Selected quad for the lemma: heaven_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
heaven_n	day_n	lord_n	week_n	1,874	5	9.9800	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
B09144	An explanation of the solemn advice, recommended by the Council in Connecticut Colony, to the inhabitants of that jurisdiction, respecting the reformation of those evils, which have been the procuring cause of the late judgments upon New-England. By Mr. James Fitch ...	Fitch, James, 1622-1702.; Mather, Increase, 1639-1723.; Fitch, James, 1622-1702. Brief discourse proving that the first day of the week is the Christian Sabbath.; Connecticut. Council.	1683 (1683)	Wing F1063; ESTC W24614	58,047	146

Lords Day So that it was high time for the Magistrate who is Custos utriusque tabulae to interpose And truly if it had not been so there is reason to fear that the hand of Heaven would have done the Magistrates work after a ●ar more terrible manner We cannot with truth affirm that visible Judgments from Heaven have befallen Christians for not religiousl● observing the seventh Day but Histories abound with Examples of Gods awful and tremendous punishments inflicted upon the Prophaners of the Lords Day which is a very convincing Argument that the observation of the first day of the week is of Divine Institution Concerning the Objector here Animadverted upon the truth is his Allegations are feeble and frivolous so that some may think 't is pity a Man of Mr. Fitch's Strength and Ability should be improved in a Service which a far meaner hand might with ease have undertaken Yet considering that sometimes as senseless an Apostate as Mahomet was may possibly leven a World of deluded Souls if due care be not taken to prevent it others have judged it necessary that he should be answered 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 What is written will tend either to his Conversion which if possible the Lord grant or else to his being left the more inexcusable condemned in himself while he opposeth the light of Truth The Apostle does both allow and require that some and in special Judaizers should be rebuked sharply that they may be sound in the faith Tit. 1.13 Had the Antichristian Sabbatarian here refuted only modestly scrupled whether the seventh day were not still of Divine institution more gentleness in Expression would have been used with him but he is not a person to be Saved in that way If by any means he be plucked out of the fire neither himself nor those that have aimed at his Salvation will be sorry Jude 23. The Lord give a blessing to Faithful Endeavours and vindicate his Truth Name and Sabbath in such a way as shall be most for his own Glory Boston July 1683. INCREASE MATHER In Order to some Explication of the Solemn Advice which our Honoured Magistrates did in the Time of our Calamity send abroad unto the several Churches and Congregations in this Colony we have occasion to reflect upon both THe Provocations of New-England and the Impediments of Reformation and to make way for the following Discourse we may consider what Moses that great Prophet of the Lord and chief Ruler in Israel did inculcate upon that People in Deut. 9.7 Remember and forget not how thou provokedst the Lord thy God to wrath in the Wilderness We ought to have and hold a remembrance what our Transgressions have been by which the Lord hath been provoked to wrath against us 1. The Remembrance ought to be clear and full the Pen-men of the Holy Scriptures were moved by the Spirit of God to Record clearly and fully the Provocations of which the People of God had been guilty as is manifest in Psal 78. Psal 106. and through the History of the Church in the Book of God and some of the spots of the most beautiful Saints God would not suffer these to be forgotten and left out of the Holy Scripture Record 1 King 15.5 Psal 106.32 32. 2. The Remembrance ought to be affectionate with a heart suitably affected Remembring what our cares and fears grief and tears were in that day when the wrath of the Lord appeared to be a consuming fire and we as combustible matter and had not the Lord quenched the fire of his wrath with his own Bowels of Mercies we had perished Ezek. 16 61. Lam. 3.19 20. 3. The Remembrance ought to be particularly Reforming considering how our sins have driven us into a perillous state and we ready to perish in the Ocean of miseries and shall we again provoke the Lord to wrath will he not be angry until he hath consumed us Ezra 9.14 if we do not remember our Provocations to our Humiliation and Reformation the Lord will remember them against us to our own confusion and destruction although we wash our selves as with Nitre and take much Sope yet our iniquities are marked before the Lord Jer. 2.22 Psal 50.21 22. And we may see what Record of Providences respecting a People or particular persons is most agreeable to holy Scripture Rule That Record which doth declare the Righteous acts of the Lord our unrighteous deeds the superabounding Grace of God although our sins have abounded That Record which doth set forth the Lords Justice Mercy Truth Faithfulness and Almighty arm by uncovering the feebleness sickleness falseness many other bitter Provocations both of Rulers people Dan. 9.7 8. This is most like the Record in Holy Scripture and the Church History therein contained but such a faithful Record seldom comes forth in that age in which the then present Providences were acted few will suffer a plain Remembrance of their Provocations but the Lord hath hitherto provided some faithful Recorder who hath left that in Record to succeeding Ages which the present Generation would not endure to hear of Psal 10.4 Rom. 3.5 Psal 78.36 37 38. And that we may have and hold a convincing hearty Reforming effectual Remembrance what our Provocations have been let us consider according to that most Solemn Advice of our Rulers First What that sin is which is the root actually and nextly of all the other sins An. Apostasie from the true Religion considered not only absolutely but comparatively as it is a declension from the stricter part of Religion or a decay of the Beauty of a Religious Profession and this Apostacy doth shew it self in the various degrees of it and in the bitter fruits and effects of the same 1. Apostasie may be taken either Absolutely or Comparatively 1. Absolutely and so it s a total turning from the Faith 1 Tim. 1.19 20. and thus the Apostate is become a Blaspheming Infidel or a falling from Profession to Prophaneness thus the Apostate is turned like the Dog to his Vomit 2 Pet. 2.22 or a forsaking all Godliness and godly wayes and loving the present World and thus the Apostate is become a meer Worldling 2 Tim. 4.10 2. Or Apostasie taken Comparatively 1. In comparison of that which these Professors have been and done and thus they are not the lovers of God and doers of good works which sometimes formerly they have been Rev. 2.4 5. 2. Fallen away in comparison of the examples of their godly Predecessors whose Children they are after the Flesh but not after the Spirit Joh. 8.37.44 a noble Vine and right Seed in respect of their Parentage but a degenerate Plant in respect of their own practice Jer. 2.21 and have gone away from the Ordinances of the Lord from the dayes of their Fathers and not kept them in that purity and power as they were left with them by their Predecessors Mal. 3.7 3. In comparison of what they yet profess in words to

obeyed in the same as God the Father in the other so that both these works have some thing to keep them in memory by the appointment of the Workmen Reply The Reply to John R. his Answer is First He saith the work of Creation is the greatest work and his reason is because God made all things The Reply is That if the work of Creation be the greatest then the work of Redemption is not so great as the work of Creation but a work is greater or lesser according to the greatness of wisdom power and goodness manifest in it but the wisdom of God shining in the work of Redemption excels the wisdom shining in the work of Creation 1 Cor. 2.7 wisdom in a mystery and the power made manifest in Redemption is greater than in Creation called the exceeding greatness of his power towards them that do believe Eph. 1.19 And for goodness to finners John R. cannot but confess it is the mercifullest work and yet he denieth that a day shall be appointed for a memorial of this greatest work but as it is worthy of a Day so the Lord hath appointed the first day of the week for that end as hath been proved by the Scriptures abovementioned and therefore it is in vain for John R. to deny it Qu. 5. The fifth Question is Was not the work finished at the Resurrection of Christ on the first day of the week when he entred into his rest as God did into his Ans John R. his Answer is The price was paid as soon as the Sacrifice was offered and the dead raised but the work of Redemption as yet not perfected in us for we are yet under the bondage of corruption Rom. 8.23 but to say that Christ entred into his Rest on the first day of the week I cannot for he did assemble himself with his Disciples after his Resurrection being seen of them forty dayes before he ascended up into Heaven and upon the day of his Resurrection did eat with his Disciples and did travail with them which was Labour Reply The Reply is that Iohn R. denieth that the work of Redemption was finished because it is not finished in us Whence his Argument is That if Redemption be not perfected in Believers then not finished by Christ but this is false reasoning for want of distinguishing between the work of Redemption and the work of Application Christs work of Redemption may be finished although the work of the Holy Ghost as sent from the Father and the Son to apply Redemption may not be finished and is not in this life perfected to the Elect. Obj. The second Objection is That Christ was not entred into rest on the first day of the week and his reason is because he assembled with his Disciples did eat and travail c. Reply The Reply is Either Christ was on the first day of the Week in a state of Humiliation or a state of Exaltation if in a state of Humiliation then his Resurrection was no degree of his Exaltation contrary to Rom 1.3 4 Eph. 1.20 21. if he were in a state of Exaltation then in a state of blessed and glorious Rest And although there are divers degrees of his Exaltation as his Resurrection Ascention Session at the right hand of the Father and his return at the last Day to be the Judge but Resurrection is one degree of his Exaltation and of his Rest and therefore he was entred into Rest although for the conviction and confirmation of His Disciples he did shew himself and by some sensible signs make it manifest that it was himself that very humane nature which had suffered death was raised that he that descended was raised and is the same also that ascended into Heaven Eph. 4.10 Qu. 6. Did not Christ allow this to be called his Day as the Sacrament is called his or the Loras Supper Ans Iohn R. his Answer is I cannot say that ever the first day of the week was called the Lords Day and therefore cannot say whether he allowed it or no I know that the Cup which our Lord communicated to his Disciples they called it the Lords Cup and the Table at which they sa●e to communicate of the Bread and Wine they called the Lords Table and the Apostle Iohn calleth that Day in which the Lord communicated to him those Visions in the Revelations the Lords Day but what day of the Year or of the Week I cannot tell Reply The Reply to this is there hath been Arguments given of all forts to prove both from humane and divine Testimony the word and works of the Lord the Doctrine and Examples of the Apostles of Christ that the first day of the Week was that very day called the Lords day Rev. 1.10 and if John Rogers was asked who his Father was he would be ashamed to say he could not tell and yet he cannot but know that as to humane Test mony there is more clear and infallible proof that the first day of the week was called the Lords Day than he can have who his Father was this being the Testimony of all the Churches in all Ages from the primitive time to this very day until of late some few ha●e risen up and raised the Objection But besides all these Arguments from the Scripture have been given to prove it and if yet Iohn R. will say he cannot sell we must leave him to his ●gnorance and he ought not to be off●nded with us and revile us because we do know Qu. 7. Did not Christ countenance and allow his Apostles in the practice and solemnization of that day in proper Sabbath Ordinances Ans His Answer is before saying not that I know the Ordinance of the Sabbath is rest to Man and Beast for so God ordained in the fourth Command after the six dayes work to rest Qu. 8 Are not Christ and his Apostles therein to be a pattern for Christians to follow and so vertually a divine Institution Ans Iohn Rogers his Answer is that the eighth Question is answered by the Answer to the seventh and the answer to the seventh was the same with the Answer to the sixth viz. that he could not tell that he did not know and thus he makes a quick dispatch of Answers to the Governours Questions But in this he is like those who when the Question was asked them concerning the Baptisme of John whence was it from Heaven or of Men they reasoned with themselves saying if we shall say from Heaven he will say unto us why did you not then believe him but if we shall say of Men we fear the People for all hold John as a Prophet Mat. 21.25 26. and therefore they concluded it was safest for them to say we cannot tell ver 17. Thus likewise if Iohn R. should say that the Patern and the Examples of the Apostles respecting Worship and particularly concerning the Sabbath ought to be followed then he knows it would be said why do you not follow

them and if he should say that their Example ought not to be followed by Christians this would be so un-Gospel-like and un-Christian like and therefore Iohn R. concludes it is best for him to say he cannot tell Qu. 9. If the old Jewish Covenant be expired and sundry Ordinances about time and place c. altred why not the time of the old Sabbath alterable by the Lord of the Sabbath upon a Gospel account as a memorial of Redemption Ans Iohn R. his Answer is I know not what thou dost mean by old Jewish Covenant I know no Covenant in Scripture by that name if thou dost mean the Covenant which the two Tables of Stone the Tables of the Covenant which did contain the ten Commandments which Israel did enter into a Covenant with God by engaging to perform the same which Covenant they brake and perished in the Wilderness for the same God did ordain by the hand of Moses Ceremonies as a figure of the Mediatorship of Jesus Christ at this time at Mount Sinai when Israel entred into the Covenant of works to shew that there was mercy to be obtained by Jesus Christ though the first Covenant was broken by them that is to say upon Repentance and Faith Now though the first Covenant which was dedicated with the blood of Bulls and Goats and accompanied with many Rites and Ceremonies which were figures of the Mediatorship of Jesus Christ which Rites and Ceremonies are done away but none of them placed in the two Tables for that Law is spiritual and it is as easie by Gods Decree for Heaven and Earth to pass as for a tittle of it to fail Now the other Law contained in the former Covenant called the Hand-writing of Ordinances which was nailed to the Cross of Christ which did contain meats and drinks New Moons and Sabbaths which Sabbaths was besides the Sabbaths of the Lord but Gods seventh day-Sabbaths were commanded by the mouth of the Lord with an audible voice written with the finger of God in Stone death inflicted upon the breaker of it Exod. 31.12 Reply The Reply is this John Rogers his Answer is full of confusion jombling the Covenant of Works and the Covenant of Grace together 1. First The Covenant of Works was made with Adam 2. Secondly The Covenant of Grace may be considered either as Ceremonially and Legally Administred and this John R. calls the Covenant of Works or as it is attended with Gospel Administrations and there the Question ariseth Whether another day might not be more suitable upon a Gospel account than the seventh day Sabbath and what reason doth Iohn R. give to the contrary I confess I begin to grow weary of forming his Arguments for him because I find it more difficult to find out his reason and to form it for him than to answer it and could even determine for the future that if he cannot or will not form his Arguments himself I shall leave them as I find them covered with darkness and void of form but if there be any face of reason in this his Answer at length it is That the seventh day being commanded in the Decalogue is therefore unalterable but we have proved that Christ hath altered it and by the Holy Ghost guided his Apostles to settle the first Day of the Week the Lords Day and our Christian Sabbath and because I shall meet with this Objection more fully in the next Answer I proceed to that Qu. 10. Is there not room left in the Words of the fourth Command for the seventh Day to be altered and our Lords day to be sanctified by the Lord of the Sabbath See the Preface of the Commannment Remember the Sabbath to keep it holy and the Conclusion only saith the Lord blessed the Sabbath and when the seventh day is named it saith only is and not shall be for ever so observed Ans John R. his Answer is No there is no room for the seventh day is the very day commanded and Jesus Christ hath left it upon Record that it is easier for Heaven and Earth to pass than one tittle of the Law to fail and hath forbid his Disciples for entertaining such a thought in these words saying think not I am come for to destroy the Law and again saith he For verily I say unto you till Heaven and Earth pass one jott or tittle shall in no wise pass from the Law who dare therefore attempt such a thing against Gods Law given in such a terrible manner being spoken by his own mouth the Earth trembling at his Word and so terrible was the sight that Moses said I exceedingly fear and quake and not only so but the Son of God testifying that it shall abide as long as Heaven and Earth as is already specified threatning also any that attempt such a wicked act saying Whosoever therefore breaks the least of these Commandments and shall teach Men so c. therefore who dare attempt such a presumptuous act against Gods Law and Christs confirmation of the same Law and what is that to purpose in the Preface and Conclusion seeing the day commanded is the seventh day and no other so that Sabbath is proper only to the seventh day and no other but as to the conclusion of the commandment some Translate it therefore the Lord blessed the seventh day and ballowed it which is most agreeable it being taken from Gods seventh day rest Gen. 2.3 See Beza's Translation Exod. 31.12 and death not infflicted upon any ceremonial Law but Excommunication but death upon the prophaning of the seventh day Sabbath the Reply is Reply Iohn R. in this Answer is fled to his seeming Fort and he knows if he be driven out from this that neither he nor any for the seventh dayes Sabbath have any Castle nor Covering for their conceited confidence but the scope of the Question if rightly stated and plainly expressed is That a Sabbath as a Sabbath is first and last in the Precept and shall not be changed but the particular day is secondarily specified and is mutable as other positive Laws are the Lord having reserved a liberty to himself to change them according to his Royal pleasure and who shall say he hath done iniquity And as for Iohn R. his Argument so far as it hath any colour of reason in it is That seeing Christ came not to destroy the Law but to fulfil it and that in every jot and tittle of it and therefore not to change the seventh dayes Sabbath into the first day of the Week and to this we shall positively and plainly Reply 1. First There is that which may be called an actual fulfilling in all and every particular point and duty required in the Decalogue but Christ did never actually fulfil the particular Duties of Parents to Children of a Husband to a Wise and many other particular points and duties contained in the Decalogue and yet his fulfilling all and every one of those Duties which had any suitableness