these Reasons The first Reason because the obseruation of the seauenth day is of the lawe of Nature whatsoeuer is found in the fourth Commandement appertayning to the lawe of Nature as a thing most godly most iust and needefull for the setting foorth of Gods glory it ought to bee reteyned and kept 2. Tome of Homil. fol. 2â— Martyr I. oc class 2 sect 2 Iunius praeâ—ecâ— Gen. 2. v. 3. 63. Musculu Loc. com part in 4. praecept â— 147. of all good Christians But in the fourth Commaundement is found the obseruation or keeping holie of the seauenth day or one day of the vveeke as a thing most godly iust and needefull for the setting forth of Gods glorie Therefore it ought to bee reteyned and kept of all good Christians This argueth the Church of England Martyr Iunius Musculus 36 The second argument stands in this because as there must be a certaine place so also there must be a certaine time for the publick exercise of ReligioÌ„ without the which saith Bullinger the externall worship cannot be performed vnto Bulling Dec serm 4. fol. 1 Caluin inst a ca. 8. §. 32. God but all would run sayth Caluin vnto speedy and ineuitable ruine and confusion Now for desining the proportion of time who can better proportion it then God himself who in the time of mans innocency blessed the 7. day that is did destinate it to his seruice and in the Morall lawe prescribed it to the lewes who better then the Sonne of God Book of Hâ—â— 2. Tome foâ— 260. and his inspired Apostles who did apportionate vnto his Church one day of seauen as 1. Corin. 16. 2 Therefore by this reason it seemeth that the seauenth day is perpetually to be obserued 37 The third Reason Because the obseruation of the seauen day conformeth vs vnto the Image of God of Christ and his Apostles who alwayes rested the seauenth day and kept it holy in that proportion which in another proportion Book of Hâ—â— Tom. 2. fol. Caluin inst ca. 8. §. 31. â—â—â—tyr loc 7. clâ—â— sect 2. destroyeth Gods holy Image in vs in that point This Image of God is proposed in the fourth Commaundement For in sixe dayes Therefore to conforme our selues to the Image of God wee are to keepe holy the seauenth day and not to doe it is to destroy that part of Gods Image in vs. 38 The fourth Reason Because the sanctification of the seauenth day conformeth vs to the Image of Adams holinesse in his integrity to which albeit wee cannot perfectly attaine in this life yet we are to striue vnto it because he was Zanchius de eribus creatioâ— part 3. lib. 1. p. 1 fol. 480. created to the Image of God holinesse Therefore to striue vnto the Image of Adams holinesse wee are perpetually to obserue the 7. day holy vnto God * as Adam did 39 The fift Reason Because the end of the 7. dayes obseruation seator in Geâ—â—s 2. 3. Decâ—â—g Lect. 29. â— Heb. 4. 10. is perpetuall namely to worship God and to profit in his knowledge Therefore the obseruation of the 7. day must also be perpetuall 40 The sixt Reason Because the same necessity is vnto vs that was to Adam the Patriarches and the lewes to keep holy a 7. day The same necessity in respect of God who requires of vs no lesse proportioÌ„ of seruice then he did of them In respect of Gods Church the which needeth no lesse proportion â—illinger Decad. Iserm 4. fol. 5. of order In respect of our soules which need no lesse proportion of meanes to be instructed and sanctified In respect of the bodies of our selues our seruants and our Cattell that also neede no lesse proportion of rest then they Therefore the 7. dayes holy rest is of necessity to be obserued 41 The seauenth Reason Because the obseruation of a longer distance then a 7. dayes rest woulde proue iniurious to our selues our soules our bodies the soules and bodies of our seruants and the bodies of our cattle For seeing God hath giuen such a portion and proportion of time to vs and ours to serue God and be profited in soule and body as it was Gods double mercy to grant it so it would be a double cruelty to with hold it or depriue vs of it 42 The eight Reason Because it derogateth from the wisdome of God of Christ and his inspired Apostles who proportionating so much time vnto our rest so much vnto Gods speciall and publicke seruice and so much euen to the labouring seruant and drudging beast as knowing what was fiâ—test for euery one it being measured out by Gods owne indulgence according to their strength If the Church should breake this proportion and alter it to the 10. or 14. it coulde not but commit much error both in crossing of Gods heauenly and most perfect wisdome and appointment as also in breaking of the due proportion 43 The ninth Reason Because we may not profane that day which God sanctified for so should wee turne that day into a curse which God hath blessed But God sanctified and blessed the 7. day both in the lawe of Nature and Morall lawe both before the Ceremoniall lawe and out of it also Now it is in his onely power to abrogate the obseruation of the seauenth day that sanctified it but God neuer abrogated the 7. dayes obseruation Therefore we are perpetually to sanctifie the seauenth day 44 The tenth Reason Because the fourth Commaundement of sanctifying one day of 7. is not Ceremoniall but Morall and perpetuall which Christ destroyed not Mat. 5. 17 which the Apostles established Rom 3. 31. This point is proued by 6. Reasons 45 First whatsoeuer Lawe was peculiarly written vvith the singer of God and that in stone and that two seuerall times immediatly deliuered by God as no other lawes Iudiciall or Ceremoniall were and euen put into the Ark of God with the other 9. Commaundements these circumstances implying their permanencie euen vnder the Gospell and the deniall of any power but Gods to blot them out is as perpetuall as other Lawes so written reserued But so was the fourth Commandement written and reserued no Ceremoniall or Iudiciall being so Therfore the fourth Commandement is as permanent as the other nine 46 Second That lawe that was established before Christ was promised or needed to be promised cannot be Ceremoniall or haue reference to Christ to come But the obseruation of the 7. day was established before Christ was promised Therefore the obseruation of the seauenth day is not Ceremoniall but of the lawe of Nature Morall and perpetuall 47 Third It implyes a playne absurdity to thinke that the wisdome of God should write in two Tables of stone 9. morall lawes and but one ceremoniall Therefore to take away this absurdity we must conclude it to be vniforme with the rest and morall as the rest 48 Fourth The morall lawe is Gods constant and perpetuall Couenant direction of good workes The perpetuall Couenant of
1. Why not also with the Sabbaoth or day of holy rest seeing he ascribes it to himselfe Matth. 12. 8. And as Christ is called the Lord. Io. 20. 18. 25. 28. and 21 7. 15. 16. 1. Cor. 11. 23. and the phrases are proper that runne after this tenor the Lords Table 1. Cor. 10. 21. The Lords Supper 1. Cor. 11. 20. The Lords Cup. 1. Cor. 10. The Lords body 1. Cor. 11. 27. 29. The Lords death 1. Cor. 11. 26 So it is not vainly but most properly said The Lords day Reu. 1. 10. as properly ascribing it to Christ the Lord of Lords 56 The third Reason A Matori If the rest of God the Father were the cause of sanctifying of a day It followeth that where a greater and more excellent rest is there must of necessity followe a more ample sanctification But the rest of the Sonne of God is a greater and more excellent by how much the worke of Redemption is greater and more excellent then the worke of creation Therfore the rest of Christ from his worke is the cause of a more ample sanctification of the day of his rest or Resurrection which is our Lords day Apoc. 1. 10. Againe If there be the same cause and reason of sanctifying that day on which our Sauiour Christ accomplished our Redemption and restitution of the World as there vvas of sanctifying the day in vvhich the Lord rested from the creation of the World then a day in memoriall of the later ought as necessarily to be obserued and sanctified as the day was in memorial of the former But the same cause or reason remaineth whether wee respect the rest of Christ as well as the rest of the Father Heb. 4. 10. Or whether wee respect the glory of Christ as well as the glory of the Father Io. 5. 23. Therfore the day of Christ his rest or resurrection which is our Lords day is no lesse necessarily by vs to be obserued then the former Sabbaoth of the Iewes Briefly thus If the very rest of God the Father bee alleaged as sufficient Io. 15. 15. and 16. 13 14. 26. Act. 20. 20. ♌ Vide supra §. â—0 Num. 4. Hooper on the 4. Com. fol. â—5 Piscatâ—r in Genes 2. 3. fol. 52. cause to ty the Iews coÌ„science to the sanctifying of the Iewish Sabbaoth Then the very rest of Christ may be alleaged as a iust cause to tye the Christians conscience to the sanctifying of the Christian Sabbaoth but the former is true as Exod. 20. 11. Therefore the later is also true 57 The fourth Reason The Apostleâ— ordinances coÌ„mandements and constitutions are the coÌ„mandements of Christ Act. 15 24. 28. 29. 1. Cor. 14. 37. 7. 17. 11. 16. 2. Thess 3. 6. 7. Luke 10. 16. For besides the Apostles in matter of Gods seruice were led by the holy Ghost into all truth and coulde not erre But the Iewish Sabbaoth in practise was altred and the first day of the weeke established and ordayned for the Christian Sabbaoth by the ordinance constitution and commandement of the inspired ♌ Apostles 1. Cor. 16. 1. 2. As I haue ordayned so do you which words say BB. Hooper and Piscator do plainly imply a commandemeÌ„t as the words I haue ordained do imply an Apostolical ordinance Therfore the Christian Sabbaoth or first day of the weeke was in practise ordained and commanded by Iesus Christ himselfe 58 The fift Reason Is drawne from the euidence of scriptures plainly declaring that the Lords day was both ordained and practised by the Apostles Apostolicall Churches to whose examples our Churches Christians are and ought in all godlinesse to be coÌ„formed The places are a Chrysostom â—edâ— Gualter Aretius Beza Geneua note Lyra Erasmus Vatablus Emmanuel Sa. Rhemâ—sts in hunc locum Chemmnit Martyr Zanchius Vrsinus Piscâ—tor Iunius Pezâ—lâ—us Fulke Babington Perkins Zepperus in locâ—s citatâ—â— Marlorati Enchiridioâ— Tit. dâ—es dominicus Bucholch Chron. â— proleg f. 22. Bellar. vbi supra cap. 11. Act. 20. 7. b Chrysost Ambr. Hierom. Reâ—â—g Prâ—masius Theophilact in hunc locum August epist 119. cap. 13. Beza Bullinger Martyr Aretius Pezelius Gualter Geneua note Lyra. Erasmus Vatablus Emmanuel Sa. Rhemists in hunc locum Chemnitius Zanchius Vrsinus BB. Hooper Piseator Zepperus Iunius Bucholcher Marlolorati Enchir. Fulk Booke of Homil. Babing Bellar. Felisius Cathec Rom. locis citatâ— Sutcliffe inâ—tit fideâ— fol. 11. 1. Cor. 16. 2. c â—lemens â—an Apostol Ignatius Iustinus Tertullian Clemens Alexand. Orig. Athan. Ambr. Hieronym August Gregorius Magnus Leo. Hylarius Occâ—â—neâ—ius Primasius Ansâ—â—â— Martyr Bulling Beza Iunius Chemnitius Zanchius Sadeâ—l Vrsinus Pezelius Heming Piscator Aretius Bucholcher Marlorati Enchirid. Book of Hom. Fox Fulke Babington Perkins Sutcliffe Geneua note Lyra Bellarmine Cathech Rom. Emmanuel Sa. Rhemists locis citatis Reu. 1. 10. Interpreted all of them of the Lords day by all few or none at all besides expositors 1. Fathers Greekes and Latines 2. Later writers Protestant and Papist without disputation or deniall The conclusion of this reason is Therefore the obseruation of the Lords day is no Tradition or vnwritten verity or doubtfull ordinance but hath cleare ground and warrant of the word and so dooth tye the conscience So also doe the duties and circumstances that out of these places may clearely bee concluded As namely 1. That it was named by an inspired Apostle the Lords day which is as much to say as the Christian Sabboth Reu. 1. 10. 2. It was ordeined also and established by an inspired Apostle not lightly vainly or erroniously but coÌ„mandingly with Apostolicall authority 1. Cor. 16. 1. 2. 3. It was the first day of the week Act. 20. 7. 1. Cor. 16. 1. 2. 4. This assembly was weekly 1. Cor. 16. 1. 2. 5. It was vsuall to other places and times viz. the Churches of Corinth and Galatia 1. Cor. 16. 1. 2. of Troas Act. 20. 7. of Pathmos where Iohn was and that aboue 40. yeares after Reu. 1. 10. 6. That day the word preached the Sacraments administred Praier Act. 20. 7. 10. 16. 7. That day the works of mercy and collections for the poore Act. 20. 10. 12. 1. Cor. 16. 1. 2. 8. That day they rested from the ordinarie labors of their calling 1. Cor. 16. 1. 2. 59 The sixt Reason Is drawne from the enumeration of circumstances notably falling out yet not in vaine but to some necessary purpose nor yet by chance but by Gods singular prouidence and appointment as may appeare by the greatnesse of the works vpon this day 1. The resurrection Rest of Christ vpon this day Luk. 24. 6. Heb. 4. 10. 2. Christ his first apparition to his Disciples vpon this day Io. 20. 19. 3. Christ his second apparition to them that same day seuen-night Io. 20. 26. 4. The holy Ghosts apparition to them on that day Act. 2. 1. 2. 5. The Apostles teaching ministring the Sacraments on the same day Act. 20. 7. 6. The Apostle Iohn his
God was written in 2. Tables and consisted of 10. words Exo. 35. 28. Deut. 4. 13. But if the Church should take away one of the 10. there would be left but 9. so one of the words of God and lawe of the perpetuall Couenant and direction of good workes would be abolished 49 Fift From the Reasons of the obseruation mentioned in the 4. Commandement For albeit there are sundry reasons in other places which God giueth as proper to the Iews wherfore they should obserue the Sabbaoth as 1. their deliuerance from the slauery of Aegypt Deu. 5. 15. 2. that it was a signe that the Lord sanctified them and was their God and therfore it is called a signe to you and your generations Exo. 31. 13. Ezec. 20. 12. 20. Yet in the 4. Commandemen◠he giueth reasons onely common to vs as well as vnto them Exod. 20. 11. As namely 1. conformitie to Gods Image which is no lesse proper to vs. then to the Iewe. 2. Memoriall of Gods creation for which benefit the Patriarches before the christians since are no lesse bound to be thankfull vnto God then was the Iew. 3. Rest of our selues our seruants and our Cattell a common necessitie to vs as it was to them Therefore this Cōmandement seemeth morall and giuen vnto vs aswell as to the Iew. And seeing the Reasons of this 4. Commandement do vrge vs aswel as the Reasons of the 2. 3. 5. cōmandements why should not this cōmandement tie vs to the obseruation of it as well as the other and why not Christians as well as Iewes 50 To which I will adde the circumstances notable in this Commaundement aboue all others 1. That there is no Commaundement except the 2. as our reuerend Master Greenham noteth in words larger or in reasons fuller then this of the Sabbaoth Which two Commandemēts the Lord did know would most of all be withstood as beeing most contrary to the wisedome of the flesh the one opposed by excessiue superstition the other by immoderate profanenesse 2. The precepts of the fourth Commaundement are both affirmatiue and negatiue which in the other are onely affirmatiue or negatiue 3. There is praefixed a Memento remember Exod. 20. 8. which note is not praefixed to the other and is a note as Caluin Musculus Zanchius and others teach of especiall obseruance requiring more then ordinary attention and heedfulnesse of practise 4. No such particulars or so many as in this one 1. of the persons to obserue it Thou thy sonne and daughter Man and maide-seruant cattell and straunger 2. of the reasons God hath giuen vs sixe dayes It is the Sabbaoth of the Lord thy God The Lord in sixe dayes made the world and rested the seauenth The Lord hallowed the seauenth day 3. Of the works one negatiue excluding all Thou shalt doe no manner of worke one affirmatiue excepting the workes of the Sabbaoth Keepe it holy The which circumstances seeing they were set downe and made obseruable and notable to vs by the vnspeakeable wisedome of God and placed in the center as it were of the other 9. morall Commandements vndoubtedly the Lord would neuer so vehemently haue perswaded flesh and bloud to this by so many circumstances aboue al other had it bin only ceremoniall and not also morall And so much of the first question 51 The 2. question of this controuersie is this Whether the Lords day or first day of the weeke called commonly our Sunday though with a note of dislike by the * Beza annot ad 1. Cor. 16. 1. Fulke in Rhem. Test. ad Apoc. 1. 10. Willet Synops controu 9 quaest 8. part 2. error 72. f. 435. godly learned bee established iure diuino by the will and ordinance of Christ in the steade of the Iewish Sabbaoth and doe tye the conscience 52 This quaestion is affirmed by Beza Iunius Piscator Rollock Hooper Fulke Perkins and the book of Homilyes and Locis supra citatis others But is denyed by some others 53 The Papists also are at oddes about this very point For a Tolet. Instruct sacerd li. 4. c. 24 fol. 542. Scotus b Perkins problem Tit. dies Festi fol. 231. Panormitan Angelus Syluester c Felisius in mādat 4. fol. 292. Felisius d Bellarm. Tom. 1. de cultu sanctorum li. 3. ca. 19 Soto Lyranus Abolensis and generally all the e Chemnitius Loc. com parte secunda ad praecept 3. fol. 61. a. b. Schoolemen doe affirme it But the Rhemists do vtterly deny it And Tolet and Bellarmine do pitifully fall vpon the Schoolemens bones and vtterly defie that sentence 54 But the affirmatiue which I haue vndertakē here to defend is cōfirmed by the following Reasons The 1. Reason Because Mat. 12. 8. Christ is called the Lord of the Sabboath the word is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In the word is to be noted 1. Commaund and 2. Propriety and therefore Reuel 1. 10. it is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Lords day as beeing Lord that is the Owner and Commaunder of that day Now in that Christ is the Lord that is the Commaunder I conclude Christ therefore commaunded and ordained it or at least in that Christ is the Lord that is the owner of it thus I argue Therfore it must be consecrated to Christ his seruice Wherfore as whē God the Father was Lord of the Sabbaoth there was a Sabbaoth necessarily kept vnto that Lord of the Sabbaoth and so the Commaundements Exod. 20. 8. Esa 58. 13. did tye the conscience So also when the Sonne of God is Lord of the Sabbaoth there must of necessity be a Sabbaoth day sanctified and those morall commaundements doe no lesse belong to Christ and tye the conscience of the Christian in the newe Testament then they belonged to God the Father and tyed the conscience of the Iewe in the olde Testament 55 The second Reason From the Image of God which is in Christ Io. 5. 1◠Whatsoeuer things the Father doth the same things doth the Sonne also But the Father sanctifieth a day vnto the glory of his work of the Worlds creation Therefore the Sonne doth also sanctifie a day vnto the glory of his worke of the Worlds renouation Againe Heb. 4. 10. Christ ceased from his workes as well as God the Father did from his Therefore Christ is to haue his Sabbaoth or rest sanctified as well as God the Father Againe Io. 5. 23. All men should honour the Sonne of God as they honour the Father But all men honour the Father with a day of holy rest and worship in the old Testament and it was a speciall part of his honour Therefore all men must honour the Sonne of God with a day of holy rest and worship in the new Testament Christ therfore being honored by hauing ascribed to him the Word Coloss 3. 16. Sacraments Acts. 8. 16. and 10. 48. 19. 5. 1. Cor. 11. 24. 25. 26. Prayer Io. 16. 23. Ministerie 1. Cor. 4.
ordinance of the Christian Sabbaoth Therefore it is according to the will and ordinaunce of God The proposition is grounded on 1. Cor. 10. 11. 15. 14. 32. Mat. 13. 11. Dan. 12. 3. Psal 107. 43. Io. 5. 20. Io. 7. 17. The assumption is confirmed on the euidence and truth of such effectes in all the godly of all places and times since the Apostles to our times And the serious and iudiciall Considerer shall obserue them both Ministers and people among us in this Land to go no further to be the most religious zealous conscionable and faithfull Christians and most of all profiting and growing in all grace and knowledge that with conscience delight and diligence doe effectually sanctify the Lords day 2. Again That ordinance tending to Gods publicke seruice and glory and mans instruction and building vp in godlinesse and is grounded on Gods word the which is disliked disputed against cauilled at withstood broken and profaned by the most carnall vngodly irreligious corrupt and vaine persons must needs be most agreeing to the wisdome will of God Such is the ordinaunce of the holy obseruation of the Lords day Therefore it is most agreeing to the wisdome and will of God The Maior or first proposition is grounded on 1. Cor. 1. 18. and 2. 14. and 3. 19. Mat. 13. 11. Io. 3. 3. Rom. 8. 5. 7. The assumption or Minor is grounded on Psa 92. 1. 2. 6. and confirmed by experience For he that shall vnpartially obserue this truth shall finde that the Sabbaoth euery where is onely disliked withstood disgraced disputed against rayled at scorned profaned by the most profane carnal couetous Atheists libertines men of no conscience holiness◠or truth in them and such as eyther liue in vnlawfull callings or vnlawfully in their honest callings such as fidlers stage-players beare and bull-baiters gamesters drunkards vsurers papists families of loue theeues vagrantrogues wearers oppressors coseners Epicures and voluptuous liuers 3. Againe That doctrine practise and perswasion the vvhich is grounded in the Scripture and is most agreeable to godlines peace of a good conscience and fits a Christian best to appeare with security of hart ioy before the iudgemēt seate of Christ that doctrine perswasiō must needs be more agreeable to Gods wil then contrary such is the doctrine practise and perswasiō of keeping holy the Christiā Sabbaoth or Lords day therfore the keeping holy of the lords day togither with the doctrine and perswasion of the same is most agreeable to the will of God 4. And last of all that doctrine practise and perswasion differing from the practise of the Apostles and all Apostolicall Churches and teachers yea from the doctrine practise of the Church wherin they liue the which is most agreeable to the will of man the wisdome of the fleshe the manners of the wicked the state of ignorance and sinne and of an euill conscience the hindrance of the Gospell the the breach of all good Discipline and order in the Church and the very high way to Atheisme carnall liberty and all impious licentiousnesse and confusion and so by consequence procuring and increasing the wrath and iudgement of God or euen but tending therunto or any part therof is impious and vngodly Such is the iudgement and practise of the deniers or disgracers or opposite disputers or omitters or profaneners of the Lords day and of those also that teach a liberty of breaking or omitting of the Lords day Therfore such iudgement practise or perswasion is impious wicked And so much of the second Quaestion 66 The third Quaestion and the last concerning this Controuersie of the Christian Sabbaoth is this VVhether the Church of GOD might haue chosen at the first another day or hath yet authority or Christian libertie to abrogate or alter the Lords day into any other certaine or vncertaine day or whether it be not of necessity to be obserued to the end of the World 67 This Quaestion because it dependeth on the former therfore the affirmation and proofe of the former prooueth also the negation of the former part hereof and the affirmation of the later the which I therfore will the more briefely handle as a point sufficiently confirmed 68 The first Reason The Church hath no Christian liberty to alter any day the which hath absolute Commaundement in the Word The Christian Sabbaoth or Lords day hath absolute Commaundement in the Word as alreadie hath been proued Therefore the Church hath no Christian liberty to alter the Lords day into any other 69 The second Reason The Church could neuer alter any part of the Morall law or of the lawe of Nature nor cannot alter the morall ordinances and constitutions of the inspired Apostles The obseruation or keeping holy of one day of euery seauen is of the Morall lawe and law of Nature and besides the keeping holy of the first day of the weeke is a constitution and commaundement of the inspired Apostles Therefore the Church coulde not nor cannot alter the keeping holy of one day of seauen vnto God nor the keeping holy of the first day of the weeke to Christ 70 The third Reason whatsoeuer Christ ascribeth as his owne and proper to himselfe no Church or Christian ought or may ascribe vnto themselues But Christ ascribeth as proper to himselfe that he is the Lord of the Sabbaoth Therefore no church or person may ascribe the Sabbaoth of Christ to himselfe and so by consequence may not profane nor alter the Lords day into any other 71 The fourth Reason By whatsoeuer onely power the Iewish Sabbaoth was abrogated the Christian Sabbaoth instituted by the same power and none other can it be abrogated againe But by the only power of Christ his Consummatum est or sacrifice was the Iewish Sabbaoth abrogated and by vertue of his resurrection the Lords day originally instituted and by Apostolicall power and authority the one relinquished and the other practiced Therefore by the only power of Christ and his Apostles and by none other can the Lords day be abolished againe 72 The fift Reason If there cannot come so long as the world lasteth so great a cause of changing the Lords day as the Apostles had of ordaining it Then the Church cannot abolish the Lords day to the end of the world But so great cause of abolishing the Lords day the Church can neuer haue as the Apostles had of ordayning namely the resurrection and rest of Christ Therefore the Church cannot abolish the Lords day to the end of the world 73 The sixth and last Reason If the Church haue no farther aucthority then by the word of God either in generall or speciall to appoint or alter any thing established then the Church can neuer alter the Lords day nor appoint any other in the steade thereof But the former is true and therefore also the later For there is no shadowe of authority or ground eyther generall or speciall in the word touching the alteratiō of
the Lords day or appointing of any other in the steade thereof And finally vnlesse the Church hath the same infallible warrant to bee led into all truth as the inspired Apostles had which the Papists falsly affirme but wee constantly deny the Church can neuer haue equall power in abolishing the obseruation of the first day of the weeke as the Apostles had in ordayning and so by consequence can it neuer be lawfully accomplished for want of due power to performe the same So that it followeth by ineuitable consequence that the keeping holy of the Lords day or first day of the weeke must vnremoouedly stand vnto the end of the World And so an end of this third and last question 74 Now touching the obiections that are alleaged against the keeping holy of the Lords day they are of sundry sorts as are the various apprehensions and opinions of men erring on the right and left hand of the truth The which their differing cauillations albeit it were not quite amisse to haue cōfuted on either side yet I haue thought it fitter at this time to let them passe least the Reader might be rather tyred then instructed the rather because the most of them in very deed are but of froathy feeble nature and are not able to stand or to maintaine themselues the day reuealing them to bee but false and the fire but stubble being grounded on an euill conscience maintained by more subtilty then truth or art answered by sundry others and are aboundantly confuted by the former reasons Only I purpose to take notice and giue answere vnto the cauillations of our present times vvhich beare the greatest shewe both against the things alleaged for the truth as also for establishment of their owne errour 75 Against the places of Scripture alleaged for the Christian Sabbaoth They say that the reasons drawn from Act. 20. 7. 1. Cor. 16. 2. make nothing for the confirmation of the Lords day For that the Greeke word soundeth in both places one of the Sabbaoths which being literally vnderstood must needs haue reference to the Iewes Sabbaoth not to the first day of the weeke which is our Lords daie To vvhich obiection first I oppose the maine streame of all Interpreters that euer vvere both olde and newe that vnderstand them for the first day of the vveeke and doe so translate them Secondly I say it is an Hebraisme or Hebrewe kinde of speech vsuall in the Scriptures to set downe One insteade of the first as Gen. 1. 5. Mat. 28. 1. Mark 16 9. Luke 24. 1. Io 20. 1. And the word Sabbaoth for a Weeke As Leuiticus 25. 8. Luke 18. 12. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And thus doe Caluin Martyr Beza B B. Hooper and euen the learned Papists Erasmus Iansenius Bellarmine Emanuel Sa and sundry others obserue vpon these places And further for the place of the 1. Corinth 16. 2. It is very euident out of the Fathers Iustinus Tertullian and others that from the ordinance of the Apostles grounded on this place the primitiue times did make collections for the poore on this very day vvhich vvas the first day of the vveeke celebrated by them to the honour of Christ his resurrection and publique vvorship of God as Zanchius that most learned and iudiciall Diuine doth soundly conclude Besides ther want not ancient manuscripts to make this place more manifest by adding 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the Text as Beza noteth and Cryspine in his greeke Testament together vvith Wechelus in his edition of the Septuaginta doe expresse Touching the place of Apoc. 1. 10. vvhich maketh cleere mention of the Lords day the obseruation whereof is seconded by the Primitiue Fathers and Churches immediatly succeeding the writer of that book they haue nothing to alleage but that they holde it doubtfull whether that book be Canonicall or not Which cauill albeit it bee vnanswerably confuted by Beza and sundry others yet I iudge it sitter to be decided by a cudgell of the Magistrates owne faggot or the hatchet rather then to be notized or vouchsafed the peaceable or quiet answere of sober men for that it must needs be an opinion of insolent and palpable lewdnesse that cannot stand but by calling the vndoubted Scriptures of canonical authority and principles of the Christian faith in quaestion 76 For the confirmation of their most weake and bad opiniō they brokenly alleage certaine Scriptures from which they draw euen by the eares against their wils three seuerall conclusions The first conclusion is this The fourth Cōmandement is meerely Ceremoniall and therfore vtterly abolished and is Iewish to obserue To this I say in generall it crosseth all mens iudgemens that euer were of any note as in parte appeareth These 20. and therfore is actually absurde and a very Nouel and is besides the doore to Atheisme carnall liberty and all profanenesse a manifest disabling of the other 9. Commandements occasion of neglect giuen to them especially that care for none For further answere to this bare Assertion Look Thes 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. But for the Scriptures they alleage for the ground of this their Conclusion as Exodus 31. 13. 16. and 35. 2. Ezechiel 20. 12 They are too short for their position for these places prooue the Iewish Sabbaoth to haue in it something ceremoniall transitory and as the shadowe abolished by Christ the substance Coloss 2. 16. 17. in that parte wherein it was ceremoniall which was meerly proper to the Iewe but by this they disproue not the Sabbaoth dayes politicall respecte of rest of the bodies of ourselues our seruants and our Cattell Exodus 20. 17. with Deu. 5. 14. and morall part therof which is the publick worship of God Exo. 20. 9. 10. which are perpetually to remain as the other laws of like equity nature being especially by Christ confirmed and by his Apostles and Primitiue Churches continued and by vs therefore to bee practised to the Worlds end VVherefore the stricte obseruation also of a holy rest or Sabbaoth vnto God in the new Testament is not a Iewish thing For seeing the Iewe did rest by a mixt reason Iunius de polit Mosis cap. 8. partly morall partly politicall and partly ceremoniall We rest in no sense for the later but the former two Namely first for the Morall and then for the politicall respect which seeing they are commaunded vs as strictly and concerne vs at neerely as they did the Iewes wee ought with no lesse conscience to obserue them then the Iews And seeing the actions of men are really distinguished by their ends for which they are done and wee proposing not the Ceremoniall or end proper to the Iewe but onely the Morall common to vs vvith them our stricte obseruing of the Lords day cannot bee counted Iewish though hereby also wee forbid the verie gathering of any sticke or kindling of anie fire that shall hinder the seruice of GOD in our selues or others 77 The second Conclusion that they frame
Christian Sabbaoth Concerning which there are diuerse who not by reason of any difficulty in this controuersie but being led with the variable conceit of their owne vnsettled minds do think diuersly and many such there are who doe speake and wright thereof so loosely yea so profanely that if their opinions were imbraced among men there could nothing but Atheisme and irreligious behauiour growe vp thereby and abound Sundry of these points this Treatise following doth with great diligence lay open vnto thy consideration and withall setteth downe plentifully a true and right resolution of this matter Namely that the first Day of the weeke called Sunday as before sayd is in a peculiar regard the Lords day and sanctified to the performing of the solemne worship of GOD vpon the grounds of Gods Morall or perpetuall lawe in the fourth Commaundement of the Decalogue And by the speciall will of Christ establishing it through his Apostles practice doctrine to the same purpose instead of the Iewes Sabbaoth Which Assertion certainly if it were well receiued and belieued would make very effectually to the great increase of godlinesse and to the cutting downe of much sinne and impiety which euen by meanes of the ignorance and neglect hereof doth euery where ouerflowe The Lord in his good time will dispell the errors and vanities of vngodly men and wil aduance in greater bewtie the kingdome of his sonne Christ by dissoluing the works of Satan and treading vnder foote all his malice In the meane while it behooueth the seruants of God to be vigilant and nothing slacke in shewing forth the wisdome of Serpents aswell as the simplicitie of Doues That they being wise in the truth may cause the same to shine among others in these euill dayes and yet withall in their innocencie may find fauour not with God alone but also with men Reade trie and holde faste that which is good and the Lord giue thee vnderstanding in all things Farewel PROPOSITIONS tending to prooue the necessarie obseruation of the Lords day or Christian Sabbaoth 1. IN handling of this Question of the Christian Sabbaoth I purpose to speak in order of three things First of the state of the controuersy Secondly of the arguments and reasons for the truth And last of all the answere of obiections 2 There be two different iudgements concerning the Sabbaoth the one in extreamity the other in the meane 3 The iudgements or rather the opinions standing in extreamity are extreamly opposite and contrary and they are holden by men of such quality as are otherwise branded with the note of infamous heresie 4 The one extreame is of them who holde that there ought to be no Sabbaoth or difference of dayes nor anie certaine time or day appointed for rest and publique meetings for Gods seruice but to leaue it as a matter meerely freâ— for euery one 5 They alleage for themselues 1. That the fourth Commaundement â—anchius de oper redempt li. 1. ca. 19. fol. 608. Vrsinus Cathech â—art 3. ad quaest 103. fol. â—79 Rogers diâ—play of â—he Family of loue â—n a confession of one of that sect § â—0 is meerely ceremoniall 2. The Christian liberty whereby we may where and when we list worship serue God And as we are freed from the circumstance of place Io. 4. 21. 23. So are we also say they freed from the circumstance of time of seruing God 3. They alleage Scriptures as Colossians 2. 16. Galathians 4. 10. Romans 14. 6. Matthew 12. 8. 6 The Authors of this loose opinion are the Family of Lone sayth Rogers and the Anabaptists sayth Vrsinus 7 These men sayth Zanchius abutuntur Scripturis abuse Zanch. vbi supra fol. 608. 611. Vrsin vbi supra the Scriptures and conclude from them that which cannot be concluded Whom he confutes as also doth Vrsinus 8 But to passe by this irregular sect and salt vvhich hath lost his sauour I say with him Iniquum est impium aut nullos esse Zanch. Ibid. fol. â—12 aut qui sunt contemnere It is impious and vngodly either to haue no certaine dayes of Gods publicke seruice or to contemne those that are appointed and established So teach sayth he the Scriptures the Fathers and godly Teachers of our later age and so doth the auncient receiued and approoued custome and practise in all Churches of all places and nations confirme 9 The other extreamity of opinion is of those who hold that the Iewish Sabbaoth of the 7. day in the week from the creation is neuer to be abolished being no lesse necessary for vs to obserue now then it was euer for the Iewes 10 They alleage reasons drawne 1. From the praecedence of the Sabbaoth before the lawe and before the fall the Lawes of which nature are immutable 2. From the perpetuity of the Morall lawe 3. and from the large extent therof appertayning to all 4. From the perpetuity of the couenant Exod. 31. 17. 5. and of the cause of the lawe which maketh it perpetuall which is the memoriall and meditation of the workes of God which belonges vnto the Christians as well as to the Iewes 11 These reasons in themselues are good but being misapplyed to the establishment of the Iewish ceremoniall Sabbaoth which was a shaddowe of things to come and is abolished Conatus eorum tanquam pestilentissimus sayth Musculus Muscul Loc. câ—m part 1. fo 14â— est retundendus their indeuours as beeing most pestilent are by all meanes to bee suppressed Both because sayth hee they obscure the glory of our Sauiour by reiecting the Lords day and bringing Christians as much as in them lyes vnder the yoke and slauery of the Mosay call lawe againe 12 The Authors of this vnchristian opinion are either Iewes as a Vrsin Cath. in praecept 4. ad quaest 103. fol. 7â—7 76â— Vrsinus sayth or Ebion and Cherinthus as b Jrenaeuâ— l. 1. c 2â— Irenaeus and c Epiphan heres 3â— Epiphanius witnesse or Sabbatary Christians as d Muscul loc part 1. fol. 145. 146. 14â— Musculus e Beza Thes Geneuens c. â—9 §. 15 Beza say or Anabaptists as f Grysaldus Perusâ—â— Haereâ—â—cor nâ—minibus Titulâ— Sabbâ—tarij Grysaldus Perusinus a Papist doth report and are confuted by Musculus Vrsinus and g Bellar Tom â— li. 3. de cultu sanâ—â— cap. 10 Bellarmine 13 The iudgement standing in the meane is of such Churches and persons from the Apostles age to ours as withall professing the truth and soundnesse of the Christian faith haue in all times places without interruption question or gainesaying kept holy and established the Lords day being the first day of the weeke from the Iewes Sabbaoth 14 And these are eyther primitiue or later wherein by the way wee will consider of the middle or neuter sort betweene the primitiue and later namely the Papists and their iudgement 15 The auncient primitiue and orthodoxe Fathers both Greeks and Latines doe with one mouth certifie vs of these
inspiration and reuelation that same day Reu. 1. 10. I omit the collections of the * Augustin de tempore ser 251 Leo Epist. 81. ad Dioscor Concil generale 6. sine Constantinop 6. can 8. Vide Bellarm Tom. 1. lib. 3. cap. 11. de cultu sanctor Fathers as that this very day is the first day of the worlds the Angels and elements and lights creation the first of Manna falling in the wildernesse the day of Christs natiuity baptisme of the starres appearing at Bethlehem to the wise-men of Christs feeding 5000. persons the like And frō hence we may obserue the practise of the Sabbaoth by the Apostles which hath cohaerence with these circumstances To shew vnto vs partly the probability that Christ did sanctifie the 1. day of the week himself and partly that it was his ordinance and will that that very day should bee sanctified by Christians For 1. vvhen the Apostles on this day were gathered together for feare of the Iewes Io. 20. 19. Christ then appeared vnto them Why so Doubtlesse at that time aboue all others to trayne thē vp in the sanctifying of the new Christian Sabbaoth day and therefore also on this very day doth he inspire them and indue them with the holy Ghost And note the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 coacti Gathered together which implyes a Church assembly for it is a word of Ecclesiasticall vse and so applyed Act. 20. 8. and 4. 31. and 11. 26. and 13. 44. and 14. 27 and 15. 6. 30. 1. Cor. 5. 4. The Primitiue is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 From thence 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. The Apostles second gathering together is performed on this day the day seauen-night after Io. 20. 26. And then also Christ appeareth to them and then is Thomas confirmed in the fayth Why the Apostles gathered Why Christ appearing vnto them Why vpon that day but that they had learned of Christ to meet vpon that day to sanctifie it vnto Christ and that Christ might begin to verefie his promise Matth. 18. 20 3. The Apostles third gathering together and they all in one place with one accord which was that day seauen weekes Act. 2. 1. 2. after Christs ascension and then the promise of the holy Ghost came vpon them Acts 1. 4. Then Peter preacheth and the Iewes are assembled and conuerted Why assembled Why on that day Why the holy Ghost Why Preaching why Conuersion why the promise of Christ accomplished all on that day but still to declare the will and ordinance of Christ in sanctifying and blessing this day vnto his Church 4. The Apostle Paules fourth gathering of the Christian Gentiles Church at Troas And there he preached and administred the Sacrament and cured Eutichus a worke of mercy Act. 20. 7. 10. Here note Paul taryed there seauen dayes in all vers 6. That is he tarryed fiue dayes and on the sixt day of his abiding there he preached and ministred the Sacrament and on the next day departed ver 11. Now why is not the publicke meeting with preaching Sacraments administring which are Sabbaoth dayes workes performed till the first day of the weeke Why not on any of the former Why on the last of his abiding there And then lastly why is the first day of the weeke so precisely mentioned by the holy Ghost Doubtlesse it vvas the Christian Sabbaoth else all this circumstance had been in vaine expressed and set downe 5. The Apostle Paul 1. Corin. 16. 1. 2. ordayneth weekly gatherings but why in diuers Churches why weekly why the first day of the weeke named againe why then a worke of mercy Doubtlesse all this vvas not in vaine it was the Christian Sabbaoth 6. Lastly the holy Ghost appeareth once againe to whom to an inspired Apostle Reu. 1. 10. But why to enable him vnto a sanctified work most profitable to the Church most fit for an Apostle and most glorious to God but why vpon this day and why doth he so definitely and significantly tearme this day euen the Lords day Forsooth all these things are directly fitted to the Christian Sabbaoth established by the will and ordinaunce of Christ commaunded and practised by the Apostles and continued to the dayes of Iohn the Penner of the Reuelation 60 The seauenth Reason Drawne from the bare example of the Apostles admitting there were no Commaundement for it at all who being men 1. peculiarly inspired with the spirit of God 2. and set apart by Christ to plant and establish the Church in the new Testament as Moses vvas by God the Father in the olde Testament 3. and therefore were in forty dayes space instructed by Christ Act. 1. 3. in matter belonging to the Church or kingdome of God like as Moses was fortie dayes with God vpon the mount Deut. 9. 11. As the Apostles therefore must needs be praesumed to bee as faithfull as Moses in all the house of God so could they no more erre in religious matter appertayning or tending to Gods worship then Moses did And therefore as the Apostles constitutions which are called Commandemēts of the Lord Act. 15. 28. must needs tye the conscience So their very practise and example in matters religious morall ministeriall directly tending to Gods publicke worship and solemne seruice whose reason also implyeth a contynuance of practise wherein they could nor erre no more then in their constitutions and commandements doth tye the conscience no lesse and so we see the Apostle giueth such direction and command as if his example were as currant and authenticke as his own personall command 1. Cor. 11. 1. 23. Phil. 3. 17. 4. 9. Euen as his commandemēts were of equal force with the commandements of Christ So likewise we see the argument drawne from exāple of inspired godly persons is forcible as Io. 26. 19. Ma. 12. 3. 4. 5. Wherfore if the place 1. Cor. 16. 1. 2 were no cōmandement tying or concerning vs or if the 4th Commandement of the moral decalogue did not perpetually commaund the keeping holy of a 7. day Yet the bare example of the Apostles their practise of keeping holy the first day of the weeke being a morall duty tending to Gods worship and the reason thereof implying continuance dooth tye our conscience and is as a necessary and sufficient rule for vs to walk by to the end of the world 61 The eight Reason Is drawne from the circumstance of time namely the continuance of it frō the Apostles times to our time Beginning 1. At Christ his two-fold apparition on that day so proceeding 2. to the holy Ghosts descēsion on the Apostles on that day 3. Then to the Apostles practise at Troas on that day 4. From thence to the Corinthian and Galathian constitution and commaund 5. From thence fortie yeares after aboue as the * Codoman anno Christi 55. 93. Perkins Marmonia Biblior anno Christi 54. 95. Moores Tables anno 55 97. Genebr chronol anno
93 Baronius Tom. 1 in anno 53. 97. In the former yeare they say the 1. Epistle to the Corinths was written in the later the Apocalyps the distance of which time is aboue 40. yeares learned iudge to Iohn the inspired Penner of the Reuelation his Testimony and mention of that day 6. Then down into the Ocean of the Fathers and Councels witnessing thereof in their seuerall succeeding ages Greekes and Latines Ignatius Iustinus Martyr Irenaeus Origen Tertullian Basil Athanasius Chrysostome Hierome Ambrose Augustine and the rest before cyted Thesis 15. Togither with the Papists testimonies for their times vnto the practise of the times wherein vve liue From vvhence I argue thus That custome tending to Gods publicke worship hauing ground and warrant of Scripture which was begun ordeined and practised at the first by Christs inspired Apostles and was neuer interrupted or intentionally profaned to this howre by any orthodoxal Church or person but alway confirmed and established by Christian Magistrates and practised by all true Churches and Christians in all ages from the Apostles times to ours the obseruation therof must needes tie the conscience for vvith what conscience may any Church or person break it and the questioning or breaking of it now must needs proue a strange vnheard nouelty head-strong singularity proceeding from a priuate spirit But the former is true of the Christian Sabbaoth Thereforce the later also must needs be true 62 The ninth argument is drawen from the circumstance and vniuersality of place and custome of the true Churches of Christ in all places It being practised at first at Ierusalem and Troas 2. Then at Corinth and Galathia 3. Then in Pathmos and al Asia the lesse as is most probable 4. Then in the Grecian Churches as appeareth by the Greek Fathers 5. Then in the Latine Churches as appeareth by the Latine Fathers 6. And last of all in all reformed later Churches both of Lutherane and Orthodoxall iudgement And no true Christian Church can be named that euer brake off the custome of this day receaued at the first from the Apostles The force of this argument stands in this The Vnity of custome grounded on Gods word obserued by Apostolicall primitiue orthodoxall reformed later Churches in matter tending to Gods publicke seruice doth tye the conscience The sanctifying of the first day of the weeke is confirmed by such vnity of custome Therfore the sanctifying of the 1. day of the week doth ty the coÌ„science The Maior or former proposition is proued 1. Cor. 1â— 16. and 14. 33. The Minor or assumption is already proued Neither let any man obiect these reasons to be Popish which are drawen from custome coÌ„tinuance of time vniuersality of place For such reasons are most forcible that haue ground of Scripture which the Papists haue not as neither haue they coÌ„tinuance of time or vniuersality of place if ye take away their cracking facing out the matter And the Fathers rightly thus fight against the sundrie Haeritiques of their times vvith these verie arguments 63 The tenth Argument is grounded on 2. Tim. 4. 2. Where Timothy is commanded to preach the word in season and out of season the which praecept is perpetuall and appliable to all ministers of the new Testament to the end of the world as that is Matt. 28. 19. 20. And that Minister that so teacheth not in and out of season directly sinneth as breaking that commandement of Christ and this of the Apostle and incurreth that woe which the same Apostle denounceth on himselfe if hee neglecteth this duty 1. Cor. 9. 16. Now what is meant in this for the Minister or publicke person to teach in season but only to teach in the season appointed by Christ and his Apostles namely on the publicke day of the Churches and Apostles practise and customable meeting which being prooued to haue been vsuall on that day as also the auncient Syriacke translation doth plainly confirm by adding these words vnto the narration of their commoÌ„ publicke meeting for receiung of the Lords Supper 1. Cor. 11. 20. When ye therefore are gathered together in die Domini nostri On our Lords day It followeth of necessity the Minister by teaching must keepe the Lords day holy and so by consequence the people also by publicke and solemne hearing For there is no publicke teaching can be presupposed without publicke hearing no more then obedience is presupposed without commaund 64 The eleuenth Reason is concluded from the words of Matth. 24. 20. The which I can by no meanes ouerslip For that I cannot be perswaded that Iesus Christ our blessed Sauiour and the wisedome of the Father did speake in iest when as he expresly seriously commanded his hearers disciples the Iews and those the â—lect and sanctified for they only haue the gift of inuocatioÌ„ to pray That their flight might not be on the Sabbaoth day Speaking of the time of sacking and euersion of Hierusalem Now if it had bin Ceremoniall and abolished they needed not haue prayed but haue taken flight on that day aswel as any other without any scruple of conscience at all Yea it had beene a sinne for godly Christian Iewes to haue made a needlesle conscience of a ceremony fortie yeares after the abolishing especially the Apostles doctrine of auoyding the obseruation of Iewish daies comming betweene Gal. 4. 10. 11. Coloss 2. 16. 17. And last of al it might seem vain in Iesus Christ and a mockery of his elect which were a blasphemy to say to command them to pray against the breaking of a Sabbaoth day if it were abrogated long before both quo ad genus speciem that is both in respect of the speciall day the which the Iewes obserued and also in respect of the morall of the fourth Commandement that is an holy obseruation of a seauenth day vnto God Now the speciall day which the Iewe obserued was ceremoniall and doubtlesse abrogated Col. 2. 16. 17. But the genus or morall of the fourth Commaundement vndoubtedly was not abolished For Iohn the writer of the Reuelation euen after the sacking ouerthrow of Hierusalem brings in the solemn mention of the Christian Sabbaoth vnder the title of the Lords day as a commoÌ„ name receiued generally so tearmed by the Church by a note of excellence as peculiarly dedicated to the honour and seruice of God in Christ 65 The twelfth Reason Is drawne from the effectes of the wisedome of the flesh and spirit and thus is framed 1. That ordinance tending to Gods publike worship and glory and mans instruction and building vp in godlinesse and knowledge The which is grouÌ„ded on Gods holy word and practise of the holy and inspired Apostles The vvhich is liked of approued of and gladly practised with great spirituall comfort and profit by the most godly vertuous zealous and sincere godly learned writers Teachers and Professors of Gods truth must needes be according to the vvill and ordinaunce of God Such is the
Propositions TENDING TO PROOVE THE NEcessarie vse of the Christian Sabbaoth or Lords Day And that it is commaunded vnto vs in Gods WORD WHERE VNTO IS added the Practice of that sacred Day framed after the rules of the same WORD By IOHN SPRINT an vnvvorthie Minister of the Gospell of Iesus Christ at Thornebery in Gloucester shire ET VSQUE AD NVBES VERITAS TVA P. S. Imprinted at London by H. L. for Thomas Man 〈…〉 The Summe of all in one Syllogisme That the Lords daie or Christian Sabbaoth is The Lords Day necessarily to bee obserued by all Christians to the end of the World WHatsoeuer dayes obseruation was in the Newe Testament Sanctified by sanctified and set apart to an holy vse 1 Christs resurrection First by Christ his triumphant resurrectioÌ„ 2 Christs first apparition Then by his first appearing to his gathered Apostles Disciples fiue times on that same day 3 Christs second apparition Next hy his second appearing to his gathered Apostles 4 Holy Ghost apparition Fourthly by his sending of the Holy-Ghost to his Apostles gathered againe and blessing of their doctrine by conuersion of soules 5 Command ordinance of postles Fiftly by Apostolicall Commaund Constitution to be obserued by Christian Churches 6 Christs commandement Sixtly by Christs Commaund not to be profaned of anie faithfull Christian 7 Practice of postles Seuenthly by Apostles solemne practice of preaching ministring the Sacraments in the Christian Congregation and meditation of the Scripture 8 Title giuen the Holy-Ghost Eightly by the holy-Ghosts induing it with a notable peculiar title of the Lords day 9 Practice of and the most pâ— Churches By Apostolicall primitiue and all later reformed Churches general and continual practice from thence vnto our times 10 Iudgemeâ—â— the most so 〈◊〉 all godly lâ—â—ned By the iudgement of the spirituall most godly learned Teachers and Writers of the former and later ages 11 Effectes Gods blessinâ— By the witnesse of Gods generall and continuall blessing of the practice therof with peace of conscience ioy of the Holy-Ghost and sensible increase of knowledge and grace in all sincere Christians that with soundnesse prefesse the Gospell euery where 12 Dislike and â—â—â—anation by â—e wicked and â—â—sound And last of all by the dislike and opposition of the onely most wicked of life ignorant of mind or otherwise vnsound in iudgement and doctrine The Obseruation of that Day is most necessary and doth tie the Conscience to the end of the World But such is the Obseruation of the Lords day or first day of the weeke and so confirmed in euery point Therefore The holy Obseruation of the Lords day or first day of the week is most necessarie and doth tye the conscience to the end of the World The Proposition confirmed For the first member Look Section 56 55. For the second third fourth seuenth and ninth Look Sect 61. For the fift and sixt Looke Sect 58 59. For the eight Looke Sect. 55 54 59 60 64. For the tenth eleuenth and twelfth Looke Sect 65. Proofes of the Assumption in the seuerall members The 1. There is no question of this point but that Christ rose on the first day of the weeke The 2. That Christ appeared 5 times on that first day of the weeke which was the day of his resurrection and of the Christian Sabbaoth first to Mary Magdalen Mark 16 9. Io. 20. 14 15 16 17 18. Secondly to the woman Mat. 28 9 10 11. Thirdly to the two Disciples Luk. 24. 18. Mar. 1â— 13. Fourthly to Peter Luk. 24 33. 34. with 1. Cor. 15 5. Fiftly to the eleuen Mark 16. 14 Excepting Thomas Io. 20. 24. Wherein our Sauiour dooth comfort instruct authorise and ordaine the Ministers of the Newe Testament and giues them power to preach and administer the Sacraments Discipline Io. 20. 22. 23. with Mar. 16. 15. 16. Mat. 28. 16 17 18 19 20. This was performed in the night partly by Christs appointment Matth. 28. 16. Partly for feare of the Iewes not daring to assemble by day Io. 20. 19. The day notwithstanding sanctified by Christs fiue fold appearing and the Disciples holy meditation conference of and with Christ The 3. That CHRIST appeared the second time on that day seuen-night Conâ—â—â—â—ing comforting instructing reproouing appeareth Io. 20. 26 27 28 29. Where it is sayd after eight dayes including and counting the day of Christs resurrection for one of the eight which is that day seuen-night as if he should say the eight day after by an Hebraisme The like speech in Luk. 2. 21. 1. 59. Leu. 12. 3. Thus Caluin Beza Piscator Rollock take it and so do the very Papists Ferus Iansenius Emmanuel Sa. vpon these places The 4. That the Apostles met vpon this very day the first day of the weeke on the morning Act. 2. 15 appeares because they met on the day of Pentecost Act. 2. 1. with Leu. 23. 15. 16 called the feast of weekes Exod. 34. 22. Which was the morrow after the Sabbaoth Leu. 23. 16. 15. This also the computation of Weekes betweene the feast of Easter and Whitsontide dooth prooue For it is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as if one should say the fiftieth day Act. 2. 1. because fiftie full dayes or seauen weekes are to passe betweene the feast of Easter or Passeouer the day after which Christ rose and the feast of Whitsontide or of weeks Leuit. 23. 15. 16. Exod. 34. 22. on which day the Apostles now met For this truth look the iudgement of Augustine de tempore ser 251. Nazianzen apud BaroniuÌ„ Leo Ep. 81. Concil Constantinopol 6 Caluine Beza Piscator with the Papists Bellarmine de cultu sanctoruÌ„ lib. 3. cap. 11. See Emmanuel Sa. annot in Act. 2. 1. Baronius Tom. 1. ex Nazianzen The 5. Look for the confirmation thereof Sect. 58. 59. The 6. Look for this Sect 64. The 7. Look for this also Sect. 60. 61. The 8. Look for this Sect. 59. 55. 54. 60. 64. The 9. For this look Sect. 15. 20. 63. 62. The 10. Is prooued Sect. 15. 20. 34. 52. The 11. and 12. Is confirmed by palpable experience and apprehended by him that eyther hath an eye or winketh not Look for these Sect. 65. and the fowre last Sections also To the Christian Reader MAny matters Christian Reader called into question at this day are offered to the viewe of the World and not a fewe of them very friuolous and vnprofitable but there are also matters which doubtlesse cannot bee denied to bee of singular importance for the furtheraunce of our most holy faith and true Religion And amongst the waightiest of these there is almost none of greater vse nor of more necessity to be vnderstood nor being vnderstood to bee more carefully obserued then this which hereafter ensueth touching the nature and quality of the Lords day commonly called Sunday or the
this point of the more strict part yet with subiection to the spirits of the Prophets in the Church of God Beeing ready to yeelde to any man that will refell my reasons and instruct mee better hauing by Gods mercy learned in modesty to iudge of my self and others and to follow the truth in loue peace as in the presence of the iudge of all the world 25 The ground of my perswasion is the euidence of Truth appearing to my conscience being chayned to the iudgement of the present Church of England of the which body I reioyce I am a member The which kind of motiue is to me of double force I say the authority of the visible Church of God being ioyned to the truth which is no lesse waighty with then it is light without the truth of God It is contayned in the second Tome of Homilyes the which is mentioned in the booke of Articles 26 And this mention of the differing iudgements of most reuerend men agreeing in the substance of Religion is not proposed to set them together by the eares or to try the titles of eyther sides authority For how should one escape the note of insolence and pride and want of humble charity and sober wisedome But onely to acquaint the Reader vvith the needefull grounds and simply to propose this matter as rather seeking truth then victory or cause of wrangling 27 Neither dooth this difference of iudgement praeiudice the doctrine of the Gospel For by the one part the Iew gets none aduantage seeing they vtterly renounce their legall Ceremonies strict rest and seuenth day counting from the Creation Neither the Libertine by the other seeing they make it morall and perpetuall to obserue set daies and themselues haue alwayes kept the Lords day holy counting it impious to profane or breake it by contempte or negligence vntill the Church hath greater cause to alter it then the Apostles had to appoint it and command it 28 Nor of this diuision or the like hath the deluded Papist any thing to boast For if they speak but one halfe word heerein wee will presently intreate them to keepe them on their dung hill and first pull out the beame from Bellarmine Bellarm Tom. 1. lib. 3. cap. 10. dâ— cultu sanctorum Tolet Instruct sacerdot li. 4. ca 24. fol. 542. Perkins probleÌ„ tit dâ—â—s festâ— fo 231. Chemnitius loc com â—ars secunda ad 3. praecept fol 61. 62 and Tolets eye who sway with Thomas and Caietane against the streame of Scotus Soto Abulensis and the other Schoolemen about this very matter of the Christian Sabbaoth So might wee deale with them in matters of controuersies for there are few or none depending betweene them and vs wherein they differ not among themselues and like the foure windes blowe in one anothers face Aske Bellarmines three Tomes whether I lye or not and aske withall where is the Catholique vnity they boast of 29 But you shall obserue about this controuersie of the Lords day the former sort company of reuereÌ„d godly Writers for most part liuing in the times next aboue vs of the more remisse and weaker iudgement and the later of the more sincere and strict God as it were rewarding the diligence paines of euery age with the reuealing of some part of truth and alwaies fiery and pearcing wits omitting nothing to oppose or to defeÌ„d the truth which by thaâ— means hath by degrees been manifested The which thing as he did to them in other times before reuealing to theÌ„ sundry truths whereof their Predecessours neuer were acquainted each faithfull one professing purely the holy truth he saw so dealt he with the primitiue Fathers in their seuerall times and so perhaps will doe with them that followe vs so hath hee done vnto this age of ours and as he hath reuealed sundry other truths so also this of the Christian Sabbaoth 30 The occasion of this difference in the former was the opposition that they bare against the Papists the maine and only aduersaries in a manner of those times who imposing on the conscience a necessitie of all the rabblement of their superstitious and Idoll dayes and the like Will-worships and meere humane Traditions by the Church authority Our reuerend VVriters oppose to them againe the Christian liberty Caluin Bullinger Bâ—â—ter BreÌ„tius Chemnitius Vrsinus c. by the which liberty say they the Apostles and Apostolicall Church altered the Iewes Sabbaoth into the Lords day by which the present Church may alter it on iust occasion into another day and by which wee are freede say they from obseruation of all dayes other then such as serue for necessarie seruice of GOD and order in the Church 31 The later iudgement doth arise from the opposition of another kind of Aduersary cleane differing from the Papist I meane the Atheist Libertine and carnall Gospeller inseperable vermine of euery established and slourishing free Church arising chiefely from the sweate and ranknesse of plenty and prosperitie and absence of the Crosse for as the one is choaked with the smoake of superstition and is prodigious in the number and quality of dayes and other Ceremonies so the other is drowned in profanenesse and breake the cordes and bands of God himselfe asunder and will not haue the Christ of God ro reigne ouer them From hence the later writers abounding in another sense presse Beza Iunius Piscator Rollock Fulke c. a necessity of a Christian Sabbaoth and so do differ from the former Necessity compelling thereunto For as the Papist blotteth out the 2. Commaundement and sayth it is but ceremoniall * Catharinus li. de imaginibus apud Bellar. tom 1. li. 2. de imag cap. 7. Beza thes Genev ca. 36. §. 15 positiue and temporall euen so the carnall Gospeller straining the bands of Christian liberty till they be burst blotteth out the fourth Commandement and sayth it is but ceremoniall Why might not now the Atheist and periured person blot out the 1. and 3. and like wise say they be but ceremoniall 32 And so hauing vnfolded the state of the quaestion and spoken of these other needfull circumstances I will proceed to establish the truth of my perswasion and then will answer the obiections 33 The first member of the truth in this controuersie is this That the keeping holy vnto God of one day of the 7. of euerie weeke is apart of the Morall lawe of God and by all Christians to be obserued to the end of the world 34 This proposition is affirmed by a Vide annotata ad §. 20. Bullinger in Rom. 14. 5 Musculus Martyr Beza Iunius Hemingius Bucer Wolphius Piscator Rollock Fulke Perkins Nowell Babington and by the Church of England in the 2. Tome of Homilyes But is denyed by some others by affirming that the Church may alter the obseruation of the seauenth day into the number of the 10. or 14. or any other day as iust occasion is offered 35 The affirmatiue is prooued by