secret hand of providence eminently appears in preserving the honourable memory of the seventh day Sabbath for whereas the Heathenish names of Weeks daies are still retained in the decrees of the highest Courts passed on the seventh day the Acts have the proper appellation Die Sabbati But 't is sad that such as so honour it with their Pen should prophane it so openly in their practise And though Satan should prevail with them to become my persecutors I cannot but in faithfulness remember them That as their Laws look for obedience till by the same power that enacted them they shall be repealed so it is most equal they should cease from prophanation of this royal Law of Jehovah till a repeal form the same power can be proved or that the blessed spirit hath any way altered or changed it How sad would a sentence of this import be when 't is too late to reform O thou Prince and Parliament Out of thy own acts I will judge thee who hast recorded the seventh day Die Sabbati and yet hast proclaimed thy chief Markets upon this my Sabbath You profess it in words but prophane it in works you honour it in your Laws but shame it in your lives Oh can it be hoped that a Josiah-like spirit should set upon reformation instead of persecution 2 Rin. 22 8 10 1â— ca. 23 instead of penalties to begin with Sabbath practise Is there no other way to confute Sabbath Keepers then by fine or imprisonments Must Prelatical principles appear after so many Engagements and solemn Protestations of liberty why yet here 's this remedy The will of the Lord be done And so I have done with my three first Proposals for the authority of this truth 1 The Father Institution 2 The Sons confirmation 3 The Spirits approbation And now proceed to the fourth namely 4. The Saints observation 4 Saints observation whereinto I have already made some entrance As first the precious womens practice after our Saviours sufferings when all ceremonies were abolished They rested the seventh day according to the Commandement And doubtless 't is a blessed thing to be found obedient to Gods Commandements 2. It hath been clearly and plainly shewed that even after our Lords highest exaltation the most glorious assembly of saints that ever the world saw was upon the seventh day Sabbath most exemplarily celebrated with prayer preaching baptizing incorporating communicating and all this eminently approved and sealed by the spirits miraculous and special grace in the conversion of thousands suâ—â— a day no Age ever produced Well may this day deserve the honour of a pattern in the Mount and to be exemplary to all posterity 3. The great wisdome of God eminently shines in concealing the practice of the Apostles deputed to serve the Circumcision Gal. 2.9 2 Tim. 1.11 since it must be acknowledged that if the Apostle of the Gentiles who was the great rejecter of ceremonies did constantly celebrate the seventh day Sabbath then much more those Apostles among the Jews whose forbearance was much even in ceremonials The Gospel then being the Epitome of things most necessary onely presents us with Pauls practice for our Christian pattern who expresly requires our conformity in these words Phil. 4.9 Those things which ye have both learned and received and heard and seen in me do and the God of peace shall be with you Here 's a general injunction which must be observed only with these limitations That Pauls practise be plain possible peaceable Evaugelical and unrepealed or else it binds not 1. It must be plain such as our Lord hath promised to his Lambs Joh. 16.25 2 Cor. 3.12 Col. 2.8 We must take heed of Philosophy and vain deceits of men who set up Ordinances by consequences and have some plain precept or president for our practice and such is the seventh day Sabbath There 's not a plainer precept in all the scripture not any thing more plain then Pauls practice herein and therefore to be observed by saints who desire the presence of the God of peace 2. It must be possible for some things Paul practised impossible for saints as mighty miracles travels c. But for the seventh day Sabbath though flesh and bloud think it a bondage to be detained a day from the Dunghil yet to the self denying Saint 't is a most pleasant season and his soul can seal to it as an easie yoke a light burthen a day exceeding a thousand therefore in this Paul is to be followed 3. His practise must be peaceable if we tread in his steps for Paul was but a man Acts 13.39 and sometimes a very angry man his precept may possibly exceed his practise herein If it be possible as much as in you lieth live peaceably with all men Rom. 12.18 and let the peace of God rule in your hearts Now the seventh day Sabbath is a day of rest and peace which sweetly calms the perplexed spirit so that thus far wee may freely follow Pauls practise 4. It must be Evangelical for we may not follow Paul in his compliance with the Jews in ceremonials no not to gain the Jews 1 Cor. 9.20 and therefore let Paul pass into the Temple to purifie himself with his Votaries this is no president for me But for the sacred seventh day Sabbath as it was instituted before any ceremonie was in the world for was confirmed Evangelically by the Son of God and by his holy Spirit and therefore in this Evangelical duty I shall attend Paul 5. It must be unrepealed if it oblige Saints for something Paul did which himself after repealed Gal. 5.1 2 3. as the Circumcision of Timothy which he solemnly declares to be utterly destructive to Christianity and therfore waving that let Christians conform to the Apostles practise of the seventh day Sabbath which is proved to be plain possible peaceable truly Evangelical and never in the least tittle repealed or any way altered And thus doing we shall follow Paul as Paul followed Christ 1 Cor. 11 1 2. For as it was undeniably Christs custome to celebâ—ate the seventh day Sabbath so it was Pauls mannet to observe the same day The words are the fame in the Greek both of Christs practise * Luk. 4.16 Acts 17.2 and Pauls the Penman is the same and all the difference in English is onely this Christs custome and Pauls manner Christ as his custome was went went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath day Luk. 4.16 And Paul as his manner was did the same thing Acts 17.2 Christ preached and Paul preached and where lies the difference between Christs obsetvation of the seventh day Sabbath and Pauls observation of the seventh day Sabbath It is made a great argument for the observation of the first day Act. 20.7 That Paul once preached on that day but it is as clearly declared Acts. 18.4 that Paul preached every Sabbath day onely the Translators have not dealt so clearly
for in Acts 20.7 they tell us that Paul preached on the first day but in Acts 18.4 they say Paul reasoned every Sabbath day and yet the Greek word is the very same in both places Neither was this Pauls single practise But the constant custome of all the Disciples that ever accompanied him we finde one companie with Paul Acts 13.13 14. who solemnly observed the Sabbath in holy duties Other associates he selects Acts 15.40 and these celebrate the Sabbath Acts 16.13 17. 17.1 2. Thus we may follow Paul and his companions from place to place and constantly find them observing the seventh day Sabbath And though he solemnly professed He had not shunned to declare the whole counsel of God Act. 20. yet this great slighter of ceremonies never gives the least hint of a change which undoubtedly he would have done had it been any way altered Nay he strictly requires all beleevers to follow his example as he followed Christs and certainly in the observation of the Sabbath he followed Christ as close as in any Ordinance whatsoever Object There are conceits that Paul onely took that opportunity to preach to the people Answ But 1. They speak without book and fancy is no fuel for a Christians faith 2. They render this Apostle of the Gentiles a constant dissembler 3. They may as warrantably lay this crrime to Christ that he did but take such opportunities and not in conscience of the Sabbath for it 's proved that Christs custome herein is the very same with Pauls Such as assert that Paul onely observed the Sabbath among the Jews and not among the Gentiles may be better informed Act. 18.4 13.42 where it is evident That when the Iews were gone out of the Synagogue the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached the next Sabbath Here the Apostle had the fairest opportunity that possibly could be desired in the Jews absence to instruct the Gentiles in a first day Sabbath if ever such a change had been intended for why should publick preaching be deferred till the next seventh day Sabbath especially to the Gentiles if the first day had been a Sabbath The Apostles silence at this time and occasion will not allow any rational conjecture of such an intention of a first day Sabbath But here it is objected Object That the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth the week between or Sabbath between 1. I demand between what Answ The fairest conjecture is that the Gentiles might beseech Paul to preach the Sabbath between their desire and his departure and without some such supposition this translation of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 will scarce be good sense 2. If we may rely on the schollarship of Arius Montanus who was a professed enemy to the seventh day Sabbath he will tell us 't is sequens Sabbatum the following Sabbath 3. However this is manifest Act. 13.44 that the next Sabbath day Paul did p each and either it was in answer to the request made or else if the Gentiles desired him to preach to them on some week day and yet the Apostle deferred it to the known Sabbath day this will much more abundantly testifie his special respect to the seventh day Sabbath So that beyond all contradiction the Apostle and the Christians with him did as constantly observe the seventh day Sabbath as Christ himself and if none other ground next to Gods command be given us why they did so but that we should be followers of Paul as he was of Christ we must either press after our pattern or resolve to rest in disobedience to so great a Commandement Me thinks ingenious saints should even read Christs confirmation of the seventh day Sabbath in the Apostles practice for undoubtedly such as Pauls constant custome was such was his Commission It was not onely in the Lords Suppet that Paul delivered the same to the Church by precept or president which he received of the Lord but his constancy was equal in observing the Lords Sabbath as the Lords Supper 1 Cor. 11.1 2. and in requiring the same Church in the same Chapter to follow him as he followed Christ in all things There is a heavenly haâ—mony between Christs commission and Pauls custome both in the observation of the Lords Supper and the Lords Sabbath And seeing it is so manifest that Paul and the saints with him did constantly observe the known seventh day Sabbath both amongst Jews and Gentiles and that the blessed spirit gives us none other reason of Pauls custome but that we should be followers of that blessed Apostle even as he also was of Christ set us not coin or invent reasons without book of the Apostles constant observation of the Sabbath to justifie our own prophaneness but bethink our selves what we shall answer in the day of judgement when it shall be set fairly before us that as it was Christs custome to observe the Sabbath even so it was Pauls custome with his companions punctually to tread in the same steps and since the Spirit of truth never gave other reason why the Apostle did so but that we should follow him as he followed Christ in this divine duty which is so plain possible peaceable evangelical unrepealed Ah Christian ask thy conscience if thou canst judge this a sufficient answer for thy weekly pollution of the seventh day Sabbath That thou badst thought Paul had onely practised it to please the sews when it will appear plainly that he did it purposely for a pattern to the Gentiles And that thou mayest be utterly silent and for ever left without excuse take notice if thy spirit be not too much prejudiced and thy heart hardened against this truth that one of the fairest patterns of the Apostles for Sabbath-keeping was set before these very Gentile Corinthians whom he so strictly enjoyns to follow him as he followed Christ For in their famous Citie it was that the blessed man abode and preached in the Sinagogue EVERY Sabbath day Acts 18.1 3 4. and perswaded the Jews and the Greeks If any should contend that I term that preaching here which is translated reasoning let them mind that the word is the very same which is rendred preaching Acts 20.7 Well to these Greeks he gives that pattern which he commands them to follow and truly Christian out best way will be to walk with them in the same narrow path to new Jerusalem especially seeing their Epistle is expresly directed to us 1 Cor. 1.2 with 11 1. as well as to them Under this fourth point of the Saints observation of the seventh day Sabbath next to the Apostles constant custome I shall offer the practise of the purest times as the best anâ—iquity affords And in the first place that blessed Clement whose name is written in * Phil. 4.3 the book of life and himself now in glory instructs us in that undoubted Epistle of his to the Corinthians How God hath ordered that oblations and other dutie of his
inflame our affections for hence we shall behold the sheaf of first fruits waved and that Lamb without spot so fairly sacrificed in our blessed Saviour as will make every Babe in Christ a sufficient Arithmetician in numbring the fiftie dayes to finde out the seventh day Sabbath Lev. 23.9.15 So Diodation Lev. 23. The institution of this Feast of Pentecost is recorded by Moses who from God appointed Israel to bring on the morrow after their Passcover Sabbath a sheaf of of their first fruits to bee waved by the Priest before the Lord and to offer the same day a Lamb without blemish to the Lord. Deu. 16.9 And from that very day to count seasen Sabbath or Weeks and the morrow after the seventh Week was the Feast of Pentecost or the fiftieth day And this numbring of seven Weeks or fifty dayes is still observed by the Jews who every night when the starres arise Chilm p. 132. Ross view 300. 1 Cor. 15.23 say a prayer and conclude To day are so many dayes past of the Omer And here let the Believer who sees all types ended in Christ with confidence behold his dying Redeemer as the undoubted sheaf of first fruits waved upon the Cross by the crucifying Priests the very morrow after he had eaten the Passeover and for the Lamb without blemish to be offered the same day behold the spotless Lamb of God taking away the sins of the world And after admiration of this compleat Saviour in whom all these misteries which point out this true Messiah are fully accomplished Let us number fifty dayes or seven full Weeks according to the rule that is Lev. 23.15 16.11 c. from the day that the sheaf and Lamb were offered Now our sheaf of first fruits and Lamb without spot is known to every Babe to be offered up on the sixth day of the Week commonly called Good-Friday from which day we must number fifty dayes or seven full Weeks and the morrow after the seventh Week is the fiftieth day called Pentecost and because we have been so long deceived of our true Sabbath by Antichrist and that his Image would still perswade us his Whitsunday is the day of Pentecost I shall take the tender Lambs of Christ by the hand and if they have no readier Arithmetick let them but take an Almanack and number seven weeks or fifty daies and see with their own eyes whether the fiftieth day be the seventh day Sabbath from the day that our sheaf of first fruits and Lamb without spot was offered As thus Good Friday so called is the known day from which we must begin our account of seaven compleate weekes or fifty dayes and the first of these fifty daies is Saturday as Heathens term it and the following Friday is the end of the first week which makes seven compleat daies The second Friday is the 14th day The third Friday is the 21th day The fourth Friday is the 28th day The fifth Friday is the 35th day The sixth Friday is the 42th day The seventh Friday is the 49th day Making up seven compleat weeks And the fiftieth day being the morrow after the seventh week must undeniable be granted the Worlds Saturday and the Saints seventh day Sabbath upon which Sabbath the Apostles were assembled with one accord in one place Acts 2. when the eternal Spirit gave full testimony to that Royal solemnitie with the highest approbation that ever was given to any assembly of Saints and the unspotted Virgin-spouse of the Lambe did sweetly celebrate the most glorious Sabbath that ever Church enjoyed for here heaven and earth accord mutually inviting each other Here the promised Spirit saith come with his quickening motions inviting the Saints to assemble themselves upon his holy Sabbath And here the lovely Bride saith come purposely presenting her self on Gods seventh day Sabbath in expectation of this glorious power from on high What then should hinder the desired inspiration Christs promise is engaged his saints are solemnly assembled in a season sanctified their unanimous supplications are continued Acts 1.14 their hopes are heightened and down comes the eternal Dove with a sudden sound from heaven as a rushing mighty wind filling the house and furnishing all their hearts with Divine abilities to publish the Gospel of Christ to all Nations under heaven Thus while the saints are acted by the spirits operation the seventh day Sabbath is crowned with the highest approbation thousands this day were convinced converted baptized incorporated and with transcendant joys transported feeding like Lambs in fresh pastures closing this blessed seventh day Sabbath with the incomparable feast of the Lords Supper and sacramental union into one entire body by breaking of bread O what a day of wonders is the Lords true Sabbath instituted in Eden advanced at Sinai owned and crowned by Christ and thus highly approved by his spirit in Sion A day of marvellous mysteries a day of manifold mercies Was ever day honoured like Iehovah's Sabbath the Lord Iesus's Sabbath the Holy Spirits Sabbath which therefore must be the Saints Sabbath I have been the more exact and free even to the shallowest capacity in opening these mysteries that Christians may clearly discern the deceits of the little Hom in changing Times as well as Laws perswading poor souls to live by an implicite faith in taking his Whitsunday upon trust for the day of Pentecost as is still pressed by Parish preachers to shuffle off the renowned seventh day Sabbath But some seeing they can no longer delude the people it being so apparent that the day of Pentecost was the very seventh day Sabbath yet devise to detain them longer in disobedience objecting Object That though the day of Pentecost was the Sabbath yet the Saints assembled upon the other days as appears Act. 1.14 Answ It 's indeed declared that they continued with one accord in prayer but it 's not assertted they were constantly together in one place 2. 'T is not likely they did watch all those ten nights and as improbable that they all lodged together 3. But this is manifest That very early upon the fiftieth day they were unanimously solemnly assembled in one place which is not affirmed in that solemn manner of the other days neither was any day like this honoured with the glorious presence of the Holy Spirit This Sabbath was the first honoured with the conversion of souls this and no day before did they break bread together yea many signal tokens of Divine approbation have beyond all dispute advanced the glory of this day above all other days But 't is further objected Object That the ceremonial day of Pentecost is as much honoured as the seventh day Sabbath 1. Answ The Apostles might observe Pentecost as a ceremony not yet buried yet undeniably they would much more honour the Royal Sabbath No ceremony was ever esteemed like the Law of ten Commandements 2. This objection was never made against Whitsunday till the glory of Gods Sabbath discovered
worship Clem. first Ep. to Corin. p. 21. be preformed according to the APPOINTED SEASONS not as it happens and disorderly but at SET TIMES and houres they therfore that perform their oblations according to the APPOINTED TIMES are accepted and blessed Here observe how this blessed Minister of Christ seconds the Apostle in labouring to reform that great disorder amongst the Corinthians who came as they listed to the Lords Supper some sooner some later whence sprang that confusion transgression and wofull desolation amongst them 1 Cor. 11.20 21 29 30. Wherfore he informs them and us that our oblations or sacrifices of praise are not to be performed at our liberty but that the Lord himself hath ordered and appointed set times and hours which undoubtedly is the sum of the Apostles mighty charge to Timothy That he should be instant in preaching in season out of season And the holy Clement assures us that in observing the appointed seasons we shall be accounted blessed Now what these appointed seasons and time are that this great God hath ordered his Saints should observe the same elect vessel declares in these words Epist Const l. 7. c. 24. You must keep holy the Sabbath in memory of the Creation and the Lords day in memory of Christs Resurrection Certainly this ancient Disciple of Paul did clearly understand these daies to be ordered and appointed of the Lord and since a person so assuredly sanctified would not deceive us Let us follow Clement also as he followed Paul and not think two daies time too much for our souls whiles we have more then twice as many for our bodies Another famous Disciple of the Apostles and holy Martyr of Jesus even that heavenly Ignatius teacheth the very same doctrine in this Dialect Next after the Sabbath day let every friend of Christ make the Lords day a solemn Festival And the same holy man ad Philip shews his his detestation of Sabbath pollution saying If any one shall keep a fast on the Lords day or on the Sabbath day Ignat. ad Magn. let him be accursed Certainly he that shews such indignation against those that pervert the Law of the Sabbath from a Feast to a Fast would much more abominate those that turn it from spiritual delight to corporal labour Thus were these two appointed days honoured in the Virgin state of the unspotted Spouse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Germani fratres like lovely twins or natural brethren the one born at the Creation the other at the Redemption of the world But in the third Century man took upon him to be more spiritual then his Maker and some parts began to be infected with Origens allegorical Divinity taking liberty to prophane the seventh day under pretence of keeping a mystical Sabbath by cessation from sin while they lived in the manifest sin of slighting the Sabbath So that the mistery of iniquity gâ—t ground by this mistical notion making way for the rising of the presumpâ—uous little Horn to change Times and â—â—aws till at last he prevailed with the Emperour abolishing the seventh day Sabâ—ath by a Decree to establish the Lords day or first day of the Week Eusâ—b vit Constant l. 4. c. 17. for the great hoâ—y day appointing a set form of Latin prayers to be used upon it And this was done the 330. year after of out Redemption But maugre this presuâ—â—ptious decree many pretious Churches still devoted themselves both daies to Gods honour as is evident in that of Ambrose Sacrum l. 4. c. 6. Upon the next day saith he being the Sabbath and after that on the Lords day I will treat of the order to be used in praier And I wish I could intreat all that read this holy resolution to resolve to walk in the same order and reject those Romish abominations as Rome rejected the Christian custome of saints witnessed by Socrates four hundred years after Christ Though saith he in manner all the Churches throughout the world do celebrate and receive the holy misteries every Sabbath day after other yet the people inhabiting Alexandria and Rome of an old tradition do not use it Socrat. scholast l. 5. c. 21. The Egytians adjoyning to Alexandria use to celebrate the communion upon the sunday Here you may see how long the Saints honoured Gods Sabbath for the generality of Christians almost throughout the world did then communicate in the highest misteries of the body and bloud of our Redeemer upon the Sabbath day whiles onely the apostatizing Church of Rome with some few of her adherents did communicate upon the sunday so called Now which of the examples we should follow the good Lord help us to consider though me thinks it might easily be determined if we well weigh the pattern in the Mount where wee finde the first pure Church breaking bread upon the seventh day Sabbath Acts 2. I may not omit another instance of the same authentick Author 404. years after Christ who being one of the best Historians we can boast of thus writeth Wherefore when the festival meeting throughout every week was come Socr. schol lib. 6. cap. 8. I mean saith he the Saturday and the Sunday upon which days the Chrâ—stians are wont solemnly to assemble in the Church Since therefore this was the Saints custome through those purest times even 400. years after Christ why should not we also be followers of Christ and his Scripture Spouse with them Especially if we consider that unto this very day those Christians that have lived from under the power of Rome do constantly celebrate both these days It is the testimony of Mercator Heylin and other Historians of good account That the Aethiopians do constantly observe both the Sabbath day and the Lords day without doing any work according * Mercat hist. mun p. 827. to the ancient manner of the Christians This Aethiopia is described to be as large as all the Empire of Germany with France and Italy having threefcore and ten Kingdomes tributary their King is called Presbyter John exercising both the Legal and Ministerial functions It was their Queen who travelled so far to hear the wisdome of Solomon Matth. 12.42 and shall rise up in judgement to condemn such as wilfully refuse to wait upon the Lord of the Sabbath To this people did Gods spirit punctually fulfil that royal Prophesie Psal 86.31 Aethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands to God directing the Evangelist to instruct convert Act. 8.26 27 35. and baptize the Treasurer to another of their Queens so that the Noble Eunuch returning with joy into his own Countrey as their Histories inform us converted and baptized his Prince who with joynt endeavours spread the Gospel through those large territories likely to abide in the faith of Christ until his second comming according to the ancient Prophesie Zeph. 3.9 10. And thus I have faithfully performed my task in vindicating the ample authority of the seveuth day Sabbath as being Instituted by
see them no more and to give them an example to which he binds the Saints so that his deferring breaking of bread 1 Phil. 4.9 till after mid-night when the first day was more then finished shews plainly that this was no duty proper to the first day or in the least pointing it out for a Sabbath 4. 'T is strange that once mention of Preaching on the first day should be so stood upon when Paul's constant custome of preaching and praying upon the seventh day Sabbath with his company both amongst Jewes Acts 16.13.16 18.4 and Geneiles is not only slighted but opposed as no proofe of the Sabbath O how indulgent are poore creatures to brats of their own breeding A second Scripture is produced as though it favoured the change of the Sabbath because the Apostle gave order to some Churches for laying aside reliefe 1 Cor. 16.1.2 for the present necessities of the Saints in Judea upon the first day of the week But first Let it be considered that if this had been a Sabbath dayes duty the Apostle would not have omitted it either present or absent whereas he plainly declares his dislike of gathering at his coming and desires it may be then in a readinesse 2. The direction he gives for this collection shews evidently he intends no Sabhath dayes work for there is not the least hint of any assembly though custom hath prevailed so far with most I have met with that they frequently urge the Text thus Vpon the first day of the weeke when ye come together c. Though there 's no such word as coming together But let every one of you lay by * himselfe in store He doth not enjoyn them to a Church meeting nor to lay it before the Deacons as doubtlesse he would had there bin a Church meeting that day Let every one of you lay by himself in store That is at his own house in the poores box which truly every tender Christian should have alwaies with some stock by him for charitable uses 1 Tim. 6.17 Tit. 3.14 3. The Survey the Apostle exhorts every man to take of his owne estate that he may give thereafter doth notably overthrow the conceit of a first day Sabbath for he orders every man to lay something by himselfe in store As God hath prospered him that is according as his yearly revenue increaseth or his weekly trade proves more or lesse gainfull Now if the first day had been a Sabbath surely Col. 3.1 2. the Apostle knowing the pronenesse of our nature to mind earthly things from which he rouseth Saints would not have put upon them the consideration of their outward estates But Why should he have this done on the first day Answ It hath been clearly shewed that Pauls constant practice was to preach on the seventh day Sabbath and that it was the exact examplar Act. 18. he set before this Church of Corinth in particular they being the fruit of his Sabbath exercises who were enjoyned to follow him as he followed Christ So that if we can believe they walked in Pauls constant Practice in keeping the true Sabbath we may easily judge that Pauls Epistle was read in the Church at their solemne assembly on the Sabbath day and we may not doubt that the Teachers would stir up the people to liberallity upon the Apostles order and the rather seeing he closed his Epistle with it that it might sit close and warm upon their hearts and for as much as they were not like to be so well stored at present upon the Sabbath he would have it to be their first worke the very next day whilest the sweet sence of the Epistle and heavenly relish of Gospel Sermons and other Ordinances which they enjoyed the day before were yet fresh and divinely pleasant upon their spirits and before they lanched into the worlds weekly imployments which puts too great a damp upon our best purposes he would especially make choice of the first day of the Week and have them make it their first businesse next to the consideration of their abilities how God had prospered them in worldly goods to present unto God in secret by themselves the first fruits of their increase for the refreshing of Christs bowels and as anearnest of their duties towards him unto whom they owed all Thus with very good reason did the Apostle make choice of the first day for this duty But to assert the first day to be a Sabbath because the Apostle ordered every man by himselfe to lay up something for the poore Saints there being not the least mention of a Church-meeting that day and yet I say to assert that day for a Sabbath is altogether irrationall and utterly unscriptuâ—all The third Scripture abused about the supposed change of the Sabbath only speaks thus much That John was in the spirit on the Lords day but that this was any individuall day is uncertain Rev. 10. or if it were he sayes not what day it was and therefore we must enquire in some other Scriptures seeing they are able to furnish us throughly to every good worke and if the first day 2 Tim 3.17 shall any where in Scripture appeare to be called the Lords day let it weare the Garland as a day devoted to the Lord or designed by the Lord to be kept holy which yet I hope may be done without rejecting or prophaning the seventh day Sahbath But if the Scripture may be our guide it will inform us but of two dayes honoured as the Lords dayes And the first is the antient sanctified seventh day Sabbath royally dignified with that title of the Sabbath of THE LORD OUR GOD Isa 57.5 which is owned by the father for his holy honourable day and by the Son is expresly declared to he his Sabbath Mar. 2. ult The Son of man is Lord of the Sabbath and no other day declares he to be his throughout the Gospel So that the seventh day Sabbath and only that as an individuall and single day is honoured with this high title of the Lords day and therefore if John intends any single day 't is most like it was the Sabbath of the Lord that here he calls the Lords day But I rather think he spake of that other Lords day owned in Scripture as the Lords judgment day Mal. 14. Luke 17. Phil. 1.16.10 and this the Lord himselfe calls his day and this day was most clearly shewed unto John in many glorious visions and in the Spirit he was in this day for so runs the Greeke I was in the Spirit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 IN the Lords day But grant the first day should be here intended and called the Lords day yet how dare any avouch it to be the Sabbath day since we have not the least hint in Scripture to warrant it much lesse to reject the true Sabbath and set up the first day not only as the Lords day for Christians to rejoyce and to