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A93852 The royal law contended for, or, Some brief grounds serving to prove that the Ten Commandments are yet in full force, and shall so remain till heaven and earth pass away. Also the seventh day Sabbath, proved from the beginning, from the law, from the prophets, from Christ, from his apostles, to be a duty yet incumbent upon saints and sinners. / By a lover of peace with truth Edward Stennet. Stennett, Edward, d. 1690? 1658 (1658) Wing S5402B; ESTC R184622 38,860 48

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together on the first day of the week and did break bread and Paul taught unto them Act. 20. Answ This is all the meeting or preaching that ever we find was upon the first day except the disciples being together for fear of the Jews mentioned before that meeting was at evening so this seems to be because when they came together Paul preached with them and continued his speech until midnight it is not likely then that they observed the day and came together in the morning seeing he continued his speech so long And secondly as we have the cause of the disciples being together with their doors shut so we have the cause of this meeting Paul was ready to depart on the morrow vers 7. upon an extraordinary occasion Paul having many things to communicate to them as appears by his discoursing with them till midnight and talking till break of day vers 11. But that which makes the Objecters lay such stress upon this Text is because the disciples came together to break bread which they judge to be the Lords Supper Suppose it were so what doth this make for the observation of the first day more then Christs first instituting the supper upon the fifth day of the week as is generally conceived doth make for the observation of it But there is no proof that this was the Supper of the Lord that they came to pertake of but it seems to be such breaking of bread as the margin of some Bibles refers unto Acts the 2.46 They continued dayly with one accord in the Temple and breaking bread from house to house did eat their meat with gladnesse of heart So Luc. 24.30 35. And it is explained what breaking of bread it was vers 11. where it is said when he was come up again and had broken bread and eaten and talked a good while till break of the day he departed here is eating and talking it is not solemnized as the Supper of the Lord But some would have this common breaking of bread and the other in verse 7. to be the Supper it is very unlikely that here should be two sorts of breaking of bread at one time by the same persons and yet nothing spoke distinctly by which we might know the one from the other so that the most that can be said is but a supposition it cannot be proved that this was the Lords Supper And how weak a ground this is for the observation of this day as a Sabbath or more then any other day or to limite the administration of the Supper to this day I leave to the truly wise in heart to judge Obj. But the Church had their gatherings upon the first day of the week from which it appears that it was the day that they met together upon 1 Cor. 16.2 Answ The words are these Vpon the first day of the week let every one lay by him in store as God hath prospered him that there be no gatherings when I come Here is no proof for their meeting together but rather on the contrary every one of them was to lay by him in store as God had prospered him no publique gathering but private laying up but because the Apostle saith in the close of the verse that there be no gatherings when I come therefore it is thought the Scripture cannot be so understood because it would not prevent gatherings but is this fair when a Text of Scripture stands alone to put such a sense upon it as doth plainly contradict the very letter of it when it saith let every one of you lay by him in store then to say the meaning is to have publique gatherings and but one store and would not the end of the Apostle be fully answered namely to have no gatherings if each of them did lay by them in a store as God had prospered them in the world ready against the Apostle came they knowing of his coming and when he came was it not as easie to carry it with them to him as for us to carry our Bibles to a meeting and what need would there be then of gatherings And this way of giving would not be Pharisee-like but according to the words of Christ Mat. 6.11 Take heed that you do not your alms before men to be seen of them otherwise you have no reward of your Father which is in Heaven but when thou doest thine almes let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doth vers 3. that thine almes may be in secret and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly ver 4. Obj. But John was in the spirit upon the Lords day and had that glorious revelation upon it which is conceived to be the first day of the week Rev. 1 10. Answ It is true John was in the spirit on the Lords day but the question will be what day that was if any one of the seven it must be the Sabbath for no other day is so called but it God calls it his Holy Day Isay 58.13 and Christ saith he is Lord even of the Sabbath day and if so then it is his day for he is Lord of it and that by way of eminency not as some would have it to shew that he is Lord of every day but as it is the Sabbath for so it is said the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath day So that this notion that the Lords day is the first day is meerly taken up on trust one from another without one word in the Scripture to prove it so Ob. But it wil be yet objected by those that are for no Sabbath from the words of the Apostle Col. 2.16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat or in drink or in respect of a holy day or of the new Moon or of the Sabbath days which are a shadow of things to come but the body is of Christ from whence it is concluded that the Sabbath was but a shadow The Apostle speaks here of such Sabbaths as were a shadow of things to come but the seventh day Sabbath was in commemoration of something past to wit the work of creation as appears in the Commandments and none are to be judged for not observing of it Answ There were Holy-dayes and Sabbaths besides the seventh day Sabbath or the Sabbath of the Lord thy God for so it is called in the commandment as doth appear in Levit 23.39 now because it is implyed in the words of the Apostle that Sabbaths were shadows and done away by the body of Christ doth it therefore follow that all Sabbaths were so any more then where the words of the Apostle implies that men shall be saved proves that all men shall be saved and if we consider the verses before it will plainly appear that the Apostle is not speaking of any of the Ten Commandments in the 15. verse the Apostle is speaking to the Gentiles shewing how they were dead in their sins and in the uncircumcision of their
and think upon his name lye down at his feet and cry earnestly for his spirit to lead you into all truth that you may not kick against the pricks in this chastising day wherein the Lord is teaching his people out of his Law and fitting them for the Kingdom of glory which is at the door Now the Lord is discovering every part and piece of Babylon that the Saints may know the better how to reward her but because the Saints begin to own the Lord as King and Law-giver the Dragon is wroth and knows that this will destroy his Kingdom and so would endeavour to perswade persons that the Law of God is abolished well knowing that if he could perswade them to abelief of this they will soon say there is nothing to be done till Christ come in person I would not make too large a gate to so small a City but shall hasten to a conclusion with a word to the little remnant that keep the Sabbath according to the Commandement Precious Brethren you are under great and precious promises for your encoutagement though your opposers are great and numerous I think often of what is said of Asher Deut. 33.24 25. Let Asher be blest with children let him be acceptable to his brethren and let him dip his foot in oyl his shooes shall be Iron and Brass and as is his dayes so shall his strength be Asher seems to hold forth the remnant that the Lord will use in the latter dayes to tread down the wicked withal and Ashers bread shall be fat yea he shall yield Royal dainties Gen. 49.20 and if you my Brethren fulfil the Royall Law according to the Scripture ye shall doe well though your Brethren frown upon you at present yet you shall be acceptable unto them and what if your work be difficult if your strength be sutable you need not complain you may tread upon Scorpions if your shooes be Iron and Brass your feet will be like Hinds feet if they be dipt in oyl which will cause you to run without wearinesse and walk without fainting So he prayes Who is only through grace a servant of CHRIST though unworthy to be so called EDWARD STENNET Some Brief Grounds serving to prove that the Ten Commandements are yet in ful force and shall so remain till Heaven and Earth passe away FIrst The matter of the Ten Commandements was written in the Heart of Adam before his fall as doth appear Gen. 1.27 God created man in his own Image in the Image of God created he him Eccles 7.29 God hath made man upright but he sought out many inventions And the Apostle plainly asserts that the Gentiles which had not the Law in the letter of it did by nature the things contained in the Law which sheweth the work of the Law written in their hearts Rom. 2.14 15. Now if the Gentiles had the work of the Law written in their bearts in their sinful state doubtless they had it in more perfection in their state of innocency as considered in Adam for the letter of the Law was added because of transgression Gal. 2.19 Now if there were transgression before the letter of the Law was added that implies there was a Law before and in that the letter of the Law is said to be added it implies that the matter of it was in being before but much worn out by sin and that is one reason why the Lord was pleased to add the letter Let it be considered how it can stand with Scripture or right reason that Jesus Christ should abrogate this Law did Christ blot out this Law out of the hearts of all men by his death Rom. 2.15 then all men have not the Law of Nature to guide them for we cannot be so gross as to imagine that the Law is put into their hearts upon a new account for that were to bring all men under the new Covenant 2. God spake all these Commandments unto the people and they heard his voice Deut. 5.22 23 24. with great Majesty and Glory and he added no more and he wrote them upon two Tables of Stone and delivered them unto Moses all which holds forth their perpetuity they are spoken by God they are wrote by him in Tables of Stone so was never any Ceremony Job desires that his words were graven with a pen of Iron and Lead in a rock of stone for ever Chap. 19.24 3. After the first tables were broke which I suppose did signifie the Israelites breaking of the first Covenant for Moses brake them upon that account Behold the Ark as it stands under the mercy feat they having made a Golden Calf and so had broke the Commandement Moses was then commanded to hew two Tables like unto the first and God wrote the same words again upon them Deut. 10.1 2 3 4. and they only of all the Laws were put into the Ark and when the Ark is set in its proper place between the Cherubims there is nothing in it but the two Tables 1 Kings 8.9 Now the Ark was a Type of Christ and the putting the Law into it did signifie the putting of it into the heart of Christ Psalm 40.6 7 8. Thy Law is in my heart and from thence they are transcribed into the hearts of the seed of Christ according to the new Covenant Jer. 31.33 Where God promises to put his Law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts Now what Law is this that must be put in the heart when the Law of sacrifice is abolished Heb. 10.6 7 8 9. compared with that forementioned in the Psalmes that this is the Law that is here spoken of is manifest if we consider first how proper and suitable it is for the heart of a believer Paul calls it the Law of his mind Rom. 7.23 and in 22. he professeth he delights in the Law of God after the inward man and God saith he will put his Law in the heart and write it there 2 Cor. 3.2 3. both which phrases hold it forth to be the same Law that was wrote by God and put into the Ark mans heart is the Tables and God himself is the writer the matter written is the Law and hear what Wisdome saith to this Prov. 7.1 2 3. My son keep my words and lay up my commandements within thee keep my commandements and live and my Law as the apple of thy eye bind them upon thy fingers write them upon the table of thine heart Now what Laws are these but the Table-Laws which were then in being and Wisdoms son is to have them writ upon the fleshly Tables of his heart 4. When God promiseth to exalt his first-born higher then the Kings of the Earth and that his Covenant should stand fast with him Psal 89.28 29. and that his seed should endure for ever and his Throne as the dayes of Heaven yet he saith If his Children forsake my Law and walk not in my judgments if they
and the Gentiles besought him that these words might be taught to them the next Sabbath vers 42. And the next Sabbath came almost the whole City together to hear the word of God vers 44. So that its clear that the Sabbath was Pauls resting day and preaching day both to Jews and Gentiles that being the day that the Gentiles used to hear and though they had a desire to hear the same words again yet it must be next Sabbath and Paul fulfils their desire and preaches to them the next Sabbath and almost the whole City came to hear Can we think that if there had been no Sabbath that Paul would have countenanced them so in their ignorance Or if the first day had been a day that were observed would he not have told them so and that they might have heard the word before the next Sabbath And when Paul came to Philippi a Gentile City mind what is said Act. 15.12 13. We were in that City abiding certain days and on the Sabbath day we went out of the City by a river side where prayer was wont to be made and we sate down and spake unto the women that resorted thither The seventh day hath its title still as is said by the spirit in the Acts speaking of certain dayes this is singled out and called the Sabbath day with an account how they spent it and the blessing they received upon it they resorted to the place of prayer and there they preached and Lydias heart the Lord opened to attend to the words of Paul And in Act. 17.2 it is said That Paul as his manner was went in unto them and three Sabbath dayes reasoned with them out of the Scriptures And when Paul came to Corinth which was a Gentile City he found Aquila a Jew and his wife Priscilla and because they were of the same craft he abode with them and wrought for by their occupation they were Tent-makers and he reasoned in the Synagogue every Sabbath day and perswaded the Jews and Greeks Act. 18.2 3 4. So that its manifest that the Greeks kept the Sabbath as well as the Jews and that though Paul wrought at his trade and made Tents yet he rested every Sabbath day and as we have an account how he spent his time namely in working at his trade so we have an account how he spent this time to wit the Sabbath Now if it be such a strong argument for the observation of the first day because Paul preached upon it once what is this for the observation of the seventh day that Paul did not only preach constantly upon it but where ever the Spirit speaks of it he calls it the Sabbath day without the least hint that so he did to condescend to the weakness of others And let it be shewed by the Scripture that the Apostles did countenance and own any shadow that was done away so as they owned and countenanced the keeping of the Sabbath and therefore we may follow the Apostles as they followed the Lord in this matter though we have not a express word that the Churches kept it And indeed I think I may say in this case as the Apostles said in another case that it would have been superflous for the Apostles to have told any people in their time that such or such a Church kept the Sabbath it being a truth not so much as questioned that we hear of but Jew and Gentiles both observed it But now I cease answering objections having spoak to those that are the most material of them that I have heard and I shall proceed to another ground 8. Consider the bondage and slavery that both man and beast would be in if this doctrine were received for truth would it no● how ever have this tendency to bring the world more into Atheisme For men would not allow themselves nor servants time to rest in nor to hear the word of God if they were perswaded that there were no Sabbath yea and the greatest part of Saints are left to the mercy of mercyless men most of them being children and wives and servants and they cannot challenge a day in seven nor a day in seventy as their right to rest upon and to worship the Lord in from any command of God if this doctrine be true that the Sabbath is abolisht and what is this but to bring a yoak of bondage upon us that neither we nor our fathers were able to bear we should not so much as take notice of the time how it goes in probability for the way of numbering is by sevens But some will say it is good to observe one day in seven if it be not a constant day that will be confessed for one to observe one day and another to observe another day others are for a seventh day to be constantly observed but why not the seventh day which God hath commanded for the seventh day is the Sabbath it plainly appears that there is something of the Table Law yet upon the Table of the hearts of most men though much worn out by much transgression for men generally plead to have one day in seven to rest in and yet because of custome they contend against this Holy Just Law of God that was made in mercy for man I am perswaded in my very heart and that not without good ground that if the seventh day had been observed as the first day is that no man that owns the Scripture would have questioned whether it ought to be observed or no or at least no opposition would have been made against it and when all is said custom and worldly interest are the two great things that stand in opposition to it 9. And lastly Consider those great and precious promises made to them that keep the Sabbath according to the inside and spirituality of it not that we are so to spiritualize it as to make void the letter but according to the letter as Christ doth for instance Ye have heard saith Christ it hath been said of old time thou shalt not commit adultery but I say unto you whosoever looketh on a woman and lusteth after her hath committed adultery with her in his heart Mat. 5.28 Now if it be adultery to lust doubtless it is to act and this is forbidden in the Commandment for the Commandment is thou shall not commit adultery but Christ unfolds this Commandment and gives such a sense of it as the Scribes and Pharisees understood not Again the sixth Commandment is Thou shalt do no murther and John saith Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer 1 Joh. 3.15 Now all murther was forbidden in the command but this was not understood to be murther but John opens the spirituality of the command and the same may be said of the fourth command Remember the Sabbath to keep it Holy all servile work is forbidden in it and that the Pharisees understood but they did not understand that works of mercy as curing the sick healing the diseased