set down some of his own words in his Book that the Reader may see what it is that I do return an Answer unto The first words in his Book are as follows The Lord's Day Vindicated or the first Day of the Week the Christian Sabbath And in p. 33. he speaking of the seventh Day and of Christ saith He designed to wit Christ its speedy Absolution as the seventh Day and its Conversion into the first Day Now this wants a Proof from G. T. And in p. 44. he speaks of the Change of the seventh Day into the first Day Sabbath as he calls it and in p. 59 and 60. he saith And we say the seventh Day being cashiered the first Day ought to be its successor I wonder from whence he will prove this And in p. 85. he mentions Christ's words where it 's said The Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath Day And then he saith a Proof which we make use of to prove our Doctrine of the first Day Sabbath but I say this is no Proof at all And in p. 114. he saith The Seventh Day Sabbath was observed in Commemoration of the Works of Creation until a more admirable Work of God should be Accomplished so the first day ever after should be the Holy Rest It will be very hard for G. T. to prove this and it doth also manifest his great Ignorance of the Resting Place that the Servants of the Lord have in Christ Jesus Now here the Reader may see that his endeavours are to prove the first Day of the Week to be the Christian Sabbath and yet in p. 56. he saith We grant that the Holy Scripture do call no other Day of the Week a Sabbath but the seventh And in p. 94. he saith The first Day is never called Sabbath in Scripture and I say so too and therefore he might very well have been silent But here all whose Understanding is open may see how this Man labours like a Man beating the Air or that builds without a Foundation for himself doth acknowledge that he hath no Scripture for a Foundation But if we who in scorn are call'd Quakers should bring such Doctrine as we had no Scripture to prove how would People cry out against us And indeed Reason enough too But we bring no such Doctrine God forbid we should for we are a People that have an honourable Esteem for the Holy Scriptures Well but I would not have any to think that I am going about to plead for the Observance of the seventh Day as a Sabbath I say Nay altho' it was a Day that was once commanded to be observ'd as a Sabbath or Rest which is all one And this was an high Day with the Jews for they blamed Christ Jesus because his Disciples plucked the Ears of Corn and because he did Cures on that Day but the Apostle Paul tells us That the Sabbath Days with other Observations are shadows of things to come for he writing to the Collosians Chap. 2.16.17 saith Let no Man therefore judge you in Meat or in Drink or in respect of an holy Day or of the new Moon or of the Sabbath Days which are a shadow of things to come but the Body is of Christ Now here we may see that the Sabbath Day was a shadow of what may some say why the Body is of Christ He that can understand let him Christ is the Substance for the Apostle Paul saith The Law was our School-Master to bring us unto Christ Gal. 3.24 And again Christ is the end of the Law Rom. 10.4 So we may see that Christ is the Substance shadowed forth in the Time of the Law therefore Christ is the Christian Sabbath For as I said before Sabbath signifieth Rest and Christ Jesus is the Rest of his People and he invites People to come unto him that so they may Rest in him for he saith Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you Rest And again Learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart and you shall find Rest unto your Souls Matth. 11.28 29. And Christ farther said unto his Followers These things have I spoken unto you that in me you might have peace John 16.33 Here we may see that Rest and Peace is in Christ Jesus And this is the Rest spoken of in Hebrews 4.9 10. where the Apostle saith There remaineth therefore a Rest to the People of God for he that is entered into his Rest he hath also ceased from his own works as God did from his Now here we may see that they that are entered into the true Rest have ceased from their own works They that can understand let them understand They that are entered into the true Rest cease from their own working willing and running and are subject to the will of God their Creator and so are not their own but the Lord's and are not doing their own works but the work of God neither are they following of their own corrupt wills and desires but they are lead by the Spirit of God in their own Hearts for they that are lead by the Spirit of God they are Sons of God see Rom. 8.14 And they that are Sons of God do know this truest but G. T. doth manifest his Ignorance of it in applauding of an outward Day and putting of it in its room And in p. 90. G. T. saith That St. John calls the first Day of the Week the Lord's Day And in p. 132. he saith That the Holy Ghost does call the first Day of the Week the Lord's Day Here G. T. hath made a bold venture and he will find a very hard task to prove what he hath said and he doth also manifest his ignorance of the Everlasting Day of God's Power that the Saints in Light are enjoyers of For the path of the Just is as the shining Light that shineth more and more unto the perfect Day Prov. 4.18 And the Apostle Paul writing to the Believers saith Ye are all the Children of the Light and the Children of the Day we are not of the Night nor of Darkness Therefore let us not sleep as do others but let us watch and be sober for they that sleep sleep in the Night and they that be drunken are drunken in the Night but let us who are of the Day be sober Thess 5.5 6 7 8. Now where is an invisible Day spoken of that the Sanctified Ones are made living Witnesses of and the Apostle Peter he also speaks of this invisible Day for he saith We have also a more sure word of Prophesie whereunto you do well that you take heed as unto a Light that shineth in a dark place until the Day dawn and the Day-Star arise in your Hearts 2 Pet. 1.19 Mark here the Apostle speaks of the dawning of the Day and of the arising of the Day-Star in the Heart Blessed are they that are Witnesses of it for it expelleth the darkness and causeth it
to fly away and it giveth a true discerning and a right understanding of the things of God But G. T. manifests himself to be ignorant of this invisible Day of the Lord and so appears not to be an Inhabitant of the Holy City new Jerusalem for they that are Citizens of this Holy City are living Witnesses of the Everlasting Day of God's Power dawned and broken forth An Everlasting Day indeed For there shall be no Night there Rev. 21.25 and 22.5 He that can hear let him hear and understand Now as for the Days of the Week they are called as follows the first Day the second Day the third Day the fourth Day the fifth Day the sixth Day the seventh Day Gen. 1.5.8.13.19.23.31 and 2.2 The Lord's Day is an Everlasting Day and the true Communicants are living Witnesses of it for in this Everlasting Day the true Fellowship stands see the 1 John 1.7 Gen. 1.5 The Light is called Day and in the Light the true Fellowship stands But as for the Days of the Week they have their Names altho' they may properly be said to be the Lord's Days because he ordained them but he hath given them Names and we ought to call them by the Names that he hath given unto them and the Names are as is before shewed And as for the seventh Day being called a Sabbath I have spoken to that already But as for the first Day of the Week the Apostles did not call it a Sabbath nor yet as I find the Lord's Day but they called it as it was called in the Beginning The first Day of the Week for it s written That Mary Magdalen and the other Mary came to the Sepulchre as it began to dawn towards the first Day of the Week see Matth. 28.1 and Mark 16.2 and Luke 24.1 and John 20.1 and in Cor. 16.1.2 the Apostle Paul saith Now concerning the Collection for the Saints as I have given order to the Churches of Galatia even so do ye upon the first Day of the Week Mark here the Apostles did not call the first Day of the Week the Christian Sabbath neither did they call it the Lord's-Day but the first Day of the Week therefore it is good for all People professing Christianity to take Example by the holy Men of God and call the Days by their Names and not put new Names that they have no command nor yet Example for Well but some may query or say Ought we not to set apart one Day in seven Answer I say it is nessary yea needful that one day in seven should be set apart for several Reasons First It is needful that Man and Beast should Rest some time from their Labour Secondly Men and Women being free from their outward Labour and Concern they may be the more freely given up in their Hearts and Minds to wait upon God and Worship him a Duty that is incumbent upon us all a Duty that we all owe unto Almighty God therefore blessed are all they that do perform it aright the which is rightly performed in Spirit and in Truth see John 4.23 24. Thirdly That Servants that else might not have liberty that they may have liberty to wait upon God and Worship him Now it is well known through several Nations that we who in scorn are called Quakers do cease from our outward Labour and Assemble our selves together to wait upon God and Worship him on the first Day of the Week and yet we cannot therefore call it the Christian Sabbath for we have no such Example from the Holy Apostles but as they did so do we call it the first Day of the Week Now as for the Names of the Days which are commonly used amongst many People they sprang from the old Pagan Saxons see Verstigans Antiquities and Cambden's Brit. For on the first Day of the Week they worshipped the Idol of the Sun which was placed in a Temple from whence they called it Sunday The second Day of the Week they Dedicated to the Idol of the Moon from whence they called it Munday The next was the Idol of Planets which was the Idol of Tuisco who was the first and chiefest Man of that Name among the Germans unto whom the Name of Tuesday was especially Dedicated The next was the Idol Wooden whom the Saxons Honoured for their God of Battel from whence they called the fourth Day Wednesday The next was the Idol Thor from whence the Name Thursday is retained insteed of the fifth Day of the Week The next Idol was the Goddess Friga to which Idol they Dedicated the sixth Day of the Week and called it Friday which is retained unto this Day The last was the Idol Seater from whence the seventh Day is called Saturday Now it is good for all People to leave these old Pagan Saxon Heather Names and call the Days as they are called in Scripture as is before shewed The Lord prosper his Great Work and cause his Truth to spread more and more is the Prayer and Desire of my Soul even so Amen EXON 9th Month 1692. Written by a Lover of the Lord Jesus Christ JOSEPH NOTT THE END
HOLY Scripture-Work Is Better than the WORK of The Corrupt REASONING OF FALLEN MAN Secret things belong unto the Lord our God but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our Children for ever Deut. 29.29 For after that in the Wisdom of God the World by Wisdom knew not God it pleased God by the Foolishness of Preaching to save them that believe 1 Cor. 1.21 Wo to the Rebellious Children saith the Lord that take Counsel but not of me and that Cover with a Covering but not of my Spirit Isa 30.1 The Lord frustrateth the Tokens of the Liers and maketh Diviners mad turneth Wise Men backward and maketh their Knowledge foolish Isa 44.24 25. By JOS. NOTT LONDON Printed in the Year 1693. PREFACE REader by this thou may'st know That I have seen a Book with G. T. for George Troses Name to it a Preacher amongst the Presbyterians in Exon Dated 1692. Now this Book of G. T 's was written in Answer to a Book set forth by Thomas Bampfield Counseller at Law in Exon by way of Enquiry Whether the Lord Jesus Christ made the World And also By way of Vindication of the Observation of the seventh Day as a Sabbath I would have the Reader observe That I am not concerned to Vindicate T. B's Book but to the latter I say I am sensible that Christ the Substance is come and the Shadows flies away But I am concerned to return a Reply to several things in G. T 's Book for I have perused it and have seen the great Error of the Writer which drew a concern upon my Mind to write For I do admire that ever a Man professing Christianity should appear in Print in such manifest Opposition to the Holy Scriptures and yet of that number that profess the Scripture to be the only Rule of Faith c. But in this we may see the great Confusion of Babels Builders I desire the Reader to consider what thou Reads and if any one publish any Doctrine contrary to the Holy Scriptures believe them not for Christ bids us Beware of false Prophets which come in Sheeps Cloathing who saith Ye shall know them by their Fruits Matth. 7.15 16. And the Apostle Paul adviseth us to turn away from such as have a form of Godliness but denies the Power 2 Tim. 3.5 For indeed another Foundation can no Man lay than that which is laid which is Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 3.11 And therefore I desire the Reader to keep thy Mind near to the Light of Jesus Christ in thy own Heart and Conscience that so thou mayst understand what thou readest For the great Mystery which hath been hid from Ages and from Generations is Christ within the hope of Glory Col. 1.26 27. Therefore to the Spirit of God in thy own Heart I do recommend thee as unto that which will give a true Discerning and right Vnderstanding of the things of God as it is hearkened unto and obeyed J. N. WE generally profess that we do believe That the Holy Scriptures were written for our Learning that is Episcopation Presbyterian Independant Anabaptist and Quakers c. And that we ought to prove our Doctrine and Principles by them And we also do say That if any Man do hold or endeavour to prove any Doctrine or Principle that is contrary to the Holy Scriptures that we ought not to believe them altho' they 〈◊〉 never so Orthodoxly called or subtile Endeavours to prove their Assertion Now such a one as the latter is G. T. For he greatly endeavours to prove That Jesus Christ was not in the Beginning and that the World was not made by him which is contrary to the Holy Scripture and he also endeavours to prove the first Day of the Week to be the Christian Sabbath the which he hath no Scripture to prove as he himself doth acknowledge I shall set down some of his own words in his Book First concerning Christ Jesus in p. 4. he saith We say that it may be Orthodoxly denied and asserted That Jesus Christ did not make the World for the World was 4000 Years before ever Jesus Christ was And in p. 5. he saith In the Old Testament Christ is Prophesied of to come how could he then create the World And in p. 12. he saith We have sufficiently Answered that it was not the Lord Christ that created the World And in p. 19. he speaking of before the Fall of Man saith In which time there could not be so much as any need or use of a Jesus or a Christ nor was there so much as the least hint of him given by either Prophesie or Promise And then he saith much less was he himself in Being And in p. 130. he saith I think I have shewn that the Lord Christ did not make the World Now here all that can see with a single Eye may see the darkness and blindness of this Man yea the gross◠darkness that may be felt yea the blindness the born blindness Oh! Erroneous Doctrine who will believe or receive such Doctrine as is so contrary to the Holy Scriptures of Truth Now that this is contrary to the Holy Scriptures is easily prov'd And by the Assitance of the Holy Spirit of God I shall undertake to prove That Jesus Christ was in the Beginning and that the World was made by him For Christ Jesus said to the Jews Before Abraham was I am John 8.58 And the Apostle Paul speaking of the Jews said They drank of that Spiritual Rock that followed them and that Rock was Christ 1 Cor. 10.4 And Christ in Prayer said And now O Father Glorifie thou me with thine own self with the Glory which I had with thee before the World was And he farther said Thou lovedst me before the foundation of the World John 17.5 24. And in Chap. 1. ver 10. It is written He was in the World and the World was made by him and the Apostle Paul positively saith That God created all things by Jesus Christ Eph. 3.9 And he speaking again of Christ Jesus saith By him were all things created that are in Heaven and that are in Earth visible and invisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers all things were created by him and for him Coll. 1.16 And the Apostle writing to the Hebrews further saith God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in times past unto the Fathers by the Prophets hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son whom he hath appointed Heir of all things by whom also he made the Worlds Heb. 1.1 2. Now here it is evident from the words of Christ and his Apostles That Jesus Christ was in the Beginning with the Father and that all things were created by him More might be said to prove that Jesus Christ was in the Beginning and that all things were created by him But this being sufficient I shall proceed to reply to the other part of his Book but first I shall