of the seventh year the Sabbath of the fiftieth year the year of Jubile and not the weekly Sabbath By way of Answer I desire that the words of the Apostle may be duely weighed Ye observe Days and Months and Times and Years I am afraid of you lest I have bestowed on you my labour in vain By Years we understand their yearly Sabbath called the Sabbath of Attonement and their Sabbatical years as above mentioned by Seasons their Annual Feasts of the Passover Penticost and Tabernacles and by Months their Monthly Feasts called their New Moons all this is clear now I confess I cannot see what can possibly be meant by Days but their weekly Sabbath days especially finding in Levit. 23. where all their Feasts and Holy days eight in number are reckoned up their weekly Sabbath is put in the first place as it were by the Apostle I fore-see two things may be objected against this interpretation Obj. First it may be said the Sabbath of the seventh day cannot be here mentioned for then Paul should condemn his own Practice Answ But this is easily Answered for though we read Acts 16.13 that on the Sabbath day that is I grant on the seventh day Sabbath he went out of the City and preached to women that resorted thither to their publique worship and Acts 17.2 that he preached in the Synagogue of Thessalonica three Sabbath days together yet this was not as observing the seventh day Sabbath but for the opportunity of the Jews assembling together on that day which he could not have upon the first day and so for a while condescending to their weakness some other of the Jewish Rites as may be instanced in Circumcision were born with To conclude from hence that he did this as observing the seventh day Sabbath as they did it may be well concluded that he did and therefore we must observe the Feast Penticost because he went up to Jerusalem at that Feast as we read Acts 18.21 which we may be sure he did not for the Feasts sake but for the Assemblies sake that he might have the greater opportunity to Preach the Gospel unto them But now if we would know what day of the week it was which he observed in obedience to the fourth Commandment look into his practice among the Converted Jews and Gentiles and there we shall find that he observed the first day for the Sabbath day and passed by the seventh day as will be seen by and by in its proper place 2. Object It 's objected by some and those great and learned persons that this Interpretation overthrows the Morality of the first day of the week as well as the last day of the week and for that end they thus interpret this place and frequently urge it But nothing they alledge from hence I do acknowledge could ever make any impression upon me and my reason is this Answ Look what those and the Circumcision that were so zealous for the Law sought to impose upon the Christian Churches that and that only the Apostle opposeth Now it seems to me beyond all question that they never sought to impose the first day Sabbath and therefore that stands and will stand unshaken notwithstanding this Interpretation of the Text and the Interpretation standing firm notwithstanding these Objections it seems yet clear to me that Christians are under no obligation at all to the old Sabbath it is dead having served its time Quest Now I know it will be asked if this be so where have we any express institution either for the first day or for any other day Must we not then if a word of institution cannot be produced observe as some say every day for a Sabbath or take that day those in Authority do appoint be it one of 10 or one of 20 or have no Sabbath at all Answ I answer Neither so nor so every day is not the Sabbath day any more than every Supper is the Lords Supper or every Table the Lords Table Neither may we admit of one day of 10 or 20 for that is against the Morality of the fourth Commandment which requires not onely the observation of a Sabbath but one day of seven for a Sabbath And that we have sufficient ground which I confess can be no less than Divine Authority for the first day of seven I now come to give you my reasons why I so believe Only let me have leave first to ask where is there an express word of institution for the last of seven In the fourth Commandment there is none that only requires the observation of one of seven all the institution there is for it is in Gen. 2.3 which is not express though I acknowledg it sufficient but only imply'd in those words God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it and I hope there is as clear a word though perhaps not altogether found in one place which implies the institution of the first day as that which in Gen. 2. doth of the seventh day Before I proceed to that I desire this may be observed That there is the same reason for the institution of the first of seven that there was for the institution of the last of seven I said before what I thought to be true that the Lord blessed and sanctified the seventh day not only because he rested on the seventh day having perfected the work of Creation but also because of the result and consequence both of his rest and of his perfecting his work namely his honouring and exalting that day above all other dayes thereby now we know that the memorial of those signal works of providence wrought upon the day hath been the occasion of the advancing that day above other So the Jewish Passover Lev. 23. and the Feast of Purim Est 9.21 23 and our 5th of November in memory of the discovery of that Treason plotted and that nothing came to execution but the Traytors themselves Now this being acknowledged to be so hence then it may be argued That what day soever above all other dayes God honours with his most eminent work is to be the day of holy Rest unto God This will clearly carry it and greatly strengthen though but an implyed institution for the first day for that was the day of the Lords rest from the most great and the most glorious of all his works the work of Redemption I hear something hath been alledged against this that the first day of the week was not the day of Christs Resurrection and that the Translators of the Bible have done us wrong in so rendring it It is strange to me if any should say so but I shall say nothing to it now because your Paper speaks nothing of it whenever you think fit to form the Argument from the error you suppose in the Translation there is as I understand one and one that is well able to do it prepared to justifie the Translation and hath done it many moneths ago to him I leave it
other day as a Weekly Sabbath day but only the Seventh day which is the last day of the Week in the weekly returns of it Exod. 20.9 10. and 31.13 14 15. and 35.3 Jer. 17.27 Exod. 20.21 Nehem. 13.15 21. 3 dly Thirdly Because God hath put this into Nature Exod. 20.10 thy Stranger Deut. 5.14 the three first Chapters to the Romans particularly chap. 2 14 15 26 27. and 3.9 20. 1 Cor. 11.14 Nature hath its teachings the Humane nature in the first Adam was made and framed to the perfection of the Ten Words some notions whereof are still retained even in the Corrupt state of fallen Man compare Gen. 1.26 27. Ecles 7.29 Ephes 4.20 Col. 3.10 The Law of the seventh day Sabbath was given before the Law was proclaimed at Sinai Exod. 16.23 even from the Creation Gen 2.2 3. given to Adam in respect of his Humane nature and in him to all the World of humane creatures compare Gen. 1.14 and Psal 104.19 with Levit. 25.21 and Num. 28.2 9 10. it is the same word in the Original Mognadim contracted Mognade Set times of Divine appointment for solemn Assembling and for Gods instituted Service are directed to and pointed at by those great Lights which the Creator hath set up in the Heavens Psal 19. throughout compared with Rom. 10.4 5 6 7 8 18 19 20. Deut. 30.10 15. Joh. 1.9 Every man hath a Law and Light of Nature which he carrieth about him and is born and bred together with him Those seeds of Light and Truth Rom. 1.20 though they will not Justifie him in the sight of God and bring a Soul through and safe home to Glory yet there even since Adam's fall are those reliques and dark letters of His holy Law of the Ten words to preserve the memory of our first created Dignity and for some other ends though these Seeds are utterly corrupted now Tit. 1.15 Natural Reason will tell men that seeing all men in all Nations do measure their times by Weeks and their Weeks by Seven days they should besides what they offer up of their time as due to God every day give one whole day of every Week to their Maker who hath allowed them so liberal a portion of time therein to provide for themselves there being no other proportion of time that can so well provide for the necessities of Families as Six dayes of every Week and that is so well fitted to all functions callings and employments And the light of Nature when cleared up will tell men That all labour and motion being in order to rest and rest being the perfection and end of labour into which labour work and motion doth pass that therefore the Seventh which is the last day in every Week is the fittest and properest day for a religious Rest unto the Creator for his Worship and Service Gen. 2.1 2 3. Exod. 20.9 10 11. Deut. 5.13 14. Heb. 4.1 11. Exod. 31.7 Rom. 14.13 Exod. 23 12. and 34.2 Nature doth suggest that Man and Beast should have a Resting-day every Week Deut. 5.14 The Lord Christs obedience unto this fourth Word in observing in his life time the Seventh day as a Weekly Sabbath-day which is the last day of the Week in the weekly returns of it and no other day of the Week as such is a part of that perfect Righteousness which every sound believer doth apply to himself in order to his being Justified in the sight of God and every such person is to conform unto Christ in all the acts of his Obedience to the Ten Words Luk. 4.16 Rom. 8. 2 3 4. and 5.12 Gal. 4.4 5. 2 Cor. 5. 21. Jer. 23.6 Rev. 19.8 Isa 45. 23 24 25. Rom. 6. throughout 1 Pet. 2.21 Ephes 5.1 2. 1 Joh. 2 3 4. 1 Joh. 1.6 1 Joh. 2.1 6. and 4. 17. Joh. 15.10 12 14. Matth. 11.28 29 30. Joh. 13.34 Heb. 12.2 Francis Bampfield Mr. BEN'S ANSVVER TO Mr. BAMPFIELD'S PAPER The will of Gods good pleasure is the sole Rule and reason of all his actings towards the Creature The holy Will of God revealed in his holy Word is the sole Rule and Measure of all the Creatures actings towards God Honoured Sir and very much Reverenced in the Lord GReat is the Obligation you have laid upon me in condescending so far as to communicate unto me those Scripture grounds and reasons which have had such an irresistable influence upon your Conscience as to undergo such a change in your Judgement and Practice relating to the observation of the Weekly Sabbath from what you have formerly believed and practised and that I am fully perswaded in Godly sincerity This Sir is as I understand the discourse of many the wonder of not a few and the grief of some I do acknowledge that the report which you say was brought unto you was true I did indeed desire that you would be pleased at your leisure if you thought good to add some Scripture-proofs to those Propositions which I had formerly received from you Which I think I should not have taken the boldness to have done but that you had given me encouragement as I suppose you remember when and where and how which now that you have done I shall endeavour to observe your order in giving you my thoughts of them and that as they stand in your Paper and according to your desire expresly declare my assent and consent to the several particulars so far as I am convinced that they are according to the mind of God and wherein I dissent to give you my reasons thereof and yet as you expect in a Scripture way so far as I am able and understand the meaning of that expression and submit all to your serious examination 1. Concerning your three first Propositions I do both heartily assent and unfeignedly consent unto you so far as I apprehend aright your mind in them as divine truths of infallible veracity deeply engraven in the Word of Truth Oh that they were as deeply engraven in the hearts of all the Lords professing People Only I crave leave to tell you 1. That whereas for the proof of the first That Jehovah Christ is by the appointment of the Father c. whereas I say for the proof of this you quote if I mistake not near about 26 Scriptures I cannot either assent or consent that every one of them speaks clearly to the confirmation of the Proposition possibly they are mis-written â—y the Transcriber however the Truth is sufficiently confirmed by some of them and I think all of them may afford matter of comfortable meditation for the right improvement of Christs Kingly Office which perhaps is all that you intend by them Blessed be the Lord the Government is upon his shoulder Isa 9.8 that he is the King of Nations Jer. 10.17 that he is the King of Saints Rev. 15.3 head over all things to the Church Ephes 1.22 hath power over all flesh to give eternal life to all those the father hath given him Joh. 17.2
Scripture This to me is certain for the Will of God concerning Sacrificing was without doubt revealed unto Abel before the Law for Sacrifices was given for what he did therein he did in Faith and eminently found acceptance with God in what he did therein Heb. 11.4 neither the Light of Nature which is the knowledge of Principles neither the Law of Nature which is the conclusions drawn from these Principles could ever have made known this way of Worship to be a Duty if God had not some way revealed his Will to him therein This I hope will be made evident when I come to speak of the third general Reason If he had imposed this upon himself and that it had been the Product of his own imagination it had been will-worship Therefore certainly he had some word for it but when he received it and where and how that way of Worship was instituted for him to come to the knowledge of I never heard of any that could find it in the Scripture Great use may be made of this if need were for the clearing up of this present Controversie concerning an express word for the institution and observing the first day of the Week to be the Lords-day the day for his Weekly Sabbath we might say that it might be instituted though it be not recorded when and where as it was in the case of Abels Sacrificing but I hope we shall not be driven to this however I cannot but suppose it is of good use for some especially to consider of 6 thly Sixthly I desire that this also may be considered that what was delivered by the Apostles as they were guided by the holy Spirit of Truth ought to be received and believed as delivered and spoken by Christ himself Christ himself was never in person at Ephesus and yet 't is said Eph. 2.17 that he came thither and preached peace unto them we must understand it that he did so in the Ministry of the Apostles which was all one as if he had been there himself None that I know of durst ever undertake to prove that ever they prescribed any thing for all the Churches to observe but what they received in Commission from the Lord Jesus This was their charge Mat. 28.20 Teach what I command you and this was their practice 1 Cor. 11.10 23. What I received from the Lord that I delivered unto you so 1 Cor. 15.3 It is evident Act. 1.3 that Jesus Christ spake many things unto them betwixt his Resurrection and Ascension concerning the Kingdom of God i. e. especially the state of the Gospel-Church of all which we have no knowledge I have not I am sure in particular what they were farther than is found in their precepts and practice recorded in the New Testament And what if I should say that the change of the day from the last in seven to the first in seven was one of these things I know not what could be said against it but of that more hereafter 7 thly Seventhly Though I have declared as above my assent and consent concerning the Ten words to be perpetually obligatory or a standing and unchangeable rule for all Christians in all ages to walk by that so they may walk in all well-pleasing unto God as once I heard very solidly proved by your self in an Exercise wholly upon that subject from Psal 19.6 7 8 9. As I remember though I say and say it again that herein I consent with you yet I say it now and must say it again hereafter that the day of weekly holy Rest is altered and yet that alteration is no dissolution of the Commandment and that no tittle of the Law is broken thereby and that the first day of the week is and ought to be as much the weekly Sabbath for the Christians now as the last day of the week was to the Jews of old and that there is as good ground though perhaps not so clear to every one for the change of the day as there was at first for the choice of the day this is directly contrary to what you asserted in your paper I come now according as you desired me to take your 4th Proposition into consideration and your Reasons in order as they stand whereby you endeavour to confirm it having again and again in some weak measure I praise the Lord prayed for the assistance of the holy spirit of truth to guide and direct me that I may write nothing against the truth but for the truth being at this present under the actual consideration of the dreadful sentence that I may be called to an account I know not how soon before the great and glorious God for what I think for what I write as well as for what I speak or what I do I bless God I am willing that truth should be truth and appear to be truth Your fourth Proposition though I have repeated it already yet I think it meet to repeat it here again is this The seventh day which is the last day in every week in the weekly returns of it c. And for the proof of this you produce Exod. 20.8 9 10 11. Deut. 5.12 15. I conceive you lay the whole stress of your Arguments upon that in Exod. and that you do not so much as imagine that Deut. the 5th affords you any more help than what you have from the other alone This is that which is to be taken into serious considerations whether your Proposition takes in or be agreeable unto the full sense of the Commandment and that the Commandment speaks the same thing that the Proposition doth it seems as yet far otherwise to me and that the Commandment requires only the observation of one day in seven and doth not institute any particular day either the last or the first The last of seven had its institution as you seem to acknowledge which I was glad to find in your paper in Gen. 2.3 where and when the first day had its institution will be enquired into when this Proposition is cleared viz. That the fourth Commandment requires only the observation of one whole day in seven for the weekly Sabbath not instituting either the first or the last for any such intent or purpose And because as Solomon saith Prov. 6.23 that the Commandment is a Lamp and the Law is a Light I desire therefore in the strength of the Lord Jesus depending upon him for light and direction to look into the sense and meaning of this Law But first I shall premise this That As the second so the fourth Commandment comes in some things under a difrferent consideration from most if not from all the rest my meaning is this There is something in each of them is morral natural and something which is only positive In the second Commandment this is moral natural that God ought to be worshipped not as men will themselves but as God himself wills and describes but in what ordinances or acts of worship this
I have given you the sence wherein I conceive the words are to be understood Thus We must not understand this properly according to the Letter for the infinite glorious divine essence ceaseth no more to work than he ceaseth to be God neither doth he rest as man doth because he is weary Isa 40.28 We are therefore to understand his ceasing to Create from the works of providence ordering and disposing all thing that he hath made he never resteth according to that Joh. 5.17 Having thus given you the sense now I shall give you my Reasons why I conceive that this example of Gods resting is not alledged here to lay an obligation upon the Conscience that the same day wherein he rested which was the last of seven ought to be observed for ever 1. First It seems to me to relate to what God himself did rather then any way propounded as an argument to prove that for which you urge it I will give you a parallel Scripture wherein the Example of the Lord Jesus is thus to be understood 1. Cor. 11.23 We have there the institution of the Lords Supper when and how it was instituted repeated out of the Evangelists and Christs example is related as to the time when that it was not only in the night but in that particular night in which he was betrayed now this is not recorded as a binding rule for our imitation for then night Administrations should not onely of absolute necessity be observed but that particular night in which he was betrayed which is commonly called with us Thursday night which is more then ever I heard that any one practised as a necessary duty I am sure the Apostle Paul did not Acts 20.7 This example of Christ then seems to be historically related and whether the like may not be said of Gods example in the Commandment let it be considered But 2. Secondly though Gods exemple be historically related yet it must be acknowledged to be related for some special end and purpose As the example of Christ in the forementioned Scripture was without all doubt mentioned upon the highest ground of reason which to speak of here though it might be of good use yet it would be a digression from the matter in hand And the special end and purpose why Gods example is here related seems to be this even to shew that what is required in the Commandment is equal and reasonable and for mans good The holy Laws of God are often called Judgments as for other Reasons so specially I think for this to shew that God requires nothing but what is just and equal Thus God reasons the case with those Ezek. 18 25. Hear ye me O house of Israel are not my waies equal and therefore certainly the sence of the Argument from Gods example which doth best shew the equity of the Commandment and to be for the good of those that observe it is the best and truest sence Now to argue that because God wrought the six first days of seven and then rested the last of seven this carries no convincing reason with it that therefore we ought first to work six days of the week and then to rest the last day of the week and to keep it holy to the Lord. Reason right Reason if that alone were to judge would rather judge it fit to keep the first of seven holy to the Lord and seeing by Divine allowance we have six for one take the six last to our selves In reason we may hope that the work on Earth will speed best when our work for Heaven is done first But now to argue from Gods example that it bindeth neither to the first of seven nor to the last of seven but to one of seven carries very great reason in it For if the great God who needs not one moment either for rest or for work who never fainteth who never is weary wrought six days and rested one how much more should poor frail man hold that proportion who by reason both of bodily weakness and spiritual wants needs such a competency of time both for his worldly imployment and Soul refreshments and thus much you say your self hath been already noted Thus you have my reason why I conceive there is nothing in Gods example that affords any help to afford your Proposition 3. Thirdly I find as little in Gods blessing and sanctifying the Sabbath-day for that which you alledge it 1. First To give the sence he sanctified it i. e. separated it from common use to be filled up with such duties as he appoints and then blessed it i. e. appointed it to be a day of blessing A day naturally considered is capable of no other blessing but only to be a means of blessing according to Divine appointment but his blessing and sanctifying it secures the blessing to the right observers of it Now for my reason why herein I dissent from you 't is this He blessed and sanctified it but not as it was the last day of seven but as it was the day of his Rest declaring thereby Creation-work to be perfected Neither was his resting so far as I can see the ground of his blessing and sanctifying it but as considered in conjunction with the reason of his Rest his finishing the Creation and also with the result and consequence of his Rest viz. his magnifying and honouring that day for the time being above all other dayes for the greatest work then in being Whether this blessing be applicable to no other day but this as you say it is not in the third Branch of the first Reason for the confirming your Proposition shall be considered of when it comes to be spoken to in order as it stands in your Paper and I hope to make the contrary to appear at least it appears so to me 4. Fourthly To mention it once again though it was hinted before in the very conclusion of the Commandment vers 11. though the last of seven is mentioned in the same verse in the words immediately foregoing it is not said I mean in that place that he blessed and sanctified the seventh day though it be said that he did bless it Gen. 2. in the sence that is given above but he blessed and sanctified the Sabbath day What should be the reason of the suddain change of the expression I conceive it may be this and I think it may not be unworthy of your serious consideration it may be this I say Because the Command for the Sabbath-day was to be of a larger extent than the last day of seven I cannot but think that if God had intended to bind his Church in all ages to the end of the world to the last day of seven as you conceive he hath done he would have fixed upon that day in the conclusion of the Commandment Thus Sir I have given you my reasons why I dissent from you in that sence which you give of the Commandment in your Proposition And why I
adhere to that Proposition that the fourth Commandment requires only the observation of one day in seven not fixing it either upon the first or the last day of seven but only by consequence pointing at the last of seven then to be observed because it was instituted before and to continue till the first of seven was to succeed it As Solomon said in the place formerly quoted Prov. 6. so David his Father said before him Psal 19.9 The Commandment of the Lord is pure enlightneng the eyes and this is the light which the Father of lights hath given me from the Commandment I shall shut up all that for the present I intend to say as for the sence of the Commandment with this that as the second Commandment as I said in the entrance into this discourse may parallel with the fourth Commandment in requiring something which is superadded to the law and light of nature so 't is evident in this that as the second Commandment doth determine the worship of God but only in the General that it be according to his revealed will and under that General both old Ordinances Sacrifice Circumcision and the Passover instituted elsewhere are there required So Likewise New Testament Ordinances Baptisme and the Lords Supper are both comprehended though neither named so in the fourth Commandment both the last of seven and first of seven are comprehended though neither of them directly named but onely one of them consequentially as was said before because formerly instituted so that the fourth Commandment is perpetually obligatory for one day in seven and then the substance of the Commandment is still unchangeable thus the day admits of a change not as a Ceremony but as a Circumstance the change of the day being no more prejudicial to the morality of the fourth Commandment than the change or worship to the morality of the second Commandment And farther I add this that I confess I am at a very great loss how it should be so as it hath been and as it is at this day that in a manner the whole Christian world should centre in the observation of the first day if it had been a breach of the fourth Commandment which hath been so often read and so often preached upon Before I proceed to say any more than what hath been said to those Reasons which are produced in your Paper for the confirmation of your Proposition I shall give you in as few words as possibly I can what I have for the present to say for the change of the day from the last of seven to the first of seven and that being done I conceive I shall not need to say much to any of the Reasons though I intend not by the Lords assistance to pass over any of them without saying something and that as you desire according to the order as they stand To make entrance into this which I am now to speak unto as none denies but that the last of seven was the only day in the revolution of every week to be kept holy to the Lord to the end of the old world i. e. of the Church that then was of the Jews till the time of Reformation should come Heb. 9.10 so I conceive it cannot with reason be denied but that since the beginning of the new world i. e. of the Christian Church frequently in Scripture called the world to come I mention only that Heb. 2.5 since then I say it cannot I think with any shew of reason be denied that the first of seven hath been generally acknowledged in all Christian Churches unto this day and will be to speak as yet I do believe till time shall be no more though by what Authority is the great matter in question but the thing is certain though it hath been of late as I have heard dropt up and down in and about the Town that this exalting of the first day of seven above the last of seven was done by the Authority of Constantine I wondred at this when I heard of it for though it be true that Eusebius writing the life of that Christian Emperor saith that by law he enacted that the first day of the week should be the great weekly holy day to the Lord Yet to conclude from hence that he was the Author of the change of the day we may as well conclude that he was the Christian Religion for by his publique Edict the publique profession of it was established in all his Dominions The Christians of those days then receiving as I have often thought an answer to those Prayers which their fore-Fathers in Christianity no doubt poured forth before God according to that injunction and direction 1 Tim. 2.1 2. that they should pray for Kings and all that be in Authority that they might lead a quiet and peaceable life in all Godliness and Honosty which was much about 300. years before Constantine was born at least before he sate in the Throne Let Eusebius himself be consulted I could easily quote the place if I had the book by me and from him we may learn that as the Christian Religion so the Christian Sabbath was observed on the first day long before Constantines Cradle was made and not only so but before there was a Christian Magistrate in the world it was so and yet as 't is apparent to me by divine Authority or else there was none in the world at all for in the new world that is in the state of the Gospel Church old things were past away old Sacrifices old Covenant old Sacrament the Seals of the Covenant this none denies even so likewise the old Sabbath for the proof of this let that Scripture besides others that might be mentioned be duly considered Gal. 4.10 The Apostle there reckoneth up several sorts of the Jewish Festivals and condemneth the observation of them in all Christian Churches for upon the same account he condemns them in one Church he condemns them in all This will appear to be so if we consider the Apostles scope in that and in his Epistles to some other of the Churches But to mention one is enough for all it was to oppose such of the Circumcision as those mentioned Acts 15.1 2. that mingled together the Law of Moses with the Doctrine of the Gospel and that in the matter of Justification and in order to Salvation with this error which was then a growing error it is evident the Church of Galatia was infected upon this account it might well be that he was Articled against for teaching every where to forsake the Law of Moses and against the Temple Acts 21.28 as Paul himself no doubt knew that it was formerly an Article against Stephen that he spake blasphemous words against the Law and that he should affirm that Jesus of Nazareth should destroy the Temple and change the Customs that Moses delivered them Acts 6.13 14. Object If it be objected that the Apostle there condemns their yearly Sabbaths the Sabbath
things as the Gentiles without any revelation of the mind of God in his Word had the knowledge of by the light of Nature which they could never have of the last of seven for the weekly Sabboth as will appear by and by 2 dly Secondly Laws which are only positive I conceive to be such as the light of Nature could never have judged either good or necessary if they had not some way or other been revealed to be the will of God the goodness of them ariseth only from the will of God enjoyning them who having absolute authority over all may and doth dispose of them into what condition he pleaseth and imposeth upon them what Laws seem good in his sight so that if they never had been enjoyned the omission of them had been so far from being sin that if any single person should have imposed them upon himself or any number of men had imposed them upon others as any part of Spiritual homage and worship which is due to God it had been rejected as Will-worship Of this nature was the law given to Adam of not eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil there was no evil in the fruit of the Tree it was the creature of God and all that he made was very good it was only evil because forbidden such were the laws for sacrifice burnt-offerings and peace-offerings all the goodness that was in them was only from the will of God appointing them the light of Nature could never have seen the good of them nor the law of Nature ingaged a man to the observation of them if the will of God had not one way or other been revealed concerning them The human nature in Adam was created righteous but if the revelation of the Will of God had not been superadded to that knowledge wherein he was created he could never have known but that he might as lawfully have eaten of that Tree as of any other It is true when the will of God was revealed to him he had that written in his heart by which he saw obedience to that Law to be both just and necessary Of this nature I conceive was the law concerning the last day of seven for the day of holy rest to be observed unto the Lord. In the first proposition I shewed there is no goodness in one day more than another materially considered none in the last of seven none in the first of seven therefore neither of these were written in Nature only this is written in Nature that when the will of God is revealed concerning any such positive law as concerning either the last of seven or the first of seven to be observed even Nature as it is corrupted cannot deny but that it is both just and necessary to yield obedience thereunto Nature corrupted Nature cannot deny but that the will of the Soverain Lawgiver ought to be the rule of the Creature and indeed I am apt to think this is all you intended to prove and if no more then I do declare herein both my assent and consent But then this is far short of what the reason is brought to prove namely that which is in the fourth Proposition that the last day of every week in the weekly returns of it is alone the particular day in every week which is the weekly Sabboth day to be kept holy to Jehovah in obedience to his Command as such Let it be granted which yet I confess I am not fully satisfied in that the light of Nature without any revelation might have fixed upon one of seven yet if God had not revealed his Will therein it could never have fixed upon the last of seven I think it would rather have fixed upon the first of seven for the reason alledged pag. 34. Surely Sir if the law for the last of seven had been written in the heart of man we might hope to have found it fairly written in the renewed and sanctified heart of the people of the Lords choice But this the experience of all ages contradicteth If any should speak to me in the language of Eliphaz Job 5. Call now if there be any that will answer thee and to which of the Saints wilt thou turn thee and ask them Did you ever find this Law for the last of seven to be written in your heart They would for the generality of them tell me No they never found any such matter This I believe would be the answer or much to this purpose even of those that were most holy and learned most dead to the world and most alive to God yea of the most faithful Martyrs of Christ for these sixteen hundred years that with a good Conscience they could have done as no doubt they did as there was occasion any work of their Calling upon the last of seven which upon the second third fourth fifth and sixth days was lawful and fit to be done and that they never found any thing written in their hearts giving any check thereunto Either then the holy Law of God was not written in their hearts which must not be admitted or this Law for the last of seven was not written there as the rest were which I really believe and therefore give my dissent to this Reason 4 thly Fourthly there is yet one reason more must have something spoken to it and that is the example of the Lord Jesus and to this I say 1. First that his example is proposed to us for imitation as those many Scriptures you quote do suficiently prove and herein I assent and consent with you for though I dare not say with the Socinians that the grand end of Christs life and death was for example to be imitated cursed be that opinion which presseth the Imitation of Christ to overthrow the Satisfaction of Christ yet this I say with you that for our example he is proposed but yet with limitation as not in his mediatory and meritorious work so not in every occasional work as his spending a whole night in prayer nor in administring the Lords Supper at night yet even in this though we are under no obligation always to do so yet when a just occasion serves it is lawful for us at least to do so But that wherein his example is obligatory is to imitate him in the exercise of those Graces and practice of those Duties which belong to all Christians Mat. 11.29 Coll. 3.13 1 Pet. 2.21 22 23. and such like In all these as he is by his Spirit dwelling in us the principle of holiness so in his example he is our pattern and indeed practical Christianity may be said especially to consist in walking as he hath walked according to that you quote in 1 John 2.6 But now as to this particular for which you urge it concerning the observation of the last day of seven 1. First it is granted that notwithstanding all the Jews Cavils against him for transgressing against the Law yet he perfectly though not in their sense as in all things else fulfilled the righteousness thereof I mention only that one Text Luke 4.18 2. Secondly but this was during his state of Humiliation being made under the Law but as I have said before after his resurrection I do not find that ever he took any notice of it or shewed the least respect unto it during those forty days between his resurrection and ascention though he both owned and honoured during that time the first day of the week 3. Thirdly the holy Apostles never imitated his example therein I mean not after his resurrection For though as I said whilst the Jews were any thing tractable Paul especially took the advantage of the 7 th day Sabboth to preach unto them but with both converted Jews and Gentiles he observed the first day of the week as hath been shewed So that for ought I find in your Paper I conceive we are no more bound to imitate him therein than in being Circumcised or in deferring being baptized till we begin to be thirty years old having no more Law for the one than for the other and where there is no Law there is no Transgression FINIS THere is lately Published in Latin the so much expected Account of the late dreadful Plague sold by Joseph Nevil at the Greyhound in St. Paul's Church-yard Entituled ΛΟΙΜΟΛΟΓΙΑ sive Pestis Nuperae apud Populum Londinensem grassantis Narratio Historica Authore N. Hodges M. D. è Collegio Londin