did God or Christ ever sanctifie that day to that end as many doe imagine nor never instituted nor commanded his Church to observe it in stead of the Sabbath Therefore I say seeing we are not to presume above what is written 1 Cor. 4.6 what reason is there that the first day of the week should be held more high and holy than the seventh day-day-Sabbath which God instituted blessed and sanctified and commanded us and all men to observe by the Morall Law Yea what reason is there or what word of God is there to be produced to prove that it is our duty to abstain from common work on the first day of the week called Sunday As also that we ought to doe common work on the seventh day-day-Sabbath called Saturday Deceive not thy self nor let any man deceive thee or cause thee to believe that it was the practice of Christian Churches to assemhle every first day of the week to perform publique worship in the Apostles dayes for that they did not Yea I say it is not to be proved by Scripture that ever any one Congregation did three times assemble successively to perform publique worship on the first day of the week called Sunday Yea I suppose that not any Anti-Sabbatharian can prove that ever any one Congregation did assemble two first days successively in the Apostles daies or that ever it was by them esteemed more holy or more honourable than any other of the 6 daies Yet I say what if it could be proved that any Congregation in the Apostles days did assemble 6 first days successively to perform worship on it yet it would not prove the seventh day-Sabbath abrogated nor that the first day of the week was designed for publique Worship seeing Christians in those daies did daily assemble Acts 2.46 Ch. 5.42 Yea I say if such a thing could be proved which none can doe it would bind us no more to the constant performance of the former than of the latter That the first day of the week is not of a Divine Institution nor is to be observed as a Sabbath I will give 3. Reasons The first Reason is Because if men keep the first day of the week for a Sabbath and the seventh day for a working day it is to doe expresly against a Precept both Affirmative and Negative Exod 20.8 9 10. Secondly It cannot be that the first day of the week is an Ordinance of the Gospel because then the preaching of Faith would make void the Law contrary to Rom. 3.31 Thirdly The first day of the week cannot be of a Divine Institution because then the Law which commandeth the seventh dayes rest would crosse the Gospels Institution contrary to Gal. 3.31 I need not to insist to give more reasons to prove that the first day of the week is not of a Divine Institution seeing the truth is plentifully confessed by many wise and learned men whose understandings are not eclipsed with errour in this particular Yea I say Papists themselves doe confesse the observation of the Sunday is not to be proved by the written word of God and therefore oftentimes in their writings they urge at Protestants because they cry Scripture Scripture to be the Rule of their Faith and Practice in the way of Religion when they observe the first day of the week which is called Sunday in stead of the Sabbath called Saturday when there is no Word of God to prove that so they ought to doe Christians ought to make the Word of God the Rule of their Faith and Life and not the Traditions of men though never so ancient or universally received no nor the sayings of Men though wise grave and learned if they speake not according to the Law of God 1 John 4.1 Isa 8.10 and therefore good it is for every one which loveth truth and hateth errour to follow the Councel of Gracehop placed at the Beginning of the Bible Printed Anno 1603. who saith Refuse all sence of Scripture contrary to the First and Second Tables of Gods Commandements Imbrace his Counsell for it is good it tendeth to further men in the way of Godlinesse for certainly mens well meaning or acting in the way of Religion will not stand them in stead to bring them into acceptation with God except it be in the way that God requireth of them for he will not accept of any worship or service which he hath not appointed or commanded Numb 1. to 41. 2 Chron. 26.18.19 Isa 66.3.4 Mark 7.6.7.9 Col. 2.20 21 22. And therefore It is not every one that saith Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdome of Heaven but he that doth the will of my Father saith Christ Mat. 7.21 Had men that due respect to the Law of God as is meet there would not be any need to use Scripture Arguments and Reasons to move them to the obedience thereof or to manifest they are not to walke in a way contrary to it as men doe in observing the first day in stead of the seventh out of a blind Devotion through a misapprehension that it is a Gospel-Ordinance when indeed it is not but a meer humane Invention or Ecclesiasticall Institution or Popish Tradition and to manifest the truth thereof I will produce the testimony of severall Authors for an addition to the former which affirme the same 13. Dr. Whitguift against Cartwright page 553. citeth the words of Saint Agustine ad Romana Janu Thus that the Passion of Christ and his Resurrection note that is the first day of the weeke and the day of the comming down of the holy Ghost is saith he not celebrated by any command writen but by the determination of the Church 14. In the Harmony of Confessions I finde ma-many notable expressions of this nature in page 479. is said We see that in ancient Churches there were not only set houres for meetings but that also See the latter confession of Helvetia even the Lords day ever since the Apostles time was consecrated to religious exercise c We doe celebrate and keepe the Lords day and not the Sabbath and that of a free observation 15 Out of the Confession of Auspurge page 493. in their fourth Article speaking of Traditions about holy dayes saith Of which sort is the Lords day the Nativity Passover and the rest c. And again thus because it was necessary to appoint a certain day that the people might know when to come together It seemes that the Church for that purpose did appoint the Lords day c. Look the first observation on the Confession 16. Dr. White on the Sabbath page 242. speaking of the Apostles saith Immediately after them it is apparent the Christian people made the Lords day of every weeke an ordinary Festivall See also page 217 and in page 218. he saith Constantine among many other religious constitutions he ordained the weekly Sabbath of the Lords day c. 17. The translator of Dr. Predeaux on the Sabbath in his Preface doth
to doe well Isa 1.16 17. For their obtaining of grace here and glory hereafter For the worke of Righteousnesse is Peace and the effect of Righteousnesse is quietnesse and assurance for ever Isa 32.17 And so I conclude with the saying of Solomon Eccles 12.13 14. Let us heare the conclusion of all Fear God and keep his Commandements it is the whole duty of man CHAP. VI. A refutation of the opinion of those which affirm there is no Sabbath day whereon Christians are to abstain from corporall labour As also their saying that holy walking every day is the keeping of the Christian Sabbath I Shall not need to be large in this particular by reason I have already proved that the seventh day to wit Saterday is the Sabbath which Christians ought to keep holy to the Lord and to abstain from servill work on it therefore I shall be brief These men following the generall notion that the seventh day Sabbath is abrogated and finding no other day instituted in the new Testament in its stead for a day of publick worship they conclude all dayes are alike to those that are in Christ and no one day to be observed above another apprehending the Apostle affords them such a liberty Rom. 14.6 From whence they infer they are not oblieged to the observation of the seventh dayes Sabbath but that they have liberty to doe common work thereon Great is their errour herein the Lord disclose it unto them for doubtlesse the Apostles meaning was farre from theirs for they shall never be able to prove that ever the Apostle gave Christians liberty to walk in disobedience to the morall law the docalogue And therefore it cannot be that where the Apostle saith he that observeth a day observeth it to the Lord and he that observeth not the day obserueth it not to the Lord That he spake of rhe seventh day-Sabbath there is not a word of any such thing nor any sound of any such meaning that the Apostle had And therefore it must be that he spake of observing a day for acting common or indifferent things and not in keeping the Sabbath or not keeping of it and that for the avoiding of these absurdities If the seventh day-Sabbath be abrogated and no other day of rest instituted in its stead then there is one holy day lesse then God in the beginning instituted and one working day more a very absurd thing for any so to affirme Yea that which followeth thereon is worse viz. That God is lesse mercifull to man and beast since our Saviour suffered death then he was before In that before he suffered death hee afforded man and beast a day of rest to refresh their bodies after their wearisome and toylsome labour And since he came and suffered death he hath not afforded them any at all These things suiteth not with Gods ordering providence therefore to say there is no day of rest is an errour These men doe also apprehend the seventh day-Sabbath figured out to us faith in Christ Hebr. 4.3 because the Apostle saith We which have believed doe enter into rest From whence they conclude that when men beleeve they have that sanctification in Christ of which the Sabbath was a signe If it be granted or if it could be proved that the seventh day-Sabbath was a signe of our sanctification in Christ It will not therefore follow that when men beleeve they are discharged from the duty of observing it unlesse it can be proved a ceremoniall precept also the reason is because a sign properly or simply differeth from a ceremony and that shall thus appeare Ceremoniall Sabbaths spoken of Levit. 23 Col. 2.16 17. which God gave to the Isralites to be a signe that the Lord sanctified them Exod. 31.13 Ezek. 20.12 being signes and ceremonies was taken away by Christ and nailed to his Crosse of this kinde of signes was Circumcision Gen. 17.11 and the Passover Exod. 12.13 But signes which were not ceremoniall being given of God remaineth to the end of the world Gen. 1.14 chap. 9.13 Mat. 24.29 And in this sence indeed the seventh dayes-Sabbath is a signe Exod 31.17 But not as a signe in relation to a figurative ceremony Again the seventh dayes-Sabbath which was given to be a signe that God made Heaven and Earth in six dayes c. was wrought in Tables of stone But the Sabbath which was given to be a signe that the Lord sanctified them was not Therefore although these Sabbaths were abrogated it is no argument to prove the other was abrogated also Secondly These men which will have no Sabbath in that sence which the fourth Commandement requireth namely to abstaine from servile labour on the seventh day doe apprehend their ceasing from sinne and growing in grace every day is the true keeping of the Christian Sabbath and not ceasing from labour any one day if it cannot with conveniency be omitted Answ I doe very well approve of a holy walking every day both for mortifying of sin and grouth in godlinesse and doe heartily desire there may be a daily progresse therein by us all But I must tell them as the truth is their holy devotion in the way they intend doth not discharge them of any duty that God requirerh of them by his Holy Law the Decalogue and willing I am that they should know it to And therefore I desire to know of them whether Gods people before Christ suffered death were not to walke holy every day as well as we If yea as doubtlesse they did But had they omitted the duty of the seventh dayes rest could they have been said to have walked holy every day Oh no they could not Even so it standeth with men ever since our Savtours death for the same Law which bound the Israelites to keep a holy rest on the seventh day bindeth Christians now as hath been shewn pag. 34. 35. Therefore surely men doe deceive themselves to thinke they walk holy every day when they doe directly contrary to the Law of God on the seventh day Yea I say albeit they cannot find any of the ancient six working dayes instituted nor commanded in the Gospel to be a day for performance of publick worship yet they may find Gods ancient Sabbath in the Law where he commandeth them to keep the seventh day holy unto the Lord whereon they are not to doe servile work Exod. 20. Deut. 5. It being so I desire that we may imploy it in his worship and service and not after our owne wills either for pleasure or profit but that we call the Sabbath a delight to consecrate it as glorious to the Lord and honour him not doing our owne wayes nor seeking our owne wills nor speaking a vaine word This is the Sabbath to be observed Isa 58.13 And this let us doe for whosoever keepeth the whole Law and faileth in one point is guilty of all Jam. 2.10 11. Mat. 5.19 Yea certaine it is Whosoever turneth away his eare from hearing the Law his Prayer
the Apostle reasoned against those Corinthians which denied the resurrection of the dead 1 Cor. 13.14 15 16 17 18. CHAP. II. Manifesteth 12 Absurdities which doe follow upon the Doctrine or Assertion that the Fourth Commandement or any part thereof is abrogated which are not suitable with Godlinesse or with the holinesse truth or integrity of the Decalogue THe First Absurditie which doth follow on the Doctrine that the Fourth Commandement is abrogated or part thereof is to affirme consequently that there are but 9 Commandements in the morall Law which expresly speaketh to us in requiring duties of us contrary to Exod 20. Deut. 4.13 Secondly It is to affirme that Gods Law of the ten Commandements are not perpetually morall the fourth standeth as a Cifer Thirdly All the duties commanded in the decalogue appertaineth not to us Fourthly God never intended that we should walke in the obedience thereof Fiftly Jesus Christ nor his Apostles never taught us so to doe nor never ratified any such thing for us to observe contrary to Mat. 5.18 Rom. 3.31 Sixtly It is no rule of righteous walking for us Seventhly It is not for us the way to walke in to obtain Justification by Jesus Christ Eightly It hath not a correspondency with the Gospel Ninthly It taught the Jewes to worke six dayes successively from the Creation and to rest the seventh after Gods example which thing we ought not to doe contrary to Exod. 20.11 Tenthly He that followeth the literall expression of the decalogue or morrall law erreth Eleventhly For any to say we are not to observe the seventh day Sabbath because the duty thereof is abrogated It is to affirme that Gods law is changed contrary to Psal 111.7 8. Twelfly Those which affirme the seventh day-Sabbath was to be kept before our Saviours Death and Resurrection and is not to be observed since by Christians doe thereby avouch that Gods Testimonies his Law his Covenant is Yea and Nay contrary to the nature of Gods Law and many texts of Scripture See Psal 119.138 142 152. Psal 89.2 Luke 16.17 2 Cor. 1.20 If these and the like assertions may not be admitted for truth but rejected for errour by all men professing Christianity and the feare of God then all men professing Christianity and the feare of God are for ever to confesse that the fourth Commandement and every jot and title thereof is morall and remaineth in force and bindeth all men as unchangeably to the observation of the seventh day-Sabbaths since our Saviours Ascension as ever it did any men before his Ascension In which regard I professe in the feare or God I doe not see but that it is as great a sinne to doe contrary to the literall expression of the fourth Commandement as it is to doe contrary to the literall expression of either the first second or third Commandements of the divine Law except necessity hinder it for sure it is Whosoever keepeth the whole Law and faileth in one point is guilty of all James 2.10 If this will not be assented unto I desire to know of him that will oppose me whether our Saviour in Mat. 5.18 did ratifie the Decalogue or Law of ten Commandements to remain till all things be fulfilled yea or nay If nay what Law was it that he ratified If yea then he ratified the fourth Commandement to remaine for Instructions to Godlinesse in the literall expressions thereof as unchangeable as to any other expressions of that law If any will deny it let him shew how our Saviour did ratifie the whole Law yea every jot and title of it and did not ratifie the fourth Commandement which is a tenth part of that law which consisteth of more then 80. words And if our Saviour ratified the fourth Commandement I desire to know why it ought not to be as conscionably observed as any of the other nine Commandements but if any say it was repealed again by Christ let him shew how he could doe it and not diminish any thing from the morall Law As also when he did it and what are his words of repealing it and then also prove it was no part of the Law which the Apostles established Rom. 3.31 As also that we may omit the duty of the seventh day Sabbath and not fall under the transgression of the Law spoken of by Saint James Chap. 2. v. 10. CHAP. III. Containeth 10. Reasons demonstrating that the fourth Commandement is morall and not ceremoniall Secondly Objections answered THe first Reason is why the duty of the seventh dayes rest is morall and not ceremoniall is because it differeth in its nature from a Ceremoniall precept A Ceremoniall precept or precepts was given of God and used of men to set forth some good thing to be wrought or brought by Jesus Christ after mans fall and the promise of the Messias Heb. 9. chap. 10. But the seventh day-day-Sabbath was made by Christ the Word of God John 1.2 3. before there was any need or use of any Ceremonie Gen 1.2 3. Ergo the fourth Commandement is morall Secondly That the seventh dayes rest is morall doth appeare from the Ground or Reason wherefore God gave to man the holy Sabbath expressed by Moses Ezod 31.17 chap. 20.11 The grounds or reasons being morall and perpetuall whereon the duty was founded it argueth the perpetuity of the day it selfe Thirdly That the duty of observing the seventh dayes rest is morall doth appeare from a further use of the day for Gods publique worship to be performed on it Levit. 23.3 Psal 92. Acts 13.14 15 42. Chap. 15.21 Luke 4.16 31. Mark 6.2 Acts 16.13 The usefulnesse of pious duties requireth a usefull and perpetuall day and no day so fit as that day which God instituted blessed and sanctified for that end Ergo the seventh dayes rest is morall Fourthly That the duty of the seventh dayes rest is morall doth appeare by that the wilfull transgressours of it were to be put to death by the hand of the Magistrate as those were which wilfully transgressed any of the other three Precepts of the first Table Exod. 31.15 Numb 15.32 35 36. But the transgressours of Ceremoniall precepts God himselfe punished them Numb 16.32 35. 2 Sam. 6.6 7. Ergo the fourth Commandement is morall Fiftly The fourth Commandement was given with the other nine Precepts with Power Majesty and Terror Exod. 19. There was never a Ceremoniall precept given after that manner Ergo the fourth Commandement is morall Sixtly The fourth Commandement was written in a table of stone put into the Arke Deut. 10.5 But there was no Ceremoniall precept written in a table of stone nor put into the Arke 1 King 8.9 Ergo the duty of the seventh days rest is Morall and not Ceremoniall The truth of this is also affirmed by Dr. Bayly in the practice of Piety Pag. 159. and by Mr. Bisco in his glorious Mistery page 60. Seventhly God himselfe kept the seventh day Sabbath Gen. 2.1 Exod. 20.11 Can it be shewn that ever God
kept a Ceremoniall Precept O no! Ergo it is an Everlasting Duty Eighthly The fourth Commandement wherein the Seventh day-Sabbath is commanded is a tenth part of the Morall Law the Law being Morall the dutie of the seventh dayes rest must needs be Morall also Ninthly Our Saviour Christ would not that his Disciples should breake the Sabbath at the destruction of Jerusalem Mat. 24.20 which was 38 years after his Passion Can it be shewen that ever his will was that his Disciples should keepe a ceremoniall Precept so long after his Passion If any can let them doe it or else let them confesse the duty of the seventh dayes rest is Morall Tenthly and lastly If the duty of the seventh day Sabbath is abrogated then it is not meet nor fit that it should stand in Parish Churches or publique Assemblies with the other nine Commandements of the Morall Law for as it standeth with or amongst those Morall Precepts it reacheth and commandeth obedience to the duties of the seventh dayes-Sabbath the day called Saturday which men say is abrogated as expresly and as absolutely as the First Second or Third Commandements of that Law doe teach the expresse duties commanded in them or any other of the 6 Commandements doth teach that which is expressed in them But indeed and in truth the dutie of the seventh dayes-Sabbath commanded in the fourth Commandement is Morall and Perpetuall as any of the other 9 Commandements and therefore doth as absolutely binde us and all men to the due obedience thereof as any of the other nine do to the duties expressed in them Therefore it is meet and fit it should stand with the other nine Commandements to teach men their duty to the seventh dayes-Sabbath to wit the day called Saturday for that indeed is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God whereon he hath forbid thee to do any servile work as hath been shewn which duty all men are enjoyned unto untill the end of the World for till then the Sabbath shall continue Exod. 31.17 Isa 66.23 24. Ergo its Morall and Perpetuall If the Fourth Commandement be an abrogated Ceremony and therefore we are not to walk in the obedience thereof then we are as really discharged from working 6 dayes as we are from resting the seventh And if it be sin to observe the seventh day-day-Sabbath because the 4th Commandement is abrogated which commanded it then it is sinne also to worke 6 dayes because the fourth Commandement is abrogated which commanded it The reason is because when any Ceremoniall Precept or Precepts were abrogated every part or branch thereof was abrogated also Gen. 17.11 12. Exod 12.3 4. c. Againe if it be errour to say mens working six dayes is abrogated then it is errour to say mens resting the seventh day is abrogated or done away Evident it is by that which is already said the Decalogue being Morall the fourth Commandement being part of the Decalogue is Morall also It being so let him that will oppose me prove that it is our duty to doe servile work on the seventh day called Saturday if he can But if he cannot shew me any Precept for it then let him shew me what dispensation there is vouchsafed to men to doe common worke on the Lords seventh day-Sabbath and who it was which first granted the dispensation This doe and faile not or else cease from a weekly prophanation of the Lords seventh day Sabbaths Verily for my part I believe the Morall Law maketh knowne unto us the minde or will of God concerning our duty both towards Himself and our Neighbour And therefore I say with the Apostle I had not known lust if the Law had not said Thou shall not covet Rom. 7.7 In like manner I say I had not knowne I should not have other Gods before God had not the Law so said Exod. 20.3 Neither had I knowne I should not make to my self any Graven Image c. Nor that I should not bow downe nor worship them had not the Law forbid it Exod. 20.5 Neither had I known that it is my duty to keep holy the seventh day-Sabbath to wit the day called Saturday whereon no work is to be done had not God by his Law commanded the one and forbid the other Exod 20.8 9 10 11. O know and believe the Precepts of the Morall Law speaketh as well to thee as to me Hast thou endeavoured to walke in the obedience of the 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10. Commandements of Gods Law and hast thou wholy neglected thy duty to the fourth Commandement in not keeping holy the seventh day-Sabbath and hast thou done servile work thereon which thing God hath foabidden thee If yea surely thou art a transgressor of Gods Law Be instructed therefore and repent of Sabbath-breaking and for time to come keep holy the Sabbath day the day called Saturday and doe no work thereon thou nor thy sonne nor thy daughter thy man-servant nor thy maid-servant thy cattell not the stranger that is n within thy Gates c. for it is the Will of God that they should rest as well as thou Deut. 5.14 For Whatsoever the Law saith it saith to them that are under it Rom. 3.19 Thou art under it and not above it therefore thou oughtst not to transgresse it for the Law hath domiion over a man as long as he liveth Rom. 7.1 Therefore if thou wilt not be condemned by it conform unto it For whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the Law 1 John 3.4 Yea surely the sting of death is sinne and the strength of sinne is the Law 1 Cor. 15.56 Therefore deceive not thy selfe nor let any deceive thee or cause thee to beleeve that it was sinne to doe any thing contrary to the Morall Law before our Saviours Death and Resurrection and that it is not so now but that Christian men may doe something which God by His Divine Law doth forbid and not sin Certainly Jesus Christ nor his Apostles hath not left Christians any such dispensation Errour therefore it is for any to affirme that they may doe servile worke on the Lords seventh day-Sabbath where necessity is not contrary to his Holy Law and not sinne Therefore know and beleeve that as the Morall Law was Holy Righteous Just and Good before our Saviour came in the Flesh and taught men their duty toward God and man in an unerring way Even so the Morall Law is Holy Righteous Just and Good ever since our Saviour came in the Flesh and teacheth us our duties toward God and man in a right and unerring way and so it shall for ever Therefore if thou wilt enter into life keepe the Commandements Matth. 19.17 And they are ten Deut. 10.4 As I would not be mistaken in any thing I desire I may not be mistaken in this viz. for any to thinke I meane men may obtaine Righteousnesse to justification by the works of the Law Oh no that I doe not that is impossible Gal. 2.16 Chap. 3.10.11
Iohn 12.26 1 Iohn 2.6 5. The Apostle Paul kept it and other Christians Acts 13.14 15 16 37 42 43 44 chap. 16.13 14. chap. 17.2 and we are to imitate them 2 Cor. 11.1 Phil. 3.17 Heb. 6.12 Blessed is the man that doth this and the sonne of man which layeth hold on it and keepeth the Sabbath from polluting of it Isay 56.3 4 5 6. CHAP. V. Severall Authors produced which affirme the Church changed the Sabbath and why they did it 2. Three Reasons given to manifest when it was done 3. Answers given to severall texts of Scripture urged to prove the first day of the weeke to be of a divine Institution 4. Four Reasons given to manifest it is not of a divine Institution EVident it is that in some tract of time after the death of the Apostles the Romish Church layd aside the duty of the seventh day-Sabbath and observed the first day of the weeke instead of it Of this Socrates gives us notice lib. 5. chap. 21. Where speaking of Customes he saith Though in manner all Christian Churches throughout the whole world doe celebrate and receive the holy misteries every Sabbath day after other Yet the people inhabiting Alexandria and Rome of an old tradition doth not use it The Aegyptians adjoyning to Alexandria together with the Inhabitants of Thebaes use to celebrate on the Sunday c. 2. Mr. Brabourn in the defence of the Sabbath against the ten Ministers page 481 declares out of the Centuries Centure 4. chap. 6. page 477. layeth it down thus There was no Ecclesiasticall or Church Assemblies at Rome as there was at other Churches c. 3. Iustin Martyr living in Rome in the yeare 150. Apol. 2. saith Vpon the Sunday all of us assemble in the Congregation c. See Dr. Hylyn on the Sabbath part 2 chap. 2 sect 6. 4. Athenasius saith The observation of the Lords day was taken up by a voluntary usage in the Church as Dr. Hylyn in his history on the Sabbath declareth part 2. chap 1. Sect. 3. page 8. 5. Mr. Perkins on Gal 4. verse 10. speaking of the superstition of the popish Church in observation of holy dayes saith First besides the Lords day they appointed many other Sabbaths c 6. Mr. Calvin in his Institutions lib. 2. chap 8. sect 33. saith The old Fathers not without choyce of their owne put in place of the Sabbath the day we call Sunday c. And a little after exhorteth us to follow the order by the Church apointed c. 7. Bullenger in his Book of godly Sermons page 140. saith They of the Primitive Church did change the Sabbath day least peradventure they should have seemed to imitate the Jewes and still to have retained their orders and ceremonie and made their assemblies and holy meetings on the first day of Sabbaths to wit the first day of the weeke called Sunday 8. John Frith Declare Bapt. page 96 saith Our Fathers which were in the beginning of the Church did abrogate the Sabbath to the intent that Christians might have an example of Christian Liberty and that they might know that neither the keeping of the Sabbath nor any other day is necessary That a day should be reserved in that the people might come together to heare the Word of God they ordained instead of the Sabbath which was Saturdy the next day following and although they might have kept Saturday with the Jewes as a thing indifferent yet did they much better to over set the day to a perpetuall memory that we are free and not bound to any day but that we may doe any worke to the pleasure of God and the profit of our Neighbour c. See Dr. White on the Sabbath page 5. 9. Mr. Tindals answer to Dr. Moore chap. 25. thus saith We be Lords over the Sabbath and may change it to munday or any other day as we see need or may make every tenth day holy day if we see cause why we may make two every weeke if it were expedient and one not enough to teach the people Neither was there any cause to change it from the Saturday then to put difference between us and the Jewes least we should become servants to the day after their superstition As Dr. White hath it Ibid. page 5. 10. Vrsinus on the Catti part 3. page 989. saith The Apostolicall Church to distinguish its selfe from the Jewish Synagogue c. Hath on good reason made choyce of the first day c. 11. Dr. Willet in his Comment on Exod. chap. 20. page 360. saith The Apostolique Church changed the holy day of rest from the seventh day to the first which is the Lords day in remembrance of our redemption by Christ 12. Dr. White on the Sabbath page 109. thus saith Although the Sunday or Lords day in the time of the Law was an ordinary working-day yet in the time under the Gospel the same is an holy day by a perpetuall Ordinance of the Catholique Church And in pag. 212 he saith It is apparent that Christian people made the Lords day of every week an ordinary Holy-day c. See also Dr. Prideaux on the Sabbath pag. 24. Sect. 6. I hasten and shall take further occasion to manifest by larger Testimonies that the first day of the weeke is not of a Divine Institution but an Ordinance of the Church But first I will briefly describe the time when it was done as near as I can I confesse I have not met with any Author which hath pointed out the time except Mr. Brabourne who in defence of the Sabbath pag. 485. speaking of the Counsell held at Laodicea Anno 364. he saith now the Sabbath began to be rejected and the Lords day to be set up as the sole Sabbath without any other Now saith he the Lords day must forsooth be preferred above the Sabbath c. Mr. Perkins in his Exposition on the Revelation Chap. 1. vers 10. moveth a question to know who changed the Jewish Sabbath and then his answer is thus It is commonly thought saith he the Jewish Sabbath was changed into the Lords day by Christian Emperours long after the Ascension of Christ c. I doe not much dissent from these mens apprehensions for there is much truth no doubt in both their expressions yet I am not fully of of their opinions for indeed I conceive it was first contrived yea and concluded on inclusively though not expressed in the first Nicen Counsell Anno 326. or thereabout and my Reasons are three The first Reason is because before that Counsell there was not any Law which commanded Christians to keep the first day of the week in performance of Religious worship neither before that time were Christians commanded to forbear labour on the Lords day But this was done by the Emperour Constantine his Edict after the Counsell was dissolved Eusebius in the life of Constant Lib. 4. Chap. 18.19 The second Reason is because after that Counsell was dissolved Constantine sent
an Edict to all Governours of Provinces in his Roman Empire that they should forthwith observe the Lords day and honour Holy-daies consecrated to the memoriall of Martyrs and solemnly observe the Feasts of the Church * At this time or a little before is the time that Socrates speaketh of lib. 5. chap. 21. saying some despised the commandements of God and made them cannons of their owne they set at nought and made no account of the law published by the Apostles so unadvisedly saith he they put in practise decrees contrary to the will of God himself Ibid. Chap. 23. Note I doe not say the first day of the week was not observed till this time for evident it is it was observed by many Churches in few years after the decease of the Apostles Yea Dr. White on the Sabbath pag. 193. saith The Vniversall Church before the decree of any Generall or Nationall Counsell made the Sunday or Lords Day a weekely Festivall But I endeavour to denote when it was that the Church rejected the Sabbath and observed the first day of the week in stead of it The third Reason why it is probable the putting down of the Sabbath and the setting up of the first day of the week in stead of it was contrived in the Nicen Councel is because Christians before that Counsell were not forbid to observe the seventh day-Sabbath nor threatned to bee Excommunicated if they did observe it for that was not done till the Counsell held at Laodicea Anno 364. which was about 38 yeares after the Nicen Councell where they made a Law that Christians should not Jewdize and rest upon the Sabbath day but rather worke upon it and that they should prefer the Lords day above the Sabbath day and if any were found observing the Jewish Sabbath they should be excommunicated or accursed as Mr. Brabourn hath it in his forementioned Book pag. 482. Out of Hospine de Origen Fast Chap. 9 pag. 27. about this time many other Errours were set a foot for Mr. Brabourn in his forementioned Book pag. 482. saith you may read in Mr. Perkins his Demonstration of the Probleme about the 300 and 400 years after Christ Then began Images to creep into Churches the Crosse to be adored Invocation of Saints praiers for the dead Pilgrimage Purgatory single life of Ministers Monkery and Monasticall profession c. Thus have I shewn the time or neere about when the Lords holy seventh day-Sabbath was rejected and the first day of the week instituted in its stead which causeth me to say with the Prophet Psal 119.126 It is time for thee Lord to worke for they have made void thy Law Yea it appeareth to me to be a great cause of Gods Judgments on the World Isa 24.4 5. Lamentable it is that the Learned of this Land which professe themselvs to be guids to the blind and lights of them which are in darknesse and teachers of them which want knowledge and to have the forme of knowledge and truth of the Law that they should teach men to observe the first day of the week in stead of the seventh contrary to the Law upon a pretence that Jesus Christ abrogated the Sabbath and that he and his Apostles instituted the first day of the week in its stead when there is not any Word of God that teacheth either the one or the other I confesse there are many weak reasons produced by many men to prove their doctrine and practice * Note I pray if it be not according to the words of the law and testimony it is because there is no light in them Isa 8.20 both for the abrogation of the Sabbath as also for manifesting that the first day of the week is of a divine institution some principall places of Scripture produced and perverted by them I will briefly weigh and examine committing it to wise mens consideration and the Almighties blessing Anti-sabatharians say Our Saviour to manifest the change of the Sabbath day did plead for and performe some things that the Jewes upon the Sabbath might not doe and to prove it they urge two Scriptures the one Mark 2.23 24. Where it is said our Saviours Disciples plucked the eares of Corne on the Sabbath day and the Pharises urged at our Saviour for that fact Now say they Our Saviour justified that fact although it was a doing of that which the law of the Sabbath forbids Ergo the Sabbath was to be changed Answer Our Saviour did not justifie them in that act as an vnlawfull fact but justified them in it as a lawfull or justifiable fact as the cause stood with them they being hungry and that from a president in David and those that were with him who in the like case did eat the shew bread c. As also from that Of the Priests in the Temple which brake the Sabbath and were blamelesse Mat. 12.4 5. which words of our Saviour doe imply that had there not bene a necessity their action had not been lawfull but being a cause of necessity as Davids and the Priests was the one having a relation to Charity and the other to Piety they were blamelesse And therefore in answer to the necessity of his Disciples our Saviour said to his Adversaries If you had known what this meaned I will have mercy and not sacrifice Math. 12 7. A repulse to their cavill And withall our Saviour caused them to know that the sonne of man is Lord also of the Sabbath Which words of our Saviour doe imply he being Lord of the Sabbath knew the extent of the Sabbath better then they for had they known the extent of the Sabbath they would not have condemned the innocent Mat. 12.7 Let no man thinke that our Saviour either by his goodnesse or greatnesse did vouchsafe a dispensation to his Disciples to act that which was in its nature evill for that he did not neither doth those words of our Saviour in saying he was Lord of the Sabbath import that he had changed the Sabbath or would doe it But those words are to be understood far otherwise and that very proper to Our Saviour may be rightly said to be Lord of the Sabbath in a threefold respect 1. In that as he was God Iohn 1.1 2 3. In which sence the Sabbath was made by him 2. In respect it was upheld by him Iohn 5 17. Col. 1.20 3. He is rightly said to be Lord of the Sabbath in that he only holily kept it in his person for the perfecting of the Saints imperfect obedience to it Rom. 8.3 4. chap 10.4 Had our Saviour abolished the law of the Sabbath he had diminished from the morall Law which thing he did not Mat. 5.17 For being man and circumcised he was bound to keep the whole Law Gal. 5.3 In which regard he was a subject to it and so he acknowledged himselfe to be Mat. 4.7 10. Yea I say It was impossible that he could or did diminish from the morall Law
in regard circumcised men were forbid so to doe Deut. 4.2 chap. 12 32. It being so I affirme that whosoever doth teach or affirme that Jesus Christ did diminish from the holy law the decalogue doe charge our Saviour with sinne although they deserue it not But to defend his Innocency therein I doe affirme our Saviour Christ did not before his death nor at his death nor by his resurrection diminish any precept of that Law nor any part thereof Therefore it followes that we are as firmly and as unchangeably bound to the observation of the seventh day-Sabbath as we are to any duty commanded in that Law A second Scripture oft urged by them is Iohn 5. where mention is made of our Saviours curing the Impotent man and bidding him take up his Bed and walke verse 18. It being the Sabbath day a thing fordidden by the Law as they say therefore they infer it manifested that the Sabbath was or should be changed Answer Surely it is a very weake and slender ground to bear so weighty a matter yea so weake it is that they know not well what to infer something they would have to prove their purpose if they knew what but surely there is nothing of any force to be gathered from thence to prove that either the Sabbath was or should be abrogated and therefore I passe over this Objection as not worth the answering 3. Anti-sabatharians to prove the change of the Sabbath and to manifest the first day of the week to be of a divine institution They say The Apostles assembled on the first day of the weeke the day of our Saviours Resurrection and our Saviour honoured them with his presence Mark 16.19 Ergo the Sabbath was changed c. Answer The inference is not to be proved by Scripture the premises proveth not the thing intended and therefore I say not any of this doth prove the change of the Sabbath nor that the first day of the week is of a divine institution not in the least Neither did their assembling prove that it was for the celebration of that day in remembrance of any Grace that was brought to the Church or World by the resurrection of our Saviour from the dead as some doe surmise and that for two Reasons The first is because Saint John saith chap. 20.19 That they assembled together for feare of the Iewes had it been for any other end doubtlesse he would have made it known unto us 2 Because when they assembled they knew not that he was risen from the dead no neither did they believe the testimony of the Disciples which Reported it to them after they were assembled Mar. 16 11. for which cause our Saviour reprehended them v. 14. 4 Our Saviour appearing to his disciples after eight days Joh. 20.26 is oft vrged to prove the change of the Sabbath and that the first day of the weeke to be of a Divine Institution but this helpeth to prove their purpose as the former in regard it was not upon the next first day as many do think But it was upon some one day after the first day of the week had it been on the first day of the week that our Saviour appeared to his Disciples it had been on the eighth day But St. John expresly saith it was after eight dayes therefore not on the first day which was the eighth day It being so this serveth not in any wise to prove the abrogating of the seventh day-Sabbath nor that the first day of the weeke is of a Divine Institution for performance of publique Worship 5. Another Scripture urged to prove the first day of the week to be a set time for performance of publick worship is Act. 20.7 where it is said when the disciples came together to break bread upon the first day of the week Paul preached unto them c. This doth not prove the first day of the week to be of a Divine institution nor that their breaking of bread was the communion of the Misteries of the Lord in the Sacrament seeing it was an usuall thing for the Disciples to assemble together to break bread daily Acts 2.46 Chap. 5.42 6. Neither did the Apostles Ordination for Collection at Corinth and Galatia on the first day of the week 1 Cor. 16.1 prove that the Churches then were to assemble on the first day of the week to performe publique worship Surely there is no such word to be found in the Text or elsewhere but that which the Apostle did appoint in Corinth and at Galatia was that every one on the first day of the week should lay a part by himself as God had prospered him c. Or this it may be read for our more proper understanding of the Apostles meaning upon one of the week daies let every one of you lay apart by himselfe c. Note not at Church there is no such word but at home And so doth Mr. Tindall and Tremelius Translate it It being so what doth this serve to prove that all Christian Churches then and ever since were to assemble for performance of publique worship on the first day of the week or that those words of the Apostles did either institute or constitute it to be a Sabbath Surely nothing at all See Dr. Prideaux on the Sabbath pag. 28. And also Dr. Hylyns History upon the Sabbath Part. 2. Ch. 1. Sect. 10. Neither did the Apostles or Evangelists ever call the first day of the week by name of a Sabbath in relation to a day of Rest nor when ever they spake of the first day of the week they never cald it by the name of the Lords day or Sunday Had these Titles appertained to it doubtlesse they would not have been slack to have bestowed them on it 7. To prove the Sabbath abrogated Anti-Sabbatharians doe oft urge the Apostles words Col. 2.16.17 Let no man condemne you in meat or in drink or in respect of a Holy day or of the New Moon or of the Sabbath dayes c. Answ The Apostle speaketh not in this place of the seventh day-Sabbath Exod. 20.8 which our Saviour ratified Mat. 5. It being a part of the Morall Law yea and also commanded obedience to God by it inclusively Mat. 22.37 38. But of the Ceremoniall Sabbaths forementioned which were shadows of good things to come as Meats Drinks and New Moons were which being abolished by Christ became beggerly Rudiments Gal. 4.9 and frustrateth the work of Grace in the observers thereof v. 11. Chap. 5.4 Evident it is these things there mentioned by the Apostle were not written in Tables of stone therefore serveth not to prove the duty of the seventh day-Sabbath abrogated Yea I say certain it is there is no appearance in the New Testament that the seventh day-Sabbath was abrogated by Christ or should be after his death Or that ever the first day of the weeke was instituted or commanded by him or his Apostles to be observed for performance of publique worship Neither
affirm that Dr. Rivet one of the four Professours in Leyden doth affirm that the appointing of the Lords day for Gods publicke service was neither done by God himselfe nor by his Apostles but by the authority of the Church 18. Dr. Hylyn saith The Emperour Constantine was the first that made any law for the keeping of the Lords day see his History on the Sabbath part 2. chap. 3. sect 1. And again ibid. part 2. chap. 1. sect 3. speaking of Christ and of the Sabbath saith Neither did Christ nor his Apostles ordain another Sabbath instead of this as if they had intended onely to shift the day and to transferre this honour to another time their doctrine and their practice are directly contrary to so new a fancy It is true saith he in some tract of time the Church in honour to his Resurrection did set apart that day on which he rose to holy exercise but this on their own authority and without any warrant from above that we heare of 19. Muskulous in his Book of Common places fol. 66. thus saith We Christian men leaving the Jewes Sabbath doe keepe our holy rest upon the first day c. 20. Know also what the originall Actors or Authors of changing the Lords holy Sabbath to the first day of the week in the Remish Annotations on Apocalips chap. 1. verse 10. saith If the Church had authority and inspiration from God to make Sunday being a working day an everlasting holy day and the Saturday which was before a holy day now a common working day Why may not the same Church prescribe and appoint the other Feasts Easter Whitsuntide Christmas and the rest for the same warrant she had for the one that she had for the other c. I need not produce larger testimony to demonstrate who it was that abolished the Lords seventh day-Sabbath or who it was that instituted the first day of the week in its stead but that which is already said doth sufficiently declare who were the originall Authors of it and of all other superstitious holy dayes to the dishonour of God and the destruction of the world without Gods especiall and abundant mercy But blessed be God we have yet time to fly unto the Lord for mercy and to conforme our selves to the obedience of his will and let it be our comfort he is abundantly pardonfull Isa 55.6.7 James 1.21 To be short as it is well known the Church changed the Sabbath to the first day of the weeke so also it is known and acknowledged the Church hath power to change the day to some other day For Dr. Prideaux in his Book of the Sabbath page 34. affirmes that Calvin Bullinger Bucerius Brentius Chimnitius Vrsinus and others of the reformed Churches still affirmes the Church hath power to change the Lords day to some other day Yea happy shall the Church be that worshippeth God according to his Law and giveth him his due by placing on the seventh day the honour which God requireth to be performed on it which hath been taken from it this 1300. yeares for greatly hath God been dishonoured by mens consecrating the first day of the week to be a holy rest instead of the Sabbath seeing God never instituted it nor commanded it to be and therefore I say with Dr. Prideaux on the Sabbath page 22 sect 7. The institution of the Lords day out of the Scripture either expresly or by necessary consequence shew me he that can As I have disavowed That the honour due to God on the seventh day-Sabbath to be placed on the first day of the week called Sunday or Lords day or Sabbath as mens opinions leads them So I doe disavow the Title of the Lords day properly to belong to the first day of the week and therefore I say very improperly are the words of St. John Revel 1.10 applied to it for there is no such thing there manifested in the Text that the Apostle had any such meaning Yea I say there is no more reason that that Title should be given to the first day of the week the day of our Saviours Resurrection than to the day of his Birth Death or Ascension unlesse because it was anciently given to it or else because men will have something to credit that which they will have Honourable Ignatius calling it by the name of the Lords Day proves not that that Title is due to it by a Divine institution no more than his bringing in of Anthemes into the Church doth prove that it was of a Divine institution Socrat. Lib. 6 Chap. 8. Yea I say there is more reason to be given that St. John meant the seventh day of the week rather than the first because it was knowne by name the Lords day Isa 58.13 Exod. 20.11 But the first day of the week was never knowne by that name Yet I doe not say that St. John spake of that day neither but of the day of Christ or time of his Reign in Power and Glory or of the day or time of Judgment 2 Thes 2.2 2 Pet. 2.9 1 Cor 5.5 who being in the Spirit saw it in his Vision as if the day had been present What if the Roman Church hath and doth observe the first day of the week in remembrance of our Saviours Resurrection as they doe the Wednesday in remembrance that he was betrayed and the Friday in remembrance of his Passion Ought we therefore to follow their vain Idolatrous custome and tradition in these things Oh no we ought not for certainly God doth not require these things at our hands neither by Law nor Gospel If this which hath been said in this Subject will not satisfie men viz. that it is our duty to rest the seventh day to wit Saturday and worship God on it which is Gods Sabbath Exod. 20.9 10 11. As also that it is our duty to work the first day of the week called Sunday let it be proved either by Law or Gospel that it is our duty to work Saturday and to rest Sunday If this none can doe I affirme to the honour of God and the advancement of his Holy Law and for the beating off of all unrighteous and ungodly intrenching upon the Lords Holy Sabbaths and for the awaking of all those out of errour which would not willingly perish in it and to reduce all that love Gods Law to the due obedience of it I affirme that it is as great a sinne to observe the first day of the week in stead of the seventh as it is to worship an Image in stead of the true God For to doe the one is contrary to the Second Commandement of Gods Law and to doe the other is contrary to the fourth Commandement of the same Law It being so I desire my Brethren my Friends yea and all men to consider of this which condemneth Idolatry and yet justifieth themselves in a weekly trangression of the Lords seventh day-Sabbaths that they may cease to doe evill and learn