the vanity of that Anti-christian invention But 3. We must learn to distinguish between Ceremonials and Morals both are not alike confirmed when they are together mentioned Act. 5.20 42. The Apostles preached and prayed in the Temple yet are they not of equal authority The Royal Sabbath is indeed mentioned with New Moons and sacrifices but it is no more rejected then Prayer and the prayer hearing God which are mentioned together * Isa 1.13 14 15. 57.6 7. 3d. Obj. A third objection is newly made by Mr. Aspinwal who grants Pentecost to be indeed the seventh day but thinks the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 translated fully come should rather be rendred fully past Pag. 5. Whence he would perswade that the Spirit did not descend upon the true day of Pentocost but upon the Jews false day of Pentecost which he saith was the first day of the week 1. The Greek being a Gerund in Do signifies fulfilling and most certain it is that as the saints were fulfilling the true Pentecost on the seventh day the spirit of Christ descended early upon them 2. His great mistakes are manifest in that our Lord Jesus who was punctual as he grants p. 5. to his own Law exactly celebrated the Passeover upon the 5th day the Jews on the 7th and such distance must needs be at the true and false Pentecost the true on the 7th the false not as he asserts on the first day but on the second so that his supposition of all those wonders which he would have done on the Jews Pentecost* do utterly vanish Pag. 35. and the glory of the 7th day Sabbath whereon those mighty things were wrought as I have convincingly proved is more abundantly confirmed seeing himself grants pag. 34. That those actions of the spirits effusion glorious conversion baptism breaking bread c. are signal characters of our Christian Sabbath Thus whiles we seek for wisdome in Gods way of counting his numbers Pro. 2.4 Rev. 13.18 we find the ancient Sabbath of the Lord our God within the mysterious numbers of Pentecost which saints should esteem as highly approved by the spirits glorious manifestation To which may be added 3ly His constant Appellation Christs promise was that the blessed spirit shall be ever with us to instruct us in all his truths And since this infallible guide doth constantly call the seventh day the Sabbath it must be received as a word of truth from God that cannot lie And truly 't is high presumption to alter the perfect word of God in calling any day the Lords Sabbath which the Lord never dignified with any such honourable appellation Let but the least authority be produced for honouring any other day as a Sabbath day in the Gospel besides the Lords honourable seventh day and the controversie will soon be ended I know what some have endeavoured to pacifie their perplexed spirits about the Sabbath who would perswade themselves that the first day of the week was thus honoured by the Evangelists in terming it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the first of the Sabbath Mat. 28.1 But first Answ here 's no 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mentioned the glory of the Sabbath DAY is onely given to the seventh day whiles the first day of the week is termed like other common days the first of the Sabbath the second of the Sabbath the third c. 2. Whether they take this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for one of the Sabbaths or the first of the Sabbaths to be sure 't is not any one of the sanctified Sabbaths instituted or authorized by the Lord our God Father Son or Spirit neither can it be the first of the Sabbaths in their sense for the seventh day was undeniably the first Sabbath If they say it was the first individual Gospel Sabbath then I suppose that first day in the 1 Cor. 16.1 may be the twentieth Sabbath at least and yet that also is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As for the proper signification and sence of the word it is the first of the week in English for Sabbath is an Hebrew not an English word and must be rendred week where ever it points at any time except the seventh day or some ceremonial sabbath as as the Pharisees vaunt shews Luke 18.12 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I fast twice on the Sabbath that is not twice in one day but twice a week The Evangelist fairly follows that form of expression used by the Septuagint which the Apostles more frequently observed then the Hebrew as being more common amongst the Gentiles where especially their work lay terming the week days the first of the sabbath the second of the sabbath c. instead of the heathen names of Sun-day Moon day c. which I hope may satisfie all such as had rather use scripture then heathenish names As in the title of Psal 24 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the first of the Sabbath or Week Ps 48. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the second of the Sabbath or Week Psal 94. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the sourth of the Sabbath or the fourth of the Week c. The Sabbath day is the peculiar honour given to the seventh day alone Luk. 4.16 Act 13 14. 16.13 c. So that if we be followers of God as dear children and take the blessed spirit for our guide in all our expressions and actions we must honour the Sabbath with holy devotion which he hath so honoured with highest Encomiums we must reverence that day above all daies in which he so gloriously descended upon the first pure Church solemnly assembled If this be not the pattern shewed Christians in the Mount I desire them to shew me some other pattern of some pure Church but if this be the undoubted pattern shewed this blessed day in the Mount Then Christian look well to thy walk Heb. 8.5 See that thou make all things according to the Pattern shewed thee in the Mount And since the spirits appellation is a further approbation of the seventh day which is the onely day he honours with the royal name of Sabbath day See thou presume not to call any day the Sabbath day but that which he hath so called See thou observe that for the Sabbath day which he hath so crowned It is the presumption of the little Horn not onely to change times but that this time of Gods solemn worship might be for ever buried in oblivion he hath devested it of this royal appellation of the Sabbath day and obscured its glory under the detestable name of Saturday i.e. Saturns day and so sheweth himself to be that Antichrist misteriously opposite to Christ devoting that very day to the father of Daemons or chief of idolized Devils which our Lord hath designed owned crowned and approved his chief day for Gospel worship And truly Christians the holy spirit would not that you should have fellowship with Devils 1 Cor. 10.20 Our English Laws have somewhat lessened this impiety wherein the
worship Clem. first Ep. to Corin. p. 21. be preformed according to the APPOINTED SEASONS not as it happens and disorderly but at SET TIMES and houres they therfore that perform their oblations according to the APPOINTED TIMES are accepted and blessed Here observe how this blessed Minister of Christ seconds the Apostle in labouring to reform that great disorder amongst the Corinthians who came as they listed to the Lords Supper some sooner some later whence sprang that confusion transgression and wofull desolation amongst them 1 Cor. 11.20 21 29 30. Wherfore he informs them and us that our oblations or sacrifices of praise are not to be performed at our liberty but that the Lord himself hath ordered and appointed set times and hours which undoubtedly is the sum of the Apostles mighty charge to Timothy That he should be instant in preaching in season out of season And the holy Clement assures us that in observing the appointed seasons we shall be accounted blessed Now what these appointed seasons and time are that this great God hath ordered his Saints should observe the same elect vessel declares in these words Epist Const l. 7. c. 24. You must keep holy the Sabbath in memory of the Creation and the Lords day in memory of Christs Resurrection Certainly this ancient Disciple of Paul did clearly understand these daies to be ordered and appointed of the Lord and since a person so assuredly sanctified would not deceive us Let us follow Clement also as he followed Paul and not think two daies time too much for our souls whiles we have more then twice as many for our bodies Another famous Disciple of the Apostles and holy Martyr of Jesus even that heavenly Ignatius teacheth the very same doctrine in this Dialect Next after the Sabbath day let every friend of Christ make the Lords day a solemn Festival And the same holy man ad Philip shews his his detestation of Sabbath pollution saying If any one shall keep a fast on the Lords day or on the Sabbath day Ignat. ad Magn. let him be accursed Certainly he that shews such indignation against those that pervert the Law of the Sabbath from a Feast to a Fast would much more abominate those that turn it from spiritual delight to corporal labour Thus were these two appointed days honoured in the Virgin state of the unspotted Spouse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Germani fratres like lovely twins or natural brethren the one born at the Creation the other at the Redemption of the world But in the third Century man took upon him to be more spiritual then his Maker and some parts began to be infected with Origens allegorical Divinity taking liberty to prophane the seventh day under pretence of keeping a mystical Sabbath by cessation from sin while they lived in the manifest sin of slighting the Sabbath So that the mistery of iniquity gâ—t ground by this mistical notion making way for the rising of the presumpâ—uous little Horn to change Times and â—â—aws till at last he prevailed with the Emperour abolishing the seventh day Sabâ—ath by a Decree to establish the Lords day or first day of the Week Eusâ—b vit Constant l. 4. c. 17. for the great hoâ—y day appointing a set form of Latin prayers to be used upon it And this was done the 330. year after of out Redemption But maugre this presuâ—â—ptious decree many pretious Churches still devoted themselves both daies to Gods honour as is evident in that of Ambrose Sacrum l. 4. c. 6. Upon the next day saith he being the Sabbath and after that on the Lords day I will treat of the order to be used in praier And I wish I could intreat all that read this holy resolution to resolve to walk in the same order and reject those Romish abominations as Rome rejected the Christian custome of saints witnessed by Socrates four hundred years after Christ Though saith he in manner all the Churches throughout the world do celebrate and receive the holy misteries every Sabbath day after other yet the people inhabiting Alexandria and Rome of an old tradition do not use it Socrat. scholast l. 5. c. 21. The Egytians adjoyning to Alexandria use to celebrate the communion upon the sunday Here you may see how long the Saints honoured Gods Sabbath for the generality of Christians almost throughout the world did then communicate in the highest misteries of the body and bloud of our Redeemer upon the Sabbath day whiles onely the apostatizing Church of Rome with some few of her adherents did communicate upon the sunday so called Now which of the examples we should follow the good Lord help us to consider though me thinks it might easily be determined if we well weigh the pattern in the Mount where wee finde the first pure Church breaking bread upon the seventh day Sabbath Acts 2. I may not omit another instance of the same authentick Author 404. years after Christ who being one of the best Historians we can boast of thus writeth Wherefore when the festival meeting throughout every week was come Socr. schol lib. 6. cap. 8. I mean saith he the Saturday and the Sunday upon which days the Chrâ—stians are wont solemnly to assemble in the Church Since therefore this was the Saints custome through those purest times even 400. years after Christ why should not we also be followers of Christ and his Scripture Spouse with them Especially if we consider that unto this very day those Christians that have lived from under the power of Rome do constantly celebrate both these days It is the testimony of Mercator Heylin and other Historians of good account That the Aethiopians do constantly observe both the Sabbath day and the Lords day without doing any work according * Mercat hist. mun p. 827. to the ancient manner of the Christians This Aethiopia is described to be as large as all the Empire of Germany with France and Italy having threefcore and ten Kingdomes tributary their King is called Presbyter John exercising both the Legal and Ministerial functions It was their Queen who travelled so far to hear the wisdome of Solomon Matth. 12.42 and shall rise up in judgement to condemn such as wilfully refuse to wait upon the Lord of the Sabbath To this people did Gods spirit punctually fulfil that royal Prophesie Psal 86.31 Aethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands to God directing the Evangelist to instruct convert Act. 8.26 27 35. and baptize the Treasurer to another of their Queens so that the Noble Eunuch returning with joy into his own Countrey as their Histories inform us converted and baptized his Prince who with joynt endeavours spread the Gospel through those large territories likely to abide in the faith of Christ until his second comming according to the ancient Prophesie Zeph. 3.9 10. And thus I have faithfully performed my task in vindicating the ample authority of the seveuth day Sabbath as being Instituted by
and truly since God hath so eminently crowned my weak but willing endeavours among you we cannot without ingratitude for get the many fatherly favours and constant encouragements of that worthy instrument who first invited me to serve you The good Lord strengthen us by the choice graces of his precious spirit that we may never forfeit our interest in this honoured Patriot or in the least blemish our most holy profession Your gracious submission to gospel truth hath filled my soul with joy and I am sure God hath enriched your hearts with gifts and grace since your souls were set towards his Sabbath T is very much for yoar sakes who have earnestly desired it that I have thus far engaged wherefore with endeared bowels of love I present it to you the good Spirit engrave it in your hearts that you may honour it in your lives till the Lord of the Sabbath crown all your services and sufferings with everlasting rest Dear Brethren cease not to pour out your souls on the be half of Your faithful and affectionate Minister Tho. Tillam THE Seventh Day SABBATH Sought out and celebrated BY Saints obtaining Victory over the Mark of the Beast THe first Royal Law that ever Jehovah instituted and for our Example celebrated namely his blessed Seventh-day Sabbath is in these very last days become the last great controversie between the Saints and the Man of sin The Changer of Times and Laws Awake ye slumbring Virgins the fig-tree is apparently budded the signs of his second coming who is The Lord of this Sabbath are so fairly visible that although the day and hour be not known yet doubtless this generation shall not pass till new Ierusalems glory shall crown obedient Saints with everlasting Rest Wherefore rouze up your selves ye spirited Citizens of Sion shake off the dust and trash of beastly Babylon and whiles that imperious Harlot shames not to assert that Ignorance is the Mother of Devotion let heavenly wisdome be your sole design with raised expectations of his faithfull performance Hab. 2.14 who hath promised That the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the Sea Many shall run to and fro Dan. 12.4 2 Thes 1.8 and knowledge shall be encreased Whiles vengeance in fiery flames shall be the portion of such as are disobedient and willingly ignorant Remember the slights and deceits of imposing Pope and Prelate their Altars Pictures Gossips kneeling at the Rail Surplice with the whole Systeme of invented service and let this consideration quicken all that fear the Lord That the very same Horn who thus imposed his Canons upon our consciences must change our Times no less then our Laws Dan. 7.25 or else he is not Antichrist Since therefore 't is undeniable that we have been deceived by his Laws 't is worthy our enquiry whether we have been cheated of the appointed Times of Gods worship 'T will be said to that soul that after warning shall be found in the weekly pollution of Gods Sabbath 't is not one day in seven will serve turn Rev. 2â— when the books shall be opened and that very seventh day on which God himself rested shall be found expresly commanded The Beasts Wafer câ—kes and Water in stead of enjoyned Bread and Wine will be as excusable one day as the change of Gods holy Sabbath As for such professors who surpass the late Prelates in scoffing at Gods Sabbath as an empty form a trifle c. let New-England however mistaken in the precise time mourn over their licentiousness in these sorrowfull strains No measure of tears are sufficient to lament the present estate of times that when the Lord Jesus was come forth to vindicate the cause and controversie of Sion there should rise up other instruments of spiritual wickedness in high places to blot out the name and sweet remembrance of this day from off the face of the earth The enemies of the Sabbath are now not so much negligent time servers and aspiring brambles whom preferment principally byassed to knock at the Sabbath but those who have eaten bread with Christ a generation of professing people do lift up their heel against the Sabbath So that what could formerly not be done by Angels of darkness the old Serpent takes another course to effect by seeming Angels of light And what enlightened soul can cease to câ—st in a heart full of sighs not onely for such frothy professors whose earthly minds under spiritual pretences contemn Gods hallowed time without fear or trembling but even for those whose ignorance hurries them hood-wink'd from week to week to wallow in wickedness being that day most busily imployed about their perishing bodies which God hath solemnly designed for his honour and health of their immortal souls Never more cause of mourning then to see Saints in these days of light still honouring the little Horn in the gross abuse of the Lords Sabbath time and the Lords Supper-time Why Christians will you stick here Have you got victory over the Beast and beheld the Holy One tumble down his Image and will you now lose all your labours for want of a compleat victory over the Marke of the Beast Rev. 15.2 20.4 which is so visible and legible in the head of the little Horn The changer of Times and Laws Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth Isa 24.5 Because they have transgressed the Laws changed the Ordinance broken the everlasting Covenant You are assured Christians the Horn hath changed the Laws and he cannot be that Horn unless he change your Times also will you therefore wisely weigh that he had no Times to change save the Lords Sabbath-time and the Lords Supper-time and these he and none but he hath changed as I shall plainly prove under this Position The seventh day Sabbath is a perpetual royal Rule for the righteous established by precept and president to Gods praise and Saints priviledge And to prevent a sudden censure of singularity let the ingenuous know that this Conclusion contains not a tittle different from the professed doctrine of the esteemed Orthodox of this age as will appear in its parts as so many heads of the ensuing Treatise 1. 1 The Rest The Sabbath is one of the Assemblies approved points Art Relig. p. 35. 2. 2 The Time Thes Sab. p. 100. Large Cat. p. 34 The time is confessed to be the very seventh day determined by God for thus write the Elders of New England with whom accord our English Synod Not onely a day not onely a rest day but the rest day or Sabbath day which is expressed and expresly interpreted in the Commandement to be the 7th day or a 7th day of Gods determining and therefore called the Sabbath of the Lord our God is here also enjoyned and commanded as generally moral Here is a full and free confession and all I shall crave of Christians is but to observe the true seventh day Sabbath
they will find less difficulty in observing the seventh Circuit of the Sun then in supplying the defects of their native soyl by plowing the Ocean for the fruit of the Vine Having thus by Sun-beams and Scripture streams rescued the certainty of the seventh day from the clouds of obscurity it will be time with all humility to enquire at the gate of Grace Whether this seventh day be the unaltered solemn season for holy service under the Gospel That there is a special season designed distrinct from common time is generally asserted and received by Scripture-Christians and one would think that the Levellers of dayes and duties should even be thunder-smitten with the Apostles alarm 2 Tim. 4.1 2. I charge thee therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his Kingdome Preach the Word be instant IN SEASON OUT OF SEASON i. e. on the Sabbath day on the Week dayes in Gods time in mans time and this sense will be found the saving truth if we take that igitur in the Text for our direction to the fore-going Chapter I charge thee therefore i. e. since thou art so well instructed in the truths of the Old Testament the onely known Scriptures when thou wast a childe which are able to make thee wise through faith unto salvation 2 Tim. 3.14 therefore be instant in season out of season Now the onely moral season those scriptures in joyn us is the famous seventh-day Sabbath never changed till the little horn arose No wonder then the same spirit by another Apostle highly approves our fulfilling the royal Law accoring to the Scriptures Ja. 1.8 which as to the season of worship is none other in the royal Law then the seventh-day Sabbath and therefore we shall approve our selves noble Bereans indeed by searching the Scriptures whether this thing be so concluding that if the Scriptures bee able to furnish the man of God throughly to all good works 2 Tim. 3.17 then the seventh day Sabbath is that certain designed season which God will own as a good work in such as observe it Proud man presumes to make all seasons equal and alike but the good spirit promised by Christ to lead us into all truth puts undeniable difference between season and season And the Apostle which layes so great a charge upon Timothy to Preach in season out of season doth thus declare his own practise That he had been with the Saints At all seasons Acts 20.18 And he expounds his meaning first that he had preached publikely i. e. as in open places so in the solemn season designed by God for publike worship And from house to house Vers 20. i. e. improving all opportunities night and day Now that the seventh-day Sabbath was the special season for Gospel service namely prayer and preaching the Apostles practise yea his constant practise is pregnant proof as will be shewed in its proper place This is not left to the liberty of any creature to alter Acts 13. 16. 17. 18 though some who thereby justifie the abhominations of the little hom do assert but not for want of ignorance that 't is not that special seventh day that is enjoyned but A seventh day whereas we have not onely the Pattern in the Mount namely the precise time of Gods Rest to point out the Sabbath day but to end all cavils he points twice in the fourth Commandement to that very seventh on which he rested by the emphatical demonstrative particle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so that 't is not a seventh but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the seventh day and further requires that we should keep Is holy because he blessed IT and sanctified IT And therfore they had need make sure work of a very clear word for a change or repeal of that seventh day against the day of judgement for fear of being left speechless And as for such as suppose A seventh day or A seventh part of time is the morality of the fourth Commandement they will never help themselves by it for if it be a seventh day then it cannot be A sixth day or an eighth day or any other but simply A seventh day unless they will destroy their own morality and so for the other notion of a seventh part of time which they confess is purely moral if so then no other time but simply the seventh part must from week to week be devoted to Gods worship throughout all ages for whensoever the seventh part of time is altered the Morality must needs be destroyed But by such vain jangling it seems they had rather have any Sabbath or no Sabbath then the true sanctified Sabbath which God hath especially designed and whereon the choicest blessings may be in faith expected All other dayes were good wherein God wrought but the seventh day was and is peculiarly blessed wherein God rested And therefore Antichrist engageth earthly powers more especially to prophane the seventh as the chief Market day and rakes up all the filth he can finde to defile the Lords Sabbath and affright the Saints from following the Lord in observing it His grand odium wherewith Mr. Aspinwal hath polluted his Title page is That it was the Jews Sabbath like that scornfull reproach of Pilate cast upon Christ Joh. 18.35 who was indeed a Jew and Lord of the Sabbath in which sense Gospel-saints may very safely embrace this blessed Jews Sabbath who hath proclaimed himself as well Lord of his Sabbath as of his Supper and there 's safe shelter under the skirts of this Jew But in scripture dialect 't is Jehovah's Sabbath and no where term'd the Jews Sabbath that I know of but this I know that as it was instituted before there was any distinction either of Jew or Gentile so it remains in full force to the people of God for ever ever since that wall of partition was demolished Christian is the fourth Command for the Sabbath made odious because it was given to the Jews thou maist even cast off all the Commandements upon the same account Why the whole Law was given to the Jews the holy Scriptures was given to the Jews Ast 7.38 They received the lively Oracles to give unto us Observe Christian these lively Oracles are Gods moral Laws which by a lively voice he committed to them Rom. 8.2 and that not onely for themselves but to give unto us As they received them from God so they gave them unto us and therefore see thou keep them as they gave them and amongst the rest the express seventh-day Sabbath And beware of slighting it because given to the Jews Let but this scoff drive thee to disdain what was given to the Jews and so living and so dying thou shalt assuredly be damned For the Scriptures that are able through faith in Christ to make wise unto salvation were given to the Jews 2 Tim. 3 Our Lord Jesus himself was a Jew
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
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
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
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 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
whereunto the Apostle presseth v. 11. Let us therefore labour to enter into that Rest Heb. 4.11 lest any man fall after Israels example of Disobedience And thus in opening the five-sold rest contained though promiscuously in the third and fourth to the Hebrews I hope it is convincingly manifested that the seventh day Sabbath by a double obligation remaines to the people of God And indeed it is impossible to change it without violation to the confessed morality of the commandement for whereas our adversaries assert a just seventh part of time yea and a seventh day as truly Moral they know the seventh day from the Creation was instituted in Paradise and the same day commanded from Mount Sinai and certain it is that if the Jewes had observed any other day they had destroyed the morality neither can the wisest Christian in the World contrive a change but he destroys the morality for let him change the Sabbath to the sixth day and that cannot be a seventh day or seventh part of time Let him translate it to the eighth day and then seven daies passe without any one Sabbath Let him keep the seventh day and the eighth or first day at his change of the sabbath and then he keeps two sabbaths within the circuit of seven daies So that do what he can the morality is subverted either he must deny the morality of a seventh day or seventh part of time or else he must stick to the good old seventh-day-Sabbath I would not smother any objection that might carry the least shew for any other Sabbath then this lively oracle of the Seventh day knowing therefore that some endeavours have been used by such my soul honours for the image of God upon them I shall weigh their apprehensions as they are declared and first from Mark 16.1 Object 1 Object Mark 16.1 1. T is supposed that the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may signifie being dissolved and so it may be rendred when the Sabbath was dissolved Answ Answ T is strange that any tender conscience should take liberty from a strained participle to live in the weekly pollution of the Royall Sabbath but the word is fairly translated when the Sabbath was past or the sabbath being passed over or compleatly finished 2. It onely intends the passing over and compleat finishing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of that one individual sabbath there is not the least appearance of abolishing that lively oracle which enjoines the seventh day sabbath Behold the Wisdome of the spirit overturning this device while he secures what the Objectors strike at for it is not the Sabbath they contend against but the seventh day now if they will strain at the word let them stick to the word which mentions not the seventh day at all but the sabbath St. Mark doth not say the seventh day was finished but when the sabbath was ended so that they cannot hence reject the seventh day and retain the sabbath 4. The scope of the Evangelist is to hold forth the passing over of that rest which prevented the womens applications of their spices Luke 23. ult and that was the sabbathday or the duty not one syllable expressed of the time or seventh day and though I am aboundantly satisfyed that the sabbath and the seventh day are unseparable never to be divided yet the objectors can distinguish as clearly as my self between the seventh day which is the time and the sabbath which is the duty so that if they 'l dissolve any thing from a squeezed participle it must not be the seventh day which lies unmentioned but the sabbath duty which is expressed And doubtless many great professors had rather cashier the sabbath duty morality of the fourth commandement yea and the morality of all the commandements as no way concerning Christians then set to the celebration of the seventh daie The Lord pity them whiles I return to another precious to the Lord and faithfull amongst the Saints who yet objecteth Object that Saint Matthews 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may signifie the ultimate end of the sabbath Math. 18.1 never to be celebrated more amongst Christians 1 Answ This may receive the same answer with the former for if it destroy any thing it must be the duty which is expresly in the word sabbaths and not the day and time of the rest which is not mentioned If persons will strain at expressions they must keep to these expressions This adverb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth not primarily or properly signifie the end but the genuine signification of it is vespere the evening and to it should be rendred viz. the evening of the Sabbaths Let the scriptures be consulted where this advâ—â—b is used which is but twice that I can find in the new testament Mark 11.19 and 13.25 in both which places it signifies the evening for the sence would be mar'd to render it other wise and so here the evening of the Sabbaths termed Sabbath in the plural as being not onely the seventh day sabbath but the Jews passover sabbath as is evident well I hope it is not possible for Satan to delude tender consciences long with such sory slights Luke 23. with John 19.24.31 as to neglect a royal statute of Jehovah upon such slender terms But since the seventh day sabbath is undoubtedly one of those lively oracles which Israel received from Sina to give unto us O Christians embrace it love it lay it in your bosomes it in vites and will conduct you weekly into the Princes presence where it will open unto you all the rest of those lively oracles and divine mysteries that are coupled with it while such as slight and reject this heavenly law and still assert a chang without book shall run themselves upon many dangerous rocks and sands which tender hearts should tremble at As first they must affront the holy spirit who was most punctual in sundry scriptures for the solemn repeal and abrogation of circumcision and all those typical Sabbaths which were against us and contrary to us shaddowing good things to come with the visible burial of the whole body of the ceremonial law and yet this blessed spirit purposely appointed to lead us into all truth was so far from repealing the seventh day Sabbath that he constantly calls that and none other the Sabbath day that is the Lords holy rest-rest-day and pours down his graces in most abundant measure that day So that if the sabbath day be altered Gods holy spirit cannot escape an affront for concealing the change from us Certainly there is need of a clear word for the change or repeal of such a royall Law and lively oracle Next to their traducing of Gods spirit Acts 20. The sabbath changers must needs bring a high charge against the Apostle for calling God to record that he had not shunned to declare all the counsel of God and yet never opened his mouth about the change of the royal seventh day sabbath He manifestly
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
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
people of God I know 't wil be suddenly objected Psal 132. there 's no mention of the Sabbath in our English Bibles only there remaineth a rest to the People of God Indeed the greater is their sin who have abused the word Sabathismos translating that only rest which signifies the celebration of the Sabbath Mar. 28.13.14 as any Grammer School-boy may see in his common Dictionary and the greatest Adversaries of the Seaven day Sabbath are not able to deny If any shall plead Psal 27.19 20. That seeing the keeping of the Sabbath is a Rest therefore the Translators may be excused in rendring the word Rest let them know that although every Sabbath is a Rest yet every Rest is not a Sabbath We rest in our beds yet who is so simple to call that a Sabbath That word which so often is rendred Rest in Heb. 3.4 is quite another Greeke word So that their sin cannot be excused who have perverted the sence and by mis translation and their own additions to the Scripture have obscured the Sabbaths Gospel-glory more then once or twice as in Col. 2.36 they have destroyed the A postles scope by their addition of Dayes so in Acts 18.4 they have translated that word Reasoning to the undervaluing of the Sabbath which in Acts 20.7 they English Preaching for the greater advancement of the first day But since so great a cloud of obscurity is cast over the Sabbath by translating that barely rest which signifies so clearly the celebration of the Sabbath and finding many perplexing their spirits to find out what rest is to pressed by the spirit In Heb. 3. 4. I shall endeavour to helpe their understandings who through some cursorie consideration of the Scripture have supposed that it only intends some one single Rest whereas upon a serious search into these two Chapters there will be found a five-fold rest 1 Typicall 2 Spirituall 3 Evangelicall 4 Morall and 5 Eternall though indeed they are as mysteriously and promiscuously held forth as those interwoven predictions of our Lord Jesus In the 4 of Mat. and the book of the Revelation which are purposely so delivered to exercise the faith and mind of wisdoms children I shall therefore through grace lay open this five-fold rest as it appeares to be the mind of the Spirit by the Apostle Heb. 3. ver 3.5.6 7 whose scope is to warne and admonish Christians by Israels woes of falling short of the true Rest and having shewed the difference between Christ and Moses with their two houses he takes his Text as it were from David Psal 45.7 exhorting Christs house by faith to walk in Gods wayes * vers 10 12 13 14. from which Israel swerved and so fell short of that Rest termed another day whereof Joshuah's Canaan was only a Type This being the Apostles scope by that Typicall rest to shadow forth that other day viz. Gospel grace and Glory by Christ The entrance into which grace is the Saints spirituall rest For saith the Apostle We which have beleeved doe enter in to rest This is that promised rest to heavy-laden souls the delightful fold of believing Lambs The very same resting place saith Christ my Father makes for me have I prepared for you even mine own bosome and all I look for from you in liew of this great love Iohn 1.18 is as thus as I rest in my Fathers bosome and you in mine so I may rest in yours Wherefore let each spirituall Virgin Spouse conlude My beloved shall lye as a bundle of myrrhe all night between my breasts Can. 1.13 And having thus attained their Spirituall rest by Faith the Saints third repose I term 4 Rest Evangelical a Church estate caled by the Apostle The house of Christ the Zion of God built up of Spirituall stones the rest which God himselfe hath chosen Heb. 31.6 12.22 Ps 132.13 14. and all should choose that have entred by faith into that Spirituall rest For the Lord hath chosen Zion he hath desired it for his habitation this is my rest for ever here will I dwell for I have desired it Here Christ hath promised his precious presence to the worlds end and this should be that on thing in believers desires whilest pretenders to Spirituallity are passing from mountaine to hill forgetting their resting Place 4. As Christs Church is his resting place where we may find him and rest in him So he hath a solemn resting time or Gospel-Season which is the noon time rest after which the Spouse enquires not only where but when Tell me ô thou whom my soul loloveth where thou feedest where thou makest thy slocks to rest at noon At this Season Christ sits in his meridian glory amidst his flocks in his weekly returne to his beloved this I call his Morall rest or the mannerly attendance which the Church owes unto Christ entring his Royal palace deckt in robes of righteousness when the Royall Scepter is gratiously extended to every trembling Hester The neglect of this morall rest was wofull Israels sin for which the Lord destroyed them in the Wildernesse as is plain Ezek. 20.13 and this being compared with the Apostles Admonition to the Christians plainly points out the Sabbath that remains to the people of God He sets forth Israels fin and Israels sorrow on this wise Although God finished his works from the foundation of the world and thereupon speaks Gen. 2. And God rested the the seventh day from all his works yet neither the glory of his wonderfull Creation authority of his institution or observation of his holy Sabbath to keep up the Creators honour could engage them to follow his example but so highly did they provok him in the wildernesse by refusing his Statutes and despising his judgments in generall but especially in poluting his Sabbaths that he sware in his wrath they should not enter into his rest but for their sins and particularly sabbath-breaking he consumed them in the Wildernesse Wherefore the Apostle concludes in applying all unto believers exhorting them to labour in the use of that meanes which Israel neglected To enter into the eternall rest after the true Jesus least any man fall by the same example of unbeliefe or disobedience as the Greeke signifies Christians believe it this is the summe of the Apostles admonition so to presse after our eternall rest that we fall not after Israels example of disobedience Ezek. 20.13 in rejecting Gods statutes despising his judgments and in particular poluting his seventh day Sabbath which he made and wherein he rested for a patterne to all that enjoy the benefit of his works of creation But especially for Christians who by entring into his spirituall rest through faith are become the people of God There remaineth therefore the celebration of the Sabbath to the people of God for he that is entred into his rest he also hath ceased from his works as God did from his own works And here we