in the Morality oâ— it who can deny the keeping of the Sabbath to be Morall but he must withall procliame open enmity to Gods worship and mans saluation Ob. But the Sabbath day of the Iewes being wholy ceassed as being buried in Christs graue wherein hee rested all that day and so fully kept it of what force is it with christians any longer or what morality remaines of it to bee obserued by vs Answ As the Iewes Sabbath day was a precise seauenth day which no doubt was by successiue reuolution obserued by Adams generations from the seauenth day of the Creation sanctified by Gods owne rest for we reade of it in Exo. 16. which was before the giuing of the Law in Sinai but with all had an addition of a new relation to the typicall Redemption from Egypt as we noted before in which regard it was ceremoniall So as ceremoniall it was subiect to be abrogated and changed from a Legall into an Euangelicall Sabbath which the Scripture calleth the Lords day Although some are bold to deny that the Sabbath was at all obserued by the Old Church vntill Moses time and so till the Law was giuen in Sinai But this seemes to bee a groundlesse opinion if not also Godlesse For though the Scripture makes no mention of the keeping of the Sabbath vntil Exod. 16.5 c. yet both that mention goes before the solemne bidding of it in Mount Sinai and doth also sufficiently inferre that the Sabbath was in vse before that time as being fiist instituted in Paradise For elfs as a learned Diuine of our Church hath noted vpon this very occasion It is absurd for any man to prepare a thing 2000 yeares before the vse thereof And Exod 20.11 the very reason and ground of mans obseruation of the Sabbath is there giuen to bee Gods owne institution of it which was his actuall sanctifying and blessing of it by his owne resting on that day from the workes of Creation Though otherwise the fourth Commandement being a part of the Law written in Adams heart needed not any expresse Commandement more then the rest did sauing that this hath a Memento set vpon it as being most subiect to neglect and prophanation and that the Lord himselfe was pleased to assigne his owne seuenth day for rest and sanctification to those former ages But to proceed Here it may be demanded what is that morality of the fourth Commandement which yet is in force with christians For answere None will question but the Antinomian who altogether denyeth the whole Morall Law to be in force so much as a rule to beleeuers vnder the Gospell the morality of the Sabbath to bee yet of force and vse with Christians Onely some differ both about the manner of it how it is imposed and how exacted of christians and about the matter of it For first they denie that the fourth Commandement hath any thing to doe with the Lords day which is the christian Sabbath Againe they deny that the fourth Commandement reacheth further then to masters of families exempting seruants from imputation of sinne in case they worke at their masters command Thirdly they deny the Lords day is by any diuine institution humane onely and therefore not of the same force with the fourth Commandement Fourthly for the matter they deny that the vacation and abstinence from seruile labour or the ordinary workes of a mans worldly calling is any part of the morality of the fourth Commandement but a meere ceremony and so abrogated Yea they goe further and say that howsoeuer the generality of that Commandement to keepe a Sabbath wherein God might bee honoured was Morall Yet the speciality of it namely to keepe First one day of seauen Secondly the seauenth Thirdly one whole day Fourthly with precise vacancy from all worke was meerely ceremoniall and so the specialities of the Commandement are vanished though for the generality of it it is a law of nature and remaineth So they Here then be sundry things which offer themselues to bee scanned And to make way First where they call the bodily rest obserued once by the Iewes a poynt of exact and extreame vacation from euery kind of worke which christians haue nothing to doe with all This is but a buggbeare or scarcrow to fright Childish christians from so much as looking backe to the fourth Commandement in the keeping of the Lords day For first an extreame vacation was not exacted of the Church of the Iewes as in case of extreamity or vrgent necessity they might worke yea for the sauing of a poore Asses life by pulling him out of the pit on the Sabbath day as our Sauiour conuinceth the carping Iewes How much more in extremities of more importance as the quenching of a scath fire or defending of their City or Country by repelling the inuading or beleaguring enemy yea in such cases not to bestirre themselues and to vse their vtmost labour and skill not onely turned into superstition but many times proued their bane and ruine Among sundry instances in this kinde Iosephus Antiq. of the Ieases lib. 12. c. 8 soli 14. 8. this is one that the Iewes on the Sabbath being assailed by their enemyes would neyther make resistance nor yet so much as close vp their caues mouth to defend themselues and so their liues became a spoyle to their enemyes cruelty So superstitiously obseruant were they of the Sabbath as if God had made it to be a snare for them whensoeuer the crafty enemy should take that oppertunity to inuade them so as in case of extreme necessity as to saue life yea a beasts life the Commandement was not strictly obligatory much more in spirituall obseruance touching Gods worship as the Priests slaying of beasts for sacrifice and the like Extreame vacation then was not exacted of the Iewes in their keeping of their Sabbath Againe we shewed before how the prohibition to the Iewes of kindling a fire and dressing of meate on the Sabbath was peculiar to that Nation or rather Church and was a type and ceremony Nor was it extreame because they liued in an hot climate wherein their was no extreame necessity of fire for one day which they were to supply by their spirituall fire of holy zeale in a due obseruation of the Sabbath Though some are of opinion that this prohibition of kindling a fire reached onely to such fires as were vsed about seruile workes and not about their necessary food But I will not blowe the coales of this controuersie in this poynt at this time hauing shewed sufficient reason already of this restraint Onely this I adde if it were a burthen layed vpon the shoulders of that Pedagogy of Moses it was to teach them and vs to put a difference betweene that hard yoake of the Ceremoniall Law Acts. 15.10 and that sweete yoake and light burthen of Christ Matthew 11.30 In the next place where they say that one whole day for the Sabbath or one seauenth day or one day of
themselues should keepe it but they should looke their whole family kept it Yet in case the Master should neglect his duty herein and instead of commanding his family to keepe the Sabbath should inioyne them seruile worke doth not the Commandement take hold of the seruant What Is the seruant an Asse or sott to yeald blinde obedience to his master commanding against God Or is he such a slaue as hee hath not a soule to answere for to God as well as his master Or being his Masters seruant is hee thereby exempted from being Gods seruant sayth not the Apostle Hee that is called in the Lord being a seruant is the Lords freeman Likewise also hee that it called being free is Christs seruant Indeede the Masters sin is double not onely in permitting and communing but compelling or commanding his seruant to worke when God commands to rest but yet the seruant obeying his master herein vniustly commanding committes a single sin at least against God if not also double while he preferreth his earthly masters Commandement before his heauenly masters But this say they is Petitio Principij if Gods Commandement reach not to seruants But we shew it doth if seruants be not vnreasonable beasts or blinde Asses Nor ought the Masters Commandement to bee of force yea it hath a meere nullity if it bee contrary to Gods expresse Commandement So that in such a case for a seruant to obey his Master is against and aboue God to set vp an Idoll which is nothing in the world and such seruants slauishly obseruing Sabbatum Asinorum the Sabbath of Asses do iustly deserue the whip for the Asses backe or that censure forementioned in the second synod of Matiscon If a seruant or rusticke doe breake the Sabbath let him be soundly dry basted with clubs But say they the sonne of God hath commanded all christians to heare the Church not to despise hir Canons or Princes Edicts True But is Christs command absolute and without limitation namely to obey Superiours actiuely whatsoeuer they command right or wrong for or against God what if the Canons of the Church doe by mans Traditions disanull the Commandement of God as of old the Iewish Synagogue and of latter times the Romish Are such Canons to be obeyed against Gods expresse Commandement If the Pharisees and chiefe Priests make a Canon to punish with Excommunication or Suspention those that shall confesse Christ or professe or preach his truth and fayth frely faithfully is it not disobedience to God herein to obey them and through slauish feare rather to renounce Christ then not submit to such wicked Canons The Iewes Corban freed Children fom honouring their Parents and doe not they as well make voyd Gods Commandement who in binding seruants to obey their masters commanding against Gods Commandement doe thereby free them from Gods Commandement And for Princes Edicts we all reuerence and willingly imbrace and obey them But without limitation what if they command against God what if they shall forbid by publicke Edict the free preaching of the word of God in any part of it as such and such points of fayth and saluation not to bee handled such and such heresies not to bee medled with by way of confutation Are we not to answere in such a case as the Apostle did Whether it be meete in the sight of God to obey you rather than God iudge you for we cannot but speake the thinges wbich we haue seene and heard And Peter tels the Rulers boldly and plainely Wee ought rather to obey God then men What because Nebuchadnezzer erected his Image and commanded all to worship it and forbad to pray to any God but to the King onely for thirty dayes must this Edict therefore bee obeyed Noe surely And why Because it was against God and therefore it ought to haue beene of no force to exact obedience of any But what will you say Must we be rebels in disobeying our superiours No it is one thing not obey another to bee rebellious superiours ought not to bee obeyed if they command against God Yet this is no rebellion where men are ready to yeald passiue obedience to their vniust cruelty by not resisting it though they derect and deny actiue obedience to their vniust commands Thus Daniel thus the three Children did the one desires rather to bee cast into the Lyons denne the other into the hott fiery fornace then to dishonour God by bowing to the Kings Image Thus all Gods true bred children haue and will doe they neyther dare obey vniust command contrary to Gods word and a good conscience nor yet rebelliously resist vniust punnishments in both which they obey God But enough of this poynt at least in this place where we haue as it were by the way occasionally met with it not purposely minded throughly to handle it but onely as a branch of that morality of the Law of God the whole bulke and body whereof is hewed at by the Antinomians to cut it downe by the very rootes Onely let vs adde here a few reasons and motiues Reasons why the Lords day is to bee sanctfied the more to strengthen and prouoke vs to the more diligent obseruation of this great holy day of the Lord. One reason may bee taken from the comparison betweene christians vnder the new Testament and the Iewes vnder the Old How exactly were the Iewes bound to keepe the Sabbath as a memoriall of their deliuerance from Egypt in token of their perpetuall thankefulnesse How much more then are we thus bound to sanctifie the Lords day in a perpetuall thankefull remembrance of our spirituall deliuerance from the bondage of sin sathan and hell ouer which Christ triumphed manifestly in the day of his Resurrection Secondly Exod 31.16.17 as the Sabbath day was giuen to the Iewes as a signe and meanes of their sanctification So the Lords day in the due sanctifying of it in the vse of the meanes is a pregnant occasion of our sanctification and that not only in regard of the same Ordinances attending vpon it but as it is a perpetuall memoriall of Christs Resurrection and in the faith and fact whereof is begun here not onely our sanctification but also our glorification and eternall Sabbath Ob. But if the Eternall Sabbath began in Christs Resurrection then what further vse is there of a seauenth day weekely to keepe Sabbath in Euery day now yea our whole life time is a Sabbath vnto vs therefore to keepe a seauenth day still is against the nature of the eternall Sabbath hath begun in Christs Resurrection And thus to keepe a seauenth still is to goe backe to the Iewish ceremony againe which is abolished in Christs Resurrection Answ Though the Eternall Sabbath began in Christs Resurrection and is now eternally kept of Christ and of the Church triumphant yet during the time of this life which is measured by times and dayes and in regard of the many corporall necessitys of it must bee
and therefore Christians haue nothing to doe with the commandement no more then the rest of the Decalogue I answere It followeth not for though the Iewes sabboth day be abolished yet there remaines a sabboth to bee kept of Christians seeing that the commandement of the sabboth is Morall and so no lesse perpetuall then all the rest For if none of the rest of the commandements be abolished then neither the fourth And so though the ceremoniall part of the Iewes sabboth be abrogated yet not the morality of it Ob. But how or wherein was the Iewes Sabbath day ceremoniall Answ In two regards first because it was appoynted them to bee a memoriall of their deliuerance out of Egypt as Deut. 5.15 where the Lord sayth And remember that thou wast a seruant in the Land of Egypt and that the Lord thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arme therefore the Lord thy God commanded thee to keepe the Sabbath day So that the Iewes were commaunded to keepe the sabbath day in a thankefull remembrance of their deliuerance from the Egyptian bondage therefore the Lord thy God commanded thee to keepe the Sabbath day Ob. But in Exo. 20.11 the Sabbath day hath relation to the Creation Answ True yet herein Deuteronomy Moses tells them that euen then when this commandement was giuen the Lord had a speciall respect to the deliuerance from Egypt and therefore hee sayth the Lord commanded thee as referring to the time past when the Law was giuen And in that respect the Sabboth day was to them ceremoniall Secondly in regard of some ceremonies proper as some say to that Nation being inhabitants of the Land of Canaan a hot climate as the not kindling of a fire on the Sabboth as also the not dressing of their meat in that day which was in remembrance of the Manna in the desert whereof they gathered enough for the sabboth on the day before God miraculously and plentifully prouiding it for them But in very truth so farre as I can yet conceiue till I be conuinced otherwise by better reasons then I haue yet seene that obseruance of not kindling a fire nor dressing of meate on the sabboth which was lawfull allowed vpon all other festiuall dayes was not so much proper to that people in regard of their hot Country and climate as in regard of that Mosaicall Pedagogie and dispensation vnder which that onely people and Church was subiugated and subiected so as this not kindling a fire not dressing of meate was a meere Ceremony Mosaicall a type of the eternall sabbath brought in by Christ in his resurrection which puts an end to all sabbaticall ceremonies as these are which typed the estate of the euerlasting sabbath wherein is no need of bodily prouision For in heauen there shall bee neyther kindling of fire nor dressing of meat nor the like Whereupon Isychius in leuit lib. 6. cap. 19. speaking of the Omer of Manna which euery one was to gather euery day and two before the sabboth An Omer sayth he was so much as could feede one man Hereby he would teach and instruct them of the intelligible rest and end of the world because then it was impossible to boyle or worke or gather Some againe limit the not dressing of meate ro the time of their trauell in the Desart 40 yeares during the Manna and not to extend to the Land of Canaan where the Manna ceassed And this lis not improbable sith their iourney in the wildernesse was to type out the time of out heauenly Country where all the prouision for the body should ceasse Some also restrayne the not kindling of a fire to the worke of the Tabernacle onely as Vatablus in Exod. 35.3 but I see no probabillity hereof seeing the Priests about the Tabernacle had liberty on the sabbath to performe their rites as sacrificing and the like Yet by the way the abrogation of these ceremonies ought not Christians to turne into surquedry and excesse of feasting as too many doe so abusing their christian liberty but to bee vsed with all sobriety such as may not hinder but helpe the holy spirituall dueties of this day by a due refreshing of the body for necessity not for superfluity Now these Ceremonies dying together with the whole Mosaicall economy which stood in types and Ceremonies yet the Morality remaines a perpetuall suruiuer in and with and vnder the Gospell For else if the Morality of the Sabbath were antiquated and abolished then also the whole Decalogue But the Decalogue or ten Commandements remaine still in force not onely in their curse and full rigour to all transgressing Infidels such as are out of Christ but also as a rule of holy conuersation to all true beleeuers And that the Morall Law still remaines as a rule of Christian obedience to euery true Israelite appeareth by the very manner of giuing of it in Mount Sinai For it was giuen by the Lawgiuer Christ the Redeemer of his people who sayth I am the Lord thy God which haue brought thee out of the Land of Egypt out of the house of bondage and thereupon inferreth Thou shalt haue no other Gods before me c. Now the deliuerance out of the Egyptian bondage what was it but a type of our spiritual deliuerance from sin and sathan by Christ And therefore by his owne argument it followeth that the same Morall Law giuen by and vnder Christ to the Iewes in the old Testament is propagated and perpetuated to all christians in the new Testament and so consequently the Sabbath as touching the morality of it Thus the Morall Law is no lesse a rule to beleeuing christians then it was once to the beleeuing Iewes all one ioynt spirituall seed of Abraham to whose posterity this Law was giuen And thus also by the selfe same reason the fourth Commandement for the sanctification of the sabbath is still in force with the Christian Church as well as the other 9. vnlesse as the Papists haue by their sacrilegious practise nimmed away the second Commandement out of their vulgar Catechisme and by their corrupt glosses guelded the masculine sense of it in their Doway Bibles wee will take their part in the polluting and profaining the Sabbath by denying the perpetuall morality of it and so leaue but two Commandements for God according to the Popish acompt in the first Table or rather none at all when by this meanes there is noe day allowed for his seruice no nor meanes to teach vs the true worship of the onely true God the honour due vnto his name which meanes is the publique Ministry of his word together with publique and priuate inuocasion So that the whole worship and seruice of God and his sauing knowledge for mans saluation to speake nothing of bodily refreshing and workes of Charity for the reliefe of the poore hauing a necessary dependance as touching the externall meanes vpon the due obseruation of the fourth Commandement
Maiesty and vs your people it is and shall bee the daily and dutyfull prayer of Your Maiesties loyall subiect and old seruant Henry Burton To the Reader CHristian Reader if this Treatise may seeme to any to bee superfluous as defending that which noe good Christians deny yet considering how fruitfull these last times are in bringing forth the spurious spawnes and monstrous birthes of all kinds of heresies among which this of the Antinomians a most pestilent and pernicious sest is not the least which denyeth any further vse of the Morall Law to belieuers no not as a rule of conuersation as of duty to be conformed vnto and seeing also how many counterfeit Christians are ready do daily intertaine this Libertine doctrine which lets loosse the raines to all licentiousnesse as both the Doctors and Disciples of this Antinomian heresie the Sons of Belial do euidently proue in the practise of their lawlesse and gracelesse life lastly waighing how this Antinomian frye is as an enemy to true fayth and the power of religion so a friend to all other heresies now on foote specially to Popery seruing as a way maker for it by breaking downe the wals of the City of God that so Romes Troian Horse full of traiterous Engines and armed Engineers may finde the easier reentry for the erecting of their Dagon instead of Gods Arke I hope thou wilt not esteeme either my paines lost in writing or thyne in reading this small tract And howsoeuer there is small hope that those who haue already deepely drunke in this sweete deadly poyson will easily admit of any Antidote or Preseruatiue or suffer it kindly to worke vpon them so intoxicated they are with the spirit of giddynesse and I feare many of them iustly giuen ouer of God to a reprobate sense hauing fallen from the truth of the Ghospell once acknowledged of them Yet I doubt not but by Gods grace this Treatise will be a meanes to preserue all sound and simple-hearted christians in the true fayth of Iesus Christ neuer to be seduced by such spirits of errour and perhaps to reduce into the way of the truth all such honest-hearted poore soules as haue beene beguiled by them Onely this let mee premonish thee of that whereas in the fourth page I promise to affix the Copy of that letter at large which gaue occasion of this Treatise I haue since altered my minde for these reasons 1. Because 〈◊〉 coppy is very large 2. Because I haue set downe the substance of it in all the particulars throughout this Tract 3. Instead thereof I haue added vpon occasion offered when I had ended this treatise as a branch thereof a short discourse toucbing the Sabbath day the Morality whereof some haue of late impugned as not binding Christians in the obseruation of the Lords day the diuine Institution whereof they also deny So as if I haue not made good my promise in a matter of no necessity nor of much moment thou wilt pardon mee if J haue made thee amends in adding that which is of farre greater importance and benefit And if herein also I haue not in all poynts satisfied thy iudgement to the full concerning the Law of the Sabbath and of the diuine institution of the Lords day instead of the Iewes Sabbath I shall by Gods grace shortly giue thee further satisfaction in a fuller and ampler Treatise purposely penned in answere to a booke lately come forth which would vtterly euacuate the Lords day for the Christian Sabbath and reduce vs to the Iewes Sabbath-day agayne Which will bee a worke somuch the more necessary by how much this Iewish Sabbatarian findes already many Maléferiatos homiâ—es idle and giddy-brained Christians to imbrace his booke which is written with Amighty confident and Gyantlike spirit as if the Arguments thereof were inuincible Jn the meane time inioy this and pray for mee that God would assist me in that greater worke and in all things that may most concerne his glory and the benefit of his Church Farewell Thine in Christ Iesus Henry Burton Faults in the Printing to be corrected with the pen. Page 10. liue 10 read Calumniations So also l. 15 blot out the p 26 l. 17 r. close p. 27. l. 6. r to the ground p. 30. l. 8. r. preaching p. 33. l. 1. r. syllogisticall p. 43. l 5. r. morality of the Cmmandement p. 51. l. 24. r initiation p. 52. l. 36. r. first-fruits p. 55. l. 6. r. Titulus l. 9. r. signe p. 56. l. 1. r placuent p. 57. l. 11. r. Arians Aerians l. 25. r. christian l. 29. blot out his p. 58. l. 17 r slip p. 59. l 6. r lye vnder p. 60. l. 19. r. pretty reasons l 30. r. impose p. 61. l. 8. blot out communing p. 62. l. 313 r detrect p. 6. l. r. commandal 28. r. sacred ordinances p. 69. in the margent l. â—â— r. pawber and l. 26. r. 515. to 15. lighter escapes the eye well correct THE LAVV AND the Gospell reconciled The Euangelicall fayth and the Morall Law how they stand together in the State of Grace Vpon occasion of a letter written by an Antinomian to a faithfull Christian THat which holy Iude deemed so needfull to write Iude 3 and to exhort vnto all true Christians should bee ready to intertaine that is earnestly to contend for that fayth which was once deliuered to the Saints This was that which the Apostle gaue chiefely in charge to the Philippians Phil. i. 27. Onely let your conuersation be such as becommeth the Gospell of Christ that whither I come and see you or else be absent I may heare of your affaires that yee stand fast in one spirit with one minde striuing together for the fayth of the Gospell This is indeede that onely thing worthy to bee contended for and that with earnestnesse And if those two mothers before King Solomon did so plead about the liuing child which yet was mortall and a sinfull brood how should the true Church of God plead her titles to that which brings immortality the blessed fruit and issue of the liuing fayth But how shall we know who hath best right to this liuing fayth One saith Mine is the liuing fayth and thine the dead fayth another sayth No but thine is the dead and mine the liuing As therefore Solomons sword deciding the quarrell gaue the liuing childe to the true mother So the sword of the spirit Christs word a greater then Solomon onely can determine who is the true mother the true Church to which the liuing fayth of right belongeth sith it is deliuered to none but to the Saints Nor were it a matter of wonder to heare the whore of Babylon the old Romish beldame to make claime to the liuing fayth as her naturall child which now long agoe by ouerlaying it in the night of blacke ignorance and supine security with her vnwealdy body become so grosse and monstrous with the infinite additions of humaine Traditions standing in stead
would abound more and more For yee know what commandements wee gaue you by the Lord Iesus For this is the will of God euen your sanctification that yee should abstaine from fornication The exhortation is very forcible and full of waight Hee presseth it by the authority of the Lord Iesus he mindeth them of it as one of those lessons he had deliuered formerly by word of mouth and they had receiued hee calls it a duty How yee ought to walke yea a duty to God How yee ought to walke and please God hee calls it a speciall commandement which hee gaue them by the Lord Iesus as which the Lord Iesus gaue him in charge to deliuer to them hee calls it the will of God he calls it their sanctification Now what is all this which the Apostle here aymeth at What but this That yee abstaine from fornication Whence I argue thus Proposition Abstinence from fornication is a part of keeping of the Morall Law Assumption But this abstinence from fornication is a duty acceptable to God is a doctrine to be taught by the Ministers of Christ to be receaued by the people of God is a commandement of the Lord Iesus it is the will of God it is our sanctification or a fruite and effect of it Conclusion Therefore the keeping of the Morall Law is commanded of God of Christ as a duty to all true beleeuers To what part of this Argument will the aduersary answere To the Proposition That hee dare not for the Law sayth Thou shalt not commit adultery To the Assumption That he cannot for that is the Apostles in the fore alledged place Therefore I will conclude with this conclusion That the keeping of the Morall law is commanded of God and of Christ as a duty to all true beleeuers When I vrged this argument or the * as rhis What soeuer is Gods will we should doe is our duty to doe But the doing of Gods Law is Gods will wee Should doe therefore it is our duety to doe Gods law so farre as we are able Now all this is plainely concluded by the Apostle This is the will of God euen your sanctification that ye should abstaine from fornication To abstaine froÌ„ fornication is a part of keeping the Moral Law and what is true of a part is true of the whole as Iam. 2.10 11. like in forme syelogisticall out of this very place of the Apostle to this our aduersarie occasionally face to face and had to satisfie his demande repeated it ouer twice or thrice hee could not giue a present answere but desired to haue it written downe But I expect not an answere because none can be giuen to this which is here written No can he not in all his budget finde an answere doth hee not as I heare hee was wont to doe at least carry his trunk-hose full farsed stuffed with Protestant Authors as Luther Zanchee Paraeus with sundry others of good note that with their graue authority and reuerend names he may the more easily impose vpon his credulous and ignorant Disciples who admire that most which they vnderstand least cannot he out of all these beate out an answere to these things For of these he braggs much in the conclusion of his letter But till hee can bring some I will content my selfe to bring his belweather Author euen Luther whose no lesse puissant then elegant and heauenly speech wherewith I will for this time conclude this short discourse shall run full butt vppon and push downe all that he hath sayd for his pretended counterfet false hereticall scandalous Anabaptisticall libertine fayth Luthers words are Admittimus quidem Mosen legendum audiendum a nobis vt predictorem testem Christi Deinde vt petamus ab eo exempla optimarum logum morum Cetaerùm dominium in conscientiam nullo modo concedimus ei ibi mortuus et sepultus esto nemoque sciat vbi sepulchrum eius sit we indeede admit of Moses to bee read heard of vs as a Prophet witnesse of Christ Againe that wee may fetch from him examples of good lawes and manners But dominion ouer the conscience to a man in the state of grace as Rom. 6.10 wee by no meanes yealde him there let him bee dead and buried and let no man know where his sepulchre is So Luther And in his argument vpon the Galatians Sum quidem peccator c. I am indeed a sinner according to this present life and the righteousnesse of it as the son of Adam where the Law accuseth me death raigneth and will deuoure mee but aboue this life I haue another righteousnesse another life which is the Sonne of God who knoweth not sin and death but is righteousnesse and life eternall for which also this dead body of mine shall be raysed vp againe and freed from the bondage of the Law and of sin and together with the spirit it shall bee sanctified So both these remaine while we liue here the flesh is accused exercised made sad and contrite with the actiue righteousnesse of the Law but the spirit raigneth reioyceth and is saued by passiue righteousnesse because it knoweth it hath the Lord sitting in heauen at the fathers right hand who hath abolished the Law Sin Death and hath tâ—ampled vnder feete all euill things hath led them captiue and tryumphed ouer them all So he Now God forbid that I should glory but in the crosse of our Lord Iesus Christ by whom the world is crucified vnto me Gal. 6.14 and I vnto the world For in Christ neyther Circumcision auayleth any thing nor vncircumcision but a new creature 15 And as many as walke according to this rule peace bee on them and mercy and vpon the Israel of God I thought here should haue bin an end But as the Prouerbe is 16 One absurdity begets a thousand as one of Lerna his 7 heads being cut off 3 grew in the place thereof Parua mâ—tu primo mox sese attollit in auras Ingred túrque solo et caput inter nubila condit Monstrum horrendum ingens c. Virgil. Aenead Such is the nature of heresie which of a small seede growes to be an hiddeous monster if it bee not strangled in the first conception Like Fame which for feare at first is small but finding entertainment with Dame Credulity and loquacity growes bold and big vpon it Or like a small leprous spot in the beginnig which quickly runneth ouer the whole body Or like a drop of sweet poyson which at first goes pleasantly downe but in a short time insinuateth it selfe to the infecting of the vitall spirits and ceasseth not till it hath wrought its mortall effect Or like a Gangreene or like a Canker as the Apostle compares it This Antinomian leprosie doth spread and get strength and boldnesse euery day euen vnto impudency madnes And the reason it finds so many disciples to imbrace it because cutting off sanctification denying
semqer all wayes in their due time and place Fiftly they deny that the Lords day the christians Sabbath hath any relation to the fourth Commandement of the Sabbath day as succeeding in the place of it And their reason is because say they the Lords day is not by any Diuine institution but humane onely and therefore not of the same force with the fourth Commandement This assertion reason is noe lesse vnresonable and peremptory then the former How The Lords day not of Diuine instiutiō but humane onely Ecclesiasticall they grant though Apostolicall they name not but in no case diuine that they expressely and stiffely deny First therefore wee will proue that the Lords daye is of diuine institution Secondly that it succeeds in the place of the Sabbath and so beitng of deuine instituiton hath the force of a Commandement First that it is of deuine institution thouigh wee haue no expresse Word of Christ yet we haue his Act worke for it Which is euer as good as his word We shewed before how Gods Act in his resting in blessing and sanctfying the Sabbath or seauenth day was his institution For to what end did he blesse and sanctifie it For himselfe what needed hee No surely for man for whom the Sabbath day was made to rest in as well as the sixt to labour in For the Sabbath was made for man saith the Lord of the Sabbath This institution was in Paradise It stands indeede Gen. 2.2 before the fall of Adam But if Adam fell the same day of his Creation being the sixt day as the best Diuines thinke then it is set by way of anticipation or Hysteron Proteron and so this seuenth day began next after the Fall when the son of God incarnate was cleerely promised in which respect the Sonne of man Christ was Lord of the sabbath day being the Institutor of it vnder whom Adam began his spirituall life in the obseruation or sanctification of the Sabbath And then I doubt not he began to Sacrifice as hee taught his sonnes afterwards as wee see Gen. 4. it being not vnprobable that those skins wherewith God cloathed Adams shamefull nakednes were of the Sacrifices which God taught him now vnder Christ to offer as a type of Christ cloathing vs with the robe of his righteousnes imputed to vs and merited for vs by the sacrifice of his death which sacrificing shall wee deny to bee of diuine institution because wee find it not there expressely commanded Otherwise it had beene will-worship and so abominable whereas God had respect to Abel and to his offering And that he respected not Cain it was on Cains parte for want of faith Heb 11 4 And why should not man then in the state of inocency haue a Sabbath to rest solemnly in and to be vacant for Gods worship as hee had a taske though not toylesome layed vpon him to dresse the garden and so much the more being now cast out hauing a hard and sore toyle imposed on him to till the ground whence hee must eate his bread with sowre or brackish sauce to wit the sweat of his face Other wise if hee had had no Sabbath to rest in his state had bene most miserable as attended with incessant toyle and trauell And when in most likelyhood did Cain and Abell bring their sacrifices Most likely on the Sabbath For the text sayth Mikets iamim in the end of the dayes which some referre to the end of the yeare Gene. 4.3 as Ex. 22.16 and why not also may it be ment of the end of the weeke dayes But I will not contend Thus Adam no doubt had the Sabbath not onely before his fall written in his heart but after his fall a speciall day euen the seauenth assigned him vnder Christ the Redeemer the Lord of the Sabbath And Gods owne act in resting from the worke of Creation and in blessing and sanctifying the Sabbath day for mans vse and comfort was warrant enough to make it of diuine institution without any other expresse Commandement The like wee say of the Lords day That which gaue it a stampe of diuine institution was the Lords owne Act in blessing and sanctifying this Lords day with his blessed and glorious Resurrection when now hee ceassed from the worke of Redemption a greater and more glorious worke then that of Creation now beginning also and consecrating the eternall Sabbath So that this very act of Christ was a sufficient consecration of this day as the Sabbath of our Redemption and therefore iustly styled by the Holy Ghost the Lords day because consecrated not onely to him but by him as the author of it Therefore also is he rightly intitled Lord of the Sabbath day of the Iewes as alone hauing a power to abrogate that and to initiate this day For in like manner the Sabbath is called Gods owne Holy-day Isay 58. and the Sabbath of the Lord our God Exod. 20. which hath relation to Christ the Redeemer Exod. 20.2 to shew that hee is the Lord and institutor of it So that it belonged to him alone to cancell the old and to consecrate a new Sabbath to Christians in memoriall of a better Creation and as the entrance iniatition to the eternall Sabbath Againe obserue how he honours this day For the very day of his Resurrection his Disciples being assembled hee presents himselfe personally vnto them comforting and confirming them with the sensible euidence of his Resurrection and breathing on them the gifts of the Holy Ghost And because they should take speciall notice further of this day iust eight dayes after when this day came about againe hee appeared to them the second time where they were assembled and standing in the midst of them as Lord of his Church salutes them with his peace and shewes them many signes for the fuller confirmation of his Resurrection And yet for the more abundant confirmation of the consecration of this day after his Ascention hee sends the Holy Ghost on this very day 50 dayes after his Resurrection whose powerfull presence was an euident sanctification of this day by his manifold giftes graces to his Church vnto the end of the world And it is specially to be noted that on those dayes wherein Christ appeared to his Disciples and the Holy Ghost descended they were all assembled solemnly together in a holy communion in prayer and other sacred duties So that Christs twice appearing vnto and the Holy Ghost descending visibly vpon his Disciples when they were assembled and all vpon this day was warrant sufficient for the Apostles and so for the succeeding Churches to continue the sanctification of this first day of the weeke by their holy assemblies and exercises as Prayer Preaching administring the Sacraments Almes c. They saw that this was the speciall day selected and sealed by Christ and the Holy Ghost For in the mouth of 2. or 3. witnesses shall euery word be established for publique sacred assemblies wherein they might
extreames and therefore to bee auoyded How then As the christians did in Iustin Martyrs dayes of old who sayth Die solis c. On the Sunday or Lords day Iustin Martyr Apol. 2. are the christians assemblies of Citizens and Countrmen where the writings of the Apostles and Prophets are first reade then when the Reader hath done the Master of the assembly the chiefe Minister vseth words of exortation his inuiting them to the imitation of things honest The richer sorte who are willing do contribute to the reliefe of the poorer euery man according to his mind and meanes and the Collecta or collections are deposited with the chiefe Minister he therewith succoureth the Orphans and poore c. This is that day wherein God created the world and Christ rose againe from the dead So hee And Saint Chrisostom vpon the Apostles words 1 Cor. 16.1 Behold sayth he How fitly the Apostle rayseth his exhortation from the consideration of this day of the weeke as being the fittest day wherin to exhort vnto almes as if the Apostle had sayd Remember what things yee haue obtained this day vnutterable good things yea the very roote and spring of our life stands in it Not that it is a fit day onely for giuing of almes but that it hath a rest and is free from worldly affaires and the mind being vacant from molestations is the apter more inclinable to mercy and it brings with it a great efficacy in the vse of the celestiall Ordinances And Saint Augustine Omni Die Dominico c. Euery Lords day come to the Church and spend not the day in pleading and brabbles and idle chat but with silence hearken to the word of God and pray for the peace of the Church and for the pardon of your sinnes c. And Bernard sayth out of Esay 58.13 He calleth the Sabbath sayth hee not onely a delight but he addeth holy and gloryous to the Lord. Nor let the Sabbath slipt away with sloth but in thy Sabbath worke the workes of God And in the Synodal Epistle of the second synod of Matiscon wee haue these words Custodite Diem Dominicum c. Keepe the Lords day which hath a new brought you forth and hath freed you from all sinnes as being that day wherein Christ rose for our iustification Let none of you bee vacant to minister fewell for suites in Law let none plead causes let none draw vpon himselfe such a necessity as to compell the cattell to beare the yoake .. Be all of you taken vp with hymmes in praysing of God being content in minde and body Let euery one hasten to the next Church their humble himselfe on the Lords day with prayers and teares Let your eyes and hands be all that day open to God For that is a perpetual day of rest that is made knowne in the law the Prophets being insinuated vnto vs by the shadow of the seauenth day Iust it is therefore that wee doe vnanimously celebrate this day by which wee are made that which before wee were not Let vs performe to the Lord a free seruice c. Not that the Lord requires of vs that wee should celebrate the Lords day with bodily abstinence but hee requireth our obedience by which trampling all terrene actions vnder our feete hee may mercifully lift vs vp euen vnto Heauen If therefore any of you shall slight or contemne this our wholesome exhortation let him know that for the quality of his demerit hee shall bee punished of the Lord and henceforth implacably vnder the sacerdotall indignation If hee bee a Lawyer hee shall bee dismissed of his pleading without recouery if a Country-man or seruant hee shall bee sore beaten with clubs if a Clearke or so hee shall bee suspended six months from his Fraternity c. And in the Councell of Dingelfing On the Lords day let men bee vacant for diuine rest and abstayne from worldly and profane businesse Hee that this day shall doe any worke about the Cart or otherwise let his oxen bee confiscate If he shall proceed on obstinately let him be made a bondslaue And Charles the great in his constitutions forbiddeth markets to be kept any where on the Lords day nor any seruile workes to be done therein We might bee infinite in such like instances of pious constitutions for the solemne and sacred keeping of the Lords day but let these suffice by the way Onely one thing remaines to bee resolued whether the fourth Commandement reach vnto seruants as well as vnto Masters of Families some would restraine the Commandement onely to Masters excluding seruants thus farr that in case a Master command his seruant any servill worke on the Sabbath or Lords day the seruant therein obeying his Master is not answerable to God as a trangressour of Gods Commandement but his Master onely is in the transgression for so commanding This is a strange piece of Logicke A Master in commanding his seruant transgresseth Gods Commandement and yet the seruant obeying his Master therein transgresseth not Doth not the case hold a like in other relations as betweene Prince and subiect spirituall Pastours and People yes say they But how Thus God say they hath commanded all men to honour their Parents the Parents of their Country stands in the first ranke-True who denies it But what followes there vpon This say they The Sonne of God hath commanded all Christians to heare the Church and vnder forfeiture of communion of Saints but they that deny the Canons of the Church or Edict of the Prince heare not the one honour not the other therefore they that transgresse eyther of these Constitutions transgresse also consequently though not immediately the commandements of God yet neyther of both are transgressed by seruants if they worke by their Masters commission and not of their owne electon for neyther doth the one Law or the other neyther the Canons of the Church nor Edicts of Princes giue liberty and warrant to seruants to bee rebellious to their Masters touching poynt of seruice that day more then others To this purpose they argue that deny the keeping of the Lords day to haue any dependance vpon the morality of the fourth Commandement Here be prege reasons which would not lightly be passed ouer Therefore a little to examine the mettle of these mens reasons first we must remember that not only on the Lords day seruants obying their Masters in deoing seruile worke therein are guiltles for so they haue euation for it by denying the Lords day to bee of diuine institution and rest therein to be any morall duty but they deny also that the fourth Commandement did binde any Iewes but onely Masters of familyes and not those vnder them For say they the Commandement was giuen onely to masters and not to seruants standing in relation to their masters in case they should impusote any seruile labour vpon them It is true the Commandement was giuen principally and immediately to masters that not onely