sixth and seventh Days which Seventh day is called the Sabbath throughout the Scriptures how ever that may seem to the Doctor I make no Scruple to call the Days of the Week by the same Names as the Lord calls them and if the Doctor will retain the old Idol Names without Scruple notwithstanding his own acknowledgement whence they are and notwithstanding the Word against them I cannot help it and it seems to me the most subtile of those who are so fond of holding fast the Idol Names of Days do doubt the consequence of laying them aside as if it might by degrees introduce both true Names and Things What is said p. 68. 69 70. upon the occasion of Scruples about Spiritual Worship and Worshipping in Spirit and in Truth I think does much concern all that fear God But because he does not speak out directly but only falls upon Scrupulosities and Shadows and Circumstances seemingly though I think it pretty plain what he reflects upon I shall reply but a little to that and do refer the Reader to the Enquiry p. 32. where he may find in few words what I think from the second Command besides many other Scriptures of Forms of Worship Graven Printed or Written and not instituted by the Lord but invented And in Reply to another I think Luke 11. 2. compared with Matth. 6. 5 6 7 8 9. about the Lords Prayer that the same Cautions of into thy Closet shut thy Door and in secret and in secret c. Matth. 6. 6. do refer to and explain Luke 11. 2. By which Cautions I think he should be governed and Enquiry p. 32. he may see what I think from Eph. 5. 18 19. Col. 3. 16. about singing all which and much more some may count little things Scruples and causeless Scruples nice Speculations and needless Scrupulosities whereby as such may pretend men are diverted from the Substantials of serious Religion and spiritual Worship which I think are very hard Reflections Now I doubt that not only the Romish World but some others not of that way as far as I can discern are yet at some distance from their Duty in those cases who are held to the Frames wherein they walk by the Authority of Men and who for years past have taken a liberty to comply with the Worship of the Country where they live and take all down without chewing as they find them and so I doubt esteem those who differ from them who upon the most diligent Search and long Experiance Worship God as they think according to the Word as scrupulous and as standing for little Circumstances and Shadows and so Conscientious Lively Spiritual Worshipping as but Shadows and not substance of Christian Worship and such Worshippers as diverters of others from serious Religion many of whose Rods do yet bud and blossom and bring forth Almonds which if God so please I shall be heartily glad to hear of their Rods who reflect upon them Which little Circumstances and Shadows as they are called do not at all as some pretend influence the substance of spiritual Worship but are meer scruples and minute things and here it seems we have some thoughts of spiritual Prayer c. as before of Preaching And thus the very Life and Power of Christian Worship is as I think reflected upon by some who have Frames of right Worship 2 Tim. 3. 5. and some of them correct Frames that is who have a way of Worship which has some similitude or likeness to right Worship who change their Glory for that which doth not profit and drink the Waters of other Rivers instead of Living Fountains between which several Waters there is an internal difference as great and manifest as there is between good wholesome running and living Springs and dead Water which may be some short and weak Reply to the Reflections before mentioned And if it were not to avoid offence I had written and might write more on this subject which so much concerns all Mankind certainly to know how to Worship Jehovah aright and which for all Mankind Ministers and others old and young who have the Scriptures of the Old and New-Testament and common Sence and can speak and are by Grace made willing is demonstrably as easie to be put in practice without Crutches and to be taught even to Children without more adoe as for such to be taught for just Reasons to speak for any thing they stand in need of and would desire another in whose power it is to give unto them And upon this occasion I had thought on some Lines about Swearing to a Point and about abjuring Endeavours whether lawful peaceable and honest Praying and Preaching Endeavours be excluded but to avoid offence have crossed them out And to return Tho it be all one to the Doctor whether the days be called Saturday Sunday or Alpha Beta Gamma in this we differ a little he takes them as it seems as he finds them in the World and I take them as I find them in the Word and I know no principle amongst men which does so effectually answer and cure all blamable scruples and unquietnesses of Mind as a sincere Obedience to all the Wills of God which he that will do shall know John 7. 17. which I doubt taking all as one finds them though it may lull in security will never perform Pag. 66. He blames the whole of Judicial Astrology as precarious and only a Trick to amuse credulous People and make a gain of them which is truly blameable yet amongst two sorts of People is now very common As to what is said p. 68. about meeting once upon a Sabbath day besides Morning and Evening Worship c. I Reply that I think that most for the real Service of God and the Good of his People which God has directed in his Word which Rule unless some necessity intervene will be always found free from all Inconveniences and for that I refer the Reader to the Enquiry p. 83. 84. Almost all the Questions in these Papers depend much upon this Whether Man shall be allowed to be wiser then God Pag. 69. Whether to begin the Sabbath at Six or Twelve a Clock at Night he thinks a thing not worth contending about And if it be so small a thing not worth contending about Why does he not begin it when the Lord began it that is in the Evening one would think that none should differ with the Lord over all for a small thing and of so little worth when he has in his Word plainly told us his Will And tho he thinks it not much more whether on this or that day so the Sabbath be well kept I do not yet know what he means by well keeping but the words this or that day seem in him very indifferent to either and I doubt will make any Man of that mind very cold in well keeping it I think with the Doctor we are to avoid foolish Questions and to study things which
21 23. 1 Tim. 2. 8. God is a Spirit and his true worshippers did do and shall worship him in spirit and in truth And I know no colour now for the Holiness of Places for which yet as the Dr. p. 3. some are zealous I agree with him that Christmas is of Human Institution which I think he admits by the words so be it p. 3. which I think does also lay aside all other Holy Days which are but of Human Institution and p. 13. about Christmas the Doctor says It is not agreed amongst Chronologies either what Year or what Month much less what day of that Month our Saviour was Born yet he says we keep December the 25th in memory of his Birth as supposing him to have been then Born And p. 45. he says No Man at this Day knows what Day it was and p. 13. That we are at so great uncertainty as we reckon the Year 1692 from his Circumcision to begin the first of January and the same Year his Conception not till the 25th of March after as if his Birth and Circumcision had been a quarter of a Year before his Conception And so the Doctor leaves those days If I mistake not utterly uncertain In p. 12. he tells us The Pascal Tables which should direct us what day to keep Easter on do put us further out then if we had none at all I agree with the Doctor p. 2 3. that our Lord Jesus Christ according to his Divinity was God and is so the true God the God that made Heaven and Earth the God who delivered the Law at Mount Synai and I think those three the father the Son and the Holy Spirit are on Jehovah Deut. 6. 4. 5. Jehovah Aelohenu Jehovah our Mightiest is Jehovah Aechad is one Jehovah was is and will be one Jehovah i. e. the Lord our God is one Lord and Mark 12. 29 30. The Lord our God is one Lord which are the words of Jesus And I agree also that the Blessing and Sanctifying the seventh Day Gen. 2. 3. was by Jehovah the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit which goes far in this Question and I think proves the seventh Day to be the Lord's Day And when he has acknowledged the Father Son and the Holy Spirit to be three yet but one God the Lord Jehovah c. he adds p. 3. But he cannot agree that Christ as God and Man in Contradistinction to the Father and Holy Spirit did all those things for he that is Christ was not then Man Which Words of the Doctor of what he does agree and what he cannot agree insinuates as if I had said that Christ as God-Man did all those things which the Doctor cannot agree whereas he must needs know that is not so for I neither say nor ever thought till that I read it in Mr. G. T. and the Doctor that Christ was Incarnate at the making of the World or at his giving of the Law on Sinai so as the Doctor has not well surmized in this and any Reader may see it is not so for Christ took our Nature on him about 4000 years after the Creation and I find not a word of any Contradistinction between the Father and the Holy Spirit and the Son in the Enquiry but the direct contrary viz. their oneness with the Son in those Works which they both cannot but know And he adds p. 3. what he should rather say about our Lord Jesus Christ's blessing the seventh Day because he was not then the Lord Christ God and Man c. seems to make the Surmize somewhat worse upon which he says that I p. 64. lay great stress for neither I nor any other that I know has said or thought that Christ when he Blessed the seventh Day was then in the Flesh so that in this I think the Doctor blamable But the Doctor does acknowledge that the Son is Jehovah i. e. that he is Lord for which see Enquiry p. 9. 10. c. and I think he does believe that the Son of God is Jesus that is the Saviour the only Saviour and that he is Christ that is the anointed for that Glorious Blessed Work of Redemption that is the Messiah he is called as I think often in the Old-Testament For the Father has chosen us in him before the foundation of the World in him that is in the Lord Jesus Christ and our Lord Jesus Christ as Christ is expresly named Eph. 1. 2 3 4. And in Colos 1. 16. speaking of Christ as he by whom all things were created that are in Heaven and that are in Earth v. 17. and he is before all things he that is Christ is expresly Colos 1. 2 3. there named the Lord Jesus Christ and our Lord Jesus Christ who v. 19. created all things and Christ is named our Lord Jesus Christ in every Epistle from Rom. to the Heb. for so far I searched a little and that frequently and sometime after also Mr. G. T. whom the Doctor in this Objection seems to follow writes of this great Mystery in two or three places under the like and greater mistakes and so at present I leave him But for the Doctor to impose upon his Readers herein as he does p. 2 3. seems blameable And why he thus begins in a Case which relates to the Deity of Christ with such Insinuations for which he has no colour that I know from the Enquiry wherein Christ's Deity and his being Jehovah is directly affirmed unless it be at first to infuse some Prejudice I am not willing to conjecture And as to this if the Holy Spirit by Paul names Christ the Lord Jesus Christ and our Lord Jesus Christ in whom the Father hath chosen his before the foundation of the world by whom all things were created and who was before all things I see no reason why Mr. G. T. and the Doctor should vary from the Apostles expressions and divers other Scriptures And such Artifices the Reader may discern afterward I agree also with the Doctor That God who made the world in six days rested the seventh day Gen. 2. 2 3. Exod. 20. 11. And that he blessed the sabbath day and hallowed or Sanctified it Doctor p. 3. and here he does read it not a seventh bue the seventh Day the same Hebrew word here in Gen. 2. 2 3. Hashebigni which is used in Exod. 20. 10 11. which some would render there a seventh and the Reason and Sence of Gen. 2. 2 3. does require that it be rendered as the word signifies the Seventh Day for no man that I know does imagine that the Lord Gen. 2. 2 3. Blessed and Sanctified any other Day of the Week for Rest but that only on which he Rested and that was expresly not a but the Seventh and no other day of the Week and so I think for all after Seventh days in the Circulation of after Weeks and Christ in the time of his Incarnation kept not a Sabbath
to keep A but The Sabbath during his Life and the Women and others kept it whilst his Body rested in the Grave whilst he was in Paradice that is in Heaven not only on what they called the Sabbath as the Doctor p. 50. which I think not well surmised by him as if they or rather the Holy Spirit there called a wrong day the Sabbath but on what was the Sabbath and that some of the Disciples travelled upon the very Resurrection day and that Paul and other Christians did not only seem to which are the Doctor 's words and I think are hard words but expresly and actually did observe not only what they called the Sabbath but what was the Sabbath the true Seventh day-Sabbath not only after Christs Resurrection but after his Ascension and after the Holy Spirit given and that that was Paul's manner and of others every Sabbath day as before these Repetitions I am forced to Which I think do prove that Christ and the Apostles did then take not A but The Seventh day to be the Christian Sabbath as it was or why else doth the Holy Spirit so very often in the four Evangelists before his Death and Resurrection and in the Acts after his Resurrection and Ascension and after the pouring out the Holy Spirit name it not A but The Sabbath not only what they called but what was the Sabbath Yet the Doctor p. 51. thinks Paul's Preaching upon the Sabbath days to be occasional by which if he means as it there seems occasional only I know no word he has from God in the Scriptures for his Sence of occasional and I think Paul's constant Practice to Preach upon the Sabbath days was according to the Duty of a Minister of Christ and in Obedience to Christs express Command Matth. 28. 19 20. by which Command I think all other his Ministers are obliged And as to the Passover and all Sacrifices and other Ceremonials that they are abolished by the Death of Christ I think certain and to what is said in the Enquiry as to that I add this That the Passover sacrifices are all set aside by that word Luke 22. 19. and 1 Cor. 11. 23 24 25 26. This do in remembrance of me and so the Passover c. are laid aside by the Lords Supper by which Ordinance of the Supper we declare that Christ was sacrificed for the Sins of his People and by this we declare his Death till he come in Glory to judge the Quick and Dead and there was or is no further need of Sacrifices or Types to represent Christs Death And so the Passover and all other Sacrifices to be at an end by these words This is my body which is given for you or which is broken for you this do in remembrance of me Which Lords Supper was then instituted and immediately succeeded the Passover which Passover then ceased Matth. 26. 17 20 26. And as they were eating Jesus took bread c. Mark 14. 22 c. And to what is offered p. 54. from Rom. 14 4 5 6. He that regardeth a day regardeth it to the Lord and he that regardeth not the day to the Lord he doth not regard it It is not said what was the day there in question but the Doctor thinks it most likely to be that of the Jewish Sabbath What day this was is hard for any Man at this distance of time to determine and more hard to build any certain Doctrine upon it as a certain Day when God has not that I know told us in his Word what day it was but left it wholly uncertain I find nothing in that Epistle about days till Rom. 14. 4 5 6. where one Man esteemed one Day before another another esteemed every day he that regardeth the day regardeth it to the Lord and he that regardeth not the day to the Lord he doth not regard it And it is not there said as the Doctor acknowledges p. 54. what was the Day there nor do I now see how possibly to know what Weekly or Monthly or Yearly or Feasting or Fasting or other day it did refer to but of the Sabbath there is no mention and why is it then most likely to be the Sabbath which he confesses is not there said and whatever day it was it seems it was no great matter whether they regarded it or not ver 6. And whatever day that were it was certainly such a day as Paul would not have them judge one another for ver 4. which makes it likely to me that it was not the Sabbath day which Paul so constantly preached Christ upon and observed as before which Sabbath is a part of that Moral Law which Paul was under to God but was such a day whatever day it was as he thought fit at that time and place to leave undetermined As for Gal. 4. 3 8 9 10. In Galatia were some Disciples Acts 18. 1 4 23. In which Chapter it is said Paul preached at Corinth every sabbath to Jews and Gentiles And Paul Gal. 1. 2. directs that Epistle to the Churches of Galatia where probably were some converted and many unconverted And Gal. 4. 3. Paul says When we were children we were in bondage under the Elements or under the Rudiments of the world which seems the Heathen World ver 8. When they knew not God they did service to them who they knew by nature were no Gods which was the case of the Heathens for the Israelites did then and do still Worship Jehovah who is God the true God and so do actually Worship Christ the only Messiah who is Jehovah as in the Enquiry p. 9 c. And the Father Son and Holy Spirit are one Jehovah Deut. 6. 4 5. Enquiry p. 12. But the Israelites don't yet know Christ to be Johovah their Messiah Saviour and Redeemer which Truth upon their Conversion and Restoration remains to be revealed to them So as this place seems specially directed to those who had an Heathenish Education who before served those who were no Gods who after they knew God Gal. 4. 9. were turning again to the weak and beggarly Rudiments to their first Teachings and Heathenish Instruction which Paul there blames ver 10. you observe days and months and times and years ver 11. I am afraid of you least I have bestowed upon you labour in vain What days these were is the Question the Doctor says t is not here said in particular what those days were that are here meant yet he thinks it is most likely and scarce to be doubted to be meant of the Sabbath To which I answer That I think days there cannot be meant of a weekly Rest and if it be it is directed there not to rest upon Sunday which was observed by the Heathens in honour of the Sun as we may see afterward And every Sabbath being observed by Paul and the Sabbath not being that I can find in question days there I think cannot refer to the Sabbath Which the
make for true Peace which Gods Word when it is obeyed does most certainly do and the foolish Questions are those which cross his Law and Word and are contrary to it and striving against his Law and Word is one of the worst Fruits of the Flesh which Wars against his Will and to use some of his Words in whomsoever that Temper is found I doubt it is for want of true Love and other Fruits of the Holy Spirit And when some study to spin out Disputes into so fine a Thread as to make the day begin and end at one time which God has so firmly settled to begin and end at another Gen. 1. 5 8 13 19 23 31. and to make the Week days all uncertain which is which c. is to make that dark and difficult which the Scriptures and Works of God have made plain I think within we complain of the Romanists and I think of others also and deservedly for loading their Worship with Ceremonies the number of which besides that they are meer humane Inventions and so of no spiritual Use are a burden which has broken down many eminently Holy and Learned in this Age and which divert the Mind from Spiritual Worship And I think it also somewhat of the same Mischief when Mens Minds are amused with uncertain dark Speculations whereby they are endeavoured to be turned away from plain and easie Obedience and Ground is layen for perpetual Doubts and Scruples whilst the Word says one thing and some of great Learning and Influence do and teach another And as to the Point in question I may say as the Doctor p. 70. I have upon the whole said as I weakly can so much as I think may satisfie others if they consider it without Prejudice a temper which the Holy Spirit can give his People and I know when men have long espoused a Notion by which they have a benefit which Notion if they let go they loose or endanger that benefit It is no great wonder if they go on in their old way till God does awaken them but whether they go on with or without Doubts and Scruples I know not Nor do I know any thing can be so plainly said no not from direct Word and Law of God which by an Ingenious and Learned Man may not be cavilled at if he be so minded and God will suffer him and when the Lord has as it seems to me so plainly declared his Will if some will not submit to it who else can help it And when I have thus said I leave the Success to the Lord. Pag. 71. he mentions a late Book on this Subject to which I had drawn such Answer as I then could before I saw the Doctor 's but finding as far as I remember nothing therein in this case but what is offered with great Advantage by the Doctor or what may be answered by observing Readers I think to say but a little more to it P. 5. of his Preface he says Suppose the Authors he means the Author of the Enquiry Notion be Orthodox and the contrary that is his own Heterodox he gives us the pernicious tendencies thereof That is as I understand him suppose it to be the mind of Christ and a Sound and Orthodox Opinion that the Seventh day is the true Christian Sabbath which is a fair and I think a true Supposition yet he is against the Communicating of it as pernicious which seems to me somewhat harsh and suppose his own Opinion Erroneous and Heterodox yet he is for it and would not as I understand him have it contradicted to which I only Reply that I doubt the ancient Prophets the Apostles and the Reformers from Rome c. were not of that mind In his little Book he has these and other Reflections on the Author of the Enquiry or on that he there offers or on those who receive it c. As Judaical fanciful baffled absurd Heterodox and impious scrupulous superstitious a Weed and Thorn rotten Premises sandy Foundations false Measures Proofs invalid which it pitties him to see uncharitable rigorous deluded Brain of silly Zealots impertinency empty false Premises silly Conjectures against all Reason and common Sense c. which seem to me blameable And he hopes p. 56. himself has written by Gods Assistance and Guidance and p. 163. by Gods Assistance and p. 116. by Gods Help and he hopes his Guidance Which Expressions I think may be used sometimes and in some Cases but men should take heed how they use them as if they were divinely inspired when they use them so interwoven Pag. 70. to p. 79. the Doctor sums up what he has offered with all the advantages of a Learned Man as he sometimes does before with new words on which I might make some Remarks In that about the Fifth Command p. 82. he tells us His Humane Law that is to determine who is to be reputed the Father and this he applys first to natural Parents which as cases may be put may fall very heavy upon many Children whose Parents were married but not according to Human Law And that General Rule from Humane Law if I mistake him not he understands as determining the Law of God for he says p. 81. There be many things which the Word of God or the Divine Law doth determine in Thesi that is in a general Position which when in Hypothesi they come in practice will require the intervention of Prudentials or Humane Laws and he there and p. 82. puts cases upon the Eighth Seventh Sixth and Fourth Commands So his General Rule is applyed to Laws in both Tables And what he there says as to Natural Parents the like he says as to other Superiours as well as Natural Parents and those Laws which seem absolute says he have yet their tacit Limitations implyed To which I Reply That I think every Man should beware how he sets up Humane Laws to determine against Gods Law in any case for if Gods Law determine one thing to be a Duty or a Sin and Mans Law determine the contrary we are I think to obey God Acts 4. 19. whose Laws are Superiour to all Humane Laws And he that in the Duties required in either Table does allow the intervening or coming in of Prudentials or Humane Laws to controul or to determine the Word of God or the Divine Law under that colour or tacit Limitations implyed and of room for Prudence to interpose does I doubt unlord the Word and Law of God Mark 7. 13. which unlording the Word or making it of no effect Mark 7. 13. is also spoken by our Lord there in the case of the Fifth Command v. 9. to 13. and does open a gap to enervate that Law of God So that for any to say that his Hunane Law that is to determine who is to be reputed my civil Parent that is who is my lawful Prince whatever the Law of God determines in that case under the subtile Words of Room for
sets at Jerusalem and when the Sun sets at Japan then the Seventh day begins at Japan 11 of March 1694 5. And from Japan to pass over the other Meridian and Rest of the Land in Asia to Jerusalem again about seven Hours And so from Jerusalem as the Sun goeth round the Earth to Jerusalem again are 24 Hours that is from the Sun-setting at Jerusalem the 11th of March 169â— â— to the Sun-setting at Jerusalem the 12th of March 169â— are 17 Hours from Jerusalem to Japan and 7 Hours from Japan to Jerusalem and 17 and 7 are 24 Hours the Evening and the Morning which make up the Day Which Scheme does as I weakly can travel round the World and if it be right in the main may answer some Doubts about the Days in this case And if I mistake I think I do not wilfully mistake in which account I had no help from Globes and so I have no great assurance but that there may be mistakes and I am content to be corrected by the Learned Doctor who excels in Astronomy in Geography and I think in most other Learning Or any other Ingenious Unprejudiced and Skilful who may find mistakes in the Degrees of Longitude and in the Hours or Minutes which however I think may not hurt the Opinion built upon it that the difference in the time of the Sun setting in any of and all those places and so of all other places in the Earth the 11 of March 1692 3. makes no alteration in the beginning or ending of the Sabbath day supposing as before that day with the rest of the Days of the Week did begin at the Creation and does still begin and end about the time of the Sun setting and suppose also that beginning and ending never altered since the Creation to this day And if this be so it seems demonstrable that every Day of the Week began every where in the Evening and to the Seventh day also round the World as the Sun did set The Doctor 's other expedient he would have me begin my Week on Monday and then Sunday will be the Seventh day I suppose he means if I can tell seven But if the Doctor please to begin the Week as God begins it Gen. 1. 5. and if he reckon on v. 8. 13 19 23 31 as God does he will find Gen. 2. 2 3. the Seventh day to be the Sabbath and as it seems to me to begin in the Evening And in lieu of his two Expedients I will with his Favour advise him and others two things 1st Upon the Fourth Command Exod. 20. 8 9. To take heed how they assume a liberty to alter any Command of God or any jot or tittle thereof because of Mat. 5. 18 19. Rev. 22. 18 19 c. 2dly Upon the Second Command Whatever be the manner of Worship in the place where he or they live unless they be sure that for Matter and Manner it be according to Christs Institutions That they beware how they take it as they there find it which though it may be a probable means of worldly Advantages yet I have some doubt it is no sound Rule to Worship by because the Lord thy God is a jealous God visiting iniquity c. and shewing mercy to those who love him and keep his commandments Exod. 20. 4 5 6. Deut. 5. 8 9 10 c. And upon the whole I think not A but the Seventh-day-Sabbath was observed by the Lord Gen. 2. 2 3. and afterward by the Patriarchs by Moses and by the Israelites in Aegypt and in the Wilderness of Sin where they had Mannah and at Mount Synai and at Mount Zion in Jerusalem and to the end of the Old Testament to whom the Lord made known his sabbath Neh. 9. 13 14. his Sabbaths as before and to whom he gave them as a sign and as an everlasting covenant and that not A but The Sabbath was observed perfectly and constantly by Christ during his life which I think proves it not forgotten nor altered to his time and that not A but The Sabbath was observed by his Disciples inspired by the Holy Spirit after his Resurrection and Ascension which also proves it not forgotten nor altered then And as their losing the Knowledge which was the Seventh day is not in the Word that I know so the certain Seventh day was preserved by all Nations Worshipping the Sun on Sunday Mr. Chafie p. 20 c. and all the Israelites before Christ and all the Jews since that we can read or hear of and some Christians still keep not A but The Seventh day and many Christians keep the first day other Christians keep both Seventh and First day as in the Enquiry and the early and long Controversies about what Days to keep the Passover on and the Histories Counsels Centuries and our own Records Ancient and Modern as in the Enquiry seem plainly to prove that the Seventh day was never altered from Christs time to this day nor from the Creation to Christs time and that the Seventh day in England is the same Seventh day varying the Hours and Minutes as before which was observed by Christ which was made perpetual by Christ which was observed at Mount Zion which was given at Synai and which was blest and made holy at the Creation Gen. 2. And here I might also observe that the Doctor neither denys nor answers the Authorities in the Enquiry for observing the Sabbath 400 and 700 years c. after Christ and for the changing the Seventh day to the First day by Rome c. not the clear Evidence for the first bringing in the First day into Scotland by a Counsel there above 1200 years after Christ nor that of the King and Nobles of England here to like purpose Enquiry p. 106. to 114 c. Nor that how all our Antient and Modern Records in England to this day call the Seventh day of the Week the Sabbath day Enquiry p. 117. to which the Doctor says nothing nor to that of the many Provinces and one Empire still observing the Seventh day Enq. p. 119. 120. And all put together I think may sufficiently disprove the uncertainty which is the Seventh day which the Doctor so often would leave doubtful against himself and may prove that our Seventh day of the Week is the true Seventh day blessed and made holy at the creation And I insist that Christs Command to keep Holy the Seventh day not being altered nor repealed but with all the rest confirmed and made perpetual by him still binds as all the rest of the Commands do I have passed by divers Expressions in the Doctor 's Book but have not that I know declined any thing that required as I think further Reply and what he objects again and again I often think it enough to answer to but once And if I do not fully repeat his Objections or Words at large it is to make this Reply as short as I can and the Reader
ADVERTISEMENT There is 〈◊〉 Printed a Book Intituled A Treatise of the Holy Trinunity in two Parts The First asserteth the Deity of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit in the Vnity of Essence with God the Father The Second in Defence of the former answereth the chiefest Objections made against this Doctrine By I. M. Chap. I. THe Case is briefly stated Chap. II. Sheweth that there is but one God the Creator and Former of all things Chap. III. Asserteth a Plurality of Divine Subsistences Chap. IV. Of the Father Chap. V. Proveth the Deity of our Lord Jesus Christ 1. By his Names 2. That God in the Old Testament in divers Places is Christ in the New 3. By seven particular Texts of Holy Scriptures 4. That Christ pre-existed his Incarnation in his Divine Nature and is no Angel incarnate but is Coeternal with the Father 5. His Deity is proved by his Works And 6. By Divine Worship given to him Chap. VI. Proveth the Deity of the Holy Ghost 1. That he is a Divine Person 2. His Deity is asserted from several Texts of Scripture 3. By his Works 4. By Divine Worship given to him Chap. VII Proveth the Unity of the Holy Trinity Chap. VIII Containeth some Explications of the Holy Trinunity 1. Of the Essential Being of God 2. Of the Divine Persons the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit 3. Of the Distinctions of the Divine Nature and the Persons and some Shadows by way of Comparison of the incomparable and inconceivable Being of God and of the Union of Christ's two Natures PART II. Chap. I. Answereth Objections against the Scriptural Proofs of Christ's Deity Chap. II. Answers to Objections drawn from several Texts of Scriptures Chap. III. Answers to several Arguments against the Deity of Christ Chap. IV. Answers to several Objections against the Scriptures that prove the Deity of the Holy Ghost Chap. V. Answers to some Objections drawn from divers Scriptures to disprove the Deity of the Holy Spirit Chap. VI. Answers to some Scriptures from whence our Adversaries assert that the Father only is the true God With a general Answer and Conclusion Price bound one Shilling A REPLY TO Doctor Wallis HIS DISCOURSE Concerning the Christian SABBATH By THO. BAMPFIELD LONDON Printed for Thomas Fabian at the Bible in Cheapside near Bread-street End 1693. A REPLY TO Dr. WALLIS's DISCOURSE Concerning the Christian Sabbath SIR A Little after the Printing the Enquiry Whether the Lord Jesus Christ made the World and be Jehovah and gave the Moral Law And whether the Fourth Command be Repealed or Altered There was Reprinted a Tract of Mr. Chafies on the Fourth Command I think as Answer to that part of the Enquiry which referred to the Fourth Command and then another by one Mr. G. T. both which I had no sooner Examined but another was Published by John Wallis D. D. Which Discourse of the Doctor 's as containing the strength of what is said for the First Day I hold my self principally concerned to consider I find the Doctor p. 1. would not on the account of the Day whether the Seventh or the First give any Disturbance to the Peace or Practice of the Church where he Lives so that a Sabbath be duly observed tho' perhaps not upon what Day he should choose What Day he would choose I know not but hope it would be the Day the Lord hath Chosen and Blessed But the Question is not what Day he would choose to rest upon but what day we ought to choose and I am willing to hope he would choose that Day which after the best Judgment I can make upon his Book I think is the Seventh Day and that he means that Day by that otherways Doubtful Expression And I think the Word is the Rule of Worship c. And not the Practise of the Church where we live Nor know I certainly what Church may be meant for that he and I live in an Age wherein there are variety differing a little from one another nor am I willing to disturb the true Peace of the Churches of Christ but if in any thing they be defective in their Judgment or Practice their Peace lies in their returning to their Obedience which is better than Sacrifice 1 Sam. 15. 22. And till the Lord bring that about I see little likelyhood the Sabbath should be duly observed or have the full Blessing bestowed on it which is annexed to it Nor do I think the true Sabbath is so hard to be found as he supposes to whom I may say as Moses to the Israelites Deut. 30. 11 12 13 14. This Commandment is not hid from thee neither is it far off 'T is not beyond the Seas that we should need to go round the Earth to fetch it as the Dr. p. 79. pleasantly adviseth but the Word is very nigh unto thee in thy Mouth and in thine Heart that thou mayst do it He says also p. 1. That he does not know whether Sunday be a first or second a third or a seventh Day in a continual Circulation of Weeks from the Creation or from Christ's time and if so he is at a great uncertainty and I do not wonder if he be yet to choose his Day which Expressions in his first Page may give some Light to state this Question for if he does not know from Christ's time which Day of the Week Sunday as he calls it is I see very little reason why he should observe it He adds And what it is impossible for him to know he thinks will be no Cirme to be ignorant of and if he do not know what Day of the Week Sunday is and much more if it be impossible for him to know it I see no reason at all why he should write a Book for the Observation of a Day impossible for him to know All the Christian and Hebrew Churches in the World I think are agreed that Sunday is the first Day of the Week which Day I presume by the rest of his Book the Doctor observes and if we be right in that as I think we are that Sunday is the first Day it will be no great Task by telling seven to resolve which is the seventh Day But notwithstanding the impossibility for him to know what Day of the Week Sunday is he is sufficiently satisfied that we ought to keep a Sabbath and so am I and I think we may be sufficiently certain which is the seventh Day in the weekly Circulation and am willing to observe that Blessed and Sanctified Day and Time which I think is the Lord's Day and not changed and so not hard to be found And I do not think God has left the stress of a Point whereon his Publick Worship doth somewhat depend upon a thing impossible for us to know by his Word and Works he can make this plain to all First I agree with him that the place of Worship under the Gospel p. 2. is not so material whether this or that John 4.