for seeing the institution of dayes by this opinion is only commanded immediatly and it is not in the power of private men to ordaine these or those dayes for publick worship by this meanes nothing at all should be commanded but at their will who are in publick office neither should any thing be commanded them in speciall but only in generall that they doe according to their wisdome in setting apart dayes to publicke worship so that if it seeme good to them to appoint one day of twenty or thirty to this use they cannot be reproved of any sin in this respect as if they broke this Commandement 17. If there were ever any thing ceremoniall in the Sabbath in respect of the very observation of the day that is to be accounted for a thing added to it or a constitution comming extrinsecally beyond the nature of the Sabbath and the first institution of it and so it nothing hinders but the institution of the seventh day was simply morall for so there was a ceremoniall respect of some type added to some other Commandements as in the authority of Fathers and the first borne of Families which pertaine to the first Commandement there was a certaine adumbration of Christ who is the first begotten among the Sons of God 18. Neither yet doth it certainly appeare in the Scriptures that there was any ceremony properly so called or type in the observation of the seventh day for whereas Heb. 4. 9. there is mention made of a spirituall Sabbatisme prefigured before by a type it is under the respect of a type referred only to the rest promised in the Land of Cannaan and by comparison of things like to the rest of God but in no sort or in the least signification is it referred to the rest commanded in the fourth Commandement as unto a type or shaddow 19. But whereas in Exod. 31. 13. 17. And Ezech. 20. 20. The Sabbath is called a signe betweene God and his people it cannot thence be made a type or representation of any future grace Because 1. A signe doth often note the same that an argument or instruction as also the most learned interpreters doe note upon Exodus 31. It is a signe between me c. that is an instruction So our mutuall love is a signe that we are the Disciples of Christ. Iohn 13. 35. But it is not a type 2. The Sabbath in those places is not said to be a signe of some thing to come but present as every visible concomitant adjunct is a signe of the subject being present For in the observation of the Sabbath there is a common and publike profession of that communion which is between God and us as therefore all solemn profession is a signe of that thing whereof it is a profession so also the Sabbath is in that common respect called a signe 20. And this is the most proper reason why the observation of the Sabbath is so much urged and the breaking of it so severely punished in the old Testament namely because there was in the Sabbath a common and publike profession of all Religion for this Commandement as it is a close of the first Table of the Law doth thus summarily containe the whole worship of God whilest it commands a certaine day for all the exercises thereof Esay 56. 2. 21. There were many ceremonies ordained about the observation of the Sabbath but the observation of the Sabbath was no more made ceremoniall by them then it was judiciall or politicall because of those judiciall Lawes whereby it was then provided that it should be celebrated most religiously Exod. 31. 14. 22. That accommodation of the fourth Commandement unto the speciall state of the Iewes which was in the observation of the seventh day from the beginning of the Creation doth no more make the precept it selfe ceremoniall then the promise of the Land of Canaan made to the people of Israel That thou mayst live long in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee makes the fift Commandement ceremoniall or more then that Preface I am the Lord thy God which brought thee out of the Land of Egypt makes all the Commandements ceremoniall 23. It may indeed be granted that a more strict observation of the Sabbath was commanded in those dayes applied to the time of Pedagogy and bondage which is not of force in all ages yet this hinders not but the observation it selfe is plainly morall and common to all ages 24. Yet there can be nothing brought out of the Scriptures which was at any time commanded about the strict observation of the Sabbath to the Iewes which by the same reason doth not partaine to all Christians except the kindling of fires and preparing their ordinary food Exod. 35. 3. 16. 14. And those precepts seeme to have been speciall and given upon particular occasion for there is nothing said about the kindling of fire but in the building of the Tabernacle which God would declare was not so holy a worke but it might and ought to be intermitted on the Sabbath day Neither is there any mention of the preparing of victualls but when Manna was by a miracle sent from Heaven which was also by a miracle preserved on the Sabbath day And by the History of Christ it appeares very likely that he did approve of preparing victualls done by kindling of a fire upon the Sabbath day For being invited by the Iewes to a feast which was had on the Sabbath day he refused not to be present Luc. 14. 1. c. 25. Whereas the reason of the Sabbath doth sometime seem to be referred to the delivering of the people of Israel out of the captivity of Egypt it doth not turne the Sabbath into a ceremony For 1. All the Commandements are in some sort referred to the same deliverance as appeares by the Preface of the decalogue 2. It doth not appeare that the Sabbath it selfe had any singular relation to this deliverance but that there is mention made of the deliverance out of Egypt Deut. 5. 15. For that reason onely that seeing the Israelites had been servants before in Egypt they ought the more readily and willingly grant this time of rest to their servants 26. Whereas the last day of the weeke was of old observed this was anciently ordained by God from the time of the first Creation because God did that day cease from the workes of Creation 27. Whereas the last day of the weeke is now changed into the first day this was not done by humane but Divine authority For he only can change the day of the Sabbath who is Lord of the Sabbath that is Christ. Marc. 12. 8. Whence also that first day which succeeded is properly called the Lords Day 28. If this Lords Day be granted to have been of Apostolicall institution yet that authority which it is Built upon is neverthelesse divine because the Apostles were no lesse guided by the spirit in holy institutions then in propounding the doctrine
beautified existence 46. The rude and incompleat existence of things was in that masse which in the beginning was created without forme void and involved in darknesse which is called Earth Waters the Deepe 47. It is said to be without forme not because it had no forme but because it neither had beauty and ornament nor a compleat act of those formes which were afterwards to proceed out of it 48. In the constitution of the compleat existence of things two things are chiefly to be respected Namely the manner and order 49. The manner of constitution containes foure things 1. The command of God producing every thing Let be or let this or that be done wherein the power of God shines forth that by his only word or will he did all things Psal. 33. 9. Psal. 115. 3. 2. His approbation acknowledging the same thingh brought forth as good God saw that it was good Hence the goodnesse of Cod shines forth that he produced all things to a good end and use Psal. 19. 2. 3. His ordination assigning to every thing his use Let it be to this or that end Hence the wisdome of God shines forth whereby he hath assigned severall uses to every thing in a most fit way Ier. 10. 12. 51. 15. He made the Earth by his power he stablished the habitable World by his wisdome and stretched out the Heavens by his prudence 4. The establishing of a Law and order perpetually to be observed in that thing which is also joyned with ordination Hence the constancy of God shineth forth that he would have all Creatures to observe their order not for some dayes or yeares but to the end of the world 50. These former are not severally expressed in some kind of things because their imperfection depends upon the perfection of other things yet in common reason they doe equally agree to all 51. The order of constitution was thus In the first day after the bringing forth of the highest Heavens the Angells and the uâ—…shapen Masse the subtilest part of that Masse being called forth upward there was made light that is shining fire 52. On the second day Of that part which in subtilty came neerest to the former there was made Aire 53. On the third day the parts of the Masse were so distributed that the Waters being gathered in their chaâ—…nels of that part which was for the greatest the Séa was by it selfe and the Earth appeared adorned with Herbs and Trees 54. On the fourth day The Luminaries of Heaven were made to give light upon the Earth 55. On the fifth day Fishes and Birds that dwell in the aire and water were brought forth 56. On the sixth day were brought forth all Terrestriall living Creatures first the brutish Creatures and then afterward man and so the Heavens and Earth were perfected and all the Hosts of them 57. In this order the wisdome power and goodnesse of God doth greatly shine forth 58. His wisdome 1. In that the simple elements were first created before things elementary or concrete and compounded 2. In that among simple things the more perfect were made first which come neerest to the nature of God 3. In that those things were first created which only have being then those which beside being have also life then those that beside being and life have also sence then last of all those things which beside being life and fence have also reason 4. In that in simple things there was a progresse from things more perfect to things lesse perfect but incompound things from things lesse perfect to things more perfect from plants to men 59. The power of God shined forth in that he first created the Plants Herbs and Trees before the Sunne and Stars which are wont to be causes in their producing 60. The goodnesse of God shined forth in that he created dwellings before inhabitants food before living Creatures those things which should be usefull for man before man himselfe 61. Man as he was the last of the Creatures so was he the Compendium abridgement of all Creatures both immedatly and mediatly perfect partaking the nature of the one in his soule and of the other in his body 62. He was the end of the Creatures mediatly perfect and so in Gods-intention respected in them and above them 63. Hence he is said to be created in another manner then the other Creatures for they were brought forth by a word only let there be light let there be a firmament But man was brought forth as it were with greater counsell and deliberation Let us make man Gen. 1. 26. 64. For the body was first prepared and afterward the soule was inspired Gen. 2. 7. The body of Elementary matter but the soule was produced of no matter being before but immediatly by the power of God 65. The Excellency of man was placed chiefly in this that he bore the Image of God 66. Three things are required to make an Image 1. That it be like 2. That it be expresse and framed to imitate another thing as an exemplar or copy 3. That that likenesse be either in its specifiall nature or most noble perfection 67. Hence it is that in the inferior Creatures the Image of God is not properly found but only a shadow and footstep of it 68. But in man the proper reason of an Image is found yet not perfect which is only in the Son of God Col. 1. 15. Hebr. 1. 3. But imperfect not with a privative we but negative imperfection 69. This Image then is a conformity of man according to his measure to the highest perfection of God 70. All this Image was naturall to man but in a different respect for it was partly the very nature of man partly it flowed from the principles and perfection of nature and partly it was due to nature in a certaine manner 71. The Image of God in man was partly inward partly outward The inward was the perfection of body and soule 72. The perfection of the body is that whereby it was absolutely fitted for comlinesse and use agreeable to Gods Will. Gen. 2. 25. Rom. 6. 13. 73. The perfection of the soule was that whereby it was of an immortall nature not only in those faculties by which it was a free principle of its own actions in understanding and will but also being adorned with gifts whereby man was made able and fit to live well namely with wisdom holinesse and righteousnes Eph. 4. 24. Col. 3. 10. 74. The Externall perfection of man was his Dominion over other Creatures whereby he might use them freely to Gods Glory and his own necessity Genes 1. 26. and 2. 19. 20. 75. Hence the tilling of the Earth and getting of food out of the Plants of the Earth was committed to him Gen. 2. 25. 76. Hence was the comming of the Creatures to him as to their Lord and names by him put on them as by their Lord. Gen 2. 19. 77. Hence he was placed in the Garden of Eden
subject to our lust 15. But it comes most often from presumption whereby one is confident that God will doe this or that which he no where promised or at least did not promise that he would doe in that manner and with those meanes that they expect whence also it is that every tempting of God is by some referred to presumption and in respect of arrogancy it is opposed to prayer wherein we doe humbly represent our will to God that it may be performed by him as he pleaseth 16. But it is alwayes opposed to some act of religion wherby wee depend upon the will of God because when we tempt God we doe it that God may as it were depend upon our will 17. To desire some speciall signe of God with some speciall reason inspiration or instinct is to tempt God Matth 16. 1. The Pharisees and Sadduc◅s tempting him required him to shew them a signe from Heaven 18. Yet to refuse a signe offered by God is to tempt or weary him Is. 7. 11 12 13. Aske a signe I will not aske neither will I tempt God Yee weary my God Humbly to seeke a signe of God about some particular necessary thing which otherwise is not sufficiently manifested a believer may sometime doe without sin Gen. 15. 8. How shall I know that I shall inherit the Land 19. Proving or purging of a suspected offence by triall of hot Iron scalding water and the like are temptings of God for there is a certaine miraculous shewing of the power of God expected or required in them to proove an hidden truth without just cause because there are other meanes appointed to find out mens faults which also if they faile such things may be unknowne without any fault 20. Of the same kind are single Duells or monomachies which of old were permitted by publick authority and are yet too much frequented for in them the righteousnesse of the cause is committed to be decided by the singular providence of God from that successe which he is thought to give according to his Iustice without any certaine and just reason 21. Beside these temptings which doe properly pertaine to triall there is also a tempting as it were of inducement towards God when there is required or expected helpe from him to commit some hainous wickednesse 20. Yet those inducements may fithly enough be referred to temptation of triall because the Will of God is tried in them They differ from others in this only that that object about which the Will of God is tried is an action in it selfe unlawfull in which respect the honour of God is specially hurt and violated because together with the temptation there is joyned a certaine most foule mocking of God 23. Tempting or proving of God is sometime taken in good part and is commanded Mat. 3. 10. Try me now in this saith the Lord of Hosts 24. But this tempting is an act of Faith leading us to obey and practise those things which God hath commanded with expectation of that fruit and blessing which God hath promised 25. This lawfull tempting of God doth put back all the tentations of the Devill 26. That unlawfull tempting of God doth lay us open to the tentations of the Devill neither are wee ever overcome by any tentation of the Devill unlesse wee doe in a sort tempt God CHAPTER XIII Of instituted worship 1. INstituted worship is the meanes ordained by the Will of God to exercise and further naturall worship 2. All such like meanes ordained of God are declared in the second Commandement by forbidding all contrary meanes of worship devised by men under the title of Graven and Image which seeing they were of old the chiefe inventions of men corrupting the worship of God they are most fitly by a Synechdoche frequent in the Decalogue put instead of all devises of mans wit pertaining to worship 3. This worship doth not depend In specie and immediatly upon the nature of God or upon that honour w◅ch by vertue of our Creation we owe to God but upon the most free institution of God 4. Hence this worship was divers according to the divers constitution of the Church one befo◅ Christ exhibited and another after 5. It is a meanes having relation to the naturall worship otherwise it were not worship because one cannot give that honour to God which is due to him as touching the essence of the act any other way then by Faith hope and Love whereby we doe receive from God with due subjection those things he propounds to us to be received with the same subjectiō we offer to him those things which may be offered by us to his honour But because the acts themselves are in a speciall manner exercised in those things which God hath instituted for his honour therefore there is in them a certaine secundary worship and a certaine partaking of the former 6. But it hath in respect to that naturall worship the affection of an effect which existeth by vertue of the former and of a meanes and instrument whereby Faith Hope and Love in which that worship is contained doe exercise their acts and of an adjuvant cause whereby they are furthered and also of an adjunct to which thy are subjected 7. But it is properly called worship as it is a meanes and helping cause of that primary worship 8. But because the command of God being put it depends and flowes from the primary worship of God therefore it is oft perswaded and urged by those arguments which are taken from the inward and essentiall manner of worshipping God as in the second precept They that love me and keep by Commandements Deut. 10. 12 13. What doth the Lord thy God require of thee but that thou feare the Lord thy God walke in all his wayes that thou love him worship the Lord thy God with all thy heart and all thy soule observing the precepts of the Lord and his Statutes 9. That rule therefore of interpreting the Scriptures which is wont to be delivered by some is not universally true that all those duties morall and immutable which have morall and immutable reasons joyned to them except it be thus understood that those duties doe follow upon those reasons no speciall command coming betweene Lev. 11. 44. I am the Lord your God that sanctifie you that ye may be holy as I am holy ◅t defile not therefore your selves with any creeping thing 10. No worship of this kind is lawfull unlesse it hath God for the Author and ordainer of it Deut. 4. 2. 12. 32. Keep you all things which I shall command you Ad not to the word which command you neither take from it every thing which I command you observe to doe ad not to it nor take from it every thing which I command you observe to doe ad not to it nor take from 1. Chron. 16. 13. Our Lord broke in upon us because we did not seeke him aright 11. That is declared in those words
ought to have an appetite to spirituall things 1. Pet. 2. 2. 32. 2. That slothfulnesse whereby one shunnes that cheerfulnesse and labour that is required to Divine things Rom. 12. 11. Which is opposed to that stirring up and heat of mind whereby Divine things are to be prosecuted Rom. 12. 11. Psal. 57 8 9. 33. 3. Neglect and contempt of holy things and the abuse of the same to filthy sporting and light matters all which are opposed to that reverence due to holy things Luc. 19. 46. 34. 4. Dulnesse and wandring of mind in exercises of worship Heb. 5. 11. Ezech. 33. 31. And it is opposed to devotion such as was in Cornelius Act. 10. 2. 35. 5. Rashnesse or lightnesse in using either the name or titles of God or those things which have some speciall respect to God Ier. 23. 34. Luc. 13. 1. And it is opposed to that prosecuting of a just end which ought to be present with reverence in the use of such thiâ—…gs 1. Cor. 11. 17. 36. 6. Forgetfulnesse Iames 1. 24 25. Which is opposed to the receiving of fruit and abiding of the vertue which ought to follow the acts of religion 37. 7. Confusion which is opposed to order and decency 1. Cor. 14. 33. CHAPTER XV. Of the time of worship 1. THE most solemne time of worship is now the first day of every week which is called the Lords day Rev. 1. 10. 1. Cor. 16. 2. 2. And it is called the Lords Day by the same reason that the holy Supper of the Eucharist is called the Lords Supper 1. Cor. 11. 20. Namely because it was instituted by our Lord Jesus Christ and it must be referted to the same Lord in the end and use of it 3. It is necessary that some time be given for the worship of God by the dictate of naturall reason for man must needs have time for all especially his outward actions neither can he conveniently attend Divine worship unlesse for that time he cease from other workes 4. Thus far therefore the time of worship falls upon the same precept with the worship it selfe for as when God created the whole world he is said also to have created time together with it so also when he commanded and ordained religious actions he did also withall command and ordaine some time or necessary circumstance 5. That some certaine day is to be ordained for the more solemne worship of God this is also of morall naturall right not unknowne to the very heathen who had alwayes through all ages their set and solemne feast dayes 6. That this solemne day ought to be one at least in a week or in the compasse of seven this belongs to positive Law but yet it is altogether of unchangeable institution so that in respect of our duty and obligation it hath the very same force and reason with those that are of morall and naturall right and so it is rightly said of the Schoolmen to belong to morall right not of nature but of Discipline 7. That this institution was not ceremoniall and temporall it appeares sufficiently by this that it hath nothing proper to the Iewes or to the time of the ceremoniall Law for none can or dare deny but that such determination might be made at least for a morall reason and benefit because although naturall reason doth not dictate the very same determination as necessary yet it dictates it as convenient as it doth apprehend it to be fit that the worship of God be frequently exercised and it cannot but acknowledge this determination in respect of the frequency of the dayes to be in this respect convenient 8. The same also is manifest by this that from the beginning of the Creation when there was no place for ceremonies that had respect to Christ the Redeemer the seventh day or one of seven was set apart for the worship of God Gen. 2. 3. 9. For whereas some doe contend that this was spoken by a prolepsis or anticipation or that the seventh day was at that time sanctified in the mind and purpose of God not in execution or that then there was a foundation laid of that sanctification to come and not the obligation or Law it selfe This may be refuted by divers arguments For 1. This anticipation never came into any mans mind who was not before anticipated with prejudice about the observation of the Lords Day The Iewes of old did never dreame of it whose received opinion was that this feast was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 among all Nations from the beginning of the World Philo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 14. In the new Testament there is no such thing taught or declared The authors themselves of this opinion doe grant it to be probable that some observation of the seventh day did begin from the beginning of the Creation Suarez de diebus Fest. The best interpreters Luther Calvin c. Whom none will affirme to have offended on that side in giving too much to the Lords Day doe simply and candidly acknowledge that the seventh day was sanctified from the beginning of the World 2. There can be no example given of such like anticipation in all the Scripture for although the name of certaine places are sometime used proleptically especially in the booke of Genesis yet there is no mention at all of such a prolepticall Institution either in that booke or in any other of the whole sacred Scripture 3. The words and phrases of the very place evince the contrary Gen. 2. 2 3. For the perfection of the Creation is twice joyned together with the sanctification of the seventh day in the very same manner and phrase as the Creation both of other Creatures and of man himselfe is joyned with their blessing Genesis 1. 21. 22. 27. 28. 4. Neither the purpose of God nor a naked foundation of the thing it selfe sufficeth to ground and uphold such a phrase of Sanctification and Benediction For by this reason it might be said that God sanctified Water Bread and Wine for the Sacraments of the New Covenant from the time that he gave the promise of breaking the Serpents head by the seed of the woman Genesis 3. 15. For then God did purpose to seale that covenant of grace by such seales some foundation of which seales also was laid partly in the promise it selfe and partly in the creation of those thiâ—…gs which might actually be used to such sealing 5. From such a foundation laid in the first Creaâ—…ion the Prophet gathers a perpetuall rule and Law Malac. 2. 15. Did he not make one and why one To seeke a godly seed So in like manner may we did not God rest the seventh day and why the seventh day to sanctifie the seventh day to God 6. Upon this very thing the arguing of the Apostle seemes to be grounded Hebrews 4. 3 4 5 7 8 9. Which is thus There was a double rest mentioned in the Old Testament whereof the godly were made partakers in this life One was
of the Sabbath and the other was of the Land of Canaan but David Psalme 95. promissing rest speaketh not of the rest of the Sabbath because that was from the beginning of the World nor of the rest in the Land of Canaan because that was past not to be expected To day therefore he understands a certaine third rest that is eternall in Heaven 10. Neither doth it any thing hinder this truth that it is not recorded in the History of Genesis that the observation of the seventh day was solemny kept by the first Patriarchs For 1. All and every thing which was observed by them for a thousand and five hundred yeares neither could nor ought to be particularly declared in so short a History as is that of Gensis Also after the Law of the Sabbath delivered by Moses there is no mention in the booke of Iudges and some other Histories of the observation of it 2. If this very thing be granted that the observation of this day was for the most part neglected yet this ought no more to make the first institution doubtfull then Polygamy of the same times can shew that the sacred Lawes of Wedlock were not equall in time with the very first mariage 3. Before the promulgation of the Law in Mount Sinas the observation of the Law is propounded and urged not as a new thing but ordained of old Exodus 16. 24. 30. Which although it may be affirmed of sacrifices and some other ceremoniall observations yet in the Sabbath there seemes to be for the reasons before put a certaine respect had unto the first institution which was equall in time with mans Creation which is also declared in the 30. Verse in that word of the time past hath given you c. 4. Among the very Heathens there were alwayes those foot-steps of the observation of the seventh day that it is more then probable that the observation of the seventh day was delivered them from those Patriarchs whose posterity they were Iosephus in his last book against Appion denies That there can be found a nicity either of the Greekes or Barbarians which had not taken the resting from labour on the seventh Day into their own manners Clemens Alexandrinus Lib. 5. Stromat doth demonstrate the same thing also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That not only the Hebrewes but the Greekes also observe the seventh Day Euseb. de praeparatione Euangelica lib. 13. affirmeth that not only the Hebrewes but almost all as well Philosophers as Poëts did know that the seventh day was more holy Lampridius in Alexandro Severo tells that on the seventh day when he was in the City he went up to the Capitoll and frequented the Temples Neither is it far from this purpose that holy dayes were wont to be granted to children in Schooles on the seventh day Lucianus in Pseudologista Aulus Gellius li. 13. cap. 2. And some heathen Doctors were wont to dispute only upon the Sabbaths as Suetonius relates of one Diogenes lib. 3. Hesiod lib. 2. Dierum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Liâ—…s 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 5. The former forgetfulnesse or carelesnesse and neglect of this day is easily seene to be reproved by that same horratory word which is used in the beginning of the fourth Commandement Remember 11. But the right and morall perpetuall authority of this institution is most of all declared from this that it is expresly commanded in the Decalogue for this is a most certaine rule and received among all the best Divines That morall precepts were thus differenced from ceremonialls and Iudicalls that all and onely moralls were publickly proclaimed before all the people of Israel from Mount Sinai by the voyce of God himselfe and afterward also written and written againe as it were by the finger of God himselfe and that in Tables of stone to declare their perpetuall and unchangeable continuance Christ also doth expresly testifie that not one Iot or tittle of this Law should perish Matthew 5. 18. 12. That which is commanded in the fourth Commandement is not indeed of a morall nature in the same degree and manner altogether with those things that are commanded for the most part in all the other Commandements because it belongs to positive right whence also it is that whereas the three former Commandements were propounded negatively by forbidding those vices unto which we are prone by the pravity of our nature this fourth Commandement is first propounded affirmatively in declaring and commanding that which in this part pertaines unto our duty and afterward negatively by forbidding those things which are repugnant to this duty which also is in part the reason of that admonition which is specially prefixed before this precept Remember the Sabbath day that is Remember to keepe this day as it is explained Deut. 5. 18. Because it may more easily be forgotten seeing it belongs to positive right then many other things which are more naturall Yet this positive right upon which this ordinance is grounded is Divine right and in respect of man altogether unchangeable 13. Those who turne this fourth Commandement into allegories of a cessation from sinnes and from the troubles of this life and such like and thence doe faigne a fourefold or a fivefold Sabbath according to their manner who play with Allegories they attribute nothing at all to this member of the decalogue which doth not as well and much more properly agree to many Iewish ceremonies which are now wholy abrogated 14. But those that would have this precept ceremoniall as they would have the second to be also besides that they are sufficiently refuted by those things which have beene spoken before they contradict the expresse testimony of Scripture which affirmes that ten words or morall precepts are contained in the decalogue Exod. 34. 18. Deut. 4. 13. 10. 4. Where they leave only nine or rather eight 15. They who would have that only to be morall in this precept that some time or some certaine dayes should be assigned to Divine worship doe no more make this ordinance to be morall then was the building of the Tabernacle and Temple among the Iewes For by that very thing this was declared to all to be the perpetuall Will of God that some fit place is alwayes to be appointed for Church meetings and publick exercises of Divine worship so that by this reason there is no more a morall precept given touching some time of worship then there is given touching the place and so neither that indeed which only they leave in the fourth precept Thou shalt observe Feast-dayes ought any more to be put in the Decalogue then this Thou shalt frequent the Temples 16. Moreover the yearely Feasts new Moones and the like ordinances which were meerely ceremoniall doe containe that generall equity also in them and doe still teach us that some certaine and fit dayes ought to be appointed for publick worship finally by this reason God should by this Commandement command severall men nothing at all
of the Gospell either in word or writings 29. Also seeing this institution was grounded upon no speciall occasion that was to continue for a time only whereby it might be made temporary it doth necessarily follow that the minde of the Ordainers was that the observation of this day should be of perpetuall and unchangeable right 30. Yet it is more likely that Christ himselfe was the author of this institution in his owne person 1. Because Christ was no lesse faithfull in ordering his whole house or the Church of God as touching all things that are generally necessary and usefull then was Moses Heb. 3. 2. 6. But no Christian can with any reason deny that the observatiō of this day is generally profitable in some sort necessary for the Churches of Christ. 2. Because Christ himselfe did often appeare upon this very day to his Disciples gathered together in one place after the resurrection Iohn 20. 19. 26. 3. Because hee powred out the holy Spirit upon them this very day Acts 2. 4. In the practise of the Churches in the time of the Apostles when there is mention made of this observation of the first day Acts 20. 7. 1. Cor. 16. 2. It is not remembred as some late Ordinance but as a thing a good while received among all the Disciples of Christ. 5. The Apostles did in all things deliver those things to the Churches which they had received of Christ 1. Cor. 11. 23. 6. This institution could not be deferred not one week after the death of Christ and that law of one day in every week to be sanctified according to the determination of God himselfe remaine firme which law hath beene demonstrated before to be of perpetuall right For the Iewish Sabbath was in respect of the determination which it had to the seventh day abrogate in the death of Christ For whereas it is read that the Apostles sometime after were present in the assemblies of the Iewes that day of the Sabbath Acts 13. 14. 16. 13. 17. 2. 18. 4. they did that chiefly in that respect because then was the fittest occasion to preach the Gospell to the Iewes as also afterward the Apostle did greatly desire to be at Ierusalem on the day of Pentecost Acts 20. 16. because at that time there was the greatest concourse of the Iewes to be in that place 7. If the institution of the Lords day was deferred so long till the Apostles had made a separation from the Iewes and had their meetings apart Acts 18. 6 7. 19. 8. as some would have it then all that space of time which came betweene the death of Christ and this separation which was above three yeares the fourth Commandement had bound none to that observation of any day because the Iewes day was already abolished and by this opinion there was no new brought in the roome and so there were only nine precepts in force all that time 8. The reason it selfe of this change confirmes the same which is by the consent of all referred to the resurrection of Christ namely because this day the creation of the new world or the world to come Heb. 2. 5. in which all things were made new 2. Cor. 5. 17. was perfected so that God did now in Christ rising again from the dead cease or rest from his greatest work As therefore in the beginning of the creation when God rested from his workes he then blessed and sanctified that day wherein he did rest so also it was meet that that very day wherein Christ did rest from his labours himselfe also should sanctifie the same day Neither is that easily to be rejected which is urged by some of the Ancients out of Ps. 118. 24. This is the day which the Lord hath made for in that very place is treated of Christs resurrection as Christ himself interprets Mat. 21. 42. 9. It was also most meet that the day of worship in the New Testament should be ordained by him by whom the worship it selfe was ordained and from whom all blessing and grace is to be expected in all worship 31. They who account the observation of the Lords day for a tradition not written they are hereby sufficiently refuted 1. Because there is no one thing which depends upon tradition not written of such moment as is the observation of the Lords day by common consent and the consent of all Christians almost 2. By this meanes there is a doore opened to bring in divers superstitions and humane devices into the Church of God or at least to prop them up when they are brought in 3. Many among the Papists are ashamed of this invention for although all the Papists to cloak their superstitions are wont to give too much to Ecclesiasticall traditions yet in the observation of the Lords day that impression of Divine authority appeares that it hath compelled not a few of them to ascribe it not to any humane but to Divine right Bannes in 2. 2. q. 44. a. 1. Author supplementi adsummam Pisanam verb. Dominica Abbas in cap. licet defer n. 3. Aug. ver feria n. 3. Silvester ver Dominica q. 1. 7. Alexander also the third Pope of Rome in the very Canon law deferiis cap. licet affirmes that the Scripture as well of the old as new Testament hath specially deputed the seventh day for mans rest that is as Suarez interprets de dieb fest cap. 1. both Testaments have approved the manner of deputing every seventh day of the week for the rest of man which is to depute the seventh day formally although materially the same was not alwayes deputed and in this manner it is true that that seventh day in the old law was the Sabbath and in the new is the Lords day 4. They among themselves who account the Lords day among traditions doe account baptizing of children also and that with greater shew in the same place and number But all our Divines who have answered the Papists touching those examples of traditions do alwayes contend that those institutions and all other which are of the same profit and necessity are to be found in the Scriptures themselves 32. Those things which are wont to be brought on the contrary out of the Scriptures Rom. 14. 5. Gal. 4. 10. Col. 2. 16. do nothing at all hinder this truth For first in all those places the observation of some day to religious use by the ordinance of Christ is no more condemned or denied then the choise of some cerraine meat to a religious use by the ordinance of the same Christ but no Christian is so void of all reason that he would conclude out of those places that the choise of bread and wine in the Lords Supper for a religious use is either unlawfull or not ordained by Christ neither therefore can any thing be concluded from them against the observation of the Lords day by the use and institution of Christ. Secondly the Apostle Rom. 14. doth expresly speake of that