bread called say they a Sabbath vers 7. Yea and to put the seven weeks or fifty dayes out of doubt these learned men do expresly declare in the same place the punctuall day of the Feast and of the moneth which begins our account even the second day of the Feast which is say they the 16th day of the moneth Nisan from which day were reckoned the fifty dayes ended at Pentecost reckoning that second day inclusively Here 's the most clear confession that the Sabbath leading to the account of fifty dayes is not the weekly Sabbath but that the morrow following the waved sheaf is the certain fixed 16th day of the moneth and begins the number of 50 days or seven weeks and on what day this 16th of Nisan fell at the death of Christ is clear for upon the 14th day of the first moneth at even Exod. 12.18 Coll. 2.16 17. Matth. 26. did our Lord Jesus who is the true body of these shadows punctually celebrate the Passcover and upon the morrow being the 15th day and commonly called good Friday was our first fruits waved by the Priests upon the Crosse So that the 16th day being the seventh day Sabbath must unavoidably begin the seven weeks or fifty dayes and this is easily known that the same day which begins the account must needs end it and be the true day of Pentecost Though this clear confession from the Sabbaths adversaries might suffice yet through strength from on high with demonstrations of the spirit and power I shall further produce three infallible proofs that the Apostles Pentecost was none other then the sanctified seventh-day Sabbath And this will be evident by Gods institution of a Feast for he assigned a certain day from which the number of fifty dayes began That Christ was punctuall in time see Mat. 27.55 56. Luke 22.35 John 8.20 and this day was the morrow of or after a certain Sabbath which must be punctually fulfilled in and by Christ as well in the Time as in the Type or else why was the time so precisely appointed and the fifty days so exactly to be numbred The morrow after this certain Sabbath will be readily known First by the sickles first entring the Corne Deut. 16.9 Secondly by the waving of the first fruits Lev. 23.11 Thirdly by offering the same day a Lamb without spot Lev. 23.12 The time when these shadows were all punctually fulfilled in Christ the body is abundantly manifest And first the certain day when the the sickle was first put to him Isai 53.8 to cut him downe the whole world knows to be that they call good Friday Luke 23.54 55 56. that is the sixth day of the week The day of the preparation before the 7th day Sabbath from which sixth day Gods account of the seven weeks begun by his appointment Deut. 16.9 Seven weeks shalt thou number unto thee begin to number the seven weeks from such time as thou beginnest to put the sickle to the Corne. Is it possible for any truth to shine more clearly Now either Mr. Jenison must deny what he grants pag. 38. That Christ was by the sickle of death cut down upon the sixth day of the week or else he must give glory to God by beginning to number the fifty dayes or 7 weeks from that time the sickle first entred our corn and cut him down by death from which day the holy Sabbath is the very first of the account and at the end of seven full weeks the same blessed seventh day Sabbath that began must needs end the fifty daies exactly upon the Apostles Pentecost Heb. 10.1 although the Law was not the very image of good things to come yet certainly this Sickle was a notable shadow in many particulars 1. It was put to the corn Deut. 16.9 which the Jews performed the night following the Passeover with great solemnity and just so was it fulfilled in Christ Ioh. 18.3 2. They were to cut down green ears Lev. 2.14 Hos 14.3 And even so our Saviour expounds himself the very day of his suffering Luke 23.31 when our green fir-tree was cut down 3. The green corn was bound as the Hebrew signifies Lev. 23.10 and brought to the Priests and so was our green plant Ioh. 18.12 13. 4. The green corn was to be dried by the fire Lev. 2.14 neither was this wanting to our first fruits Luk. 22.54 55. 5. It was to be beaten out of full ears Lev. 2.14 and just so was our Saviour served at full age Matth. 26.67 68. and 27.26.30 After the first fruits were thus fitted as the English Annotations shew on Levit. 23.10 they were upon the morrow of that Sabbath to be waved by the Priest Lev. 23.11 And this is the second infallible token what that Sabbath was namely the Passeover on the morrow of which Sabbath it was exactly accomplished in Christ by the crucifying Priest who waved him between heaven and earth upon the sixth day of the week from which day began the count of the Apostles Pentecost punctually beginning and ending upon the seventh day Sabbath The third infallible mark by which that Sabbath Lev. 23.11 15. is more then fully found was the Lamb without spot appointed to be offered the very same morrow of the Sabbath but this was such an infallible token to know the undoubted day wherein it was accomplished in Christ that Mr. Jeunison hath wholly and I doubt deceitfully omitted it And indeed it is impossible that any thing but wilful blindness should obscure the glory and stupendious eminency of that sixth day of the week whereon our Lamb without spot or blemish was offered Heb. 9.14 1 Pet. 1.19 from which sixth day begun the account of the Apostles Pentecost and as it began so it exactly ended on the seventh day Sabbath to its everlasting glory and the glory of him that sanctified it God blessed for ever Amen And thus while Mr. Jennison and his Informers affirm without one word of Scripture that the Sabbath from whence our reckoning arises Lev. 23.11 15. was the Jews weekly seventh day Sabbath I affirm with the most learned of this Age that it was not the weekly Sabbath but the first day of the Passeover Feast and I have fully proved by three infallible Scripture marks that the fifty dayes did at the death of our Redeemer most exactly begin and end upon the seventh day Sabbath Why blessed be Jehovah the Institutor of this Sabbath and glorified be Jesus the professed Lord of this Sabbath and for ever honoured be that excellent spirit who at the Apostles Pentecost most wonderfully owned and approved this same seventh day Sabbath as hath been convincingly proved by 1. The Sickles first entring our Corn. 2. The waving of our sheaf of first fruits and 3. The offering of our Lamb without spot And now unless Mr. Jennison can confute this precious point which I am sure is utterly impossible I must expect the speedy performance of his promise
fourth which is grounded upon Act. 20. Lash p. 18.19 His Arguments from Christs appearing pag. 2. and blessing pag. 15. c. depend upon the beginning of the Scripture day which alwayes begins at Even Exo. 12.18.19 Deut. 16.46 and so Christs non-appearing till the first day at Even makes rather against it Jer. 6.14 and so doth the famous examples of Father Son and Saints for in stead of the honour Master Jennison would put upon it pag. 17.18 1. The Father wrought upon it Gen. 1. and therefore we should be his followers as dear children Eph. 5.1 2. The Son travelled upon it Luke 24.13.15 And he hath given us example that we should do as he hath done John 13.15 3. Lash pag. 12 The Saints cast their accounts upon it 1 Cor. 16.1 2. and so may we Master Jennisons apprehensions of the year of Jubile are altogether impertinent since it is evident it was the year of Christs first Preaching Luke 4.16 and not of his Resurrection Neither doth Johns being in the spirit in the Lords day shew what day that was Page 13. nor any more prove the first day the Saints meeting time then his being in the spirit in the Isle of Patmos can prove Patmos their meeting place As for succeding ages they do as much justifie Easter-day as the first day of the week and as much may be conjectured for the one as the other Page 14. 27 from Psal 118. one command is worth 10000 suppofitions Christs birth-day bids fairest for it Luk. 2.10 11. But Ioh. 8.56 carryes it If any can discern the Saints assembling in 1 Cor. Page 19. Page 20. 16. as Mr. Jennison suggests it must be by some other light then Gods word The day of Christs greatest power prophesied Psa 110.3 was the Apostles Pentecost Act 2. with Luke 24.49 Acts 1.8 Though Master Jennison cannot see why the seventh day from the words Creation should rather be mans holy rest day Page 22 then the seventh day from mans own Creation yet through grace I and others can Exod. 20.11 For in six days Jehovah made the heavens and the earth and rested the seventh day wherefore Jehovah blessed the Sabbath day and sanctified it Mr. Lash p. 23 24. Jennisons Arguments against the certainty of the seventh day do equally strike at the certainty of his first day and to what end should he contend for any Sabbath if both were uncertain But my book of the Sabbath hath undoubted evidence of the seventh days certainty to which I refer my Reader where he shal not only find the certain day but the undoubted beginning of the day not at Master Iennisons midnight morning but the sixth day Evening Pag. 25. 35. Levit. 23 32. for doubtless our glorious Creator had finished his work before midnight yea the very ceremoniall Sabbaths because honoured with the Title of Sabbaths were to be celebrated from Even to Even which begins and ends at Sun-set Lash pag 36. Mar. 1.32 Deut. 16.6 as is fully evident from plain Scripture which needs no consequence to confirm it yet do I not deny a fair deduction from Scripture but do utterly deny the setting up a first-day Sabbath by conceited consequence against the true seventh day Sabbath confirmed by clear command Or that any Ordinance of Christ was ever Instituted by consequence I shall never be condemned for omitting what was never commanded 1 Joh. 3.4 Rom. 4.15 as first day and Infant Baptism For sin is the transgression of some Law and where no Law is no transgression It is not so as Master Jennison asserts Lash p. 25.26 That if the seventh day appointed in the Royal Law be the Christian Sabbath that then all the Ordinances appropriated by the beggerly Ceremonial Law are still to be observed He that appointed double sacrifices for the Sabbath day as a Sabbath day enjoyned single sacrifices for week dayes as weekes dayes and as soon shall the week dayes cease to be week dayes as Jehavah's Sanctified seventh day shall cease to be the Saints Sabbath day Isay 66.21 Mal. 3 3. Isai 56.6.7 Heb. 10.5.6.7 and 13.16 Rev. 5.8 and as soon shall the mountain of Gods house be melted because made up of Priests and Levites as Gâ—ds Sabbath shall be subdued because mentioned with burnt-offerings and sacrifices He that accepts their persons for a Royal Priesthood will graciously own their Saviour and services for burnt-offerings and sacrifices And Mr. Lash page 27. Jennison may one day understand that Christ was never more active then in and after death Col. 2.14 15. And that when God brought his Son into the world then all the Angels did worship him Luke 2.14 Math. 4.11 But Heb 1 6 speaks not of his resurrection day nor Psa 118. of every first day of the weeke Page 28. nor were the disciples in a hopelesse condition till the first day was almost and altogether ended Luke 24. Lash pag. 29. Mark 16.13 14. As for Heb. 4. I have faithfully expounded it in my book of the Sabbath and whereas Mr. Jennison saies the word Sabbatism denoteth not any dayes rest Mr. Carter in his covenant will tell him it denotes the first day and I suppose he knowes the originall as well as Mr. Jennisons instructers But let the Lexicons and Dictionaries be examined whose authors were equally ignorant of the true Sabbath and they will inform that the word Sabbatism signifies the Celebration of the Sabbath or a day of rest But Mr. Jennison is quite mistaken in applying to the rest mentioned in the other verses Lash p. 31 Heb. 7.27 9.26 10.10 for they are all of them an other different greek word and it is utterly untrue that he saies Christs sufferings ceased not at his death and that the holy womans celebrating Sabbath was not after Christs sufferings Luke 23. for when he once died he bequeathed his spitit to God and entred into rest Luke 23.46 Act. 2.26 If the 4th commandement be given to the Gentiles as Mr. Iennison confesseth I am sure it commanded nothing but the sanctifying of the 7th day Sabbath which is to continue for ever and ever Lesh p. 32. and 32. Ps 111.7 8. Mat. 5.18 even till heaven and earth passeth away and so was it never said of circumcision nor first fruits As to that of Col. 2.14.16 I am sure it doth not so much as mention the seventh day if it oppose any thing in the 4 th commandement it must be the Sabbath it selfe which Mr. Jennison will not say But I have fully proved it toucheth not the Royall seventh day Sabbath at all which Mr. Jennison doth not answer Lash p. 34. As to Mr Ienisons assertion that the day begins with morning he doth not onely oppose New-England principles but the order of God himselfe Gen. 1 who placed the evening before the morning And Mark 14.30 is pregnant for it for the
14th day at even when the Passover was eaten was the beginning of the fifteenth day as is confessed by the learned commentators Anot. Lev. 23.5 Lash p. 37. and is plain Exod. 12.18 19. and however Mr. Jenison termes it a shuffle to say the first fruits were offered the morrow of or after the Sabbath Amsworth and yet this morrow was the Sabbath it seife he termes not me but Moses if not God himselfe the shufler who plainely calls the 15 th day of the first moneth the morrow after the Passeover when they came out of Egypt yet the very same night of eating the Passeover departing out of Egypt was the beginning of the 15th day Numb 33.3 Exod. 12.18 19. If this be marvellous ignorance as Mr. Jenison termes it I am content to be so sensured by him whilst I have learned Ainsworth Diodati the English commentators Moses and God himselfe to bear me out in it lash p. 38. And that Saviour who is Lord of the Sabbath Sabbath will reckon with Mr. Ienuison for his hard speeches Lash p. 38 39. for we shall seek none other Saviour but he who commands the keeping of his Sabbath Mat. 24.20 As to the judgement of God upon the Prelates indeed it is most just for their opposing the morality of the Sabbath and let those who assert it that sleight it expect the next Vial. I have seen variety of judgements even to astonishment upon rejecters of the revived seventh day Sabbath which in my Reply to the next book which I hear is in the Press I may possibly have more leisure and just ground to particularize The Stress of the Controversie AFter this brief yet full Confutation of Mr. Iennisons inferiour Arguments I find him in my entrance upon the Apostles Pentecost which he concludes the main Stress of the Controversie labouring under two very gross mistakes Act. 2. Lash p. 3. The first is a strange conceit that the first fruits enjoyned Lev. 23.11 was to be ripe corn and upon this his mistake he renders the day of reaping uncertain p. 4. 10. according as Harvest came sooner or latter and so runs on in reckoning the fifty daies or seven weeks at randome to fasten the Apostles Pentecost to his First-day Sabbath whereas the Scripture requires not ripe corn but green ears * Lev. 2.14 Exod. 9.31 Deut. 16.12 Exod. 23.14 such as the field afforded at their going out of Egypt in Memorial whereof these first fruits were appointed and Gods Israel prohibited to eat thereof until this homage were performed This foul fault in the entrance of his account of fifty daies must needs be ill in the end His second intolerable mistake Lash p. 9. which hath nothing to save it from high blasphemy but gross ignorance is his confident assertion that the feast of first fruits was not at the end of the weeks but at the beginning yea and chargeth it as a very great mistake to say the Feast it self was not till the end of the weeks This Charge flies in the face of God himself who hath thus expressy spoken by his servant Moses Also in the day of the first fruits when ye bring a new meat-offering unto the Lord AFTER YOVR WEEKS BE OVT ye shall have an holy Convocation Numb 28.26 with Lev. 23.2.4 ye shall do no servile work This was that holy Convocation Act. 2.1 2. called in Greek Pentecost whereon the bread which was made of the Sheaf or â—nâ—er waved Let. 23.11 was to be again waved before the Lord as the first fruits Lev. 23.17 20 21. I shall not henceforth wonder at Mr. Iennisons error in his reckoning the seven weeks so as to make Pentecost fall upon his first day who can so confidently affirm that this Feast was in the beginning of the weeks and charge Moses with a very great mistake for recording it to be after the weeks were out Now touching that which he terms the main Stress of the Controversie between us Lash p. 3. we have both solemnly engaged before the world in print casting as he saith our whole cause upon it That the day whereon the Apostles Pentecost fell * Act. 2.1 was and is that glorious day which the Saints did and ought to keep as their Sabbath And I desire no more but that he which shall shrink from this clear confession may be henceforth judged and deemed a deserter and profaner of the true acknowledged Christian Sabbath The fair discovery of this Question upon what day the Apostles Pentecost fell will be fully evident in the institution of the Feast Lev. 23.10 11 15. where Jehovah required Moses to speak unto the children of Israel and say unto them when ye be come into the Land which I give unto you and shall reap the harvest thereof then ye shall bring a sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest unto the Priest and he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be accepted for you on the morrow of the Sabbath for so is the Hebrew and so Ainsworth renders it on the morrow of the Sabbath the Priest shall wave it And what ever this Sabbath was this is plain that from the morrow following they were enjoyned to begin their reckoning of seven Sabbaths Lev. 23.15 16. which is expresly called seven weeks in Deut. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lev. 23. 16. and the Septuagint is the same in both places And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the Sabbath from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave-offering seven Sabbaths shall be compleat even unto the morrow after the seventh Sabbath shall ye number fifty dayes This Sabbath from whose morrow the account began is by Ainsworth Diodat c. called the Passeover Sabbath Lash p. 4. 5. 8. and Easter But Mr. Jenison is very angry with me for so speaking and yet from the bare authority of certain obscure Informers he confidently concludes that it was the Jewes seventh-day weekly Sabbath and so boldly begins upon the first day of the week to number the 7 weeks or fifty days so to make Pentecost fall Pat as he phraseth it upon his supposed first-day Sabbath I shall not with my small skill in the Hebrew presume to contend with his unknown informers who assures him that it can be no other then the weekly Sabbath yet I suppose modesty will even constrain both him and them to submit unto the information of the most profoundly learned which the long Parliament and Assembly could find for that eminent mark of the English Annotations upon the whole Bible whose Notes upon these very words Lev. 23.11.15 On the morrow after the Sabbath are quite contrary to Mr. Ienison and his informers who say it can be no other then the weekly Sabbath Their notes are these Not the weekly Sabbath English Annot. on Lev. 23. but the first day of the Feast of unleavened