expect Christs presence by his spirits influence in sanctifying his people in their holy exercises on that day Herevpon it grew a perpetuall Ordinance not first constituted by Apostolicke authority but seconded and followed by them in their practize as Acts. 20.7 and 1 Cor. 16.2 vpon which place Master Perkins iudiciously obserueth that Paul commanded nothing as an ordinance to bee obserued by the Church but what hee had from Christ But to make collection for the poore euery Lords day or first day of the weeke as a consequent or concomitant fruite of other Sabbath-duties as Preaching Prayer Sacraments was sayth he a constitution Apostolicke and so of diuine authority and therefore no meere humane institution And wee say that the ground and cause hereof was Christs Resurrection So as it is a grosse Solecime in Diuinity to admit an Institution to be Apostolicke yet to denie it to be of diuine authority Thus the first day of the weeke the Lords day grew to be the day of holy assemblies for Christians from that first day of the weeke wherein Christ rose againe and appeared to his Disciples as wee haue touched And from this spring did the auncient Fathers deriue the sanctification of this day as by so many continued streames of succession Saint Augustine sayth Dies Dominicus c. The Lords day was not to the Iewes Aug Ianuario Epis. 119. c 13. but to Christians declared by Christs Resurrection and from that began to bee kept holy And elsewhere Proepenitur dies Dominicus Sabbato c. The Lords day is preferred before the Sabbath by the fayth of the Resurrection Aug. Ca sulano Presbytero Ep. 86. not by the fashion of refection or licentiousnes of drunken mirth And againe Domini Resurrectio c. The Lords resurrection hath promised us an eternall day and consecrated to vs the Lords day And Ambros Dominica nobis c. De verbis Apost ser 15 To vs the Lords day is so honourable and sacred because in it the Sauiour as the sun arising dispelling infernall darknesse hath shined forth in the light of his resurrection And for this cause Ambros ser 61 this day of the men of the world is called Sunday because Christ the Sunne of righteousnesse arising did enlighten it But what neede we seeke a cloud of witnesses of men when we haue diuine Sarrs in Scriptures though shining in a darke place till the day did dawne which may giue vs sufficient light to direct vs to this day For first it is apparent that the seauenth day which was commanded the Israelites of the old Testament to celebrate for the Sabbath was giuen them in memoriall of their deliuerance from the Egyptian bondage as we noted before out of Deu. 5 15 And thus it was ceremoniall and subiect to be changed into another day to wit the Lords day which should succeede in memoriall of our Redemption and deliuerance from our spirituall bondage whereof that corporall was a type which Redemption and deliuerance was finished in Christs Resurrection and therefore who should haue power but Christ the Lord of the Sabbath to change the Sabbath into the Lords day Againe another remarkeable place we finde in Leu. 23.10 c. where the sheafe of the first fruits was to bee waued by the Priest before the Lord the day after the Sabbath This sheafe of the fruits was a pregnant type of Christs rising againe 2 Cor 15 20. Leui 23.11 the first fruits from the dead This sheafe was to bee waued the next day after the Sabbath and not else This was fulfilled in Christs resurrection whâ—ch was the day after the Sabbath and because this Sabbath was chiefely ment of the Passeouer which was a high Sabbath to be sure it was a double Sabbath the Sabbath of the Passeouer concurring together wherein Christ rested in the graue The very next morning was Christ the first fruites waued before the Lord when in the Earthquake hee rose from the dead the first fruites of them that sleepe This was the sheafe of the first fruites which was accepted for vs Rom 4 25 Rom 11.19 for he rose againe for our iustification And if the first fruites be holy the lumpe is also holy And the meate offring of this day was twice as much as vpon any other day euen two tenth deales whereas the rest had but one which is a matter worthy of heedefull obseruation This typed and signifyed some thing extraordinary as touching this dayes oblation And the offering was made by fire vnto the Lord for a sauour of Rest as the Hebrew hath it This prefigured the Rest of this day of the sheafe of first fruites of Christs resurrection And this rest had relation not onely to Christ who now had finished the worke of Redemption but also to all the Redeemed For from this very day of the sheafe of first fruites they were Leuit. 23.15.16 to reckon 7 Sabbaths or weekes compleate which inclusiuely containeth 50 dayes and so the seauenth first day of the weeke next after the Sabbath they must offer a new meate offering vnto the Lord. This was the feast of Pentecost which being fully come Act. 2. the Holy Ghost came downe visibly vpon the Church so fulfilling that typicall prophesie * Leuit. 23.17 or Propheticall type And this meate offring of loaues and the like being called also a first fruites vnto the Lord signifyed and prefigured that First fruits of the Church of the new Testament offered consecrated and sanctified vnto God that very day wherein the Holy Ghost descended For behold two waue loaues moulded vp of so many graines the one of the Iewes the other of the Gentiles both one offering being a collection of all the Nations vnder Heauen euen the Catholike Church representatiue were the first fruites vnto God and vnto the Lambe sanctified in Christ the first fruites These are those waue-loaues Isychius Praesbyt Hirrosol in Leuit 23 Planius ergo Legislator suam demonstran volens mentem ab altero die Sabbati numerari praecipit 50 dies Dominicum Diem proculdubio volens intelligi Hic enim est altera Dies Sabbati that are holy to the Lord for Christ eur High Priest Leuit. 23.20 and this offering became a sauour of rest v. 18. as wee shewed v. 13. noting still the rest of this day So as this selfe same day is solemnely proclaimed to bee an holy Conuocation Therein no seruile worke is to bee done this to stand as a statute vnrepealable Hereupon Isychius saith Therefore the Law-giuer willing more plainely to expresse his minde commanded them to reckon from the next day of the Sabbath 50 dayes thereby willing without doubt the Lords day to be vnderstood For this is that next day after the Sabbath For which cause sayth he the Holy Ghost came not downe in any other day of the weeke but in that day of the Resurrection wherein the sheafe of first-fruits was waued before the Lord. Thus we see
extreames and therefore to bee auoyded How then As the christians did in Iustin Martyrs dayes of old who sayth Die solis c. On the Sunday or Lords day Iustin Martyr Apol. 2. are the christians assemblies of Citizens and Countrmen where the writings of the Apostles and Prophets are first reade then when the Reader hath done the Master of the assembly the chiefe Minister vseth words of exortation his inuiting them to the imitation of things honest The richer sorte who are willing do contribute to the reliefe of the poorer euery man according to his mind and meanes and the Collecta or collections are deposited with the chiefe Minister he therewith succoureth the Orphans and poore c. This is that day wherein God created the world and Christ rose againe from the dead So hee And Saint Chrisostom vpon the Apostles words 1 Cor. 16.1 Behold sayth he How fitly the Apostle rayseth his exhortation from the consideration of this day of the weeke as being the fittest day wherin to exhort vnto almes as if the Apostle had sayd Remember what things yee haue obtained this day vnutterable good things yea the very roote and spring of our life stands in it Not that it is a fit day onely for giuing of almes but that it hath a rest and is free from worldly affaires and the mind being vacant from molestations is the apter more inclinable to mercy and it brings with it a great efficacy in the vse of the celestiall Ordinances And Saint Augustine Omni Die Dominico c. Euery Lords day come to the Church and spend not the day in pleading and brabbles and idle chat but with silence hearken to the word of God and pray for the peace of the Church and for the pardon of your sinnes c. And Bernard sayth out of Esay 58.13 He calleth the Sabbath sayth hee not onely a delight but he addeth holy and gloryous to the Lord. Nor let the Sabbath slipt away with sloth but in thy Sabbath worke the workes of God And in the Synodal Epistle of the second synod of Matiscon wee haue these words Custodite Diem Dominicum c. Keepe the Lords day which hath a new brought you forth and hath freed you from all sinnes as being that day wherein Christ rose for our iustification Let none of you bee vacant to minister fewell for suites in Law let none plead causes let none draw vpon himselfe such a necessity as to compell the cattell to beare the yoake .. Be all of you taken vp with hymmes in praysing of God being content in minde and body Let euery one hasten to the next Church their humble himselfe on the Lords day with prayers and teares Let your eyes and hands be all that day open to God For that is a perpetual day of rest that is made knowne in the law the Prophets being insinuated vnto vs by the shadow of the seauenth day Iust it is therefore that wee doe vnanimously celebrate this day by which wee are made that which before wee were not Let vs performe to the Lord a free seruice c. Not that the Lord requires of vs that wee should celebrate the Lords day with bodily abstinence but hee requireth our obedience by which trampling all terrene actions vnder our feete hee may mercifully lift vs vp euen vnto Heauen If therefore any of you shall slight or contemne this our wholesome exhortation let him know that for the quality of his demerit hee shall bee punished of the Lord and henceforth implacably vnder the sacerdotall indignation If hee bee a Lawyer hee shall bee dismissed of his pleading without recouery if a Country-man or seruant hee shall bee sore beaten with clubs if a Clearke or so hee shall bee suspended six months from his Fraternity c. And in the Councell of Dingelfing On the Lords day let men bee vacant for diuine rest and abstayne from worldly and profane businesse Hee that this day shall doe any worke about the Cart or otherwise let his oxen bee confiscate If he shall proceed on obstinately let him be made a bondslaue And Charles the great in his constitutions forbiddeth markets to be kept any where on the Lords day nor any seruile workes to be done therein We might bee infinite in such like instances of pious constitutions for the solemne and sacred keeping of the Lords day but let these suffice by the way Onely one thing remaines to bee resolued whether the fourth Commandement reach vnto seruants as well as vnto Masters of Families some would restraine the Commandement onely to Masters excluding seruants thus farr that in case a Master command his seruant any servill worke on the Sabbath or Lords day the seruant therein obeying his Master is not answerable to God as a trangressour of Gods Commandement but his Master onely is in the transgression for so commanding This is a strange piece of Logicke A Master in commanding his seruant transgresseth Gods Commandement and yet the seruant obeying his Master therein transgresseth not Doth not the case hold a like in other relations as betweene Prince and subiect spirituall Pastours and People yes say they But how Thus God say they hath commanded all men to honour their Parents the Parents of their Country stands in the first ranke-True who denies it But what followes there vpon This say they The Sonne of God hath commanded all Christians to heare the Church and vnder forfeiture of communion of Saints but they that deny the Canons of the Church or Edict of the Prince heare not the one honour not the other therefore they that transgresse eyther of these Constitutions transgresse also consequently though not immediately the commandements of God yet neyther of both are transgressed by seruants if they worke by their Masters commission and not of their owne electon for neyther doth the one Law or the other neyther the Canons of the Church nor Edicts of Princes giue liberty and warrant to seruants to bee rebellious to their Masters touching poynt of seruice that day more then others To this purpose they argue that deny the keeping of the Lords day to haue any dependance vpon the morality of the fourth Commandement Here be prege reasons which would not lightly be passed ouer Therefore a little to examine the mettle of these mens reasons first we must remember that not only on the Lords day seruants obying their Masters in deoing seruile worke therein are guiltles for so they haue euation for it by denying the Lords day to bee of diuine institution and rest therein to be any morall duty but they deny also that the fourth Commandement did binde any Iewes but onely Masters of familyes and not those vnder them For say they the Commandement was giuen onely to masters and not to seruants standing in relation to their masters in case they should impusote any seruile labour vpon them It is true the Commandement was giuen principally and immediately to masters that not onely
maintained by the labours of euery mans particular calling in which regard the externall condition of christians differeth not from that of Gods people in the former Testament our solemne keeping of the Sabbath is no lesse limited to certaine circumstances of time as one day of seauen then theirs was Nor is this a complying with Iewish ceremonies againe For their Sabbath was in part typicall but ours is now the true eternall Sabbath kept of christians according to Christs owne Ordinance attempering it to the condition of our present necessity who must as well worke for the good of our bodies Exod 31.13.7 as solemnely rest for our soules good And therefore Christs wisedome being the same with his Fathers and his owne in the first institution of a seauenth day keeps still the same proportion not altering the Commandement which sayth Six dayes shalt thou labour Only he hath altered the day because the typicall Sabbath must giue place to the true and eternall Sabbath which we now solemnly keepe on the first day of the weeke as it were the first fruites of our eternall Sabbatisme in heauen with Christ though our whole life otherwise is the true Sabbatisme begun Againe it is the market day of our soules wherein wee come to Gods house the market place Esay 55.2 to buy the Wine and Milke of the word without money or money worth How is that By hearing and harekning to Gods word that truth whereby wee are sanctified Iohn 17.17 and to pray vnto him thus by the Word and Prayer weare sanctified Esay 55.32 Harken diligently to me and eate that which is good and let your soule delight it selfe in fatnes Incline your eares and come vnto me heare your soule shall liue I will make an euerlasting couenant with you euen the sure mercies of Dauid Loe the sanctifying of the Sabbath or Lords day in a diligent vse of Gods Ordinances is the meanes whereby the mercies of Dauid are made sure vnto vs. And it is remarkeable how the Holy Ghost doth poynt out Christs Resurrection by alledging and applying this place of the Prophet Act. 13.34 as thereby not obscurely insinuating the sanctification of the day of the Lords resurrection by a diligent harkning to the word of God and reuerend vvsing of other diuine Ordinances duties of that day And were it not that the Lords day did succeede in place of the Sabbath the Sabbath day of the Iewes being abolished what time for the meanes of our sanctification saluation were left vnto vs were it not for the Lords day we should bee in a far worse case then the Iewes of old as being left without opportunity meanes of sanctification all which the Lords day ministreth vnto vs without this wee should haue no market day for our spirituall prouision merchandize of our soules wherein to buy the pearle of the kingdome and to supply all our spirituall wants And therefore the not well imploying and improuing our prouidence and diligence vpon this market day doth expose vs to that censure Why stand ye idle in the market place all the day long Such are they that eyther idle or trifle out the Lords day impertinently or such as prophane it with carnall pleasures as feasting and banketing a too common abuse especially among our greater Citizens also reuelling and ryoting playes and enterludes idle chat and communication dicing carding many such vnchristianlike prophane pastimes which Christians should beware of avoid all the dayes of the weeke yea all the dayes of their life much more on the Lords day wherein the foot of our carnall affections should be turned away from doing our pleasure on the Lords holy day calling the Sabbath a delight the holy of the Lord honourably honouring him not doing our owne wayes nor finding of our own pleasure nor speaking our own words This is to delight our selues in the Lord and so shall he cause vs to ride vpon the high places of the Earth feede vs with the heritage of Iacob for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it Otherwise if the due sanctification of this day be neglected farewell all true christianity If the spirituall prouision of this day be not carefully lookt after and brought in and locked vp and fitly disposed and distributed for all the weeke we shall with the Prodigall bring our soules to feed one empty huskes And for men to heare the word that day and when they haue done to goe home and not ruminate and conferre of it but to spend the rest of this day in idle or godlesse exercises what is this but as if a man should buy prouision at the market to serue himselfe and his family all the weeke and goe presently the same day and calling idle companions together spend and squander all vpon them at one sitting and so come empty home What shall we say then of the Papists that allow of their profaine markets this day and for spirituall commodities they haue none but such as are painted or giue an empty sound as their long Latine Matiens and Masses whereby they haue quite shouldered out the preaching of the word of God a faire pretence by long prayers to keep out preaching that scarce Sermons may take place in the forenoone muchlesse any at all in the afternoone least there should not bee time enough to make vp a Sabbath for Sathan which they consecrate to him in all kind of exorbitances and profuse carnality that soe they may be vacant for theaters and dancing as Aug speaks or for Cards Tables and reuelings as Leo speakes which is to keep the Sabbath of the golden Asse as Aug. cals it yea Sabbatum Satana Satans Sabbath for if it be not lawfull to doe the workes of our calling which on the sixe dayes are lawfull With what warrant can we do those things which are sinfull and therefore on noe day lawfull as not comming within the compasse of any Calling at all And if wee do any thing to which wee haue not a lawfull calling we are out of Gods Protection according to that Ps 91.11 who cōmands his Angels to keepe his Saints in all their lawfull wayes but if men goe astray in the by paths of carnall and vnchristian courses then Gods Angell is as ready with his sword drawn to cut them off as Ex. 4.24 Num. 22.23 A third reason and motiue to stirre vs vp to the more carefull and diligent sanctification of the Lords day may bee taken from the evill fruits and consequents which we see do grow from the neglect thereof For it is easie to obserue and it is an obseruation infallible that where the greatest profanation of the Lords day raigneth there all kinde of iniquity and impiety doth most abound among such a people Now where is this profanation greater then when Prayer together with the powerfull Ministery and preaching of the word and administration of the Sacraments are most neglected and scanted what maruell then if in such