THE TRYAL OF THE TRUTH Or rather The Law is the Truth PSALM CXIX CXLII Wherein are presented to the upright in heart certain Theoretical Queries viz. belonging to Study or Contemplation for the true finding out whether it be necessary to Salvation that we which profess obedience to the Gospel should walk in obedience to Gods Law the ten Commandements Exod. 20 Or whether we may justly refuse to doe that which is therein commanded and doe that which is therein forbidden without sinning against GOD Which Queries particularly and especially tend to make way for the finding out whether it be our duty to keep holy the seventh day Sabbath commanded Exod. 20.8 9 10 11 12 Or whether the duty of the Sabbath is not required of us who are Gentiles by nature Propounded by a Lover of the Truth I. O. Of Age 57 years Who desireth that Truth may be preferred in all things above Errour and Virtue above Vice that Truth may be honoured and Errour rejected Let us search and try our waies and turn unto the Lord. Lament 3.40 For every one that asketh receiveth and he that seeketh findeth and to him that knocketh it shall be opened Matth. 7.8 At Amsterdam printed for the Author 1656. For ever O Lord is thy word settled in Heaven Psal 119.89 All thy Commandements are sure they stand fast for ever and ever and are done in truth and righteousnesse Psal 11.7.8 Nothing can be put to it nor nothing taken from it and God doth it that men should fear before him Eccles 4.14 God spake all these words saying Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy six daies shalt thou labour and doe all thy work but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God in it thou shalt not doe any work Thou nor thy Son nor thy Daughter thy Man-servant nor thy Maid-servant c. Exod. 20.8.9.10.11 Blessed is the man that doth this and the son of man that layeth hold of it and keepeth the Sabbath from polluting of it and keepeth his hand from doing any evil Isaiah 56.2 Wherefore the Law is holy and the Commandement is holy just and good Rom. 7.12 And it is easier for Heaven and Earth to passe than one tittle of the Law to fail Luke 16.17 For the hearers of the Law are not just before God but the doers of the Law shall be justified Rom. 2.13 To the wel-meaning and impartial READER Honoured Reader THE reasons of my intruding the ensuing Queries to publick Consideration proceed out of an intire aime at the honour of God and an universal good to all men fearing God putting them in mind to consider whether the sanctification of the Lords seventh day Sabbath the day called Saturday commanded in the Decalogue or Moral Law is not a duty necessary to salvation And this I doe in regard I know the duty hath been a long time and yet is neglected both by men wise and unwise religious as otherwise some on one opinion some on another not knowing they doe evill as I shall relate passing by the names of the distinct Professions of men among whom the opinions doe reside till occasion be given 1. Some there are who say that the Law of God Exod. 20. is not given to the Gentiles and thereon they refuse to keep the seventh day Sabbath 2. Others say the Law of God is totally abolished by Iesus Christ and therefore they refuse to keep the seventh day Sabbath 3. Others say the whole Law is not abolished but the fourth Commandement is abrogated by Christ in that it was onely a Ceremonial Precept 4. Others there are who say the Law of God Exod. 20. is moral and perpetual and yet many of this sort say though very absurdly that the seventh dayes rest was transferred from the seventh day of the week to the first day of the week by the Resurrection of Iesus Christ on it so that since that time the first day of the week is to be kept as the Sahbath in the place of the Sabbath 5. Others there are who say that the seventh day Sabbath was not transferred from the seventh day to the first by Christ but was changed by the Authority of the Church after the death of the Apostles and on this account they refuse to keep the seventh dayes Sabbath 6. Some there are who refuse to keep the Sabbath out of an opinion that a daily ceasing from sin is the true keeping of the Sabbath 7. Others say the Law of God Exod. 20. is moral spiritual and perpetual and every jot and tittle of it is established by Iesus Christ and therefore they are as absolutely bound to keep the seventh daies Sabbath as they are to keep any precept of that Law of whose judgement I professe my selfe to be and why all men fearing God are not of the same judgement I greatly marvel seeing they cannot but know that God hath commanded his chosen people to keep the words of the Law or Covenant for ever wherein the Sabbath is contained without adding or diminishing therefrom and without turning either to the right hand or left whether they be Iews or Gentiles Deut. 4.13 29.9.11 31.12 4.2 5.32 In a word I doe beleeve that all men are to have the Law of God Exod. 20. in a high and honourable esteem and to commit themselves to be taught and governed by it for the Law is spiritual and eternal and bindeth the whole man spirit soul and body the understanding will and the affections thereof for ever Rom. 7.12.14 3.19 1 Cor. 9.21 Deut. 6.5 Mat. 22.37 Luke 16.17 James 2.10.11.12 1. Therefore it followeth necessarily according to my judgement that wee and all men are as absolutely and as unchangeably bound to keep the seventh daies Sabbath commanded in the fourth Precept as we are bound to keep any precept of that Law and other particular engagements binde me to be of this belief 2. Because the holy and blessed God made the Sabbath for man indefinitely before there was any distinction between Jew and Gentile Gen. 2.2.3 Mark 2.27 3. Because God himself rested on the seventh day Sabbath Gen. 2.2.3 and thereby gave us an example to rest on the seventh day also Exod. 20.11 Ephes 5.1 4. Because God commandeth his people Israel to keep the Sabbath for ever in remembrance that he made heaven and earth in six daies and rested on the seventh Exod. 31.17 By which Precept we are also bound to keep the Sabbath for ever we professing our selves to be the Israel of God Exod. 12.49 Numb 15.16 Exod. 31.12 Deut. 29.29 Acts 15.8.9 Gal. 3.28.29.54 5. Iesus Christ constantly kept the Sabbath Mark 6.2 Luke 4.26.31 and he requireth us to follow him John 12.16 Luke 14.27 1 John 2.6 6. The Apostles constantly kept the Sabbath Acts 13.14.15.16.27.42.43.44 16.13.14 17.2 And we are to imitate them 2 Cor. 11.1 Philip. 3.17 Heb. 6.12 Verily it appeareth to me a clear truth that we Gentiles are to keep the
him to wrath and incurs his curse Psalm 119.21 Jer. 11.3 except that there bee larger Mercies for erring men then we read of Mat. 7.21 19.17 Q. 45. Whether faith in Christ gives any man acceptance with God to his justification and salvation who neglects a holy walking before God If yea then let it be proved And Q. 46. If faith in Christ doth not give any man acceptance with God to his justification and salvation who neglects a holy walking before God then I would know whether it be possible for any man to walk holily before God who knowingly and wel-pleasingly neglects to walk obediently to that which is commanded of God in the fourth Precept of the Decalogue or Moral law seeing the transgression of that Law is sinne in the smallest word letter or point as it is written by Moses in the Hebrew Text witness these Scriptures Exod. 34.27.28 Deut. 4.13 28.14 27.26 Matth. 5.18 Luke 16.17 James 2.10.11 And Q. 47. If it be not sin to transgress the Law by neglecting or refusing to doe that which is therein commanded how then are the last cited Scriptures to be understood and how is sin to be known Q. 48. Whether every man is not as truly bound to love the Lord his God with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his mind as he is bound to love his Neighbour as himself If yea Q. 49. Then tell me can a Christian man love his Neighbour as himself if he refuse to perform any duty of love commanded in the second Table of the Moral Law If yea prove it And Q. 50. If a man cannot love his neighbour as himselfe who refuseth to perform any duty of love commanded in the second Table of the Moral Law then how can a man love God as he ought who refuseth to performe the duty of love commanded in the first Table of the Moral Law seeing Jesus Christ doth more strongly binde and enjoine every Christian man in love to performe the duties of the first Table of the Moral Law to God then he doth bind or injoine any Christian man to performe the dutie of the second Table of the Moral Law unto his neighbour Mat. 32.21.37.38.39 And further I say if the case standeth thus tell me whether it is not a farre greater and worse sin in men knowingly and wel-pleasingly to leave undone that which God expresly commandeth in the fourth Precept of the first Table Exod. 20. then it is knowingly and wel-pleasingly to doe that which is forbidden in the second Table of the same Law And Q. 51. Whether God in the fourth precept of the Law Exod. 20.8.9.10.11 doth not as truly and as absolutely require us to rest on the seventh day after his example from doing any work thereon as hee doth require us to worke six daies after his example If nay Q. 52. Whether Gods meaning in that which he commandeth in point of the seventh daies Sabbath be contrary unto his words And Q. 53. If Gods meaning in the point of the seventh daies Sabbath bee contrary to his words tell mee then what his meaning is otherwise or contrary to that which hee commandeth in point of the seventh day Sabbath Exod. 20 And Q. 54. If Gods meaning in point of the Sabbath be contrary to his words why then should wee not as truly and as duly keep holy the seventh day Sabbath commanded in the fourth Precept of the Moral Law and not doe any work thereon after Gods example as wee are for to worke six dayes successively from the first daies worke of the VVorlds creation after his example Surely it appeares to mee and to other devoute Christians we are And that from Genesis 2.2.3 Exod. 20.10.11 compared with Ephes 5.1 And how can it be disproved by any word of God I doe not see nor in the least conceive because God hath joined the dutie of our rest or cessation from worldly work to the seventh day for the words of the fourth Precept of the Decalogue runne thus Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day six daies shal s thou labour and doe all thou hast to doe now note but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God in it thou shalt not doe any work thou nor thy sonne nor thy daughter thy man-servant nor thy mayd-servant c. Lo here I find that God hath for ever joined the dutie of rest unto the seventh day the day called Saturday and therefore as long as the day remaineth the dutie of rest on the seventh day remaineth also and not onely on this reason but also because Iesus Christ in Mat. 19.6 saith VVhatsoever God hath joined together let no man put asunder which rule given by our Saviour bindeth not onely in matter of VVedlock but in all matters whatsoever where one dutie is joined to another for the rule is general and therefore it followeth that if we keep not an holy rest and Sabbath on the seventh day we doe not onely violate the Law of God Exod. 20. but also the Law of Christ Mat. 19.6 and therefore surely a great transgression which ought to be lookt to in time for if a man sin against man the Iudge shall judge him but if a man sinne against God who shall intreat for him 1 Sam. 2.25 Verily I doe not conceive nor in the least beleeve that men can neglect to doe that which God commandeth without sinning And therefore as the case standeth it behoveth every man to prove and examine his own waies and doings by the word of God that they may know whether the first day of the week be to be kept or set apart by Gods command or by mens will and appointment contrary to the will of God And to this end I demand Q. 55. VVhether the Church or old Fathers after the death of the Apostles did change or translate the seventh daies rest unto the first day of the week to be set apart for publick worship If yea then from whom had they authority so to doe If from God where doe we read of it If from man who was it and who gave him authoritie so to doe And if of themselves how could that be in the way of righteousnesse seeing Gods Church is ever forbidden to diminish from his word Deut. 4 2. 12.33 Eccles 3.14 Prov. 30 6. Gal. 3.15 And Q. 56. If the Church or the old Fathers did not change or translate the seventh daies Sabbath to the first day of the week why doe a Institut lib. 2. chap. 8.533 Calvin b Buâ—â—ing in his godly Serm. pag. 140. Bullinger c Declar. Bapt. pag. 96. Frith d Answer to Dr. Moore chap 25. Tindall e In his Comment on Exod. 20. pag. 369. Dr. VVillet f In Cathech pag. 989. Vrsinus g Passat on pag. 19. in an ancient Cop. Bunni h In his Treatise on the Sabb. in Answer to Mr. Byfield Mr. Brerewood say they changed it from the
Sabbath as well as the Iews because God hath made rich and singular promises of grace and glory to us on our keeping of it Isaiah 56.6.7.8 These and some other considerations through grace have instructed my heart to beleeve that the Precept of the Sabbath is as truly spiritual and holy as any Precept in that Law retaining the same authoritie and binding nature as ever it had and therefore ought as truly and as conscionably to be kept as any precept of that Law But few men as yet are of this understanding not because there is any Scripture or sound reason that doe lead men to beleeve otherwise that I doe know of but onely out of some imaginary perswasion as already mentioned that the duty of the Sabbath doth nothing at all concern them and thereon men take libertie to violate the Law of God which Law they ought with care and conscience to keep Prov. 3.1 chap. 7.1 Eccles 12.13 Mat. 22.37 1 John 5.3 and doe never repent of it Yea men are so far from repenting of their violating of the Sabbath that they doe allow and justifie themselves and all men professing Christ in the breaking of it by doing of the things which are expresly forbidden in it promising salvation to themselves and preaching and promising it to others notwithstanding I dare say they cannot prove that God ever hath made any promise of salvation to any who did allow or justifie themselves in the trausgression of that righteous Law The consideration of these things and the discharge of my dutie towards God and Man hath moved me in humble boldnesse to publish these ensuing Queries for the true finding out whether it be not necessary to salvation that we should walke in obedience to Gods holy Law Exod. 20. to the end that if it be found necessarie to salvation for us to walk in obedience to Gods Law with Gospel performances that those then who have neglected it to this time may repent thereof and for time to come conform themselves to doe whatsoever God doth command in it lest they speak peace to themselves when God hath not said it and thereby deceive their poor souls As also that in case it be not found necessarie to salvation we then who professe obedience to the Gospel should walk in obedience to Gods Law Exod. 20. that wee who do beleeve the keeping of it is necessarie to salvation may be better informed for indeed at the present wee doe not in the least conceive that there is any unnecessarie thing commanded in that Law but onely true and just duties to be performed to God and Man in love which if it bee so and not otherwise how we then may neglect to doe that which is therein commanded and doe that which is therein expressy forbidden and sin not I would willingly know And lastly my desire is of thee that thou wilt read this following disconrse deliberately and considerately and weigh what is said uprightly and deal faithfully with God and thy own soul as I have done between God and my soul towards thee whose salvation he desireth in all sinceritie who remaineth for ever Thine in the Lord James Oockford THE TRYAL OF THE TRUTH Or rather The Law is the Truth PSALM CXIX CXLII Wherein are presented to the upright in heart certain Theoretical Queries viz. belonging to Study or Contemplation for the true finding out whether it be necessary to Salvation that we which profess obedience to the Gospel should walk in obedience to Gods Law the ten Commandements Exod. 20 Or whether we may justly refuse to doe that which is therein commanded and doe that which is therein forbidden without sinning against GOD Querie the first WHether there be not a Law in the Letter as well as in Nature given or vouchsafed of God to the Gentiles as well as unto the Iews to command or require true and righteous duties of them to bee performed to God and Man in love If nay Q. 2. How then shall the Gentiles know how to perform true and righteous duties to God and Man in love Mat. 22.37.39 And Q. 3. If there be a Law in the Letter as well as in Nature given or vouchsafed of God unto the Gentiles as well as to the Iews wherein God commandeth true and righteous duties to be performed to God and Man in love Q. 4. What Law is it if it be not the Law of the ten Commandements Exod. 20 And Q. 5. If it be the Law of the ten Commandements which God hath given or vouchsafed unto the Gentiles as he hath given or vouchsafed unto the Iews whereby he requireth true and righteous duties to be performed to God and Man in love Then Q. 6. Whether that Law be not broken by the Gentiles after the knowledge of it is come unto them if the duties therein commanded be not performed to God and Man in love If nay Q. 7. How then can sinne be said to be the transgression of the Law 1 Joh 3.4 And Q. 8. If the Law of Gods ten Commandements be broken by the Gentiles to whom the knowledge of that Law is come if the duties therein commanded be not performed to God and Man in love why then doe the Gentiles to whom the knowledge of the Law is come refuse to conform themselves to doe as they are commanded in the fourth precept of that Law And Q. 9. If the Law be not given to the Gentiles how can they be under the curse of the Law Galar 13.23 seeing where there is no law there is no transgression Rom. 4.15 And how could Christ have redeemed beleeving Gentiles from the curse of the Law Galat. 3.13 seeing sin is not imputed where there is no law Rom. 5.13 Q. 10. Tell me you Anti-Nomians who make a shew of godlinesse and deny the power of it was not the Law made for the lawlesse and disobedient for the ungodly and for sinners for ungodly and prophane for Murtherers of Fathers and for Murtherers of Mothers for Man-slayers for VVhoremongers for them that defile themselves with man-kind for Men-stealers for Lyers for perjured persons if yea can you or any else who are Gentiles by nature commit these or the like evils and not violate the Law of God Exod. 20. answer mee directly Q. 11. Tel me you who will not keep the seventh day Sabbath nor yeeld your selves to be governed by that holy and righteous Law of God Exod. 20. on a mis-conceived opinion that Iesus Christ hath abolished the Law Is not the Law of God Exod. 20. the Law of Love Deut. 6.5 Mat. 22.37.38 39. Hath Iesus Christ commanded love and hath he indeed abolished the Law of love Tell me could be abolish the Law of love and not abolished the Law and the Prophets which hang on it Mat. 22.40 Is there any thing commanded in the Law Exod. 20. which is contrary to the law of Nature Is there any thing commanded in that Law as that the doing of it is destructive to any Gospel-duty
could they establish every jot and tittle of it as they did Luke 16.17 Rom. 3.31 and not establish the fourth Precept of the Law which hath more words in it then there is in some other seven Commandements of that Law Doe not you who profess your selves to be the Ministers of Christ deceive your selves and others who teach your Hearers that they are to keep the 1 2 3 5 6 7 8 9 10 Commandements and not the fourth Was there ever such a thing taught by Jesus Christ and his Apostles Did not they as truly and as duly keep the fourth Precept as they did the other nine deny it if you can And did not they require all Christians to follow them therein as well as in other duties of pietie and charitie If nay then prove to the contrary Can you follow them and not keep the seventh daies Sabbath Can you breake the Sabbath and not transgresse the Law Oh take heed to your selves deceive not your selves I fear all of you are blind leaders of the blind which if you are you know your portion Mat. 15.14 if you repent not but I desire your conversion and salvation with my whole heart And therefore consider I beseech you who keep the first day of the weeke for a Sabbath or a day of publick worship out of an opinion that Christ hath so ordained it did God ever say that Jesus Christ should abolish the seventh daies Sabbath or that it should become a working day Can it be proved that the Law of the Sabbath which commanded an abstinence from worldly work precisely on the seventh day to the death of Christ that God by the same Law ever since the death of Christ hath bound the Church of Christ to abstain from doing any work on the first day of the week the day called Sunday or Lords-day or Sabbath-day Now if it cannot bee shewn that God hath thus done nor yet bee proved that God did ever bless and sanctifie the first day of the weeke to bee kept or set apart to be the day or time of their publick worship before or above any one day of the week nor yet proved that God did ever command men to abstain from doing worldly or common worke on it If none of this can be proved then what warrant is there to be produced that wee keep or set apart the first day of the week for a Sabbath in the place of the Sabbath yea or what warrant is there for men to work turmoyle bake roast and boyle on the Lords seventh daies Sabbath to the end they may have the day following in honour and high esteem above any other day when there is no warrant nor example to be found in the book of God neither for the one nor for the other I know many doe think that the Apostles and Disciples of Christ did constantly keep or set apart the first day of the week for a day of Gods worship but whereby doe they prove it Surely there is no word of God in any of the Evangelists or Apostles writings to do it No nor to prove that ever two of the Apostles or Disciples did assemble three first daies together successively to worship on them whatsoever men think to the contrary yea so poor a ground or unsufficient warrant there is for men to set apart the first day of the week to worship God on it in place of the seventh day Sabbath that were it not more for custome then for any warrant in the word of God I suppose some ordinary Christians would be ashamed to doe it and yet on the other hand I know this that there are many who have the first day of the week in so high esteem that they account the keeping of it a part of their divine worship but doth God or Iesus Christ or any of his Apostles command that worship or doth either of them command men to set apart the first day of the weeke to be a day for worship If yea where do we read of it and what law of Christ or word of God doe men transgresse who doe worldly or common work on it and doe refuse to set it apart for a day of worship I would willingly know Can it be truly thought that if the first day of the week ought to have been kept by a divine institution in place of the Sabbath but Paul would have known it and had he known it would he think you have kept the Sabbath with and among the Gentiles and not have kept the first day of the week nor acquaint them that the day of worship was changed from the seventh day to the first day by Christ having opportunitie and fit occasion given him when he preached unto them on the Sabbath-daies Acts 13.14.15.42.44 16.13 Can it bee thought that after Paul had preached to them on one Sabbath-day and they desired him to preach the same things to them the Sabbath following Acts 13.42 he would have fulfilled their request and not rather have said unto them the Sabbath day is abolished and the first day of the weeke is ordained and commanded by Christ to be kept in its stead and therefore come to morrow and I will preach to you the same things which I have preached to you now the Sabbath being changed Or else would not he think you have said unto them to morrow is our Sabbath day Lords day or day of worship wee are to keep the first day of the week as Christ our Law-giver hath commanded and not the seventh had such a thing been done by Christ but nothing of this or of any thing like it was replied to them by Paul that we read of but hee fulfilled their desire and preached unto them the next Sabbath day yea almost the whole City came together to hear the word of God ver 42.44 In a word we do not read that Paul or any one of the Apostles did keep or set apart any three first daies of the week successively with any one congregation while they were resident with them for performance of publick worship neither doe wee read that they did ordain or command any congregation to keep the first day of the week for a day of worship after their decease yet I know men doe oftimes produce 1 Cor. 16.1.2 to prove such a thing to bee done by Paul but there is not one word in those Texts to prove that the Apostles had any such meaning It is well known that Paul did constantly keep the Sabbath day and did usually preach unto the Gentiles on it as well as unto the Jews Act. 13 14.42.44 16.13 17.2 Even so it was his care that it should be kept by all Christian congregations after his decease as it doth appear in chap. 3. 17. 4. 9. to the Philipians and to the Corinihians 1 Cor. 11.1 as also by that of his charge to Timothy 2 Tim. 2.2 and therefore little reason is there for any to say the Sabbath is abolished and a new Sabbath is placed in its stead whereof there is not any mention made in any part of the word of God And lastly I say let no man think that it doth offend me that men professing Christ do worship God on the first day of the week barely considering it the first day of the week for that I do not but should rather like it well if God were worshipped every day in publish-assembly if it might bee with convenience as it was in the Apostles time Acts 2.46 5.42 Luke 24.53 but the thing I dislike is that men doe contrary to the Law of God in point of the Sabbath Exod. 20. in that they set apart the first day of the week in place of the seventh and therein doe work when God commandeth them to rest Surely for men thus to doe I deeme it much displeasing to God and therefore ought to be shunned by all those who desire to worship God acceptably but if there be some who out of a conceived opinion do set apart the first day of the week in devotion to God and that withall they do holily and religiously keep the seventh dayes Sabbath in obedience to the Law of God as some Christians did in some space of time after the death of the Apostles to the year 404. as the History of the Church reporteth Socrat. lib. 6. chap. 8. I like it well and do beleeve it would be wel-pleasing to God it being done by those who worship God according to his will without any superstitious end whose honour in all things and above all things is to bee preferred and therefore let us seek to glorifie God in our soules and in our bodies if we expect to have acceptance with him To be whom all honour praise and thanksgiving ascribed by all men now and for evermore Amen FINIS