Sabbath and the Lords day I know not why this term of Lords day should offend Christians now more then of old if some sabbath-keepers shall scruple it yet I hope they can religiously embrace those Gospel-opportunities and precious priviledges that the first day affords Let us beware of a censorious spirit towards persons of different perswasions Our God waited long upon us whiles living in disobedience to the Law of the seventh day Sabbath and he looks for a spirit of forbearance towards others till Sabbath light break in upon their souls unless sathan prevail with them to deprive us of our hopes by their forsaking of our assemblies as the manner of some is whose practice proclaims they will learn no more nor suffer sabbath-light to take possession of their souis We shall leave such to that drerdfull doom which attends Heb. 10.25 26.27 Those that wilfully sin in forsaking the assemblies of the Saints for whom there remains no more sacrifice but a certain fearfull looking for of judgement and fiery indignation to devour the adversaries who will not have the Lord of the Sabbath reign over them but will follow their earthly enjoyments and imployments till he return to tell them they have already received their good things i. e. the things they esteemed so and preferred before the celebration of his Sabbath and therefore must never look for more But for the enlightened Saint who sees the abiding glory of Gods seventh day Sabbath in its morality exact measure of time beginning and end let him proceed in the power of Gods spirit what ever he pay for it Though parents forsake him he hath a God to go to who will willingly receive him into a bosome of grace and after a few more weekly returns to the Gospel noon-tide Rest he and I shall be translated into New Jerusalems glory to joyn in songs of praise to the honour of the Lord of the Sabbath in the Saints everlasting rest Thus through Divine assistance I have to the full satisfaction of my own foul vindicated the morality of the holy Rest of Saints or the Sabbath of the Lord our God which is undeniably the solemn Season for Gospel worship The next thing is the special warrant for Christians to celebrate this holy day which is sour-fold 1. The Creators institution 2. The Redeemers confirmation 3. The Spirits approbation 4. The Saints observation Which being confirmed by clear Scripture will undoubtedly be fully satisfactory to all that are willing to imbrace truth The third Head VIZ. The AUTHORITY THough the Great God be not engaged to give any account of his matters yet behold his marvailous condiscentions in giving his creature not onely a command but the reason why he requires the solemn observation of this seventh day Sabbath which cannot possibly for this reason be changed to any other day For in six dayes Jehovah made the Heavens and the Earth the Sea and all that in them is and rested the seventh day wherefore Jehovah blessed the Sabbath day and sanctified it As our Lord Jesus sets forth the excellency of that universal decree of marriage made in Paradise for Adam which is therefore honourable amongst men even so doth Jehovah lay the Basis of our obedience to his holy Sabbath in the first institution reducing us to the beginning when first as his first and his Saints best ordinance he made the Sabbath for man thereby engaging all mankinde both Jews and Gentiles to observe it upon which account the Israelites were bound not onely to sanctifie it themselves but to see that all strangers within their gates did observe the same a practise exemplary in holy Nehemiah Neh. 13. If then all Gentiles when but resident in Palestina were required to rest on Gods Sabbath whiles they were Aliens to the Commonwealth of Israel much more are we now engaged being fellow Citizens with the Saints and of Gods family The Authority then with its equity universally obliging all Adams posterity to observe the seventh day Sabbath purely springs from Gods holy Rest and Divine institution 1 Point Institution after the Worlds creation which being not made onely for Israel but for all people I appeal to all conscientious understanding Christians that presume not to destroy the reason of the fourth Commandement whether all mankinde be not hence obliged to observe that very 7th day Sabbath who enjoy the benefit of the creation God hath not only vouchsafed his children such a precious precept with the ground of it 1 Precept 2 President But is graciously pleased to make himself a perfect president in observing this seventh day Sabbath A most pure pattern for his Saints to work by a most clear coppy for his schollers to write after and lot such as desire to be Godly that is God-like follow their first and fairest example The spirit of Christ in the Gospel enjoyns us to Be followers of God as dear children Eph. 5.1 To be holy as he is holy pure as he is pure Impure persons pollute the Sabbath but the holy God sanctifies and observes it that his dear children may follow him in it Shall we pretend to press after God-like purity and yet slight Gods example in this sweet solemnity Why Gods president is the most absolute pattern of all perfection the best of men may fail and be outstript by their folfollowers but who so makes the perfect God his pattern still presseth forward and hath still more perfections before him which allures the growing mounting soul from grace to grace and so to glory Since then the blessed Creator so compleated every creature in six days that he might immediately consecrate and celebrate the seventh day Sabbath for mans example let not man think to be wiser then his Maker either in presuming to change his holy day or pretending a spiritual observance in a literal disobedience Can poor worms dust and ashes contrive a way to be more spiritual then the Father of spirits Can Satan suggest a president more perfect then Perfection it self Be not righteous overmuch but learn of the Lawgiver who in expounding his own Law sums up all in this instruction Be ye therefore perfect Mat. 5.48 even as your heavenly Father is perfect that is in quelity though equality is utterly impossible Wherefore let that very seventh day which your heavenly Faâ—her hath separated by his institution benediction and celebration be your constant observation that in this point you may be perfect EVEN As your heavenly Father is perfect Here it appeareth plainly with what full authority the blessed seventh day Sabbath is established even from the Worlds foundation Heb. 4.3 4. So that it may well be owned as a foundation Oracle instituted and observed by God himself The royal Psalmist elegantly sings Ps 87.1 That Gods foundations are in the holy mountains and certainly this toyal Law is thus gloriously founded For as it was the first statute decreed by Jehovah so its foundation
as hath been shewed was first laid in that pure pleasant Paradise Eden where God rested and inseparably united the Sabbath to the seventh day The second holy Mountain wherein God established this foundation truth Sinai was Mount Sinat made glorious by the terrible Majesty of the Lord descending with shrill trumpet in dreadful tempests thunder and lightening where with a lively voice he immediately delivered this lively Oracle crowning this seventh day Sabbath with the very same honour and dignity as the other nine Royal statutes and recording the same in Tables of stone which by his new Covenant he writes in renewed hearts so that if Christians stand obliged to those ten Commandements as so many lively Oracles committed to the Jews to be given unto us Rom. 3.2 Act. 7.38 Iam. 2.8 and that we shall do well in observing these royal Laws according to the Scripture that is according as God himself hath written them then must this very seventh day Sabbath as one of those Royal Laws be for ever observed by saints without alteration or diminution and the rather since this foundation oracle obtains confirmation in the third glorious holy Mountain even in the heighths of Gospel Sion where the very same seventh day Sabbath instituted by the Father is established by the Son which is the second point proposed wherein I shall prove 2 Confirmation That the seventh day Sabbath sanctified by Iehovah is ratified by Iesus upon a two-fold account 1. He owns it by his Words 2. He crowns it by his Works And if this be cleared then surely Christians should carefully observe it both in word and work 1. Our blessed Redeemer confirms the seventh day Sabbath by his Word more generally amongst the rest of those Royal statutes which he assures us shall continue in every tittle not so much as one Hebrew point to be diminished or altered til the heavens be no more and the earth be removed and all be compleated and fulfilled Christian turn to thy Bible and behold with horror the dreadful doom which thy Redeemer hath denounced against such as shall transgress the least of his Laws and teach others to be disobedient Mat. 5.18 19. O how dangerous is the disobedience to this duty seeing it is undeniable that the seventh day Sabbath is a tittle and more then a tittle of that royal Law the wilfull offence of one point whereof renders the Rebel a transgressor of all Gods Laws Iam. 2.10 Suppose the Sabbath were the least Commandement yet saith Christ our King Comp. Mat. 5.19 with Act. 3.23 He that breaketh and bids others break the least of these Commandements shall be cut off from Gods Kingdome Neither doth Christ in flesh whiles the ceremonial Law was in full fore onely confirm the whole moral Law but even since his ascention by his holy spirit he moves his Apostles to establish the whole every part of the ten words Rom. 3. Do we then make void the law through faith saith Paul God forbid yea we establish the law Which cannot be the ceremonial Law Christ having utterly abolished all those beggarly elements It must be onely that * holy Rom. 7.7 12 14. just good spiritual Law which ends with this Command Thou shalt not covet And not in part is this Law perpetuated but in every point saith the other Apostle Jam. 2.10 And therefore let such as after warning slight the seventh day Sabbath make sure work that it be no point of that Law whose every jot and tittle is established by Christ and his Apostles And yet after this full confirmation how fain would vain contentious flesh find out a device to live in disobedience to that precious heavenly Law Object for 't is objected That Christ hath not expresly and particularly established the fourth Commandement and therefore it may be no sin to slight the seventh day Sabbath Answ By this reasoning the Papists may excuse all their Idolatry since Christ hath not expresly and particularly confirmed the second Commandement and therefore they may as lawfully make and worship Images as we may prophane the seventh day Sabbath 'T is sad to strengthen Antichrists lewdness by weakening Christs Law 2. Christ hath confirmed every tittle and his Apostles every point of the Royal Law will not this suffice if not behold the kindness of Christ condescending to our weakness shewing us as it were the very print of the nails fastening his seventh day Sabbath for ever as a foundation Oracle not onely in Eden and Sinai but in the beauty of Sion for he doth expresly own the seventh day Sabbath particularly with the honour that none other Law enjoys professedly acknowledging it to be his Sabbath proclaiming himself Lord of it and most punctually observing it yea solemnly averring that he came not to destroy the Law but to fulfil it And indeed this spotless Lamb did faithfully fulfil this Law of the Sabbath as the rest without the least violation of any tittle even then when those presumptuous spirits charged him Mar. 2.27 28. He cheeking their blind conceit who thought belike that Man was made for the Sabbath and informs them that the Sabbath was made for Man and not Man for the Sabbath that is for mans benefit and comfort both body and soul even as the Laws of a Nation are made for the subjects and not subjects for the Laws And further be compleats his answer to their false accusation by proclaiming himself Lord of the Sabbath as if he should say The Sabbath is mine I am the Lord of it I made it for Man that he should sanctifie it and therefore having given Man a precept and pattern to keep it I shall not make my self a president to prophane it as you superstitiously suppose Certainly Christs engagement to fulfil it to the least jot or tittle with his professed owning of it claim to it and care for it as its Lord is the fullest confirmation that can possibly be desired That which Christ lays claim to as Lord must needs be confessed to be his esteemed and honoured as his the Bride is his for he is her Lord Psal 45.11 the Harvest is his Heaven and Earth is his the Angels are his and all to be esteemed his who is proclaimed Lord of all Therefore we celebrate the holy Supper because 't is the Lords Supper and therefore we ought to sanctifie the holy Sabbath because he declares himself Lord of the Sabbath He gave it the institution when he made the world he gave it confirmation when he redeemed the world and his Saints must endeavour to observe every jot and tittle of it to the end of the world For as he doth expresly own his holy day in asserting himself Lord of the Sabbath so he takes special care by particular instruction that his Saints might avoid the violation of this rest on earth even whiles he himself should rest triumphantly in Heaven wherefore after his predictions of the approaching
inflame our affections for hence we shall behold the sheaf of first fruits waved and that Lamb without spot so fairly sacrificed in our blessed Saviour as will make every Babe in Christ a sufficient Arithmetician in numbring the fiftie dayes to finde out the seventh day Sabbath Lev. 23.9.15 So Diodation Lev. 23. The institution of this Feast of Pentecost is recorded by Moses who from God appointed Israel to bring on the morrow after their Passcover Sabbath a sheaf of of their first fruits to bee waved by the Priest before the Lord and to offer the same day a Lamb without blemish to the Lord. Deu. 16.9 And from that very day to count seasen Sabbath or Weeks and the morrow after the seventh Week was the Feast of Pentecost or the fiftieth day And this numbring of seven Weeks or fifty dayes is still observed by the Jews who every night when the starres arise Chilm p. 132. Ross view 300. 1 Cor. 15.23 say a prayer and conclude To day are so many dayes past of the Omer And here let the Believer who sees all types ended in Christ with confidence behold his dying Redeemer as the undoubted sheaf of first fruits waved upon the Cross by the crucifying Priests the very morrow after he had eaten the Passeover and for the Lamb without blemish to be offered the same day behold the spotless Lamb of God taking away the sins of the world And after admiration of this compleat Saviour in whom all these misteries which point out this true Messiah are fully accomplished Let us number fifty dayes or seven full Weeks according to the rule that is Lev. 23.15 16.11 c. from the day that the sheaf and Lamb were offered Now our sheaf of first fruits and Lamb without spot is known to every Babe to be offered up on the sixth day of the Week commonly called Good-Friday from which day we must number fifty dayes or seven full Weeks and the morrow after the seventh Week is the fiftieth day called Pentecost and because we have been so long deceived of our true Sabbath by Antichrist and that his Image would still perswade us his Whitsunday is the day of Pentecost I shall take the tender Lambs of Christ by the hand and if they have no readier Arithmetick let them but take an Almanack and number seven weeks or fifty daies and see with their own eyes whether the fiftieth day be the seventh day Sabbath from the day that our sheaf of first fruits and Lamb without spot was offered As thus Good Friday so called is the known day from which we must begin our account of seaven compleate weekes or fifty dayes and the first of these fifty daies is Saturday as Heathens term it and the following Friday is the end of the first week which makes seven compleat daies The second Friday is the 14th day The third Friday is the 21th day The fourth Friday is the 28th day The fifth Friday is the 35th day The sixth Friday is the 42th day The seventh Friday is the 49th day Making up seven compleat weeks And the fiftieth day being the morrow after the seventh week must undeniable be granted the Worlds Saturday and the Saints seventh day Sabbath upon which Sabbath the Apostles were assembled with one accord in one place Acts 2. when the eternal Spirit gave full testimony to that Royal solemnitie with the highest approbation that ever was given to any assembly of Saints and the unspotted Virgin-spouse of the Lambe did sweetly celebrate the most glorious Sabbath that ever Church enjoyed for here heaven and earth accord mutually inviting each other Here the promised Spirit saith come with his quickening motions inviting the Saints to assemble themselves upon his holy Sabbath And here the lovely Bride saith come purposely presenting her self on Gods seventh day Sabbath in expectation of this glorious power from on high What then should hinder the desired inspiration Christs promise is engaged his saints are solemnly assembled in a season sanctified their unanimous supplications are continued Acts 1.14 their hopes are heightened and down comes the eternal Dove with a sudden sound from heaven as a rushing mighty wind filling the house and furnishing all their hearts with Divine abilities to publish the Gospel of Christ to all Nations under heaven Thus while the saints are acted by the spirits operation the seventh day Sabbath is crowned with the highest approbation thousands this day were convinced converted baptized incorporated and with transcendant joys transported feeding like Lambs in fresh pastures closing this blessed seventh day Sabbath with the incomparable feast of the Lords Supper and sacramental union into one entire body by breaking of bread O what a day of wonders is the Lords true Sabbath instituted in Eden advanced at Sinai owned and crowned by Christ and thus highly approved by his spirit in Sion A day of marvellous mysteries a day of manifold mercies Was ever day honoured like Iehovah's Sabbath the Lord Iesus's Sabbath the Holy Spirits Sabbath which therefore must be the Saints Sabbath I have been the more exact and free even to the shallowest capacity in opening these mysteries that Christians may clearly discern the deceits of the little Hom in changing Times as well as Laws perswading poor souls to live by an implicite faith in taking his Whitsunday upon trust for the day of Pentecost as is still pressed by Parish preachers to shuffle off the renowned seventh day Sabbath But some seeing they can no longer delude the people it being so apparent that the day of Pentecost was the very seventh day Sabbath yet devise to detain them longer in disobedience objecting Object That though the day of Pentecost was the Sabbath yet the Saints assembled upon the other days as appears Act. 1.14 Answ It 's indeed declared that they continued with one accord in prayer but it 's not assertted they were constantly together in one place 2. 'T is not likely they did watch all those ten nights and as improbable that they all lodged together 3. But this is manifest That very early upon the fiftieth day they were unanimously solemnly assembled in one place which is not affirmed in that solemn manner of the other days neither was any day like this honoured with the glorious presence of the Holy Spirit This Sabbath was the first honoured with the conversion of souls this and no day before did they break bread together yea many signal tokens of Divine approbation have beyond all dispute advanced the glory of this day above all other days But 't is further objected Object That the ceremonial day of Pentecost is as much honoured as the seventh day Sabbath 1. Answ The Apostles might observe Pentecost as a ceremony not yet buried yet undeniably they would much more honour the Royal Sabbath No ceremony was ever esteemed like the Law of ten Commandements 2. This objection was never made against Whitsunday till the glory of Gods Sabbath discovered
the Father Established by the Son Approved by the Spirit and Observed by the Saints And if these will not prevail with Christians so called to break off their weekly prophanation of this sanctified Sabbath I shall leave them to the righteous judgement of the great day and for their sakes who obtain the grace of self-denial to cast off their carnal encumbrances and joyn with the ancient Gospel Saints in observing the Sabbath I shall now descend to the 4th part of my general Pofition and as I have confirmed the Sabbaths Authority so I doubt not through Christ strengthening me to prove its Porpetuity THE Fourth head Perpetuity of the seventh day Sabbath The infinite wisdome who is Lord of the Sabbath foreseeing the high presumption of the little horn such as to change both times and lawes and knowing that all truths ebbe and flow in the sonls esteeme as holy time is sleighted and observed was graciously pleased most strongly to secure that law against which Satan and his eldest Son would make their first and fiercest assault For t is to be observed that the horn attempted first to change times and then laws well knowing that holy laws are taught and learned especially in holy times and therefore he first prevailed with Constantine as is declared to change the Sabbath time into the first day But against this designe doth the good God graciously guard his Sabbath and Alarm his Saints to be especially mindfull of this truth setting a superscription as it were a watchword upon the portall of this precept REMEMBER the Sabbath day to keep it holy telling us expresly what day it is The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God so that if the Lord be indeed thy God thou must observe that seventh day for his Sabbath which he hath so carefully required thee to remember as knowing that Antichrist would doe his utmost to cause thee to forget it either in slighting of it as a ceremony or else in changing this blessed day Jeroboam-like and burying its very name under the odious and most detestable name of Saturday that it may therefore be known to his Saints as no ceremony but a perpetual unchangeable Royall Law the Lord hath fenced it above all other Laws first positively keep it holy Secondly negatively doe not work upon it and that thou maist never be insnared to change or alter it I charge thee carefully to Remember this Law in a speciall singular manner This may for ever silence their conceits who would slight the seventh day Sabbath as a jewish ceremony though their consciences know it was instituted before any Jew or ceremony had being Ten Royall Laws the Lord delivers to his Saints and knowing that all of them would be more or lesse observed as his Sabbath should be sanctified or slighted he bids he forbids he marks it above all the rest that it may be remembred and yet disobedient spirits dare reject it as ceremoniall and put upon the highest an absurdity as grosse as likely can be imagined As if wisdome it selfe should with so much care command the exact remembrance of a ceremony above all his morall Laws for thus vaine man would render his maker I your Lord God doe here deliver you ten precents nine of which are perpetuall but one â—s a changeable ceremony wherefore I chang you to observe all my nine royall precepts but especially observe my perishing Sabbath which is but a meer ceremony besure you sanctifie that besure you doe not prophane that besure you remember that I lay it as a speciall command upon your souls to remember my mutable ceremoniall seventh day Sabbath more especially Me thinks gracious hearts should tremble to put such an absurdity upon God himselfe as binding us to remember that which as a mutable ceremony should be forgotten and buried in oblivion yea and which is yet more absurd if more may be they render the reason of sanctifying the seventh day Sabbath on this wise For in six dayes the Lord made Heaven and Earth and rested the first day wherefore the Lord blessed the first day for his Sabbath and sanctified it either we must put this absurdity also upon our God or else we must cast off the fourth commandement at least the reason of it must be rejected or else which is better then a thousand shifts we must returne from the little horn to our first husband and do the Saints first works and religiously remember the seventh day Sabbath to sanctifie it Thou meetest him that rejoyceth and worketh righteousnesse Isa 64.5 those that remember thee in thy wayes If it be objected that not Christians but Jewes are commanded to remember and observe the seventh day Sabbath I answer 1. That not the Christians but the Jewes were first commanded the rest of the ten commandements If Christians are to walke by the Jewes nine commandements as a righteous rule they are no lesse oblieged to every jott and tittle of the Jewes ten commandements The Royall Law of God was dispenced to the Jewes not only for themselves Act. 7.38 But to give unto us as that first faithfull martyr of the Lord Jesus taught in his funerall sermon when filled with the irresistable wisdome of the holy Spirit he sealed the faith of the Gospell with his blood and amongst the rest of those Evangelicall verities which the protomartyr prized as the Christians priviledges this is undeniably an eternall truth That the Jewes did receive those lively Oracles from mount Sinai to give unto us Here then 't is evident first what Lawes are Gods lively Oracles namely those precious precepts which God himselfe by the Angell of his presence delivered with a lively voice in the mount Sinai one of which lively Oracles is the seventh day Sabbath 2. To whom these lively Oracles were delivered and this is agreed on all hands that the only people so highly priviledged above all the world were the beloved Israelites 3. For whom and to what end were these lively Oracles from mount Sinai delivered to Israel And this is as cleare by blessed Stephens divine Testimony They received the lively Oracles from the mount Sinai to give unto us that is unto me Stephen an Officer in the church of Christ and to all my brethren for whose faith in the true Messiah I am now pleading my last they received the lively Oracles to give unto us Christians this is cleare that the Jewes received the lively Oracles from the Mount Sinai to give unto us though we have no heart to receive them yet God hath a heart of love to give them not only to the Jewes but even to us Christians 4. Then the fourth inquiry will be whether these lively Oracles from Sinai were given us to be broken or kept to be slighted or observed If to be kept and observed then either we must deny the seventh day Sabbath to be one of Sinai's lively Oracles or deny Stephens doctrine of their being delivered to the Jewes to
see them no more and to give them an example to which he binds the Saints so that his deferring breaking of bread 1 Phil. 4.9 till after mid-night when the first day was more then finished shews plainly that this was no duty proper to the first day or in the least pointing it out for a Sabbath 4. 'T is strange that once mention of Preaching on the first day should be so stood upon when Paul's constant custome of preaching and praying upon the seventh day Sabbath with his company both amongst Jewes Acts 16.13.16 18.4 and Geneiles is not only slighted but opposed as no proofe of the Sabbath O how indulgent are poore creatures to brats of their own breeding A second Scripture is produced as though it favoured the change of the Sabbath because the Apostle gave order to some Churches for laying aside reliefe 1 Cor. 16.1.2 for the present necessities of the Saints in Judea upon the first day of the week But first Let it be considered that if this had been a Sabbath dayes duty the Apostle would not have omitted it either present or absent whereas he plainly declares his dislike of gathering at his coming and desires it may be then in a readinesse 2. The direction he gives for this collection shews evidently he intends no Sabhath dayes work for there is not the least hint of any assembly though custom hath prevailed so far with most I have met with that they frequently urge the Text thus Vpon the first day of the weeke when ye come together c. Though there 's no such word as coming together But let every one of you lay by * himselfe in store He doth not enjoyn them to a Church meeting nor to lay it before the Deacons as doubtlesse he would had there bin a Church meeting that day Let every one of you lay by himself in store That is at his own house in the poores box which truly every tender Christian should have alwaies with some stock by him for charitable uses 1 Tim. 6.17 Tit. 3.14 3. The Survey the Apostle exhorts every man to take of his owne estate that he may give thereafter doth notably overthrow the conceit of a first day Sabbath for he orders every man to lay something by himselfe in store As God hath prospered him that is according as his yearly revenue increaseth or his weekly trade proves more or lesse gainfull Now if the first day had been a Sabbath surely Col. 3.1 2. the Apostle knowing the pronenesse of our nature to mind earthly things from which he rouseth Saints would not have put upon them the consideration of their outward estates But Why should he have this done on the first day Answ It hath been clearly shewed that Pauls constant practice was to preach on the seventh day Sabbath and that it was the exact examplar Act. 18. he set before this Church of Corinth in particular they being the fruit of his Sabbath exercises who were enjoyned to follow him as he followed Christ So that if we can believe they walked in Pauls constant Practice in keeping the true Sabbath we may easily judge that Pauls Epistle was read in the Church at their solemne assembly on the Sabbath day and we may not doubt that the Teachers would stir up the people to liberallity upon the Apostles order and the rather seeing he closed his Epistle with it that it might sit close and warm upon their hearts and for as much as they were not like to be so well stored at present upon the Sabbath he would have it to be their first worke the very next day whilest the sweet sence of the Epistle and heavenly relish of Gospel Sermons and other Ordinances which they enjoyed the day before were yet fresh and divinely pleasant upon their spirits and before they lanched into the worlds weekly imployments which puts too great a damp upon our best purposes he would especially make choice of the first day of the Week and have them make it their first businesse next to the consideration of their abilities how God had prospered them in worldly goods to present unto God in secret by themselves the first fruits of their increase for the refreshing of Christs bowels and as anearnest of their duties towards him unto whom they owed all Thus with very good reason did the Apostle make choice of the first day for this duty But to assert the first day to be a Sabbath because the Apostle ordered every man by himselfe to lay up something for the poore Saints there being not the least mention of a Church-meeting that day and yet I say to assert that day for a Sabbath is altogether irrationall and utterly unscriptuâ—all The third Scripture abused about the supposed change of the Sabbath only speaks thus much That John was in the spirit on the Lords day but that this was any individuall day is uncertain Rev. 10. or if it were he sayes not what day it was and therefore we must enquire in some other Scriptures seeing they are able to furnish us throughly to every good worke and if the first day 2 Tim 3.17 shall any where in Scripture appeare to be called the Lords day let it weare the Garland as a day devoted to the Lord or designed by the Lord to be kept holy which yet I hope may be done without rejecting or prophaning the seventh day Sahbath But if the Scripture may be our guide it will inform us but of two dayes honoured as the Lords dayes And the first is the antient sanctified seventh day Sabbath royally dignified with that title of the Sabbath of THE LORD OUR GOD Isa 57.5 which is owned by the father for his holy honourable day and by the Son is expresly declared to he his Sabbath Mar. 2. ult The Son of man is Lord of the Sabbath and no other day declares he to be his throughout the Gospel So that the seventh day Sabbath and only that as an individuall and single day is honoured with this high title of the Lords day and therefore if John intends any single day 't is most like it was the Sabbath of the Lord that here he calls the Lords day But I rather think he spake of that other Lords day owned in Scripture as the Lords judgment day Mal. 14. Luke 17. Phil. 1.16.10 and this the Lord himselfe calls his day and this day was most clearly shewed unto John in many glorious visions and in the Spirit he was in this day for so runs the Greeke I was in the Spirit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 IN the Lords day But grant the first day should be here intended and called the Lords day yet how dare any avouch it to be the Sabbath day since we have not the least hint in Scripture to warrant it much lesse to reject the true Sabbath and set up the first day not only as the Lords day for Christians to rejoyce and to be glad in But as the Sabbath day enjoyned in the fourth Commandement against the reason there rendred For in six dayes the Lord made heaven and earth and rested the seventh day wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day
Disciples to pray Mat. 24.20 That their slight might not be in the Winter nor on the Sabbath day of grace i. e. that they might not flye at all when as yet he had commanded them to flye 2. If the day of grace be our enjoyned Sabbath then we must be sure as long as the Gospel lasts to do no servile work according to the Commandement but here it 's also conceived that the works now prohibited are our sins Answ 1. The Law did no less prohibit sin then the Gospel 2. This conceit supposeth God thus commanding six days of the Laws duration thou shalt or mayest labour and do all thy work of sin but the day of grace is the Sabbath in it thou shalt not sin thou thy son and which is extreamly absurd thy cattle and the stranger that is within thy gates Either this opinion must reject the rest of the fourth Commandement as it doth the seventh day or els it puts it self upon more then an Egiptian task to keep his son servants strangers from sin As for the poor cattle they are uncapable of such a Rest as cessation from sin and the merciless Notionist is reasoning them out of that natural rest wherewith the merciful God hath priviledged them so that if there be no rest required but from sin the poor bruits may rue the time of Christs comming into the world 't were well for them that Peter had prevailed to build Tabernacles that they might have still enjoyed the good dayes of Moses And as for English servants their condition would be little different from Turkish slaves so that they might well bewail MESSIAH's birth should this opinion prevail for the boundless desires of earthy-minded Masters would seldome be weary of the way of getting wealth neither would their pretended spirituality dictate what day to spare their wearied servants But instead of the Angels good tydings of great joy to all people servants would soon cry out sad tidings of great sorrow to be thus deprived of the happy rest for soul and body and constrained to toil and travel on the Sabbath Thus by Origens allegorical Divinity making cessation from sin the onely Gospel Sabbath the letter of Gods Law which cals for corporal rest and spiritual service is perverted Christs Sermon abused Exe. 20. Is 58.13 the Royal Sabbath like a typical ceremony rejected the poor bruits wearied servants defrauded and manifold absurdities introduced to the great dishonour of the great Law-giver and grievous sin of such as assert the onely Sabbath is to abstain from sin which that soul shall do indeed who abstains from labour on Gods Sabbath servile work being the known sin of the fourth Commandement Cease from thy shallow conceits thou deluded slighter of holy Sabbaths The Saints day of eternal cestation from sin and sorrow is not yet come we see Babylon yet in beeing the Jews uncalled all the eath in confusion the day of peace is indeed approaching when such onely as are found in ways of obedience shall enter in by the gate to the glorious City of everlasting Rest Thus having through Divine aid vindicated the Sabbaths morality from those inventions and aspersions raised against it I shall now proceed to the second part in the Position Viz. The select season or precise time determined by him who is hasting to the ruine of that blasphemous Little Horn for his change of Times and Laws THat the seventh day was the Lords holy Sabbath Gen. 2.2 Heb. 4.3 from the Worlds foundation to our Saviours Passion is undeniable And yet such is satans envie at the Sabbath that he suggests a possibility of alteration by the Suns station in Joshua's time and retrogradation in Hezekiah's dayes But it may easily bee understood that when the same power who placed the Sun in its Sphere stayed its course one day and commanded it to return backwards another this did only lengthen those individual days and then returned to its natural motion but altered not the next day at all 2. It must be concluded that our Saviour who fulfilled the Law exactly observed punctually the very Sabbath and the scripture testifies that the holy women rested the Sabbath day according to the Commandement Luk. 23. ult that is upon the very seventh day which God instituted and required to bee observed And the whole world though different in Religion will give full testimony that neither the Heathens saturday so called long before Christs time the Turks friday the Papists sunday nor any other day in the week hath since met with any change so that I may with as much reason question whether my right hand be that the world calls so as I may question whether saturday be the very seventh day seeing the Jews also dispersed through the world punctually observe it And yet what a deal of dust hath been raised from the Prelates ashes by an old Professour of New England-way against their principles and his own conscience his great Argument borrowed from the Bishops is this That since all Regions cannot observe the same hours for the Sabbath by reason of the various rising and setting of the Sun therefore the seventh day is not universally moral Answ What will not enmity to Gods Sabbath set upon seeing such a one as Capt. Jenison is not ashamed to use the old Prelates worm-eaten Arguments in flat opposition to his Brethren Me thinks it should wound his soul to receive answer from Mr. Shepheard with approbation of the consociated Elders of New England in detestation of such deceit thus The fourth Commandement must stand firm Shep. sab pag. 147. the Heaven and Earth must fall asunder the Lord will rather waste Kingdomes and the whole Christian world with fire and sword then let one tittle of his Law perish the Land must rest when Gods Sabbath cannot c. And surely it may sadly affect their hearts in New-England if ever this reacheth their eye or ear that one of their professed members in a great publick assembly should combat the Sabbath with the same weapons foyled by them And in hopes it will make the Captain ashamed and silence all adversaries I shall transcribe the solid answer of reverend Mr. Shepheard to the cloudy argument which he saith Carpanter and Heylin compassed the whole earth and heavens to find out To think saith he that the Sabbath was proper to the Jews Shep. sab pag. 148. because they onely were able to keep and exactly observe the time of it being shut up as Mr. Primvose saith within a little corner of the earth and that the Gentiles are not therefore bound to it because they cannot exactly observe the time of it in several quarters of the earth so far distant is a very feeble argument for why might not all Nations exactly observe the rising and setting of the Sun according to several Climates by which the natural day and so this if the Sabbath is exactly measured and which God hath appointed without limitation
of any hour to be the bounds of the Sabbath as it sooner or later riseth or sets Were not the Mariners of the men of Iudah bound to observe the seventh day in all the several coasts where they made their voyages Did God limit them to the rising or setting Sun of Indea onely c. Thus far New Englands answer to that argument taken up by Mr. Ienison against them into whose treasury I shall cast my mite upon consideration of 1. Act. 2.5 15.11 13.14 17.1 The Proselytes of Ierusalem out of all Nations under heaven whose undoubted observation of the Sabbath in their several Countreys is a full confutation of this aiery argument 2. There will probably be granted some variation between â—â—ai and Sion yet the Sabbath punctually observed in both places Captain Ienison is not ignorant of four hours difference in the rising Sun between England and the American Colonies and yet the same first day observed both here and there But by the way we may observe that the wounds he would give unto the seventh day Sabbath fall as heavily upon the first day whereunto he pretends great devotion with his Brethen for if the seventh be uncertain the first must needs be so and thus whiles he would weaken the true Sabbath he opens a gap to that impiety of rejecting the authority of the fourth Commandement which sober spirits abhor But our God hath not bound us to the obedience of such hours but of such a day the Clock is not to be our guide but the Sun Here they object That in some though scarce any habitable Regions the Sun for many moneths leaves not their view whence they suppose an impossibility of observing the sabbath The answer is That in all parts the Sun is ever upon motion his Eastern Western circuits are not onely observed but exactly measured familiarly each four and twenty hours so as not onely to know their times of repose but possibly to shame us in the abuse of ours should the clouds or other meteors in ercept their sight of the Sun or ours the fowls of the heaven would give information 〈◊〉 8.7 And as sleeping and working time is easily discerned each four and twenty hours with like facility may the six working days be distinguished from the Sabbath If once the heart be free to yeeld obedience it will cease to create * Prov. 22.13 and invent difficulties and the renewed nature will no less breath after the souls weekly Sabbath than the old nature will expect its accustomed repose The Suns daily circuit and weekly revolution is no such difficulty to a devout soul But whither are we roving Will not our own Climate contain us Joh. 21.21 22. Are we not more inquisitive with Peter to know what other Nations shall do then to study our own duty We should even shame to slight Gods Sabbath whiles the Heavens declare his glory and whiles we fancy Bugbears of uncertainty in observing the exact time Lo day unto day uttereth speech Psal 19. night unto night sheweth knowledge there is no speech or language where their voice is not heard What beter directions can we desire then this faithfull witness of Heaven by his several circuits exactly measuring out our time and informing our eye as words instruct our ear When his fix days light leaves our Land 't is then time to leave our labours For then doth the glorious Lamp of Heaven like a Herald proclaim the approaching Sabbath that Saints may set open the everlasting Gates for the King of Glory I would not leave this scruple wherewith the self condemning adversary reproached his own principles till the path rendred so abstruse and intricate attain its promised perspicuity Isa 35. even to the weakest sight that so way faring men though fools may not erre therein Wherefore observe that in the beginning when Heavens bright Eye declined the sixth Evening in Eden the holy God gave unto man not onely a precept but a fair president also in ceasing from the work of Creation to sanctifie and observe his holy Sabbath Howbeit at the same hour it was impossible for other Climates of the World regularly to begin the Sabbath for the more Western parts must wait for the Suns warning or else they should not sanctifie the seventh day exactly as measured and regulated by the Sun which God hath purposely set for signs and for seasons Gen. 1.14 and for days and years Having therefore proclaimed rest in Paradise leaving man with his Maker to sanctifie the Sabbath away he posts as a Bridegroem from his Chamber Psal 19. rejoycing as a Giant to run his race and so coursing in his circuit through the Heavens he declares to the Regions sooner or later as fast as he can sly when to cease from their six days servitude to sanctifie the exact seventh day Sabbath Yea when mounting the other Hemisphere the interposition of the terrestrial Globe makes their Meridian the Antipodes Midnight yet is the seventh day as measured by the Sun punctual and certain in each Region God hath not engaged us to the same hours but to that assured seventh day or seventh part of time regulated by the glorious Lamp ordained for times and seasons for days and years Where then lies the difficulty of the seventh days certainty which was suggested to the people with such a cloud of confusion But lastly the difference between out Summer and Winter Sabbath in this little Island is as evident to every A B C Christian as is the certainty of the seventh day in the midst of such variation for who knows not that our Winters Sabbath begins four hours sooner then in Summer and ends upon the same account making full eight hours difference between Summer and Winters Sabbath But though the hours so much differ yet the seventh day surrounded by the Sun is unalterabiy the fame and the Sabbath certain as in Summer and Winter season with us so in each Climate and Countrey throughout the world And therefore 't is but an aiery flourish borrowed from the Bishops and perhaps a vaunt of more Aâ— then suits education or capacity to compass the earth for an agument to prove the variation of time which is so obvious and familiar in our little angle and yet I suppose never begat the least scruple in any Christian neither is there the least cause But I hope the adversary sees great cause by this time to be ashamed of his cloudy speculation amusing the people and humbly to confess he did he knew not what against New Englands testimony and Scripture evidence and so obtain the benefit of Christs Petition Luk. 23.34 Father forgive them for they know not what they do Carnal hearts might with more reason contend against the Lords Supper in some Countreys for want of Wine then against the Lords Sabbath for want of Light But when Grace shall make Saints as zealous for the Sabbath as the Sacrament
A third sort are content to observe their Sabbath by halves and having twenty four hours to their own days they shut up their Sabbath with one half and say an artificial day of twelve hours is sufficient A fourth declares that the evening is the time their Sabbath must begin Shep. beg sab p. 34. and sadly bewails the secret knots and difficulties that are found in the beginning of their first day Sabbath calling for humility and many tears But whiles thus they are confounded in their languages labouring with manifold difficulties to find some beginning of Mans Sabbath behold the lively Oracle of Gods unchangeable seventh day Sabbath opening all prison doors breaking all bars untying all knots and like Ariadue's Clue leading the perplexed spirit out of his Labyrinth whiles he returns by Christs direction to the beginning where in the infancy of time we meet with Gods spirit in a night of darkness brooding upon a confused Chaos Gen. 1.2 3. to produce a world of Wonders So that manifest it is night was the beginning of time in which the rude mass was made before any light appeared and this darkness with the ensuing light compleated the first day and so the second third fourth fifth and sixth wherein the Almighty finished the whole fabrick of heaven earth and sea leading man Gods Master-piece to the highest admiration And no sooner did the sixth days sun cease with the compleating of this peerless Potentate but Elohim ceased to shew his vertue and power in creation and withdrawing himself into himself he immediately sanctified the seventh day Sabbath to enjoy his own infinite beatitude delighting himself with full satisfaction in the pure and spotless works of his hands for as yet sin had not soiled the creature but whiles Iehovah celebrated his Sabbath with man for whom it was made Mar. 2. last Iob 38.7 lo the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy So that here the Lords Sabbath without the least loss of time exactly begins when with the sixth days sun the worlds creation ends and therefore such as desire to be holy as God is holy 1 Pet. 1.15 1 Joh. 3.3 must not onely observe this seventh day Sabbath but begin this holy Rest according to the pattern shewed in the Mount that is when the sixth circult of the sun shews us 't is time to cease from earthly labors as Iehovah in his royal Law hath proposed himself for our example Exo. 20.11 This hath been the constant course of believers I suppose it will scarce be questioned in Moses time since even the ceremonial Sabbaths because honoured as Sabbaths were so to be observed Lev. 22.32 From even unto even shall ye celebrate your Sabbath So after the Jews were rewarded in Babylon for slighting the Sabbath * 2 Chro. 36.22 did honest Nehemiah set to the exact observance of this day by causing Ierusalems gates to be shut before the Sabbath even whiles the declining sixth day sun by descending the Mountaines surrounding Ierusalem cast some obscurity upon the City gates a good example for earthy minds who wil not leave their servile labours till the last minute but perhaps allow themselves liberty to do some houshold business after the Sabbaths beginning We lie under equal engagements at least with ancient Israel which should oblige us to such evening sacrifice as appears to be their custome by that Psalm designed for the Sabbath Psal 92.1 It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord and to sing praises unto thy Name O most High to shew forth thy loving kindness in the morning thy faithfulness every night This sacrifice very well becomes Christians who should not be out-stript by those devour Tribes whose joys are further expressed by the Prophet Isa 30.29 Ye shall have a song as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept Hence 't is evident with what affection and at what time they set to the solemnity of this highest Sabbath Neither is the New Testament wanting of instructions when to begin this holy Rest for even after the sufferings of our Saviour the Saints did not onely observe the Sabbath but the Spirit is express in the beginning of the solemnity as is recorded for the everlasting honour of the precious women that having attended their Saviour to his sepulchre Luk. 23.55 56. They returned and prepared spices and oyntments and rested the Sabbath day according to the Commandement That part of the preparation day that remained after Christs burial these precious souls improved in preparing Aromaticks to embalm their beloved Luk. 23.54 but as the sixth day ended and the Sabbath drew on their work was done for so well were they discipled by our Saviour as not to violate his holy Sabbath no not to embalm his blessed body And yet some scoffers in these last days are so bold as to cast â—ilâ—â— in the faces of such as tread in these Saints stops reproaching them as worshippers of A dead Christ Col. 2.14 15. Act. 2.26 who was never more active then in the grave being there a conquerour not a sufferer But leaving these in scorners Chair the same Testament which thus shews us the Saints beginning of the Sabbath informs us also of the end by our Saviours example Mar. 1.21 who having performed the publick duties of the day retired to Peters house further to honour the Sabbath with his wonted miracles ver 19. Luk. 13.14 And though the envious Pharisees taught that the people should nor come for healing on the Sabbath day yet hereby we learn when the holy season determines by the liberty the people took according to the Pharisees doctrine Mar. 2.32 And at evening when the Sun did set they brought unto him all that were diseased So that 't is abundantly manifest Deu. 16.6 that from Even to Even or from Sun to Sun the Sabbath is to be celebrated Thus the Jews constantly observe it and thus all faithfull Christians ought to sanctifie it who by scripture authority are thus set free from all that confusion and contention which as a scourge from God porplexeth the observers of the supposed first day Sabbath who know not when to begin nor when to make an end But here it will be objected That upon this account the first day raust be utterly discarded since the 4th Commandment as wel requires six days service as the 7th days Sabbath To which I answer 1. That whereas the Lord doth expresly require cessation from work on the Sabbath day he doth not by a negative require that we never cease from work upon any of the six days for then we must never feast nor fast nor use any kind of recreation throughout the week 2. The Hebrew tense hath a various aspect 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yet it is rather future then imperative and may well enough point out the creatures earthy inclinations thus Six days thou
declared the nullity of all ceremonial Laws but as for this lively Oracle with the rest he termed it a holy Rom. 3 just spiritual good Law and so without the least exception established the whole Law yea and the sabbath in particular declaring in expresse terms that there remaineth the celebration of the sabbath to the people of God and not only so but having laid such a high charge upon all Christian Ministers * to be instant in Preaching Compare 2 Tim. 4.1 2. with chap. 2.2 in season out of season he plainly shews by his constant practice in Preaching every sabbath day both among Jews Gentiles this which is the very Gospel season of Preaching wherein he followes Christ binds believers to follow him So that if it be true as sabbath changers say where can we find a more dissembling person then the Apostle Paul Neither do they rest here but even accuse Christ himself who is said to be faithful in all his house even as Moses was faithful in his house Now we know that Moses hath most expressy set down from time to time the very solemn season wherein his house should assemble and worship God But of the sabbaths change Christ never spake one word to his house nay on the contrary he declared that as long as Heaven and earth lasted his Disciples must not break one jot or title of those lively oracles that Israel received from Sinai to give unto us yea in particular he owned the seventh day Sabbath as his Sabbath and so left it under his hand and sealed it by his marvellous miracles and with tender fatherly care required his house to pray that they might not be forced to flee upon it sortie years after his death And as for the day which sabbath changers accept and assert for their Sabbath he never gave them one syllable of a precept and for his president it hath plainly appeared that he journeyed freely fifteen miles upon it So that if the Sabbath be changed Christ is far enough from Moses faithfulness in all his house But further how dreadful is it to father that change of the Sabbath upon the precious Son of God Dan. 7.25 which is the detestable design of the little horn The changer of times and Lawes what charge that upon Christ which is the proper presumption of Antichrist is not this the whores mark to change the Saints times the Saints Sabbath time and the Saints supper time Me thinks Sabbath changers should be heartily ashamed whiles the opening of the seventh seal shewes so clearly the Strumpets Blasphemy that they may run and read her mark as it were in the heart of her detestable decalogue Whore she hath most impudently changed the fourth lively oracle into this dâ—mnable dialect Remember to sanctithe holy feastivals Sabbath changers t is high time to spit in the whores face strip her naked hate her burn her flesh with fire If you will not detest and loath and leave her now that she is so manifestly marked out to you Rev. 18. I shall even leave you in her lustful embraces to share in what she must shortly suffer And turn me to my dear companions who have obtained grace at last to see and sanctifie the true Sabbath of Father Son and spirit with whom I shall go on with weekly expectation of the day of our full release when vengeance pure and unmixed shall be poured upon the head of the sabbath changing Rev. 18.20 whiles joyes unspeakable shall possesse our hearts as our promised portion Rejoyce over her thou Heaven and ye holy Apostles and Prophets for God hath avâ—nged you on her There are that think the difference of a day is no such great matter so long as one day in seven is honestly observed And truly no wonder they can so easily dispence with the change of a day who can so freely change the subject in Baptism Christ cals for believers and they bring him infants Christ cals for made disciples and they bring him sucking children Christ commands to teach them first and baptize them after and they sprinkle them first and promise to teach them to be disciples after whether they will learn or not So Christ cals for the seventh day Sabbath to be celebrated by the people of God they weekly pollute the seventh day and put him off to the eighth Lev. 23.35 36. as some have eagerly endeavoured to prove by the grosse abuse of Gods precept for the Ceremonial sabbaths of the feast of Tabernacles which they would fain have to be typical of the eighth or first day which they call the Christian sabbath But that persons may for ever dread such indifferency and impiety in putting off the Almighty from a seventh to an eighth I shall present you with the horrible presumption of that unparallel'd Jewish Antichrist Jeroboam whose ten revolted Tribes did as notably resemble the ten horns of the Romish Antichrist as his change of the seventh moneth of Gods appointment to the eighth of his own invention did shadow forth the impudence of the Man of sin in changing the seventh day Sabbath into an eighth day of his consecration This wicked Jeroboam had not onely changed Gods Ceremonial Lawes but he further presumed to change the Ceremonial time of the feast of Tabernacles Lev. 23.33.34 1 Kin. 12 32.33 for whereas God commanded Israel to keep the fifteenth day of the seventh moneth Jeroboam ordained the fifteenth day of the eight month and see how God records this in his book of remembrance And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eight moneth on the fifteenth day of the moneth like unto the feast that is in Judah so he offered upon the fifteenth day of the eighth moneth even in the moneth which he had devised of his own heart Take notice sabbath changers who plead for altering a moral Law of God from the seventh to the eight behold the Idolatrous Jeroboam but changing a ceremonial Law from the seventh to the eighth and he is for ever stigmatized for devising this of his own heart And if you will not be warned but go on in polluting Gods seventh day and put him off Jeroboam-like to your invented â—iâ—hth or first day sabbath you will shortly find that God will be as exact in reckoning with you for your Antichristian device of changing his moral seventh day as with the Jewish Antichrist for changing his Ceremonial seventh moneth You say your eighth or first day sabbath is like the seventh day sabbath there is but a day difference and you perform the like services on your sabbath as God enjoyned on his And just so did Jeroboam his feast was like the feast oâ— Judah and the sacrifices likely the same but when all 's done he is branded for a time-changer who devised the time of his own heart Surely he that sees not this Jewish Antichrist in his change of the seventh month to the eight moneth shadowing forth the Romish Antichrist
spiritual pretences in literal disobedience the Lord will perswade his pretious ones to receive the Alarm of the seventh Angel sounding forth the antient glory of the Lords Sabbath Re. 10.6 swearing by him that liveth for ever and ever That time shall be no longer Me thinks none should be so simple as to suppose the seventh Angel should put an end to all time seeing it is evident that his Alarm must yet pass among Many peoples and Nations and Tongues Vers 11. and Kings But in swearing that time should be no longer is meant that the mystery of God by his Prophets should be finished which is the mystery of iniquity Vers 7. and the mysterie of Israels glory and since it is impossible that Sion should be raised but in the ruins of Babylon after a time times and the dividing of time the seventh Angel means that the time changing horn shall no longer prevail Dan. 7.25 26 27. but the Lords Sabbath time and the Lords supper time shall be recovered by the Saints who keep the commandements of God as well as the faith of Jesus Wherefore awake arise and arm your selves ye obedient souls to Jehovahs Sabbath at the distinct sound of the seventh Angel who swears for your encouragement that you shall be no longer deprived of your appointed time changed and obscured by the mystery of iniquity as the grand obstruction and stumbling block to Israels glory And to quicken your souls to this heavenly royal duty Ja. 4.12 Je. 5 22. consider t is the will of that one Royal Law-giver who is able to save and to destroy will you not fear him will you not tremble at his presence who hath declared himsel Lord of the sabbath not to break it no not in one title but that faints thould sanctifie it Mat. 24.30 because it is hiâ— will who will shortly set forth his Royal Mâ—jesty in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory to take account of all his Citizens who shew their hatred to him in slighting that sabbath whereof he is the Lord which he hath for ever established by a perpetual decree Ah! what can be expected by sâ—bbath-breakers when the Royal Lord of the sabbath shall appear Luke 19.27 But those mine enemies who would not that I should reign over them bring them hither and slay them before me Happy souls who shall then be found observing his sabbath because it is the will of the Royal Law-giver Because it is a Royal Law a lively Oracle the Christians Legacy a holy just spiritual commandement Rom. 7.12 14. a perfect Law of Liberty setting the heaven-born soul free from that earthy bondage to which dunghil-drudges would willingly be slaves being then chiefly in bondage when called from the World to wait upon God But the soul that is a Saint indeed takes sweet delight in this Royal Law which not onely allowes him the open freedome of Jehovahs Courts his ear his heart a whole day together Ja. 1.25 but sends him away laden with blessings fraught with spiritual favours shaming himself that he can yet be no more like this Royal Lawgiver in the sanctification of this Royal Law whiles his soul labours to be transformed into the same Royal image 1 Cor. 3.18 because it is a Royal Law and yet Because it is ordained for a Royal people For 1. The Lord did not institute it till he had made his Royal image to rule as Soveraign over all his works and when he had made man he presently made this royal Law of the sabbath for man Mark 2 ult 2. The Lord did not afterwards dispense this lively oracle with the rest till he had prepared a royal people to imbrace it and when he had instructed them as his peculiar treasure his royal nation of Priests Exod. 19.5 his Israel that is in the Hebrew A Prince with God then he dispensed this Law in great Majestie and glory to them 3. He did not bequeath it under hand and seal unto us Christians till he had furnished his new spouse with the glorious graces of his holy spirit But when great grace was upon all the Church And seven men were singled out the most royally adorned of them all Acts 4.33 then the first and most Princely of all these seven was selected whose name signifies A Crown And whiles the power of the spirit appeared in the purest lustre for the vindication of the faith of Jesus Acts 6.3.5 by the Peerless Protomartyr this glorious deed of gift was made to all Christians by the precious Doctrine of Stephen who assures us in the word of the Lord that Israel received the lively oracles from the Mount of Sinai to give unto us and having declared this blessed truth he suddenly sealed it with his blood Acts 7.38 And now it cannot be but Gods royal people should bethink themselves of this royal Doctrine delivered by the first Christian Martyr and as becomes a royal people set to the sanctification of the royal sabbath of our royal Lord Jehovah in Jesus the Lord of the Sabbath And Gods Saints shall no sooner search the Scriptures whether this be so or no but presently they shall be made noble men and women Acts 17.11 and when once they are brought into obedience of this and therest of those lively oracles which seeming Saints must stumble at they are presently proclaimed A Royal Priesthood 1 Pet 2.8 9. a chosen generation a holy Nation a peculiar People And as they grow up in obedience to Stephens lively Oracles all which are set opâ—n especially on Gods Sâ—bbath they shall be transformed into Christs image and the same Character stampt upon them as once upon Gideons Brethren As thou wast Jesus Jud. 8.18 so are they each one resembling the children of a King And whiles this royal race are sanctifying the Royal rest of their Royal Redeemer Behold Num. 23.4 the Lord his God is with him and the shout of a King is among them Now who would not be one of these who would not sanctifie this true Sabbath as becometh such a Law such a Lawgiver such a people 1. The way to perform this is by preparation the Lord our God would have us to remember so to sanctifie his sabbath as to remove all impediments that might any way obstruct out solemn celebration Then away with all your lusts and lovers I will wash mine hands in innocencie so will I compasse thine Altar O Lord. Psal 26.6 Sin is doubled on the sabbath day Sin is sinfull at all seasons but exceeding sinful in this sanctified season A way with all your labours In it thou shalt do no work that is no servile gainful work Sx days thou maist do all thy work in six dayes thou must so finish thy work that the seventh may be wholly designed to My work saith the Lord whose service is pure freedom Saints must so leave their labours as Abram left
his servants Gen 22.5 at the bottom of the hill whiles he ascended to sacrifice his son Isaac No work may be done in our ordinary callings 1 Works of necessitie Josh 6.14.15 1 Kings 20.19 Acts 20.6 27.20 2 Works of piety unlesse in case of necessitie as soudiers in War Saylers in their voyages though I supose no warrant can be found for setting forth on Gods Sabbath Physicians Chirurgeons Midwives and any other in straits Ministers may and must Labor at all seasons but especially in this season I mean Ministers of Christ who Preach freely and live honourably of whatsoever is freely given but for hirelings bargaining Preachers who pretend to Gods work yet dare not trust him for wages Mic. 3.5.11 these do their own works and not Gods work like to the tradesman that labours for advantage This holy day the poor may be supplied the sick visited and a sabbath dayes journey lawfully performed which I conceive is so far as a person may ride or go without toil to such meeting where his soul may be most refreshed For where no Law is there is no transgression A sabbath days journey is Scripture 3 Works of conveniency the extent of it is left to conscience Convenient food is to be received with thanks which each sincere Sabbath keeper will remember so to provide and prepare before the sabbath that his servants souls be not deprived of sustenance by staying at home to provide for his body We find the Lord of the sabbath content with bread Luke 14.1 and his Disciples with ears of corn on the sabbath day As for the Jewish prohibition of kindling a fire it is not mentioned but in the ceremonial Law and so concerns not Christians who though not in danger of stoning yet I hope will find somewhat else to do then gather stickes on the sabbath In brief I doubt not but a person principled with the love of God will so remember to sanctifie the sabbath as to order all his business to be as much as possible in the worship of Jehovah 3. As we must leave our unlawful lusts and servile labours so we must part with our own lawful pleasures and be sure we plead not for any pastimes or whatsoever may please the flesh further then Gods word will warrant and what can please or delight a devout soul like Christs presence amidst his saints in the use of gospel ordinances T is the revealed will of God that we should turn away our foot from defiling the Sabbath and from doing our pleasures on his holy day that we should call the Sabbath our delight the holy of the Lord honourable and honour our God upon it not doing our own wayes nor finding our own pleasures nor speaking our own words Is 58.13 And therefore being thus prepared by removing all obstructions making all possible preparations and being furnished with heavenly directions let us religiously set to the observation and sanctification of this blessed Sabbath And upon our entrance into Sabbath duties If there be the hapy conveniency of saints that may assemble together as through mercy is our priviledge when the sixth day is done then be sure to turn away thy foot from sabbath pollution and being shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace take the wise mans precept Eccl. 5.1 Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God If thou shouldest have no society to sanctifie the Sabbath with thee yet thou canst not want company having the promised presence of the Lord of the Sabbath and his holy Angels to attend thee Heb. 1. ult When thy beloved hath been lodged all night between thy brests and thy soul is warmed with his bosom embraces let not the sun shame thee by his salute before thou salute thy Lord in secret in the private family if such advantage be given thee or else the garden fields grove or water side may furnish thee with matter enough for meditation Indeed no place can exclude the Creators glory from a contemplative sabbath keeper When the doves begin to flee to their windows Is 60.8 let no secret or private duty much lesse emcumbrance keep thee from the flocks of Christs companions and being assembled stir up the gift and grace that is in thee till Jacobs ladder mount thy soul to Jacobs height of admiration How dreadful is this place this is none other but the house of God and this is the gate of heaven surely the Lord is in this place Gen. 28.16.17 And now let the awfull dread of the Lord of the Sabbath before whose peircing eyes thy actions and affections are naked and open engage thy soul and body to such a mannerly demeanour as becoms a saint in so great a service Keep thy heart with all diligence because of the Almighty Prov. 24.23 1 Cor. 11.10 keep thy body in a comely deportment because of the Angels Remember thou art upon a moral duty wherefore do all things decently and in order pray when the saints pray Saints must be like Aaron Hur holding up Moses hands 1 Cor. 14.40 they must be like the heavenly host singing forth the praises of God together they must doe all things as becoms the blessed communion of Saints breath after the fullest communion with God that is attainable in this state of grace the communion to be sought by every Sabbath keeper must be 1. A choice communion such as the saint must prefer to all enjoyments Never let the soul think to sanctifie Gods Sabbath that does not esteem one day in Gods courts better then a thousand Psal 84.10 Let him never imagine his service shall be accepted unlesse he endeavour at least to make a Moses a Maries a Davids choice One thing have I desired of the Lord that will I seek after He that makes such a a choice he shall enjoy the comforts promised to Christians Psalm 27.4 Is 56.4 5 6 7 that keep Gods Sabbath from polluting it even them saith the Lord will I bring to my holy mountain and make them joyful in my house of prayer God cannot choose but delight in that soul who makes his choice of Sabbath communion with his maker 2 It must be a close communion Thâ— Sabbath keeper must be in his Saviours â—osome all the day Can. 8.1 O saith the spouse that thou wert my brother that suâ—ked thâ— brests of my mother I would kiss thee c. It is good for me saith the Psalmist to draw near to God O Christian keep close and let him not go till he send thee to thy house with a blessing in thine heart 3. Thou must labour for a clear communion 3. Ps 63.2 Content not thy self till thou seest his power and his glory as his saints hase seen him in his sanctuary 2 Cor. 3.18 Acts 2. Presse after primitive experience to behold as in a glâ—sse the glory of the Lord till thou be changed
were wrought so it will be sad for such as will persist in slighting the holy Sabbath which he hath so eminently arown'd with his wonders After labour hath bin spent in vain to fasten some defamation on the Lord of the Sabbath the next invention is to fal upon his servants And first they seek some shelter for Sabbathâ— breaking from the Apostles words One Man esteemeth one day above another Rom. 14.5 Another osteemeth every day alike The Apostle doth not here expose Gods moral Sabbath to our censure or to be esteemed or disesteemed as we please for he had before firmly established the moral Law * Rom. 3 31. and cannot be thought to destroy what he hath setled in the same Epistle onely in meats and dayes ceremonial he leaves weaklings to liberty for since Christ hath took down the wall of partition The persons places meats and days which did support it are all level'd but the seventh day Sabbath was instituted long before that partition wall was raised So that 't is not in our liberty to esteem it as we please for God himself hath made it holy and so esteems it whether we do or no. 'T is God that from the Worlds foundation placed holiness in this day and what God hath sanctified let not us presume any longer to make common Another argument is drawn from Gal. 4.10 Ye observe Days and Months and Times and Years Answ He cannot here condemn the observing of all days since Fasting and Feasting days are approved by Christ and his Church onely weak and beggarly seasons are condemned If any dare be so bold to reproach the seventheday-Sabbath instituted and observed by God himself as a weak and beggerly element at his peril be it 'T is a royal Law and will be the joy of a royal people The third argument aspersing the Apostles is raised from Col. 2.16 17. Let no man therefore judge you in meat or in drink or in respect of part of a Feast * So the Greek or of the New Moon or of the Sabbaths which are a shadow of things to come but the body is of Christ 1. Here at first sight 't is evident that onely such Sabbaths are ceased as were a shadow of good things to come But the seventh day was never such a Sabbath a sign indeed of good things past and present as is already shewed but never termed a shadow of things to come 2. The blessed Spirit by two other terms declares clearly what Sabbaths are ceased 1. Col. 2.14 such as were against us 2. contrary to us and such were those annual Sabbaths requiring great labour and travel in comming three times a year from all parts to Jerusalem far from the sweet Rest which the fourth Commandemnent enjoyns upon the seventh day Sabbath which never was in the least against us or any way contrary to â—s and therefore not here intended though he Prelates by perverting the Text would â—volve it for unto the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which onely signifieth Sabbaths they have deceitfully added dayes to the Text as though there were no other Sabbaths but Sabbath days whereas the seventh year was a Sabbath and the seventh seventh the great ceremonial Sabbath or Jubile And whereas by this bold and absurd addition some would cast off the seventh day as ceremonial who yet plead strongly for the morality of the Sabbath it is very considerable that this Text toucheth not the Day at all but the Duty that is the Sabbath which even many enemies of the seventh day confess to be moral Evident it is that as the seventh day points out the time of worship so the Sabbath denptes the worship it self and the Apostle mentions not the day or time as a shadow but the Sabbaths and so if any thing in the fourth Commandement were a shadow of Christ it must be onely the Rest which is the duty and not the Time which is the seventh day As warrantably may they reject the moral Law upon that expression of the Law being changed Heb. 7.12 as the seventh day upon this word of Sabbaths being ashadow We may as well distinguish of Sabbaths in this place as Laws in that Mr. Aspinwal pretends to reform the Bishops abuse of this Col. 2. and translates it rightly Sabbaths but renders those words a Feast which he knows is onely part of a Feast and from hence takes liberty p. 4. to descant upon Feasts contrary to the word Well after all attempts the 7th day Sabbath remains a glorious lively Oracle to Christians it is no bâ—se ceremony or beggarly rudiment for God himself observed it and with his own voice with great Majesty enjoyned and recorded it a mongst the rest of his royal perpetual precepts it requireth no toil nor trouble like the ceremonial Sabbaths but lovingly releaseth man from his labours It is no way against us or contrary to us unless we be against God and contrary to those heavenly spirits who prefer one day in Gods Courts before a thousand in that dunghil drudgery wherein earthy carnal base-born muck worms delight to be toiling and moiling in this bewitching world It mounts the Dove-like Spouse from earth to heaven where she obtains a tast of her eternal glory dwelling this day in her Beloveds bosome sweetly reposing her weather-beaten Vessel in this shining season of noon-tide Rest in the very arms of Christ Caut. 1.7 These are undeniably the sweet enjoyments and soul-ravishing delights which this Royal Sabbath of Iehovah opens to the sincere obedient soul and therefore onely to be slighted by such as observing lying vanities forsake their own mercies When restless spirits find their fancies frustrate and that they have onely wearied themselves with these inventions 1. To expel the glorious Sabbath out of Paradise 2. To imprison it in Palestina 3. To defame our Saviour as a Sabbath-breaker 4. To asperse the Apostles as Sabbath-slighters And finding the Sabbaths lustre breaking through these foggy inveations 5. Satan the Prince of darkness transforming himself into an Angel of Light furnisheth them with the last invention under the most specious pretence of a spiritual Sabbath to live in the weekly pollution of that blessed day which the Father of Spirits hath appointed for the inlet of all spiritual sweets into the soul And the poor deceived Notionists 2 Cor. 11.2 3. Gen. 3.5 forgetting how the serpent beguil'd Eve through his subtilty under the very same bait of disobedience to Gods Commands promising most gâ—orious spiritual enjoyments are so transported with the glistering Alchymie of his sublime aiery notions that away goes all the tryed Gold of the Law and the Testimony and now no duties will down with these lawless Libertines but all their devorion lies buried in the abysse of pretended spiritual prayer spiritual singing spiritual fasting spiritual feasting spiritual baptism spiritual supper spiritual sabbath leaving all literal obedience as too low for their bewitched fancies as if Christ and primitive Christians
wilt or shalt labour or as it is rendred elsewhere six days may work be done God gives us leave to serve our selves six days Exo. 31.15 that we may not murmur or repine in devoting the seventh wholly to his service but he is no Aegyptian Task-master to bind us to six days incessant labour for then Paul sinned in such a charge to preach in season out of season and God himselfe should cross his own Command in requiring Israel to observe the Passeover Penticost Feast of Tabernacles c. taking up as many days as the year hath weeks which ceremonial days Christ hath abolished and therefore we should not grudge to give unto God every first day as an addition to the Sabbath with thankfulness for our double benefit Creation and Redemption especially if both days be anthorized by the word of truth As for the scriptures quoted in the New Testament for the change of the seventh day Sabbath to the first day of the week I shall demonstrate in due time that not any one of them nor all together can make up an argument to satisfie a truly enlightened soul But that the Resurrection day is designed for a rejoycing day to Christs Disciples seems undeniable by the Psalmists saying Ps 118.24 This is the day which the Lord hath made we will rejoyce and be glad in it Which being compared with Peters speech * Act. 4.10 11. must needs be meant the Resurrection day And whereas some who are loath to appear in Gods presence too often do suppose this rejoycing day to be onely Easter day once in a year I shal forbear to answer them til they can better agree about the celebration of their traditional Easter and excite Gods people to rejoice and be glad on the Resurrection day as oft as the week brings it about But is this impossible to be done unless we reject Gods ancient 7th day Sabbath why may not the Sabbath stand with the first day amongst Christians as it stood with so many holy days amongst the Jews especially since the mercy of a free Redeemer is added to the blessings of a bountifull Creator 'T is sad to see persons spend more time in sin to satisfie their lusts then Profestors can part with to serve the Lord. Welf it seems to be Scriptural that the Lord made the Resurrection day a rejoyoing day but he never made it a Sabbath day and if it be allowed that honourable title of the Lords Day Rev. 1. yet doth it no more cashier the seventh day Sabbath then did the ceremonial Feasts called Sabbaths of old Those many Jewish holy dayes honoured with the title of Sabbaths did not then weaken the Royal Sabbath nor can the supposed title given to the first week-day now do it seeing Christ hath for ever confirmed each point and parcel of the Moral Law Jam. 2.8 10 11. Both days may lovingly live amongst Christians redeemed from the earth And though many would be accounted Saints that think they should be undone in so doing yet the spotless Spouse of Christ whiles arayed in those royal robes of Sun-like Majesty Rev. 12. and decked with that diadem of infallibility trampling under feet all sublunary fading mutable glories I say in this her primitive purity during the first three Centuries she constantly observed both these dayes in honour of her Creator and Redeemer till the little Horn changed her Times and Laws This is so generally confessed even by the adversaries of the seventh day Sabbath that other proof would be needless in this place It cannot be denied that the primitive saints did honour the Resurrection day with the honourable title of their Lord so that it became a proverbial question in their greetings Servasti Dominicum hast thou kept the Lords day to which the other would answer Christianâ—â— sum intermittere non possum I am a Christian I may not omit it This I conceive is a second ground for observing the first day and although the decree of Constantine with the Councel of Laodicea do not any way concern us in this point 2 Chr. 10.10.3 Neh. 9.27 Est. 9.20 yet the statutes enacted by a just authority for the observation of daies should be observed provided that such decrees be no way destructive to the Sabbath of the Lord our God Matth. 15.2 3. This I offer as a third ground of rejoycing on the Resurrection day commonly called the Lords day which we should more readily embrace then any Lecture day According to the good old Christian custom of Saints and it may be fitly termed the Lords day Rom. 14.6 when with delight we observe it to the Lord. Reasons for observing both daies are these 1. Christians have more engagements upon them then ever ancient Israel had to devote as much of their time to God shall the greatness of his graces straighten us in the advancement of his glory 2. We have as frequent necessity of heavenly supplies as they had why should we be seldomer at the throne of grace 3. We are set free from those great burdens and bondages long journeys and vast expences sacrifices and ceremonies under which they groaned and are two daies in seven such a task Is our fathers presence and saints fellowship so itksome Doubtless 't is so to drossie Disciples whose love extends no further then the Leaves why we are invited into the holy of holies to make sure work of eternal mansions to bear up Gods standard and honour in the world for a little season and are two daies for God and our souls so tedious and troublesome when we have more then twice two for our perishing bodies we should not be weary to approach the presence of an earthy Prince so often for wealth and honour 4. The highest pretender to spirituality had need enough to get often into Gods Courts and Saints company to shake off his earthy shackles the durty face of our earthly Mother too frequently dulls our affections to our heavenly Father we have little cause to couzen our consciences with with a device to honour God by disobeying him in slighting his precepts under pretence of spiritual performances as if frequent attendance at heavens gates could hinder our spiritual growth or Gods Sabbath suppress one sanctity 5. We are marvailously delivered from all those Mass daies upheld by the Beast and his image to which Saints were compelled by Parators as Candle Mass Christ-Mass Michael-Mass and I know not how many Mastes and is it now such a matter with the Sabbath day to devote the first day of the week to Gods worship as Saints have done I fear such Professors did never count the cost before they took up Christianity and therefore they fail in that measure of self-denial which the Sabbath calls for which I confess is more then all other Ordinances but let such know they will find it as hard for flesh and bloud to inherit the Kingdome of God as now they feel the observance of Gods
and sanctified it Saints For your souls sake search the Scripture if ever you find the Lord resting upon the first day I have proveâ— unto you that when he arose the first daâ— he was so far from resting that he travelled 15 miles that very day and encouraged his Disciples so to doe Ask your consciences in the fear of God if this were sanctifying a new Sabbath The ancient Christians who called it the Lords day did never terme it the Sabbath day but religiously celebrated the seventh day Sabbath with it But see what partiality this is to avouch that to be the Lords day which is so uncertain in Scripture and to reject the seventh day which is constantly called the Sabbath And thus I have faithfully opened the 3 Scriptures which neither singly nor joyntly give the least ground to observe the first day as a Sabbath So that Scriptures failing they flee to unscripturall consequences to support their supposed change First Arg. 1 They tell us that the worke of Redemption is greater then the worke of Creation and therefore the greater worke deserves the honour of the day Answ 1 I may demand with the Almighty to lost Adam who told thee that thou wast naked who told thee the work of Redemption was the greater who told thee the greater â—ork if it were so deserves the honour of the day hath God no other way to bear up the honour and preserve the memory of Redemption but thy supposed Sabbath Then learne to know that for the honour of the glorious work of creation God hath instituted his holy Sabbath and for the commemoration of the gracious work of Redemption he invites thee if thou hast grace to his sacred Supper Wherefore cease presumptuous man to set up thy posts by Gods Pillars blesse his name for his Royall Sabbath to meditate on the worke of his hands and sound forth his praise for his precious Supper that sets forth the Love of his heart Arg. 2 A second reason is raised from the Israelites obligation to offer their first-borne and first-fruits and therefore t is thought more equall to offer the first day for a Sabbath then first to serve our selves six dayes and put of Gods Sabbath till the seventh Answ 1 T is most equall to offer unto God what he requires and therefore none other Sabbath will bâ— accepted but that very seventh day which God hath sanctified I freely joyne thus far with the adversaries argument That it is most meet for man to offer unto God his first day But I feare my Antagonists will not stick to their own conclusions when they are remembred that the seventh day is mans first day he being made on the sixth day and immediately the seventh day Sabbath made for him to offer his first fruites unto his maker who in very deed accepts no other Sabbath but mans first day since then the adversary himselfe hath concluded that mans first day is most equall to offer unto God for his Sabbath let him either stand to his own argument Job 5.12.13 1 Cor. 1.1 and see that he offer none other Sabbath to the Lord then mans first day or else be for ever condemned by his own mouth Thus the Lord disappointeth the devices of the crafty and snareth them in their own wisdome yet will they not cease their vaine jangling Arg. 3 But tell the people that as no Manna was to be found on the seventh day so those that observe the seventh day Sabbath cannot find Christ the true Manna upon it Ans Then the Apostle was unwise to preach constantly upon that day whereon no spirituall Manna fell Act. 2.41 1â— 42 44 45. 6.13.14 but blessed be the Lord of the Sabbath that multitudes of Jewes and Gentiles have found such plenty of the heavenly Manna upon this blessed seventh day Sabbath that the adversary may stop his mouth with shame yea many living witnesses can bear their joyfull testimony to the free effusion of Gospel grace upon the true sanctified seventh day Sabbath Another reason is rendred why the first day should be observed viz. Arg. 4 from the successe of sermons in the conversion of souls on that day Ans It may be feared many are judged converts that never knew the power of the Spirit Conversion is a turning from sin to the faith and order of the Gospell which many supposed converts will be found short of If more persons be truely converted on the first day then upon other days the honour is due to Gods grace in that meanes which more abounds on the first day then other dayes and he that commands the word to be preached in season and out of season will not faile to follow it with his blessing at all seasons witnesse the notable successe of Lectures But if conversion of souls be a seale to Gods Sabbath never was day so crowned with true converts in the Scripture as the seventh day instances whereof have been already given in that famous 50 day Acts 2. and 13. and 16. and 18. cap. Argu. 5 But 't is supposed that serveing God on the seventh day Sabbath is to put new wine into old bottles Old things are passed away all things are become new 'T is true Answ Old sins are passed away and all old Ordinances Curses and Covenants but surely old Scriptures and old promises and Gods old loving kindnesses are not passed away The good old way promising rest to our soules Jer. 6.16 Heb. 10.20 is none other then the Gospel New and living way The new commandement of Christs Apostle is the old commandement that was from the beginning John 3.17.8 And the very first institution that we here of in the beginning is the seventh day Sabbath therefore if we are Christs Disciples indeed let us reform in observing the true Sabbath as we are directed about the true marriage Mat. 14.5.6 i. e. looke to the beginning we do no more put new wine into old bottles by celebrating the Antient Sabbath then by joyning in the antient way of marriage The purest water is at the spring head 1 Joh. 2.24 Let that therefore abide in you which you have heard from the beginning if that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you ye also shall continue in the Son and in the Father If you will not believe that the Sabbath which was from the beginning doth still remaine to be observed unlesse you hear the same in so many words give me leave to take off the Translators vail and let but Gods Spirit speake in his owne language wherein the holy Oracles were written and you will soon be informed Heb. 4.9 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thero remaineth therefore the celebration of the Sabbath to the
Miserable Sabbath breakers that will not take warning I shall leave you to the hardness of your own hearts till you bring your own blood upon your heads I expect nothing from you but scoffes reproaches persecutions the worst you can do t is your nature you must act up to your principles and to the height of your power 2 Pet. 3.3 I pity you and pray that God may give you grace to pity your selves before it be too late He that overcometh shall sit with Christ in his throne when the Sabbaths weekly returns have wasted his obedient soul from strength to strength to keep a joyful Jubile in Messiahs Mansions of majesty Days shal be changed into years yea the Lords Sabbath of grace to a thousand years rest with the Lord of the Sabbath in glory Then those that carefully keep Gods Sabbath through reproaches as Jew turning back to Moses shall find a heavenly harmony between Jew and Gentile joyning in continual Alelujah to Jesus Rev. 19. then they shall find Christ and Moses friends and none honoured to sing his praise who have contemned Moses musick then those and only those that have obtained victory over the Beast his image his Mark and the number of his name Rev. 15.2.3 shall sing the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb happy souls who shall be found in the possession and faithful profession of Moses lively oracles and the oracles of the Lamb together Moses's ten precepts received from Sina Acts 7â— 38. and the Lambs six principles delivered in Sion are equally honoured by the Spirit of truth as the oracles of God Heb 5.12 Heb. 1.2 6.1.2 1 Pet. 4.11 and equally given to the Saints and therefore let such as would approve themselves Saints be careful to speak as the oracles of God This is the very day of singing the song of Moses the Lamb that is of reviving the ten precepts and six pinciples as through Gods grace I shall fairly prove in another peece wherein it will appear how the sixth seal opened the six principles of Christian Religon in their primitive puritie which many precious souls have with joy embraced and that of the opening the seventh seal hath now discovered the long concealed mystery of the seven pillars of wisdoms palace which I shall demonstrate by good authority to be the seven sorts of Officers that Christ hath appointed in his house As 1. Prov. 9.1 Prophets 2 Apostles 3. Evangelists 4. Pastors 5. Teachers 6. Elders 7. Deacons all which were brought to open view upon the late terrible commotion wherein the tenth part of the City fell with the tenth horn Re. 11.13 So the Greek and 7000 names of men in whose ruines all the seven stars oâ— heaven ascended our horizâ—n to trumpet forth the long concealed seventh day sabbath which with the foremenâ—ioned precepts and principles make up the melodious harmony of Moses and the Lamb. But look about you unbelievers for whiles the Saints stand on a sea of glass mingled with the oracles of Moses and the oracles of the Lamb in their hearts and mouthes professing the precepts and principles of Law and Gospel Rev. 15.1.23.4 Behold 7 Angels having the 7 last plagues full of the wrath of God to pour upon the heads and hearts of such as joyn not in the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb. Great and marvellous are thy works Lord God Almighty just and true are thy wayes thou King of Saints Observe as you desire your souls good that the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb are the JUST AND TRUE WAYES of the Lord handed forth by Moses and the Lamb. Rev. 15.3 Who shall not fear thee O Lord and glorifie thy name for thou alone art holy Vers 4. for all nations shall come and worship before thee for thy judgements are made manifest High praises to thy glorious majesty for thy special grace O God in the glorious discovery of thy pure precepts and precious principles those lively oracles left unto the Saints by Moses and the Lamb honour and glory unto thy great Name in revealing the high presumption of that little horn in changing times and Lawes for ever magnified be thy mercy in making this precious truth manifest to the souls of many of thy Saints That there remaineth the celebration of the Sabbath to the People of God Sweet spirit of Holiness do thou sanctifie our hearts that we may Religiously sanctifie thy blessed Sabbath till thou bring us to thy Palace in peace and receive us into our Masters joy where we shall enjoy everlasting rest Aleluâ—ah Blessed are they that do his Commandments that they may have right to the tree of life and may enter in through the gates into the city Rev. 22.14 Amen FINIS