th Com yet it is a matter of vveight and moment when you argue for the Lords day for vvhich yet you haue no Com 2. Thinke you it a light matter the which God hath beene pleased to stampe his Commandement vpon Exod. 35.2 The 7th day shall be vnto you the Holy Sabbath c. Will you sleight Gods Commandements admite the tyme and 7th day be as thing little profitable to God as was the fruite of the tree of knowledge of good euill in Paradise dareth any man hazard with God as Adam did The lesse the thing is vvith the more ease vve may shew our obedience and the greater our sine if disobedient 3. We dare not forfighte a bonde with man vpon such shiftes saying whē t is paiable on 7th day of Ianuary oh my neighbour regardeth not so much the day so I carry him the full some though it be the day after t is due nor durst those faithfull Israelites so sleight Gods tymes as to circumcise on the 9th day to call Passeouer on the 15th day vvhen God hath commanded CIrcumcision on the 8th day and the Passeouer on the 14th day 2. Saith an other this vvere to bringe into the Church Iudaizme againe and that strict rigorous obseruation of the Sabbath vvhich they vsed Here to I answere Athanasius afore cited said They kept the Sabbath day in their tymes and yet he saith they were not infected with Judaizme Further Iudaizme is when obedience is yeelded to a Law Ceremoniall but he that keepes the Sabbath day doth it in obedience to a Law Morall And as touching the rigorous strictenesse of the Iewish Rest or Sabbath it is not better than an euill reporte brought vp vpon the Lords Sabbath to loathe men of it vvhat and if men erroniously thinke the Iewes vvere more strictly tyed then indeed they vvere that is their errour and what and
permitteth Apocrypha Scriptures to be reade sometymes in our congregations yet it permitteth them not to be vsed and alleaged as a sole ground to establishe any doctrine of our church and what I pray is our reason better then Apocrypha Scriptures that wee shuld leane more to tone then to other vvere it meete we should receiue doctrines into the church vvhich haue a binding power ouer the conscience tying the whole man to obedience of them vpon payne of damnation vvhich are framed and maintainede only by force of our reason wherfore to conclude let reasons be subseruient and handmaide to the Holy Scriptures and euer follow them neuer to goe before them nor to goe vvithout them and therfore since our Sauiour Christ and his Apostles be auouched to be the founders of our new Sabbath I pray in the first place shewe vs where euer Christ or any of his Apostles gaue any commandement for it or whereas you say collection for the poore preaching be markes of a Sabbath shew me your text of Scripture vvhere it is said that collections preaching be proper infallible markes of any Sabbath day or which is yet lesse let it be showne where euer they said or did any thing which necessarily and infallibly doth giue vs notice that it was but their minde that euer after the churches should euery weeke keepe the Lords day a Sabbath in conscience of the 4th Com and since God at creation gaue a commandement for that Sabbath vvhy should we not thinke Christ would a giuen a commandement too for this Sabbath if euer he had intended to haue had it kept as a Sabbath vvould God giue a commandement for his Sabbath and Christ leaue his Sabbath without a commandement and to be collected by feeble reason vvas our Sauiour so carefull to giue a commandement for the Lords Supper to be done in remembrance of him and did he forget thinke you to leaue a commandement for the Lords day to be kept in remembrance of him could it be possible a matter of so great importance as is a Sabbath and such a Sabbath as would make so much for his remembrance to the worlds ende should be passed ouer in deepe silence not only by Christ himselfe but also by his succeeding Apostles so as not only not to commande it but which yet is lesse not so much as mention it by the name of a Sabbath whoe that considereth of this would or could euer thinke that Christ did institute and appointe this Lords day for a Sabbath vvas not these those considerations which made Calvin vpon Col. 2.16 say it is not vnlawfull to labour worke on our Sabbathes thus in effecte hee was not this it also which moued zanchie vpon the 4th com Thesis 1. to say The Apostles left the Lords day at liberty and that we are not bounde to keepe it for a Sabbath by any bonde or tye of conscience thus hee To come yet nerer home to our owne diuines was it not hence that Perkins though a greate frend to the Lords day for Sabbath as Walaeus on the 4th com quoteth him thus Perkins ingenuously saith he confesseth that as touching Christs institution the argumentes he bringes for our Lords day they be not necessary but only probable ones c. and see Perk cases of conscience chapt 16. vvhere the holy man durst not speake to the conscience peremptorily as of a thing for certaine true but tremblingly as it were repeatinge his doubtfull speeches 3. or 4. tymes ouer in 6. or 8. lines wrighting as 1. In all likely hoode saith he 2. as I take it c. 3. now I suppose c. 4. for in these pointes stil we must goe by likely hoodes c. surely had there beene any sufficient grounds for our new Sabbath this holy man durst not haue concealed them no nor would he haue spake so doubtfully whoe in other pointes speakes peremptorily and confidently and was it not hence that Doctour Prideaux in his worke vpon the Sabbath saith where is there the least mention of surrogation of the Lords day in roome of the Sabbath pag. 140. Againe where saith he amongst the Euangelists or Apostles is there any distinct institution of the Lords day yea further where is the texte whence you will necessarily proue it vvhat should I reckone vp particular men is it not the doctrine of our churche very lately a booke came to my hands printed at Oxford in the yeere 1621. written by M. Broad touching the Sabbath where on the margent pag. 2. thus he wrighteth Christian people chose the first day of the weeke and made it their Sabbath saith the booke of Homilies By the doctrine then of our church saith M. Broad the obseruation of the Lords day is an Ecclesiasticall ordinance and not an Apostolicall precept againe pag. 21. It is not by any expresse command from Christ or his Apostles but by an ordinance of the church as is the doctrine of many great diuines and of our church in the booke of Homilies that we sanctify the Lords day rather then any other day of the weeke thus wrighteth M. Broade of the Lords day and of its institution as being in the judgement of our owne church not from God nor from Christ but from certaine Godly christian and well disposed people One obiection remaineth to be remoued which is That the Church of God hath kept this Lords day for a Sabbath many hundreds of yeeres and can it be thought Gods whole church should erre and that so long I answere t is true indeed we ought to hould a reuerent regard of the tenentes of our Mother the church so as not lightely nor rashely to receiue any opinions which blemishe hir practise Neuerthelesse this we must know also that the church whilst on earth is liable to miscariages through ignorance for as much as God doth not reueale his whole truth to hir at once but successiuely now on thing and then another as she is able to beare it as the tymes may permite and as it seemes good to his Godly pleasure doe we not see daily light is brought into the church and God reueales himselfe more and more and what doth this argue but what we cannot deny that is that before such light came we were in darkenes and error as touching those pointes yea we must grante the church may doth erre in some things vnles we will affirme that shee is growne to fulnesse of stature and perfection in knowledge so as nothing more can be added I verily perswade my selfe these very cōceipts that the true Church of God cannot erre in any maine thing is the very foundation of errour in those mindes where such conceipts rule for vvhoe would be so idle to spend labour and tyme to try all thinges and with the Bereanes to serch the Scriptures if alredy our curch hath tryed all and serched all to perfection so as they haue no vvayes erred more humble thoughts of our
at an other tyme therfore I thinke it the more likely that we are tyed only to the day naturall in Winter though it be shorter then then the other Neuertheles because the safest vvay is best and an errour on the right hand rather to be admitted then one the lefte if any man judge it better for the depth of vvinter to keepe his Sabbath by the artificiall day I say not to the contrary yea I say for myne owne particular I purpose to accompany him whoesouer he be in performance of Sabbath dayes exercises and refrayning all seruile laboures not onely for the artificiall day but after it is ended vntill it be tyme to goe to rest sleepe Here an other question ariseth if we be tyed but to the day tyme and light onely for our Sabbath vvhat then shall become of the tyme of night before or after the Sabbath I answere nature teacheth that God hath made the night for man to rest in and sleepe and so necessarily he that tyme resteth from all labours as in the Sabbath day tyme but you may say againe what and if a man be not disposed to sleepe as not to goe to bedd so soone as the artificiall day in depth of Winter be done may he set vpon the duties of his ordenary calling vntill he goe to rest heretoo I answere where God hath left no order what to doe as in this case here then it is left to Christian discretion In this case then I should judge it very behoofefull that we deale vvith God in this night as vve doe by our selues on other nightes of the 6. working dayes in these if we be not disposed to goe to bedd vve vvill spend that parte of the night vve please to sett vp in in the vvorkes of the day before so let vs be as mindfull of our soules as of our bodies on the Sabbath night if vve please to rise before day let that parte of the night be spent in a holy preparation to the duties of the day following to set forwards them if we please to sett vp after the day light be spent then againe let this parte of the night be spent sutable to the day before in reading conference meditation singing of Psalmes and Prayer To this may I fitly apply that of Holy Dauid who spent much of the night in prayer and praises Ps 42.8 The Lord will graunte his louing kindnes in the day and in the night shall I sing of him c. The first vse of this point may be for confutation of an errour of some diuines houlding the Sabbath doth begine ouer night on Saturday at night or on Saturday Euening If God enioyneth only the day Remember the Sabbath day c. by what authoritie can any say we be bound to sanctify more then a day as namly to sanctify the Sabbath day and also a parte of the day or night goeing before the Sabbath day I know well the end these diuines aime at is holy and good and their argumentes carry a strong shew of truth yet not strong enough me thinketh the best that I could ere meete withall are these 3. the formost Taken from Genes 1.5 The euening the morning were the first day where by Euening they vnderstand the Night from about after Sune set forwards by morning all the day after now hence they thus argue That looke as God made the day at creation so we must after keepe it But God made the day to begine at Euening Ergo c. I answere the grownd of this argument is from a common indeed but mise vnderstanding of that text Genes 1.5 as I haue formerly showne so I deny that by Euening in the Text is meant an Euening which begines the night and comprises the night in it as the argument vnderstands it for by Euening is meante only the afternoone till Sune sett as formerly I haue showne but against this it may be said this sense is to make God to speake of things mise orderly if by euening you vnderstand the afternoone and by morning the forenoone then t is as if God had said So the afternoone and the forenoone vvere the first day whereas it had beene more orderly to a said So the forenoone and the afternoone were the first day since the forenoone is in order before the afternoone I answere such liberty though God doth take in speeche for instance to goe no farther for an example see Genes 1.2.3.4.5 darkenesse was for order before light and yet in v. 4.5 God mentiones the light before the darkenesse and why not then the after noone before the forenoone Their 2d argument is taken from Levit. 23.32 from Euene to Euene shall ye celebrate your Sabbath Hereto I answere this a peculiar law to the ceremoniall Sabbathes annually not common to the morall Sabbath weekly now we must not drawe the law of ceremoniall Sabbaths vpon the morall Sabbath for then must the morall Sabbath on 7th day be annualy onely and on the 10th day of the month as Leuit. 23.27 without regard to the day of the weeke besides many other differences twixt the morall and ceremoniall Sabbaths that might be showne but cheifly note in the 4th Com is but one day only mentioned to wit the 7th day but in Leui. 23. is two distinct dayes commanded to wit the 10th day v. 27. and the 9th day apart of it v. 32. now would any inferre hence that we should giue God the Sabbath day and a parte also of the day goeing next before it euery weeke vvere not this to giue God more then one day when in his 4th Com he required but one day A 3d to enforce the begining of the Sabbath on the Euening is taken from Mark 15.42 It was the day of the preparation that is before the Sabbath whence it is gathered by many that the Jewes vsed on the Euening before the Sabbath to haue a preparation to the Sabbath by setting a parte that euening for holy exercises refraying ordenary workes as they did on the Sabbath where vnto I answere more is gathered out this text then it vvill afforde and that preparation vvhich was proper to a ceremoniall Sabbath is applied to our Morall Sabbath To this purpose it must be obserued that at this tyme of Christs passion and on that day whereon he lay in the graue our Saturday there fell out two Sabbaths a morall and a ceremoniall vpon that day as Beza Piscator and others affirme and as euery diuine knowes and as must needes be for our Saturday wherein Christ lay in the graue vvas Jewes Sabbath day of the 4th Comm so there is one now againe the day before this namly good friday was the day the Iewes kept for their passeouer day Ioh. 18.28 Ioh. 19.14 now the Law of the passeouer was that the passeouer should be killed and eaten on the 14th day of the month Leuit. 23.5 and on the next day the 15th of the month they had an holy conuocation and
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 this That since the Ceremoniall Sabbaths whilst in force did binde as strictly as did the Morall Sabbath therfore there is the same reason and the regard of the Ceremoniall and of the Morall Sabbath for strictnes of obseruation and therfore it followeth by like reason as farre as man may judge that if a dispensatiō be granted in case of necessity for a change of that day so a dispensation likewise in like case is granted for a change of the Morall Sabbath so long as that necessity vnauoidably lasteth vnles groundlesly we should think God is more strict towards Christians about the Sabbath then he vvas towards Iewes about the Sabbath of the Passeouer One obiection more vvhat and if vve cannot haue publike assemblies in the congregatiō may are vve not bounde to keep the Sabbath as vve can priuately euery man in his owne familie I answere since God had ordeined the Sabbath to be kept vvith publike assemblies and with the helpe of Priestes or Ministers as hath beene showne therefore I judge it better to alter the day vntill the tyme of reformation that so we might enioy the publike assemblies and benefite of an able Minister on an other day then without these to keep the very selfe same day that this opinion is justifiable see the like practise of the good King Hezekiah fore mentioned 2. Chron. 30.1.2.3 vvho because the Priests were not prepared to keep the Passeouer in the first Month nor vvere the people publikely assembled together in the same month for these two causes the King with his Princes altered the day of the Passeouer to the second month If any shall obiect or doubt that I straine things to farre when I wold justifie the change of the Sabbath by the change of the Passeouer because these two are things of a different kinde c. and because the reasons mouing vs to change the Sabbath are not the same that God mentioned in the Law of the Passeouers change Numb 9.10 for satisfaction of the vveakest in this point I thus answer 1. to the latter touching the reasons of our change they be not the same indeed euery way yet if they be as they are as necessary to enforce a change as thes Numb 9.10 it is sufficient and for proofe hereof see it in the practise of King Hezekiah who changed the day of the Passeouer 2. Chron. 30.3 not vpon these very particular grounds which God specified in Numb 9.10 for God specified onely these two defilment by a dead corps and being in a farre iourney but Hezekiah by like reason gatheted that they might alter the day vpon other grounds also if as weightie as those first and namely vpon these 1. Because the Priests vvere not sanctified 2. because the people were not assembled so thes two differ both in the persons and also in the things as may be seen by cōparing thos two textes together Secondly I answere to the former and I justifie my arguing from the Passeouer to the Sabbath from the practise of our Sauiour who argued from Dauids eating the Shewbread to the Sabbath Math. 1.12.2.3 which were things farre more different then the Passeouer day the Sabbath day for both these are of day and tyme but thos were of bread and tyme Further by this practise of Christ I finde it lavvfull for vs to reason from a ceremoniall as the shewe breade was or by like reason from a ceremoniall as the Passeouer was to a morall as the Sabbath was concluding that the same exceptions and dispensations belonge to the morall Sabbath which God granted to the ceremoniall Law of Shewbread or to the Law of Passeouer if there be necessity in the one as vvas in the other For a conclusion let me stopp vp one gapp wher at I perceiue some will be redy to breek out saying since that we haue not now the very day vvhich God sanctified but an other day in its roome vve are not tied so strictly to keepe this day in the duties of Reste and Holinesse as we shold be if we had the righte day and therfore vve may take liberty c. where vnto I ansvvere hovv euer the right day is to be desired principally and before any other and all good meanes to be vsed for obtayning it yet vntill a tyme of reformation I hould this day ought as strictly to be Sanctified as that other suppose a debtor bound in a bond to pay 10li. on the seauenth day of March and his creditor seing him in a streight and necessity is vpon him so as he he cannot bring the mony iust vpon the day in mercy the creditor permitteth him to make payment on the next day after on the 8th day of March shall novv this vnthankfull debtor thus revvard his mercifull creditor saying since I carry not my 10li. vpon the right day of my bond being dispensed vvith all for the tyme why therfore I nede not be strict neighther in the some nor yet in the currantnesse of the mony I may take liberty and carry but 9li. 10s. therfore yea and I care not if also I put in some light gould and clipt siluer is this good dealing thinke you by the debtor towards his mercifull creditor Why apply this the case is thine if thou vvilt giue Godlesse dutie and seruice on this 8th day then on the 7th day yea farther consider of that text Num. 9.12 vvhere though the Lord had permitted that in a case of necessity the tyme and day might be changed for the Passeouer yet as touching the duties of the Passeouer to be by the Law performed in the tyme and in the first day God vvold abate none of them though vpon another day for so saith the text According to all the ordinances of the Passeouer they shall keepe it So may I say of this first day of the vveeke vntill a tyme of reformation and necessity be remoued According to all the ordinances of the Sabbath on the seauenth day shall yee keep it FINIS