THE DOCTRINE OF THE FOURTH Commandement Deformed by Popery Reformed Restored to its Primitive purity Wherein is clearely proved by Scripture Arguments and Reasons that the Seventh day of the week and not the first viz. the day called Saturday and not the day called Sunday is the true Christian Sabbath the time Instituted and commanded by God himself for the day or time of his publique worship in the time of the Gospel as it was in the time of the Law Objections answered and the truth cleared by Gods unworthy Servant J. O. The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God In it thou shalt do no work c. Exod. 20.10 Blessed is the man that doth this and the Son of man which layeth hold on it and keepeth the Sabbath from polluting of it Isa 56.2 Be doers of the word not hearers only deceiving your own selvs Jam. 1.22 For not the hearers of the law are justified before God but the doers of the Law shall be justified Rom. 2.13 London Printed by G. Dawson and are to be sold by Iohn Hides in Blew Anchre Alley neer Pauls Alley 1650. The Author to his Booke GOE little Book perform thy work thou mayest be blamed but not shamed thou wilt meet with Enimies feare not for there are more with us then with them 2 Kings 6.16 I would not intrude thee into the world in an obscure or doubtfull Cause because of many inconveniences that might insue But thou carriest with thee the absolute truth of God conteined in his written law Exod. 20.8 9 10 11. In which regard thou art assisted and defended with the whole armour of righteousnesse the undoubted truth of God revealed by Moses and the Prophets and by Jesus Christ and his Apostles against all assaults of thy Enemies If any reprove me because of thee I desire it may be in love without racking my words or perverting my meaning but answer as the matter lyeth granting or denying the particular assertions herein contained that the Impartiall reader may profit thereby and not with scoffes or reproachfull terms If any so doe let it be a signe to all men that he maintaineth a bad Cause with an ill Conscience and that the truth standeth with me and not with him Goe goe and cause all men to know that the Law of God is perfect Exod. 20. and that there is no unnecessary thing required by any Expression therein contained In which regard make known I say that we and all men are as absolutely bound in love to the literall Expression of the fourth Commandement as we are to the literall Expression of either the 1 2 or 3. Commandements of that law or to any other of the Six To the end that God may be duly honoured and our obedience to his holy law enlarged As also to the end that our non-conformity to the law of God in working when we are to rest and our resting when we are for to work may not be an obstruction to the Jewes conversion which is the thing I desire may be performed by thee Farewell Be prosperous so be it The blessing of Iehovah go with thee Amen For the Lord is well pleased for his righteousnesse sake that he may magnifie the Law and exalt it Isay 42.21 To the discreet and sincere Reader be Salvation in the way of Righteousnesse Amen OVT of a true Devotion to God and sincere affection to thee I have presented to thy consideration a Duty which my Conscience telleth me thou oughtest to perform to the Lord thy God for the furtherance of his honour and thy salvation Namely the duty of Observation and Sanctification of the Lords seventh day-Sabbath the day called Saturday commanded by the Lord himself Exod. 20.8 Which duty we and our Fathers have neglected neer 1300. Yeers Yea and rejected it as a ceremoniall Element or beggerly Rudiment And therefore we may well complaine with the Prophet Jeremy 3.25 We lye down in confusion for our shame covereth us for we have sinned against the Lord our God we and our Fathers from our youth unto this day and have not obeyed the voyce of the Lord our God The truth of this doth clearly appeare in this ensuing Subject Therefore I desire thee to read it with an honest and good Heart without partiallity and consider what is said in it before thou blamest it or censurest me least thou speak good of evill and evill of good and bring woe upon thy selfe Isay 5.20 For certain it is no man knoweth so much but he may know more and no man so perfect but that he may erre Therefore ponder the path of thy feet and let all thy wayes be ordered aright turne not to the right hand nor to the left but remove thy foot from evill Prov. 4.26 27. Thy soules well-wishing friend JAMES OCKFORD The Doctrine of the Fourth COMMANDEMENT Deformed by Popery Reformed and Restored to its Primitive PURITIE CHAP I. The Decalogue is Morall and perpetuall nothing is to be added thereto nor diminished from it THe Law whereof I Treat of which the Fourth Commandement is a part was given of God on Mount Sinai Exod. 19. 20. Cap. And written with his owne Finger in Tables of Stone Exod. 31.18 Deut. 5.22 The Effect of which Heavenly Law was engraven in nature at mans Creation which Divine Goodnesse remaineth in the nature of man and teacheth him to doe in some measure that which God by the Law of the Letter requireth of him Rom. 2.14 15. Although the custome of sinning and the deceitfulnesse of mans heart hath blotted stained and darkned in him that which we ought to discerne know and doe But such is the Mercy and Goodnesse of God unto us that he hath not left us without a plaine Demonstration of His holy Will by His holy Law the Decalogue which Holy Law bindeth us to all Duties tending to life and Godliness * As this Law bound the Jews to all duties commanded in the time of the Law Deut. 6.5 Even so it bindeth us and all men to all duties commanded by the Gospel The reason is because he that obeyeth not the Gospel loveth not the Lord his God with all his heart and with all his soule and with all his mind as the Law by the mouth of Jesus Christ in the Gospel requireth of us Mat. 22.37 Which Decalogue or Morall Law remaineth absolutely unchangeable as it appeareth by the words of the Prophet Psalm 111. vers 7 8 9. where he alluding to the Law written in Tables of Stone speaking of God saith The Worke of His Hands are Veritie and Judgment All his Commandements are sure they stand fast for ever and ever c. A note of perpetuall unchangeablenesse And in this regard they are said to be Faithfull Psal 119. ver 86. Yea Righteous and very Faithfull vers 138. This Law is Gods Covenant Exod. 19.5 Deut. 4.13 which God hath given to man to be observed for ever Deu. 4.9.10 2 Kings 17.37
Rom. 3.20 Errour it is to the Jewes or any else that expect to receive Righteousnesse by or for their obedience thereto But I presse men to the obedience of it because men cannot be saved without obedience to it in some measure through faith Matth. 5.19 Chap. 19.17 1 Cor. 7.19 But I doe beleeve in my heart and confesse with my mouth that justification to salvation is freely bestowed on the Beleever wholy undeserved It is not of workes but by Grace through Faith that men are saved and not of our selves it is the gift of God Ephes 2.8 2 Tim. 1.9 The Gospel published by Jesus Christ brought not a new way of Righteousnesse and Salvation into the World which was not spoken of or taught before in the Law and Prophets John 5.46 47. Acts 26.22 * See Beza in his Margent on Mat. 5.17 But it is a fuller manifestation of that which was contained in the Law and Prophets so that our conformitie to the Decalogue is not destructive or prejudiciall to our obedience to the Gospel but highly advanceth it For the Law is not against the Promise of God Gal. 3.21 Neither is the Gospel contrary to the Law for the preaching of faith doth establish it Rom. 3.31 Yea such is the Vnion betweene the Law and the Gospel that the same words which Moses used to command obedience to God by the Law in the time of the Law Deut. 6.5 the same words our Saviour useth in the Gospel to command obedience to God according to the Law Mat. 22 37. Yea such Union and communion there is between the Law and the Gospel that as Moses sendeth us to be instructed by Christ Deut. 18.15 Acts 3.22 Even so Jesus Christ sendeth us to be instructed by Moses John 5.39.46.47 Luke 16.29.31 Mat. 7.12 It being so it followeth that seeing by the Law meâ—â—re commanded to keepe a holy rest and to abstaine from servile work on the seventh day the Gospel doth not say nay Thou shalt keep a holy rest and abstaine from servile work on the first day of the week Oh no there is no such word therefore sure it is the selfe same Law which commanded men to keep a holy rest on the seventh day in the time of the Law the selfe same Law requireth us to keepe a holy rest on the seventh day in the time of the Gospel Therefore Remember to keepe holy the Sabbath day the day called Saturday the seventh and last day of the weeke for that is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God which he commandeth thee to consecrate to his Service in worshipping him on it in spirit and truth as the Gospel requireth of thee and neglect it not As the Word of God doth manifest the seventh and last day of the weeke to be the Sabbath So doth both Ancient and Moderne Writers confesse it so to be Yea Doctor Hylyn doth affirm in his History of the Sabbath par 2. chap. 2. pag. 62. that when ever for a thousand yeares and upward we meet with Sabbatum in any Writer of what name soever must be understood of no other day then the Saturday And Doctor White on the Sabbath pag. 202. saith when the Ancient Fathers distinguish and give proper names to the particular dayes of the weeke they alwayes stile the Saturday Sabbatum to wit the Sabbath c. That the Saturday the last day of the week is the Sabbath day the truth thereof is confessed by all Judicature Courts in England for when they write on the Saturday the last day of the weeke they stile it diâ—s Sabbathi to wit the Sabbath day At the end of which Sabbath the first day of the week beginneth Mat. 28.1 Mark 16.1 2 which is the day commonly called Sunday which is highly extolled although there is no word of God which commandeth the observation of it as now it is Sure it is we know no other name in Scripture for the seventh day but the Sabbath day neither know we any other name for Sunday but the first day of the week for this see Luke 24.1 John 20.1 Object If it be objected that the seventh day-Sabbath was given to the Jewes only and not to the Gentiles in that the Jewes were charged with the keeping of it in remembrance of their deliverance out of Egypts bondage Deut. 5.15 which the Gentiles were not Ergo I answer It is true they were delivered out of Aegypts bondage through the great mercy of God unto them and thereon were enjoyned to keep the Sabbath as a motive to stir them up to a more devout observation thereof But was it so given to the Jewes that the obedience thereof doth not appertain to us Oh no! there is no Scripture that so saith neither doth it follow that we owe no obedience to it because they were enjoyned to keepe it in remembrance of their deliverance 〈◊〉 of Egypt because then it would follow we are not enjoyned to the obedience of the other nine Commandements neither For on the same ground or consideration they were enjoyned to keep the seventh day-Sabbath upon the same ground they were enjoyned to keep the other 9 Commandements also for this see Exod. 20.2 3. c. Deut. 5.6 chap. 7.8 9 10 11. It being so it followeth If we may not omit our duty to the 9. Commandements of the morall Law we ought not to the fourth Commandement neither Again If men will exempt themselves from the duty of the seventh day-Sabbath because it was given to the Jewes then on the same ground they may exempt themselves from all duties taught by our Saviour on the Mount Mat. 5. chap. 6 chap. 7. and also from all duties taught in the Epistle to the Hebrewes and also from all duties taught by by Saint James in his Epistle on the same ground Now if it be errour to exempt our selves from these and many other heavenly Instructions because they were given to the Jewes then it is errour to exempt our selves from the duty of the fourth Commandement because it was given to the Jewes Object If it be further objected the duty of the seventh day-Sabbath belongeth not to us because our Saviour hath not commanded it to be observed in the Gospel I answer It is an ignorant Cavill against the duty commanded in the fourth Commandement because our Saviour doth as absolutely require obedience of us to the duty of the seventh day-Sabbath inclusively in Mat. 22.37 38.39 as he doth to the 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 and 10. Commandements of the morall Law Again If it be a sufficient plea to exempt our selves from the duty of the fourth Commandement because it is not expresly repeated by our Saviour in the Gospel then upon the same consideration we may as well exempt our selves from the duties taught by the 1 2 and 3 Commandements of the same Law for neither of those precepts are in expresse words laid down by our Saviour in the Gospel therefore I say If it be an errour
to exempt our selves from the duties of the 1 2 and 3. Commandements because the expresse words are not laid down by our Saviour in the Gospel then errour it is for any to exempt themselves from the duties of the fourth Commandement although the duty of it is not in expresse words laid downe in the Gospel Yea a truth it is Whosoever keepeth the whole Law and faileth in one point is guilty of all CHAP. IV. Of the Antiquity and Morality of the seventh day-Sabbath which is the day to be observed and not a seventh day instead of it THe seventh day Sabbath whereof I treat which was made for man Mark 2.27 and given to man Exod. 16.29 was blessed and sanctified the first seventh day of the worlds Creation Gen. 2.2 3. Exod. 20.8 9 10 11. was obeyed and disobeyed before the Law was given on Mount Sinai Exod. 16.27 28 30. Which Precept being repeated on the Mount with the other nine Precepts it had a memorandum annexed it in regard of a former neglect to it as also the more to incite the Jewes and us Gentiles to a diligent observation thereof for time to come This seventh day God instituted and commanded to be a selected or peculiar time for his publique worship Leuit. 23.3 Acts 15.21 This Sabbath our Saviour unviolably kept and spent in the administration of the Word Luke 4.16 31. Mark 6.2 and in other holy exercises of piety and charity glorifying his Father by Miracles Mat. 12.9 10 11 12 13. Iohn 5.8 9. This Sabbath our Saviours Disciples observed after his death to Gods honour and their ever laudable memoriall For it is recorded of them Luke 23.56 That they rested the seventh day according to the Commandement Yea it evidently apeareth that the Apostles and Disciples Gentiles as well as Jewes constantly spent the seventh day-Sabbaths in holy and religious exercise For this see Acts 13.14 15 16. vers 27 42 43 44. chap 16.13 14. chap. 17.2 3. chap. 24.14 * The like instance cannot be shewne in the new Testament that either the Apostles or Disciples did thus constantly assemble together on the first day of the week Yea some Christian Churches observed it for more then the space 400. yeares after Christ of this Socrates informes us lib. 6. chap. 8. Yea albeit the Church of Rome was one of the first Churches or rather the first which discerted the seventh day-Sabbath yet they kept it a certain space of time after the decease of the Apostles For Justin Martyr living in Rome about the yeare 150. saith Apologie second pro The manner was on the Sabbath day when the people were gathered together to have the Scriptures read in the publique congregation in the time of publique prayer the space of a whole hower as Dr. Whitguift hath it in his Booke against Cartwright pag. 578. Yea I finde by Socrates Eccle. hist lib. 5. cap. 21. that for the space of 200. yeares almost all Christian Churches throughout the whole world did keep every Sabbath-day after other whereon they did administer the misteries of our Saviour or Sacraments except Rome and Alexandria who of an old tradition did not use it c. Which holy Sabbath ought to have been spent in holy exercise to this time yea and for ever Exod. 31.17 Isay 66.23 That the seventh day-Sabbath ought to have been kept and spent in the worship and service of God Severall men of note doth confesse the truth thereof although their practice answered not with it no nor their words at some times neither And therefore I looke upon their Expressions as justifying the truth against themselves First I will beginne with Mr Beza in his margent on Deut. 5. vers 13. who saith Since God permitteth six dayes to our laboures that we ought willingly to dedicate the seventh to serve him wholly Secondly Mr. Perkins on Gal. 4. vers 10. saith Six dayes thou shalt labour and the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God is morall and containeth a perpetuall truth Thirdly Doctor Whitguift against Cartwright page 553. saith Six dayes shalt thou labour c. The meaning of which words is this That seeing God hath admitted us six dayes to doe our own work in we ought the seventh day to serve him c. Fourthly Muskulus in his Book of common Places fol. 60. speaking of the seventh day-Sabbath saith Secondly he apppointed the day so that it should not be at his peoples liberty Six dayes saith he thou shalt doe all thy worke but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God So he doth especially note the dayes to worke and he doth expresse that day in which the Sabbath should be hallowed c. Six dayes are appointed thee in which thou mayest work all things touching thy selfe and thy own affaires but the seventh day is not so for that day is a great while agoe determined and hallowed by God himselfe unto rest and therefore that day shall not serve for thy workes but thou shalt hallow him to the Lord thy God Fifthly Dr. Willet on the fourth Commandement question 13 pag. 360. saith God is said to rest both that his rest might be a monument of the Creation perfected and that God by his example might induce us in like manner to rest upon his Sabbaths Sixtly Dod and Clever on the Commandements speaking of the duty of the seventh day-Sabbath in pag. 118. saith The third reason is taken from Gods Example c. As if he should have said If thou wilt follow Example then follow the Example of the best What Example can there be better than God himself who when he made the World rested on the seventh day Therefore from his Example learne thou that on the seventh day thou give thy selfe to the duties of sanctification c. See pag. 119. Seventhly Bayly in Pract. Piety page 255. saith To sanctifie the Sabbath on the seventh day is not a ceremoniall Law abrogated but the Morall and Perpetuall Law perfected So that saith he the same perpetuall Commandement which bound the Jewes to keepe the Sabbath on the seventh day to celebrate the Worlds Creation binds Christians to solemnize the Sabbath on the seventh day And in page 257. Therefore God planted this Commandement in the middest of the two Tables because the keeping of it is the best help in keeping all the rest The conscionable keeping of the Sabbath is the Mother of all Religion c. And in pag. 259. saith It is one of the Commandements which God spake with his own mouth and twice wrote with his owne fingers in Tables of stone to signifie their Authority and perpetuity All that God wrote were Morall and perpetuall Commandements and they are reckoned ten in number If this were now an abrogated Ceremony then there were but nine Commandements And in pag. 287. thus The Ceremoniall Law was injoyned to the Jewes only and not to the Gentiles But this Commandement of the Holy Sabbath as Matrimony was instituted of
God in the state of innocency when there was but one estate of men therefore enjoyneth the Gentiles aswell as the Jewes So that all Magistrates all House-holders were commanded to constraine all strangers as well as their own subjects and familie to observe the Holy Sabbath c. I will forbeare to produce further Testimony of men the Word or Law of God is sufficient to teach the godly minded their duty therefore obey it and keep holy the Sabbath day to wit the seventh day and not a seventh day as many men doe thinke that if they keepe a seventh day they performe that duty which God requireth of them by the Morall Law although they keep not the 7th day successively from the Creation a great mistake For surely as God hath not given men liberty to worship in what they please neither hath God given them liberty to omit their duty of the seventh dayes rest and worship when they please but they are to doe that when he hath appointed and commanded it which indeed is the seventh day called Saturday the last day of the week which day God blessed and sanctified for men to performe publique worship on it as hath been shewn Errour therefore it is to say we obey Gods Law if we keep one day in seven if it be not the seventh day commanded in the Law Againe no man can account the first day of the week to be a seventh day unlesse men will presumptuously crosse the order of Gods appointment and overslip the first day of the worlds Creation and what warrant is there in Gods Word for mortall men so to doe let all rationall men judge Unlesse men doe so they cannot by any account conclude that the first day of the week is or can be a seventh day and therefore in observing it for a Sabbath they stand not firme to their own Principle by keeping one day in 7. seeing it is the 8. day in relation to the Creation and therefore it cannot properly be said to be one day in seven If men will refuse to keep their Sabbath on the seventh day which day God hath appointed and commanded by his holy Law and will keep one day in seven according to Gods placeing the dayes in the week and stand firm to their own Principle then they are to keep the sixth day of the week called Friday as Turkes doe or else some day or other before it if the day be left to their owne choise The Errour of this opinion may also thus appeare God commanded the Israelites to Circumcise their male children on the eighth day Gen 17.12 Had they obeyed Gods Law and performed their duty had they overslipt the first day and circumcised the ninth and accounted it for the eighth if necessity forced them not thereto certainely they had not neither could they properly have said they Circumcised one day in eight nor the eighth day Even so it now standeth with mens observation of the first day of the week for the seventh day which indeed in order from the Creation is the eight and therefore they which observe it keep one day after seven and not one day in seven The like instance I will give concerning the command of God given to the Israelites for their Eating of the Passeover on the fourteenth day of the first Month Exod. 12. Had they eaten it the fifteenth day whether had they obeyed Gods Law where necessity hindreth not certainly they had not Even so it standeth with mens observing the first day in stead of the seventh or Sunday in stead of Saturday Let wise men take this into their consideration for indeed men doe deceive themselves to thinke they obey Gods Law if they keep one day in seven accounting it the equitie of the fourth Commandement which thing indeed is not in observing the first day of the week which according to godly order is the eighth day and therefore mens practise in this particular hath neither sound nor sence for to be the equitie of the fourth Commandement If men will keep a Sabbath or day of rest according to the Equitie of the fourth Commandement then they are to keep it on the seventh day which God commandeth Exod. 20.8 9 10 11. for that indeed is the equitie of the fourth Commandement and not keeping a day of rest either before or after the seventh day for men so to doe is meer will-worship a thing forbidden by the Apostle Colos 2.20 21 22 23. Againe we shall never finde in any of the Evangelists or Apostles writings that ever the Law of the Sabbath was repealed or that ever it should be transferred to the first day of the week or that ever the first day of the week was a Sabbath or should be observed in stead of the Sabbath by Christians Well saith Dr. Prideaux in this point in the Doctrine of the Sabbath pag. 24. sec 6. Our Saviour saith he oft times disputed with the Pharisees of the * Sabbath day and many times explained the meaning of that Commandement But where is there any of the least suspition of his abrogating it Where any mention that the Lords day was instituted in the place thereof Well saith he Christ ascended up on high and left behind him his Apostles and what did they did they not keep the Jewish Sabbath without noise or scruple and gladly teach the people congregated on the Sabbath dayes * Mat. 12. Mark 2. Luke 6. Joon 5. Answerable unto this Dr White saith On the Sabbath the Apostles and likewise many successions of the Apostles for many ages at least 300. yeares kept holy the Saterday of every week in some Churches Yea Socrates lib. 6 cap. 8. declareth That some Christians after 400 yeares observed the Sabbath weekly with the first day of the weeke Mr Perkins saith on Gal. 4.10 Some men both godly and learned are of an opinion that the first day of the week was appointed by the Apostles for order sake c. It seemes saith he a truth more probable that every seventh day of the weeke must be set a part in holy rest unto God for this is the substance of the fourth Commandement c. That the seventh day-Sabbath is to be observed in the time of the Gospel as it was in the time of the Law I will briefly give five Reasons The first is because it was given to man in his Innocency Gen. 2.2 3. and therein to all the world to wit to the Gentiles as well as to the Jewes this truth is confessed by Mr. Ainsworth in his Annotations Exod. 31.17 As also by Baily in the Practice of Piety pag. 258 259. And also by Dod on the fourth Commandement pag. 125 127. 2. Because it is commanded by a divine and positive law Exod 20. 3. Because God rested on the seventh day and blessed and sanctified it for us to rest after his example Exod. 20.11 Ephes 5.1 4. Our Saviour kept the Sabbath Luke 4.16 31. Mark 6.2 and we are to imitate him
did God or Christ ever sanctifie that day to that end as many doe imagine nor never instituted nor commanded his Church to observe it in stead of the Sabbath Therefore I say seeing we are not to presume above what is written 1 Cor. 4.6 what reason is there that the first day of the week should be held more high and holy than the seventh day-Sabbath which God instituted blessed and sanctified and commanded us and all men to observe by the Morall Law Yea what reason is there or what word of God is there to be produced to prove that it is our duty to abstain from common work on the first day of the week called Sunday As also that we ought to doe common work on the seventh day-Sabbath called Saturday Deceive not thy self nor let any man deceive thee or cause thee to believe that it was the practice of Christian Churches to assemhle every first day of the week to perform publique worship in the Apostles dayes for that they did not Yea I say it is not to be proved by Scripture that ever any one Congregation did three times assemble successively to perform publique worship on the first day of the week called Sunday Yea I suppose that not any Anti-Sabbatharian can prove that ever any one Congregation did assemble two first days successively in the Apostles daies or that ever it was by them esteemed more holy or more honourable than any other of the 6 daies Yet I say what if it could be proved that any Congregation in the Apostles days did assemble 6 first days successively to perform worship on it yet it would not prove the seventh day-Sabbath abrogated nor that the first day of the week was designed for publique Worship seeing Christians in those daies did daily assemble Acts 2.46 Ch. 5.42 Yea I say if such a thing could be proved which none can doe it would bind us no more to the constant performance of the former than of the latter That the first day of the week is not of a Divine Institution nor is to be observed as a Sabbath I will give 3. Reasons The first Reason is Because if men keep the first day of the week for a Sabbath and the seventh day for a working day it is to doe expresly against a Precept both Affirmative and Negative Exod 20.8 9 10. Secondly It cannot be that the first day of the week is an Ordinance of the Gospel because then the preaching of Faith would make void the Law contrary to Rom. 3.31 Thirdly The first day of the week cannot be of a Divine Institution because then the Law which commandeth the seventh dayes rest would crosse the Gospels Institution contrary to Gal. 3.31 I need not to insist to give more reasons to prove that the first day of the week is not of a Divine Institution seeing the truth is plentifully confessed by many wise and learned men whose understandings are not eclipsed with errour in this particular Yea I say Papists themselves doe confesse the observation of the Sunday is not to be proved by the written word of God and therefore oftentimes in their writings they urge at Protestants because they cry Scripture Scripture to be the Rule of their Faith and Practice in the way of Religion when they observe the first day of the week which is called Sunday in stead of the Sabbath called Saturday when there is no Word of God to prove that so they ought to doe Christians ought to make the Word of God the Rule of their Faith and Life and not the Traditions of men though never so ancient or universally received no nor the sayings of Men though wise grave and learned if they speake not according to the Law of God 1 John 4.1 Isa 8.10 and therefore good it is for every one which loveth truth and hateth errour to follow the Councel of Gracehop placed at the Beginning of the Bible Printed Anno 1603. who saith Refuse all sence of Scripture contrary to the First and Second Tables of Gods Commandements Imbrace his Counsell for it is good it tendeth to further men in the way of Godlinesse for certainly mens well meaning or acting in the way of Religion will not stand them in stead to bring them into acceptation with God except it be in the way that God requireth of them for he will not accept of any worship or service which he hath not appointed or commanded Numb 1. to 41. 2 Chron. 26.18.19 Isa 66.3.4 Mark 7.6.7.9 Col. 2.20 21 22. And therefore It is not every one that saith Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdome of Heaven but he that doth the will of my Father saith Christ Mat. 7.21 Had men that due respect to the Law of God as is meet there would not be any need to use Scripture Arguments and Reasons to move them to the obedience thereof or to manifest they are not to walke in a way contrary to it as men doe in observing the first day in stead of the seventh out of a blind Devotion through a misapprehension that it is a Gospel-Ordinance when indeed it is not but a meer humane Invention or Ecclesiasticall Institution or Popish Tradition and to manifest the truth thereof I will produce the testimony of severall Authors for an addition to the former which affirme the same 13. Dr. Whitguift against Cartwright page 553. citeth the words of Saint Agustine ad Romana Janu Thus that the Passion of Christ and his Resurrection note that is the first day of the weeke and the day of the comming down of the holy Ghost is saith he not celebrated by any command writen but by the determination of the Church 14. In the Harmony of Confessions I finde ma-many notable expressions of this nature in page 479. is said We see that in ancient Churches there were not only set houres for meetings but that also See the latter confession of Helvetia even the Lords day ever since the Apostles time was consecrated to religious exercise c We doe celebrate and keepe the Lords day and not the Sabbath and that of a free observation 15 Out of the Confession of Auspurge page 493. in their fourth Article speaking of Traditions about holy dayes saith Of which sort is the Lords day the Nativity Passover and the rest c. And again thus because it was necessary to appoint a certain day that the people might know when to come together It seemes that the Church for that purpose did appoint the Lords day c. Look the first observation on the Confession 16. Dr. White on the Sabbath page 242. speaking of the Apostles saith Immediately after them it is apparent the Christian people made the Lords day of every weeke an ordinary Festivall See also page 217 and in page 218. he saith Constantine among many other religious constitutions he ordained the weekly Sabbath of the Lords day c. 17. The translator of Dr. Predeaux on the Sabbath in his Preface doth
shall be abominable Prov. 28.9 A Conclusion to the Work TO resist the duty of the seventh day-Sabbath which God requireth by the fourth Commandement Be not of those which say the Law of Gods ten Commandements is not given to the Gentiles Nor of those which say Jesus Christ hath abrogated the whole Law Nor of those which confesse the morality of the 1 2 3 5 6 7 8 9 10. and denyeth the morality of the fourth Nor of those which say every day is a Sabbath and keep no Sabbath at all Neither say thou what a stir is heare about the observation of a seventh day as if peace here and glory hereafter did consist in a corporall abstaining from labour on the seventh day and so put off a duty which highly concerneth Gods honour and thy owne salvation Therefore know the duty which thou owest to God is not onely an abstaining from corporall labour on the seventh day But also an abstaining from all actions contrary to the law of God as also a holy consecrating it to his service by worshipping him on it in spirit and truth as God by the Gospel requireth of thee Therefore be not hasty to reject the duty of the seventh day-Sabbath which God by his holy Law requireth of thee Neither study to raise up objections against it least thou be found a fighter against God and also become like unto the Scribes and Pharises spoken of Mat. 23.13 which shut up the Kingdome of Heaven before men refuse to go in themselves nor suffer them that would enter to come in But be of those which have respect to all Gods Commandements and of those which have walked in all the Commandements and Ordinances of God without reproof Luke 1.6 see Mat. 5.48 Love Gods Law as the Prophet did Psal 119.77 97. and delight in it as the Apostle did Rom. 7.22 and obtaine blessednesse Psal 1.1 2. Revel 22.14 to justification Rom. 3.13 through faith chap. 3.33 Hebr. 11.6 Finally There are many men which thinke they know much of God in the Gospel and that they observing what Jesus Christ requireth of them by it they performe what duties soever God requireth of them by the Law and indeed so they did if they did rightly understand the duties which Jesus Christ by the Law requireth of them but in that they doe not verily they come shott of the duty of observation of the seventh dayes-Sabbatb commanded in the first Table of Gods Law The duties of which Table our Saviour in Mat. 22.37 compriseth into one Commandement and in requiring obedience to God by it he doth as strictly command obedience to the seventh day-Sabbath the duty commanded in the fourth Commandement as he doth require performances to the duties commanded either in the 1 2 or 3. commandements of that Law see also Mat. 5.18 19. Chap 19.17 1 Cor. 7.19 James 2.10 Therefore let no man think that by his love to Jesus Christ in the Gospel he doth fulfill the Law in that way spoken of Rom. 13.10 Gal. 5.14 If he refuse to perform that duty to God which Iesus Christ in the Gospel requireth of him by the Law in some measure For doubtless our obedience to the Commandements of God is the fruit of true love Iohn 14.15.21 compared with Ch. 10.30 For thus saith the Apostle This is the love of God that we keep his Commandements 1 Ioh. 5.3 which thing Iesus Christ did Joh. 15.10 Yea and we are to imitate him therein 1 Joh. 2.6 Chap. 4.17 And he that so doth in him dwelleth the love of God perfect indeed 1 John 2.5 But he that saith he knoweth God and kepeth not his Commandements is a lyar 1 Joh. 1.10 What union and communion there is betweene the Law and the Gospel see page 20. And he that walketh in that union dwelleth in God and God in him and such a one brings forth the fruit of the Spirit Gal. 5.22 And where the Spirit of the Lord is there is libertie 2 Cor. 3.17 And against such there is no Law to condemn him Rom. 8.1 For indeed it was not made to that end 1 Tim. 1.9 But yet they are not delivered from the obedience of it but injoyned to it Mat 19.17 Rom. 13.9 Eph. 6.1.2.3.5 James 2.10 11 12. But indeed the Law is made for the lawlesse and disobedient for the ungodly and for sinners for unholy and prophane c. 1 Tim. 1.9 as namely for Anti-nomians and Anti-Sabbatharians and all Libertines which will be above Ordinances whâ—â—â— make their boast they have nothing to doe with the Law nor the Law with them I say as the Scriptures teach for such men the Law was made and it hath dominion over them although they will not beleeve it yet surely they will know it if they repent not of setting themselves against it and refuse to conforme to the obedience of it as Jesus Christ in the Gospell requireth of them Mat. 22.37 for their avoiding of wrath and obtaining of mercy through faith I am sorry for their delusions and shall not cease to pray for their conversion That their sinnes may be blotted out when the time of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. That they may be made partakers of that purchased felicity by the merit of Jesus Christ through faith which hath life without death peace without trouble and joy without sorrow which unspeakable blessednesse I desire may be confirmed on all those which love Jesus Christ in sincerity Amen This also know I am no Jew nor inclined to any Jewish opinions I seek not righteousnesse by the Law but by faith in the Son of God according to the Gospel * Those opinions are Jewish which lead men to seeke Justification by the works of the Law or by observing abrogated precepts or Jewish customes or traditions of their inventions none of these I owne as being of God or from God But as for the fourth Commandement by which God requireth obedience to the seventh day-Sabbath being one of the ten morall precepes is of God and from God and to observe it is no more Jewish than to observe the duties commanded by God in the 1 2 or 3. commandements of that Law Yet I know I cannot obtaine righteousness by the Gospel if I walke contrary to the express duties which God by his Law requireth of me the reason is because there is no way to blessedness contrary to the way of righteousness Rom. 9.31.32 Mat. 19.17 which is the Law of Gods Ten Commandements But if thou knowest a way to obtaine salvation without it or contrary to it declare it But if this thou canst not doe then conforme to all duties commanded by it and neglect it not and have not any dis-respect to any truth in this Subject declared by me because of any personall failing which thou maist perceive in me But this know it is in me the manifestation of the words of truth made known by the Apostle 1 Cor. 1.17 That God hath chosen the foolish things of this world to confound the wise c. and the things that are not to bring to naught the things that are for the foolishnesse of God is wiser than men and the weaknesse of God is stronger than men vers 25. That no flesh may glory in his presence vers 29. All Praise to God The Authors cited in this TREATISE Iustin Martyr Athanasius Eusebius Socrates Scholast Augustine Calvin Tremelius Tindall Bucer Brentius Chimnetius Muskulus Beza Bullenger Mr. Perkins Centuries The Confession of the Church of Helvetia The Confession of Auspurgh Vrsinus Mr. Frith Dr. Whitgift Mr. Gracehop Mr. Ainsworth Dod Clever Dr. Bayly Dr. Prideaux Mr. Revert Mr. Brabourne Dr. Willet Dr. White Dr. Hyling Mr. Bisco The Rhemist Annotation A Table to find the principall points contained in this Treatise Viz. IN pages 1 2 3 4 5 6 7. is manifested that 〈◊〉 Decalogue is morall and bindeth Gentiles 〈◊〉 well as Jewes to the duties therein expressed In pages 8 9 10. are 12 absurdities which 〈◊〉 follow on the Assertion that the fourth commandment or part thereof is abrogated From the 12 page to the 35. is manifesâ—ed that the observation of the 7th day-Sabbatâ— is morall and we are injoyned to the duty of it In pages 36 37 38 39. is manifested that 〈◊〉 Church changed the 7th day-Sabbath to the firâ—â— day of the week and why they did it In pages 40 41 42 is manifested the time wheâ—â— the Church changed it or neere about From page 43. to 52. is manifested that our Sâ—â—viour Christ did not abrogate the 7th day-Saâ—bath As also that the first day of the week is 〈◊〉 of a divine institution Pages 59 60 61. manifesteth that the Tiâ—â—â— of the Lords day appertaineth not to the first dâ—â— of the week Pages 63 64. manifesteth that every day is 〈◊〉 a Sabbath FINIS