for in Acts 20.7 they tell us that Paul preached on the first day but in Acts 18.4 they say Paul reasoned every Sabbath day and yet the Greek word is the very same in both places Neither was this Pauls single practise But the constant custome of all the Disciples that ever accompanied him we finde one companie with Paul Acts 13.13 14. who solemnly observed the Sabbath in holy duties Other associates he selects Acts 15.40 and these celebrate the Sabbath Acts 16.13 17. 17.1 2. Thus we may follow Paul and his companions from place to place and constantly find them observing the seventh day Sabbath And though he solemnly professed He had not shunned to declare the whole counsel of God Act. 20. yet this great slighter of ceremonies never gives the least hint of a change which undoubtedly he would have done had it been any way altered Nay he strictly requires all beleevers to follow his example as he followed Christs and certainly in the observation of the Sabbath he followed Christ as close as in any Ordinance whatsoever Object There are conceits that Paul onely took that opportunity to preach to the people Answ But 1. They speak without book and fancy is no fuel for a Christians faith 2. They render this Apostle of the Gentiles a constant dissembler 3. They may as warrantably lay this crrime to Christ that he did but take such opportunities and not in conscience of the Sabbath for it 's proved that Christs custome herein is the very same with Pauls Such as assert that Paul onely observed the Sabbath among the Jews and not among the Gentiles may be better informed Act. 18.4 13.42 where it is evident That when the Iews were gone out of the Synagogue the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached the next Sabbath Here the Apostle had the fairest opportunity that possibly could be desired in the Jews absence to instruct the Gentiles in a first day Sabbath if ever such a change had been intended for why should publick preaching be deferred till the next seventh day Sabbath especially to the Gentiles if the first day had been a Sabbath The Apostles silence at this time and occasion will not allow any rational conjecture of such an intention of a first day Sabbath But here it is objected Object That the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth the week between or Sabbath between 1. I demand between what Answ The fairest conjecture is that the Gentiles might beseech Paul to preach the Sabbath between their desire and his departure and without some such supposition this translation of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 will scarce be good sense 2. If we may rely on the schollarship of Arius Montanus who was a professed enemy to the seventh day Sabbath he will tell us 't is sequens Sabbatum the following Sabbath 3. However this is manifest Act. 13.44 that the next Sabbath day Paul did p each and either it was in answer to the request made or else if the Gentiles desired him to preach to them on some week day and yet the Apostle deferred it to the known Sabbath day this will much more abundantly testifie his special respect to the seventh day Sabbath So that beyond all contradiction the Apostle and the Christians with him did as constantly observe the seventh day Sabbath as Christ himself and if none other ground next to Gods command be given us why they did so but that we should be followers of Paul as he was of Christ we must either press after our pattern or resolve to rest in disobedience to so great a Commandement Me thinks ingenious saints should even read Christs confirmation of the seventh day Sabbath in the Apostles practice for undoubtedly such as Pauls constant custome was such was his Commission It was not onely in the Lords Suppet that Paul delivered the same to the Church by precept or president which he received of the Lord but his constancy was equal in observing the Lords Sabbath as the Lords Supper 1 Cor. 11.1 2. and in requiring the same Church in the same Chapter to follow him as he followed Christ in all things There is a heavenly haâ—mony between Christs commission and Pauls custome both in the observation of the Lords Supper and the Lords Sabbath And seeing it is so manifest that Paul and the saints with him did constantly observe the known seventh day Sabbath both amongst Jews and Gentiles and that the blessed spirit gives us none other reason of Pauls custome but that we should be followers of that blessed Apostle even as he also was of Christ set us not coin or invent reasons without book of the Apostles constant observation of the Sabbath to justifie our own prophaneness but bethink our selves what we shall answer in the day of judgement when it shall be set fairly before us that as it was Christs custome to observe the Sabbath even so it was Pauls custome with his companions punctually to tread in the same steps and since the Spirit of truth never gave other reason why the Apostle did so but that we should follow him as he followed Christ in this divine duty which is so plain possible peaceable evangelical unrepealed Ah Christian ask thy conscience if thou canst judge this a sufficient answer for thy weekly pollution of the seventh day Sabbath That thou badst thought Paul had onely practised it to please the sews when it will appear plainly that he did it purposely for a pattern to the Gentiles And that thou mayest be utterly silent and for ever left without excuse take notice if thy spirit be not too much prejudiced and thy heart hardened against this truth that one of the fairest patterns of the Apostles for Sabbath-keeping was set before these very Gentile Corinthians whom he so strictly enjoyns to follow him as he followed Christ For in their famous Citie it was that the blessed man abode and preached in the Sinagogue EVERY Sabbath day Acts 18.1 3 4. and perswaded the Jews and the Greeks If any should contend that I term that preaching here which is translated reasoning let them mind that the word is the very same which is rendred preaching Acts 20.7 Well to these Greeks he gives that pattern which he commands them to follow and truly Christian out best way will be to walk with them in the same narrow path to new Jerusalem especially seeing their Epistle is expresly directed to us 1 Cor. 1.2 with 11 1. as well as to them Under this fourth point of the Saints observation of the seventh day Sabbath next to the Apostles constant custome I shall offer the practise of the purest times as the best anâ—iquity affords And in the first place that blessed Clement whose name is written in * Phil. 4.3 the book of life and himself now in glory instructs us in that undoubted Epistle of his to the Corinthians How God hath ordered that oblations and other dutie of his
the vanity of that Anti-christian invention But 3. We must learn to distinguish between Ceremonials and Morals both are not alike confirmed when they are together mentioned Act. 5.20 42. The Apostles preached and prayed in the Temple yet are they not of equal authority The Royal Sabbath is indeed mentioned with New Moons and sacrifices but it is no more rejected then Prayer and the prayer hearing God which are mentioned together * Isa 1.13 14 15. 57.6 7. 3d. Obj. A third objection is newly made by Mr. Aspinwal who grants Pentecost to be indeed the seventh day but thinks the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 translated fully come should rather be rendred fully past Pag. 5. Whence he would perswade that the Spirit did not descend upon the true day of Pentocost but upon the Jews false day of Pentecost which he saith was the first day of the week 1. The Greek being a Gerund in Do signifies fulfilling and most certain it is that as the saints were fulfilling the true Pentecost on the seventh day the spirit of Christ descended early upon them 2. His great mistakes are manifest in that our Lord Jesus who was punctual as he grants p. 5. to his own Law exactly celebrated the Passeover upon the 5th day the Jews on the 7th and such distance must needs be at the true and false Pentecost the true on the 7th the false not as he asserts on the first day but on the second so that his supposition of all those wonders which he would have done on the Jews Pentecost* do utterly vanish Pag. 35. and the glory of the 7th day Sabbath whereon those mighty things were wrought as I have convincingly proved is more abundantly confirmed seeing himself grants pag. 34. That those actions of the spirits effusion glorious conversion baptism breaking bread c. are signal characters of our Christian Sabbath Thus whiles we seek for wisdome in Gods way of counting his numbers Pro. 2.4 Rev. 13.18 we find the ancient Sabbath of the Lord our God within the mysterious numbers of Pentecost which saints should esteem as highly approved by the spirits glorious manifestation To which may be added 3ly His constant Appellation Christs promise was that the blessed spirit shall be ever with us to instruct us in all his truths And since this infallible guide doth constantly call the seventh day the Sabbath it must be received as a word of truth from God that cannot lie And truly 't is high presumption to alter the perfect word of God in calling any day the Lords Sabbath which the Lord never dignified with any such honourable appellation Let but the least authority be produced for honouring any other day as a Sabbath day in the Gospel besides the Lords honourable seventh day and the controversie will soon be ended I know what some have endeavoured to pacifie their perplexed spirits about the Sabbath who would perswade themselves that the first day of the week was thus honoured by the Evangelists in terming it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the first of the Sabbath Mat. 28.1 But first Answ here 's no 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mentioned the glory of the Sabbath DAY is onely given to the seventh day whiles the first day of the week is termed like other common days the first of the Sabbath the second of the Sabbath the third c. 2. Whether they take this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for one of the Sabbaths or the first of the Sabbaths to be sure 't is not any one of the sanctified Sabbaths instituted or authorized by the Lord our God Father Son or Spirit neither can it be the first of the Sabbaths in their sense for the seventh day was undeniably the first Sabbath If they say it was the first individual Gospel Sabbath then I suppose that first day in the 1 Cor. 16.1 may be the twentieth Sabbath at least and yet that also is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As for the proper signification and sence of the word it is the first of the week in English for Sabbath is an Hebrew not an English word and must be rendred week where ever it points at any time except the seventh day or some ceremonial sabbath as as the Pharisees vaunt shews Luke 18.12 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I fast twice on the Sabbath that is not twice in one day but twice a week The Evangelist fairly follows that form of expression used by the Septuagint which the Apostles more frequently observed then the Hebrew as being more common amongst the Gentiles where especially their work lay terming the week days the first of the sabbath the second of the sabbath c. instead of the heathen names of Sun-day Moon day c. which I hope may satisfie all such as had rather use scripture then heathenish names As in the title of Psal 24 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the first of the Sabbath or Week Ps 48. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the second of the Sabbath or Week Psal 94. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the sourth of the Sabbath or the fourth of the Week c. The Sabbath day is the peculiar honour given to the seventh day alone Luk. 4.16 Act 13 14. 16.13 c. So that if we be followers of God as dear children and take the blessed spirit for our guide in all our expressions and actions we must honour the Sabbath with holy devotion which he hath so honoured with highest Encomiums we must reverence that day above all daies in which he so gloriously descended upon the first pure Church solemnly assembled If this be not the pattern shewed Christians in the Mount I desire them to shew me some other pattern of some pure Church but if this be the undoubted pattern shewed this blessed day in the Mount Then Christian look well to thy walk Heb. 8.5 See that thou make all things according to the Pattern shewed thee in the Mount And since the spirits appellation is a further approbation of the seventh day which is the onely day he honours with the royal name of Sabbath day See thou presume not to call any day the Sabbath day but that which he hath so called See thou observe that for the Sabbath day which he hath so crowned It is the presumption of the little Horn not onely to change times but that this time of Gods solemn worship might be for ever buried in oblivion he hath devested it of this royal appellation of the Sabbath day and obscured its glory under the detestable name of Saturday i.e. Saturns day and so sheweth himself to be that Antichrist misteriously opposite to Christ devoting that very day to the father of Daemons or chief of idolized Devils which our Lord hath designed owned crowned and approved his chief day for Gospel worship And truly Christians the holy spirit would not that you should have fellowship with Devils 1 Cor. 10.20 Our English Laws have somewhat lessened this impiety wherein the
give unto us or else we must become followers of God as dear children in sanctifying this lively Oracle of his seventh day Sabbath This divine truth of the Sabbaths perpetuity is in words confessed by our English assembly who doe not only acknowledge that the Law in generall doth for ever binde Christians Confes Pag. 33 and that Christ did not ANY WAY dissolve it but much more strengthen this obligation in the Gospell But in particular they confesse that God by a positive morall and perpetuall commandement doth bind all men in all ages to that particular seventh day which himselfe hath appointed Idem Pag. 39. And whereas they say this is changed in the Gospell from that seventh day to the first day of the week I shall with the candle of Gods word search their grounds which will be found too shallow to satisfie an awakened conscience for if Christ doth perpetually bind his Saints to exact intire personall obedience to his lively Oracles then surely no power is able to absolve his people from that obedience And if it be as they say that Christ did not any way dissolve but much strengthen this obligation in the Gospell then it is impossible to prove any kind of alteration yet Further If God by a positive morall and perpetuall commandement doth binde all men in all ages to such a particular seventh day as himselfe appointed then either they must prove that God hath made his morall Law mutable by appointing some other day or else the seventh day Sabbath must be restored to its primitive glory Their first ground for change of the Sahbath to the first day is raised from Christs resurrection and apparition to his Disciples But the very great difference between the fathers example at the worlds creation and the Sons action at his resurrection will soone discover the vanity of this argument For upon the Creation of the world God did solemnly sanctisie the seventh day for his Sabbath and rested on it giving as an example for the ground of our obedience but upon the resurrection there 's not the least syllable of a change institution sanctification or celebration yea so farre was Christ from resting upon his resurrection day that be travelled 15 Miles upon this supposed New-Sabbath and this not to any Church-meeting but from Jerusalem the place where most of his Disciples were purposely joyning with the two Disciples that were journeing on foot 7 miles and a halfe into the Countrey Luke 24.13.15 Mar. 16.13 Why Christians awake in the name of the Lord and polute your soules no longer with weekly prophanation upon such a salf supposition of a change at Christs resurrection you see your Creator sanctified his seventh day Sabbath and solemnly rested upon it but for the resutrection day you have not one word of a command to keep it as a sabbath and for an example you have indeed a lively one in your Saviours refusing to appeare all that day to his Disciples at Jerusalem and travelling with two upon their private occasions not giving them the least admonition about Sabbath observation which undoubtedly he would have done as freely as in other things had he intended that day for his new Sabbath Now I beseech you consider whether this be likely that Christ who was saithfull in all his house should intend the first day for his Sabbath and yet never leave one word of institution nor any other pattern but journeying 15 miles And whereas 't is gloried that our Lord appeared severall first dayes to his Disciples as they were assembled I believe upon diligent search it will be found but a vainflourish and that he never appeared to any assembly no not any one first day For it is most certaine that the day upon the Scripture account begins with the evening And now let us observe that upon the first day Luke 24.29 30. he arose we find him at the Village 7 Miles from Jerusalem when it was towards evening and the day far spent Luk. 24.29 30. after which he supped with the two which tooke up some time then they returned that 7 miles and a halfe to Jerusalem on foot So that if the day were far spent before they entred the Village it must doubtlesse be quite spent before they could provide and eate their suppers and returne 7 miles and a halfe And so before Christ appeared to the eleven Luk. 24.22 John 20.19 the first day must needs be done and whereas 't is said he appeared the first day at evening yet you must know that the first day was then as fully ended as it is plaine the sabbath * Mar. 1.32 was ended at evening when the Sun did set and the people brought their sick to be healed which they were forbidden to doe on the Sabbath day As for Christs second appearing to the assembled Disciples John 20.26 it 's expresly said it was after eight dayes and therefore could not be on the first day of the Week And for his third apparition John 21. surely they will not say 't was on the first day seeing they were at their trade But indeed the Lord was seene of some Acts 1.2.3 or other of them fourty dayes never being idle all the time 1 Cor. 15.6 so that his apparations prove not any thing as to a change of the Sabbath There is a conceit that the cause of the Disciples assembling on the first day was to celebrate the new Sabbath in honour of Christs resurrection when as they were so far from believing Christ was risen that the womens tydings there of Luk. 24.11 Mar. 16.13 seemed to them as idle tales Yea the first day was finished before they beleeved so that they could not in faith doe any such thing But here 't is evident how sadly they are put to it that must say something for their first day Sabbath and yet can say no better For although they would make some shew of Scripture yet all amounts to a bare endeavour to draw some support for an unwarantable Sabbath from any Text that doth but mention the first day of the Week Act. 20.7 As first from the Disciples occasionall meeting to breake bread upon Paul's departing by Sea they suppose this may make something for a first day Sabbath and truly they may as groundly plead for an every day Sabbath Act. 2.26 since it is as clear that the Saints assembled and brake bread every day 2. We find the Saints at Troas no sooner assembled but many lights are seen in their upper chamber So that 't is not probable they met till towards evening which is no good example for celebrating a Sabbath 3. If breaking of bread had been a service designed for the honour of the first day the Apostle who so much pressed to Church-order 1 Cor. 11. ulâ— and particularly in this Ordinance would not have deferred breaking of bread till the second day especially now that he was to
beginning although the Patriachs transgressed but were not reproved Gods Laws do not stand or fall as man either keeps them or is reproved for the transgression But whether men observe them or not the moral Lawes of God are still in force Object It is further objected That Gospel Saints are not reproved or admonished about the Sabbath as probably they would had it been a duty incumbent upon them 1. Answ Possibly it needed not seeing we find even the Apostle of the Gentiles and his companions constantly observing the sabbath yea and the Gentiles themselves desiring to serve on the sabbath Acts 13. 2. Had any of the Christians prcphaned the sabbath doubtless the priests and legal professors that were so hot about ceremonies would have made the Worldâ—ring with their clamours Acts 21.27.28 The Priests universal silence a notable Argument that Christians kept the seventh daysabbath they that made such noise against Christ for doing what was lawful on the sabbath-day would not have spared Christians had they done any thing unlawfull It is evident that for almost five hundred yeares during the Judges in Israel we hear nothing either of them Acts 13.20 keeping of the sabbath or the reproof for not observing it and yet that person must renounce his reason and Religion that shall deny their keeping the sabbath much more if he shall reject the sabbath because in five hundred years no mention is made of it 4. But if a doubting Dydimus will not believe unless he see the print of some admonition to Christians about the Sabbath lo the spirit condiscends and upon serious search we shall find Christians admonished to beware of Sabbath polution 1 Cor. 6.10 to 12. for the Apostle presents the Christians at Corinth with several instances of Israels miseries in the wilderness and plainly declares That all these things hapned unto them for our ensamples and are written for our admonition therefore it behoves us to search the Scriptures for the cause of their calamity Ezek. 20.13 and in searching we shall sind that the special cause of all their plagues was sabbath prophanation as I have already proved by another warning peal to professors out of Heb. 3â— and 4â— Well Christians if Israel be set for our ensample and their sad story be written for our admonition as is plain then let us be warned that we partake not of their sins least we partake of their plagues Neh. 9.14.15 13 17.18 wherewith they were destroyed in the Wildernesse and afterwards captivated in Babylon as godly Nehemiah sadly bewailes setting forth the special cause of both to be Sabbath-breaking And therefore let this be a seasonable warning to all that fear the Lord that they no longer provoke him with Israels Sabbath pollution least they bring Israels punishment upon themselves for God will at length wound the hairy scalp of such as go on in their wickedness after warning Ps 64.21 It is objected Object That God doth not plague Sabbath breakers but hath poured down judgements upon such as have slighted the first day 1. Answ It is true God doth wounderfully forbear Sabbath breakers it is his great goodness to wink at persons in the days of their ignorance but shall the delay of his judgements set thy heart fully to do evil Eccles 8.11 Because God is so patient art thou resolved to be still profane build upon it That after a Seal is opened and Gods trumpet proclaimes the truth and gives warning the next to be expected is the out-powring of a vial of wrath 2. If any humane testimony be produced of Judgements upon the first day we have both humane and divine of high displeasure of seventh day-sabbath breakers As for Divine vengeance poured forth by Scripture proof enough hath been shewed for our ensample and admonition to which this may be added Lev. 26.33 34 35.2 Cor. 36.20 21. that as the cause of Israels desolation for one generation was Sabbath polution so the grand cause of the woful desolations for many generations in treading under foot the Temple the Altar and Worshippers was the little horns presumption in changing the Saints time and laws Rev. 11.2 Dan. 7.25 Here are Judgements with a witness and now the only way to raise the desolation of many generations is to advance those holy times and Laws changed by ANTICHRIST There are already since this truth sounded many signs of high displeasure upon Sabbath-breakers No plague like that of a hard heart no judgement like those strong delusions which have already seised upon Ranters and Quakers whose enmity never appeared so eminently against any one ordinance nor scarce against all that ever I knew as against this glorious Oracle of God labouring with all their might against it in the very birth And as for sundry hypocrites who masked and marched in profession as far as their gifts would carry them The Lord hath notably unhooded them by this glorious truth so that the Sabbath being too hot for them Satan hath drawn them from the worship of the Lord to wallow again in the world neer upon twenty persons hath the enemy thus ensnared out of two hundred and fifty Let all take heed by the sad example of a yong man one William Sloat who upon hearing of this Doctrine that Gods commandments are not grevious to gratious souls was brought under self-condemnation being convinced 1 John 15.13 that this lively oracle of the true sabbath was most grevious to him through fear of relations and losse of earthly advantages so that he fell into a dreadful Agony like unto what is related of Francis Spira the terrors of his eternal state tormenting him for a season till at last with the advice of carnall relations he Apostatized not only from the Sabbath but from all that ever he professed in the way of Church worship declaring that all he had done was in hypocrisie and so with a raging tortur'd spirit he was hurried up and down to perswade all he could meet with that they were hypocrites like himself exclam against the ordinances of the Gospel and returning to the parish profession like the dog to his vomit and to the filth of the world like the Sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire where we shall leave him under the unpardonable sin to the judgement of the great day Heb. 6. S 5 9. 10.26 27. for if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin but a certain fearful looking for of judgement and fiery indignation which shall devour the adversaries As for external judgements it is hard to conclude love or hatred from thence suppose ye that these Galileans were the greatest sinners I tell you nay but except you repent ye shall likewise perish Luke 13.2.3 1 Cor. 11 30. Rev. 2. 3. for though sometimes the Lord doth externally afflict yet usually gospel judgments are spiritual