ADVERTISEMENT There is 〈◊〉 Printed a Book Intituled A Treatise of the Holy Trinunity in two Parts The First asserteth the Deity of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit in the Vnity of Essence with God the Father The Second in Defence of the former answereth the chiefest Objections made against this Doctrine By I. M. Chap. I. THe Case is briefly stated Chap. II. Sheweth that there is but one God the Creator and Former of all things Chap. III. Asserteth a Plurality of Divine Subsistences Chap. IV. Of the Father Chap. V. Proveth the Deity of our Lord Jesus Christ 1. By his Names 2. That God in the Old Testament in divers Places is Christ in the New 3. By seven particular Texts of Holy Scriptures 4. That Christ pre-existed his Incarnation in his Divine Nature and is no Angel incarnate but is Coeternal with the Father 5. His Deity is proved by his Works And 6. By Divine Worship given to him Chap. VI. Proveth the Deity of the Holy Ghost 1. That he is a Divine Person 2. His Deity is asserted from several Texts of Scripture 3. By his Works 4. By Divine Worship given to him Chap. VII Proveth the Unity of the Holy Trinity Chap. VIII Containeth some Explications of the Holy Trinunity 1. Of the Essential Being of God 2. Of the Divine Persons the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit 3. Of the Distinctions of the Divine Nature and the Persons and some Shadows by way of Comparison of the incomparable and inconceivable Being of God and of the Union of Christ's two Natures PART II. Chap. I. Answereth Objections against the Scriptural Proofs of Christ's Deity Chap. II. Answers to Objections drawn from several Texts of Scriptures Chap. III. Answers to several Arguments against the Deity of Christ Chap. IV. Answers to several Objections against the Scriptures that prove the Deity of the Holy Ghost Chap. V. Answers to some Objections drawn from divers Scriptures to disprove the Deity of the Holy Spirit Chap. VI. Answers to some Scriptures from whence our Adversaries assert that the Father only is the true God With a general Answer and Conclusion Price bound one Shilling A REPLY TO Doctor Wallis HIS DISCOURSE Concerning the Christian SABBATH By THO. BAMPFIELD LONDON Printed for Thomas Fabian at the Bible in Cheapside near Bread-street End 1693. A REPLY TO Dr. WALLIS's DISCOURSE Concerning the Christian Sabbath SIR A Little after the Printing the Enquiry Whether the Lord Jesus Christ made the World and be Jehovah and gave the Moral Law And whether the Fourth Command be Repealed or Altered There was Reprinted a Tract of Mr. Chafies on the Fourth Command I think as Answer to that part of the Enquiry which referred to the Fourth Command and then another by one Mr. G. T. both which I had no sooner Examined but another was Published by John Wallis D. D. Which Discourse of the Doctor 's as containing the strength of what is said for the First Day I hold my self principally concerned to consider I find the Doctor p. 1. would not on the account of the Day whether the Seventh or the First give any Disturbance to the Peace or Practice of the Church where he Lives so that a Sabbath be duly observed tho' perhaps not upon what Day he should choose What Day he would choose I know not but hope it would be the Day the Lord hath Chosen and Blessed But the Question is not what Day he would choose to rest upon but what day we ought to choose and I am willing to hope he would choose that Day which after the best Judgment I can make upon his Book I think is the Seventh Day and that he means that Day by that otherways Doubtful Expression And I think the Word is the Rule of Worship c. And not the Practise of the Church where we live Nor know I certainly what Church may be meant for that he and I live in an Age wherein there are variety differing a little from one another nor am I willing to disturb the true Peace of the Churches of Christ but if in any thing they be defective in their Judgment or Practice their Peace lies in their returning to their Obedience which is better than Sacrifice 1 Sam. 15. 22. And till the Lord bring that about I see little likelyhood the Sabbath should be duly observed or have the full Blessing bestowed on it which is annexed to it Nor do I think the true Sabbath is so hard to be found as he supposes to whom I may say as Moses to the Israelites Deut. 30. 11 12 13 14. This Commandment is not hid from thee neither is it far off 'T is not beyond the Seas that we should need to go round the Earth to fetch it as the Dr. p. 79. pleasantly adviseth but the Word is very nigh unto thee in thy Mouth and in thine Heart that thou mayst do it He says also p. 1. That he does not know whether Sunday be a first or second a third or a seventh Day in a continual Circulation of Weeks from the Creation or from Christ's time and if so he is at a great uncertainty and I do not wonder if he be yet to choose his Day which Expressions in his first Page may give some Light to state this Question for if he does not know from Christ's time which Day of the Week Sunday as he calls it is I see very little reason why he should observe it He adds And what it is impossible for him to know he thinks will be no Cirme to be ignorant of and if he do not know what Day of the Week Sunday is and much more if it be impossible for him to know it I see no reason at all why he should write a Book for the Observation of a Day impossible for him to know All the Christian and Hebrew Churches in the World I think are agreed that Sunday is the first Day of the Week which Day I presume by the rest of his Book the Doctor observes and if we be right in that as I think we are that Sunday is the first Day it will be no great Task by telling seven to resolve which is the seventh Day But notwithstanding the impossibility for him to know what Day of the Week Sunday is he is sufficiently satisfied that we ought to keep a Sabbath and so am I and I think we may be sufficiently certain which is the seventh Day in the weekly Circulation and am willing to observe that Blessed and Sanctified Day and Time which I think is the Lord's Day and not changed and so not hard to be found And I do not think God has left the stress of a Point whereon his Publick Worship doth somewhat depend upon a thing impossible for us to know by his Word and Works he can make this plain to all First I agree with him that the place of Worship under the Gospel p. 2. is not so material whether this or that John 4.
but according to the pleasure of men as I think the First day is whereas the Seventh day is appointed by the Lord and the Conscience and whole life of man ought to be governed by the commandments of God without adding or diminishing Deut. 12. 32. Matth. 15. 6 9. Which commandments of men have indeed a shew of wisdom in will-worship Coloss 2. 23. Worship which some men imposed on themselves and others as if they could do and teach better and wiser then God had commanded which it seems is an old and humane Infirmity Mr. Cawdrey and Mr. Palmer in their Treatise of the Sabbath pag. 50. say That the Apostle in Col. 2. 16. speaks of the other Holy days and Sabbaths and not of the weekly Sabbath Mr. Sheppard in his Doctrine of the Sabbath pag. 166. Thes 181. speaking of Gal. 4. 10. Rom. 14. 4 5. Col. 2. 16 c. saith If we suppose that these places be meant of the weekly Sabbath and riggidly urge them we may quickly press Blood instead of Milk out of them and wholly abolish as Walleus the Observation of any Christian Sabbath Doctor Owen in his Treatise of the Sabbath pag. 214. speaking of Col. 2. 16 17. saith It is known and confessed that at that time all judaical Observations of Days whether Feasts or Fasts Weekly Monthly or Annual were by themselves and all others called their Sabbaths And that kind of speech was then in common use is here observed by our Apostles it must therefore necessarily be allowed that there were two sorts of Sabbaths amongst them the first and Principal was the Weekly Sabbath so called from the rest of God upon the finishing of his Works and that other day became from their Analogy thereto to be called Sabbaths also But that the difference between these Sabbaths was great The one of them was ordained from the foundation of the world before the entrance of Sin and so belonged to all mankind in general to all Mankind the other were appointed in the Wilderness as a part of the peculiar Church-worship of the Israelites That the one was directly commanded in the Decalogue wherein the Law of our creation the Learned Doctor calls it the Law of our Creation was revived and expressed and that the other have their Institution expresly among the residue of ceremonial temporary Ordinances See to the like purpose p. 215 216 217. Mr. Richard Byfield in his Treatise on the Sabbath p. 130. on Col. 2. 16. saith That the Apostle there speaketh not of the Fourth Commandment because he treateth expresly of those Sabbaths which were of the same rank with the New Moons And that he speaketh as he doth to the Galatians chap. 4. 10. of the Observation of Days Months and Years which pertained to the Servitude and Bondage of weak and beggarly Rudiments as in ver 9. Now saith he that any precept of the Decalogue should be so accounted and reckoned as a weak and beggarly Rudiment was far from the Apostle to think and is abhorred to Christian Ears and Religion Which I think Answer to the Doctor 's Objections from Col. 2. 16 c. Which four Opinons I had from another hand since I came to London and if I had the use of my own persecuted Study and other Books here 't were easie I think to gather many more And upon the whole I find Col. 2. 16. to be against judging of Christians then and there and for ought appears against judging either way and so this place in whatsoever sence we take it makes only against judging in those cases Pag. 59. the Doctor takes the Law for the Seventh day Sabbath to be a new Yoke to the Gentiles because it was given to the Jews as a Sign or a distinctive mark and for a perpetual Covenant Exod. 31. 13 16 17. Ezek. 20. 12 20. But this also will be against him as we shall see by and by That it was then new to the Heathens who observed Sunday I agree T is true it was a sign but such a sign as all Proselytes did embrace and obey till the coming of Christ and by him is made a perpetual law Matth. 5. 18 c. and so a perpetual sign between him and his people And tho Circumcision were a sign yet that is ceased as before and Baptism instituted And the Pascal Lamb tho it were a distinction between the Israelites c. and the Aegyptians yet being a Type of Christ was lain aside by him at his Institution of the Lords Supper as before by the words This do in remembrance of me Luke 22. 19. and ceased at his Death And if it be meerly circumstantial and doth not at all influence Religion whether in the Temple or other place God be Worshipped John 4. 21. as the Doctor p. 60. p. 2. Yet God having so directly resolved that the Seventh day is the Sabbath that is not a new Yoke but an old Institution for the good of all Mankind given at the Creation and commanded in the Decalogue and so given by Christ And with the rest of the Commandments Matth. 5. 18. and Luke 16. 17. made perpetual by him and so I think is Christs Yoke and an easie Yoke for it is only to take the commanded weekly Seventh instead of the First day Matth. 11. 29 30. which the Doctor and others should willingly take upon them Pag. 60. he adds That the Jewish Sabbath so he often calls it and the Word Jewish runs much in his mind seems to be not a continuation of a former Sabbath but rather a new Institution which I cannot find in the Word as he says he has shewed before which upon all the search I have made I cannot find in all his Book and I am loath to observe what I often read therein the great Latitude he takes that way The Doctor p. 60. quotes the Enquiry p. 26. and says I press and put great weight upon it that the Seventh day is a Sign and perpetual Covenant to distinguish his People from other that is saith he the People of the Jews from other Nations which last words the People of the Jews from other Nations are added by the Doctor whereas my words and meaning was and is throughout that the Sabbath was and is a perpetual Sign and Covenant with all true Israelites that is all true Believers of all Nations in all Ages from the beginning of the World to the end of it to distinguish such from the disobedient to Gods Laws And such Artifice to add somewhat of his own to turn what is offered into his own Notion are blameable And for the Doctor to say as he there That Circumcision the Passover and the seventh-day-Seventh-day-Sabbath were distinctive Marks and at an end by the Death of Christ is not so 'T is true of Circumcision and the Passover that they are at an end as before but not of the Sabbath So that a particular unravelling the many Allegations which I think are not so would make
but the Sabbath and surely he understood his own Institution and was not mistaken in the Day And the Doctor p. 4. says The Words he Blessed and Sanctified it may be a strong Intimation for Mankind ever after to observe the Seventh day c. But he says is not expresly said And that the Seventh day Blessed and Sanctified Gen. 2. 2 3. is not only a strong Intimation as the Doctor but does include the Seventh day of every Week afterward in a continual Succession or Circulation of Days and Weeks I think is proved by the Words of Blessing and Sanctifying or making Holy the Seventh day which are comprehensive Words and from Exod. 20. 10 11. as that day of every Week which Men were and are to remember to keep Holy And God's Sabbatizing on the Seventh day was as I think that Man might keep the Sabbath day in the continual Circulation of Weeks in a Spiritual Rest And in this Scripture Gen. 2. 2. we have the Foundation for the Seventh day Sabbath where the Words are And on the seventh day God had ended his work which he had made and he rested or sabbatized on the seventh day from all his work which he had made Heb. 4. 4. Where it is said he spake of the Seventh day in this wise and God did rest the seventh day from all his works and Elohim blessed the seventh day and sanctified it because that in it he had rested from all his works which God created and made Gen. 2. 3. And from God's Sabbatizing here it is That the seventh day is called the sabbath Exod. 20. 9. 11. And throughout the Old and New-Testament from the Heb. root Shabath he kept Sabbath And the Lords Blessing the Seventh day Gen. 2. 3. makes it a day of his distributing the greatest heavenly Blessings upon all that obey his Voice And his Sanctifying the Seventh day shews it to be Consecrated and so separated from all common Works and earthly Employments and shews it to be Dedicated and Sanctified by him to his Worship as an Holy day and as his day i. e. the Lords day to be used in Holy Solemn Exercises of Religion as long as the World lasts till Believers come to that Sabbatism in Heaven which remains for the People of God Heb. 4. 4 8 9. And he that doubts the Seventh day Gen. 2. 2 3. does not include every Seventh day in the continual Succession of Weeks may see by comparing Exod. 20. that this Institution is not mentioned in Exod. 20. as then first given but as that which God had Instituted upon his creating the World and the keeping the weekly Sabbath was as absolutely necessary for the Spiritual good of those Believers and others who lived in the first Ages of the World after the Fall and of Adam and Eve also if they had not fallen as it is for us at this day to Contemplate his infinite Excellencies and mighty Works And p. 3. from Gen. 2. 2 3. and Exod. 20. 11. he does agree that God hath appointed after six days of ordinary Labour Man should observe a Seventh day of Holy rest and this in a continual Succession which I think goes far to resolve this question not a but the Seventh day only being first instituted Gen. 2. and afterward observed as a Sabbath throughout the Scriptures And if he agrees as he does p. 3. that it was the Seventh day that was Blessed and Sanctified Gen. 2. 3. and that this is a clear and ancient Testimony for the Holiness of time as he doth then till another Sanctified Day of the Week and another weekly time can be found which is Blessed and Sanctified by the Lord we are for ought I can see to rest or keep Sabbath upon the Seventh day as our Lord did by whom we have no other weekly Day or Time Consecrated or observed as Holy but only the Seventh day and the Doctor 's opinion of the Holiness of this time has confirmed and as I think established my Thoughts of the Holiness of the Seventh-day-Sabbath I agree also with him that the Law of the Sabbath is one of the Ten Commands Exod. 20. and am not only willing to think as the Doctor but am satisfied it was a Law before and that not only because we find it observed Exod. 16. before the Law given at Sinai Exod 20. in which Exod. 16. 25 26. the Seventh day is called a Sabbath to the Lord i. e. the Lord's day but especially as the Doctor acknowledges for that Gen. 2. 3. God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it because in it he rested from all his Work and I do with the Doctor think this a clear Testimony and as ancient as the Creation for the Holiness of Time i. e. as far as I can possibly discern for the Holiness of the weekly Seventh day for there was no other weekly Day then or since made Holy that we can find in the Word but the Seventh day only and this alone will go very far to resolve and settle this question I agree also with the Doctor that the Law of the Decalogue or Ten Commandments tho' then given to Israel is binding to us also p. 3. 4. And I think we have sufficient Evidence from the Scriptures that the Sabbath was observed from the Creation to the Flood tho' he thinks in the short History Moses gives of that time there be no mention made of such Observation from the Creation to the Flood For First on the Seventh day God Heb. Elohim had ended his Work which he had made and he Sabbatized on the Seventh day from all his Work which he had made Gen. 2. 2. The Example of God's keeping the first Seventh-day-Sabbath is one undeniable Evidence of the Seventh-day-Sabbath kept after the Creation For Gen. 2. 1. The heavens and the earth and all the Hosts of them were finished before the seventh day and so the Seventh day was kept after the Creation and before the Flood A second Evidence is the same repeated Gen. 2. 3. And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it because that in it he had rested from all his Work which he had Created and Made Which Repetition of God's resting the Seventh day does strongly inculcate and inforce our Duty and certainly prove that God had rested the Seventh day after the Creation and before the Flood A third Evidence from the Case of Cain and Abel Gen. 4. 3. And in process of time Cain brought an offering to the Lord and v. 4. Abel also brought his offering In Process of Time Heb. Mikketz Jammin at the end of Days or at the cutting off of Days Enquiry p. 23. Which end or cutting off of days so far as God hath revealed seems to be the end of the Days of the Week when the reckoning of Days was cut off and after the Seventh day ended they were to begin to reckon again 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 and 't was the Seventh day the last day
Prudence to interpose and of tacit Limitations implyed I doubt reserves a liberty inconsistent with the Word and Law of God and very hard to be defended For with those Limitations and if Humane Laws shall determine the Divine Laws in some Parts of the World bad Men may find Pretences for the rankest Atheism Theism Arrianism and Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit notwithstanding the First Command for the foulest Corruptions and Invasions on Christian instituted Spiritual Worship notwithstanding the Second for the highest Prophanations of the Name of the Divine Majesty notwithstanding the Third as well as for polluting the Sabbath notwithstanding the Fourth and for Rebellion Murder Adultery Stealing False-witnessing and Covetting notwithstanding the other Six And so it seems to me such Limitations c. have need of many Cautions to correct them Now before I answer the Doctor 's two Expedients I first Reply to somewhat more I find in Mr. Chafie's Learned Tract Mr. Chafie in p. 2. of his Epistle says That Christ the Son of God hath taken away the Jews Sabbath and Established another contrary to what God the Father instituted c. Now tho I hope he was a very Good as well as a Learned Man yet he seems not to have then had clear Apprehensions of Christ as creating the World and then resting nor of Christ as instituting the Sabbath Gen. 2. 2 3. nor of Christ confirming the Moral Law at Synai c. Exod. 20. nor of Christ making it perpetual in Matth. 5. 18. Luke 16. 17. And in that Tract Mr. Chafie speaks of one Sabbath at the Creation another in Exod. 16. and another at the Resurrection of Christ by which Notion he makes to have been three Sabbaths from whom I think the Doctor takes up if I mistake him not the like opinion of three Sabbaths wherein I think they are both out as before And hereafter for Mr. Chafie's Notion of one Seventh-day-Sabbath at the Creation and another Seventh-day Sabbath in Exod. 16. I doubt would make two Seventh-day-Sabbaths in one Week of seven Days which seems to me inconsistent and would make the First day more uncertain also besides the uncertainties of the Doctor Mr. Chafie's opinion p. 19 20. That God hath not bound men to any set time to begin their Week and chap. 8. p. 18. he says The Law-giver himself hath plainly pointed out unto us in this Law that is in the Fourth Command which is the Lords Day or Sabbath of the Lord and that is the day following the six days of Labour with Men and that in every nation however they begin their Week the Seventhday thereof is the Lords p. 20. l. 9. p. 44. l. 6 7. and his Epistle p. 7. l. 4. and that the Seventh day is not to be reckoned from the six days of God's Labour but from the six days of Labour with Men and so also in his Postscript but doth acknowledge chap. 11. p. 35. it hath been the general opinion not only of the Vulgar but of the Learned also which opinion of the Learned I think is right that the Seventh day commanded us in this Law hath Relation only to the six Work-days of the Lord God and not to the six Work-days with Men which opinion of Mr. Chafie's for Mans Day is I think contrary to Gen. 2. 2. for on the seventh day God ended his work c. and rested the seventh day from all his work so as t was the six days God wrought which were the six Working-days and the Seventh day God rested when he ended his Work which was and is the Holy and Blessed Sabbath which first appointment of the Lord I find no where changed and so Exod. 20. 9 10 11. Six days shalt thou labour but the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord in it thou shalt not do any work c. For in six days the Lord made Heaven and Earth and rested the seventh day wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and made it holy and so it seems very plain that the six Working-days are those on which the Lord wrought and the Resting or Sabbath day that which the Lord made Holy and Blessed and on which he Rested And Mr. Chafie in chap. 12. says God by his Law tyeth all Nations that at what time soever they begin the Week they work not on the Seventh day but sanctifie it Which would be true if men began the Week as the Lord directed in Gen. 1. but else by that Rule of Mr. Chafie's Friday in Turkey being their weekly Sabbath the Christians living in Turkey are bound by the Fourth Command to sanctifie Friday i. e. the sixth Day of the Week as the Lords Sabbath day because the Turks there so do And by the same Rule those Christians who live in any Heathen Nation where they Worship the Sun and observe Sunday there they must keep Sunday and Sanctifie it because the Heathens where they live so do And those Christians who live in those Christian Provinces who keep the Seventh day must keep the Seventh day as the Lords Day because others so keep it and for that reason And the like of those who live in any part of the World amongst the Israelites And those Christians who live in those Christian Countries where they keep the seventh-day-Seventh-day-Sabbath and the First day also must keep I know not which of them by Mr. Chafie's Rule And I take it as agreed we are not to keep two Days in a Week and that there are some such people of these sorts see Enquiry p. 119 c. Which Rule of Mr. Chafie's to resolve which is the Sabbath day commanded by the Practice of the Country where we live and that God hath not bound men when to begin their Week is to set up Mans Day as it seems to me against the Lords Day and I think the Doctor writes by for he seems to take it as he finds it Which Rule I doubt will agree neither with the letter or meaning of Gen. 2. 2 3. or of the Fourth Command What Mr. Chafie objects That by the different Horizons where-ever Paradice was which p. 17. he says is unknown no man can tell in the place where he liveth when to begin the Day of Gods resting at the Creation I Answer if our Sabbath did begin at the same instant of time that Gods first Rest did and Men were obliged to that instant then that were an hard objection But I know no place in the Word where it is said that every Sabbath afterward was to begin the same moment or time that the first Sabbath began in Paradice or at Synai c. Nor do I remember any thing so offered in any Writer But that the Sabbath then did and that Sabbaths afterward were to begin in the Evening everywhere as Time was distributed into Days at the Creation I think is before shewn and that every Day of the Week began in the Evening and lasted from Evening to Evening and that the
21 23. 1 Tim. 2. 8. God is a Spirit and his true worshippers did do and shall worship him in spirit and in truth And I know no colour now for the Holiness of Places for which yet as the Dr. p. 3. some are zealous I agree with him that Christmas is of Human Institution which I think he admits by the words so be it p. 3. which I think does also lay aside all other Holy Days which are but of Human Institution and p. 13. about Christmas the Doctor says It is not agreed amongst Chronologies either what Year or what Month much less what day of that Month our Saviour was Born yet he says we keep December the 25th in memory of his Birth as supposing him to have been then Born And p. 45. he says No Man at this Day knows what Day it was and p. 13. That we are at so great uncertainty as we reckon the Year 1692 from his Circumcision to begin the first of January and the same Year his Conception not till the 25th of March after as if his Birth and Circumcision had been a quarter of a Year before his Conception And so the Doctor leaves those days If I mistake not utterly uncertain In p. 12. he tells us The Pascal Tables which should direct us what day to keep Easter on do put us further out then if we had none at all I agree with the Doctor p. 2 3. that our Lord Jesus Christ according to his Divinity was God and is so the true God the God that made Heaven and Earth the God who delivered the Law at Mount Synai and I think those three the father the Son and the Holy Spirit are on Jehovah Deut. 6. 4. 5. Jehovah Aelohenu Jehovah our Mightiest is Jehovah Aechad is one Jehovah was is and will be one Jehovah i. e. the Lord our God is one Lord and Mark 12. 29 30. The Lord our God is one Lord which are the words of Jesus And I agree also that the Blessing and Sanctifying the seventh Day Gen. 2. 3. was by Jehovah the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit which goes far in this Question and I think proves the seventh Day to be the Lord's Day And when he has acknowledged the Father Son and the Holy Spirit to be three yet but one God the Lord Jehovah c. he adds p. 3. But he cannot agree that Christ as God and Man in Contradistinction to the Father and Holy Spirit did all those things for he that is Christ was not then Man Which Words of the Doctor of what he does agree and what he cannot agree insinuates as if I had said that Christ as God-Man did all those things which the Doctor cannot agree whereas he must needs know that is not so for I neither say nor ever thought till that I read it in Mr. G. T. and the Doctor that Christ was Incarnate at the making of the World or at his giving of the Law on Sinai so as the Doctor has not well surmized in this and any Reader may see it is not so for Christ took our Nature on him about 4000 years after the Creation and I find not a word of any Contradistinction between the Father and the Holy Spirit and the Son in the Enquiry but the direct contrary viz. their oneness with the Son in those Works which they both cannot but know And he adds p. 3. what he should rather say about our Lord Jesus Christ's blessing the seventh Day because he was not then the Lord Christ God and Man c. seems to make the Surmize somewhat worse upon which he says that I p. 64. lay great stress for neither I nor any other that I know has said or thought that Christ when he Blessed the seventh Day was then in the Flesh so that in this I think the Doctor blamable But the Doctor does acknowledge that the Son is Jehovah i. e. that he is Lord for which see Enquiry p. 9. 10. c. and I think he does believe that the Son of God is Jesus that is the Saviour the only Saviour and that he is Christ that is the anointed for that Glorious Blessed Work of Redemption that is the Messiah he is called as I think often in the Old-Testament For the Father has chosen us in him before the foundation of the World in him that is in the Lord Jesus Christ and our Lord Jesus Christ as Christ is expresly named Eph. 1. 2 3 4. And in Colos 1. 16. speaking of Christ as he by whom all things were created that are in Heaven and that are in Earth v. 17. and he is before all things he that is Christ is expresly Colos 1. 2 3. there named the Lord Jesus Christ and our Lord Jesus Christ who v. 19. created all things and Christ is named our Lord Jesus Christ in every Epistle from Rom. to the Heb. for so far I searched a little and that frequently and sometime after also Mr. G. T. whom the Doctor in this Objection seems to follow writes of this great Mystery in two or three places under the like and greater mistakes and so at present I leave him But for the Doctor to impose upon his Readers herein as he does p. 2 3. seems blameable And why he thus begins in a Case which relates to the Deity of Christ with such Insinuations for which he has no colour that I know from the Enquiry wherein Christ's Deity and his being Jehovah is directly affirmed unless it be at first to infuse some Prejudice I am not willing to conjecture And as to this if the Holy Spirit by Paul names Christ the Lord Jesus Christ and our Lord Jesus Christ in whom the Father hath chosen his before the foundation of the world by whom all things were created and who was before all things I see no reason why Mr. G. T. and the Doctor should vary from the Apostles expressions and divers other Scriptures And such Artifices the Reader may discern afterward I agree also with the Doctor That God who made the world in six days rested the seventh day Gen. 2. 2 3. Exod. 20. 11. And that he blessed the sabbath day and hallowed or Sanctified it Doctor p. 3. and here he does read it not a seventh bue the seventh Day the same Hebrew word here in Gen. 2. 2 3. Hashebigni which is used in Exod. 20. 10 11. which some would render there a seventh and the Reason and Sence of Gen. 2. 2 3. does require that it be rendered as the word signifies the Seventh Day for no man that I know does imagine that the Lord Gen. 2. 2 3. Blessed and Sanctified any other Day of the Week for Rest but that only on which he Rested and that was expresly not a but the Seventh and no other day of the Week and so I think for all after Seventh days in the Circulation of after Weeks and Christ in the time of his Incarnation kept not a Sabbath
here is not one word in this order to keep Holy the First day nothing of that day as a Sabbath nothing of Praises breaking Bread Praying or Preaching or of any Worship or Resting here but only an order for every one of the Christians there to lay by him in store as God had prospered him which seems also when they were asunder and at home that there might be no gathering when Paul came and this I should think any who read it without great prejudice must needs see and know so that for the Doctor to say he thinks it plain there that the First day was weekly observed and wont to be observed at Corinth and Galatia and that Paul takes it for granted and supposeth it c. without any word for it seems all from a strong and willing fancy and very blameable as highly imposing on the World And in p. 38. and 39. he reassumes what he had written to before which in me without any great cause that I know he p. 39. calls trifling and Childs-play which shews him to be angry and p. 41. says It must be great Ignorance or somewhat worse which sort of Language agrees well enough in this Cause to prop it up instead of Word and Argument with hard Expressions and if that will please him I shall easily acknowledge my Ignorance and Weaknesses which are many and great but withal I think a weak and simple Man who has the word and command of God on his side as I think I certainly have in this case may contend with the most Learned for whom otherwise I yield my self much too weak Nor do I find in all his Book any reason much less any reason to believe as he p. 42 c. that the First day was then generally observed or wont to be observed or at all observed unless by the Heathens nor that it was according to Christs direction because we have no word that I know for either which word is the highest Reason and why then does the Doctor top upon others those Words According to Christ's Direction And a like saying of the Doctor 's we have p. 43. by Christs giving commandments to the Apostles about things pertaining to the Kingdom of God Acts 1. 2 3. that we are to presume this in particular about the observing the First day of the Week and yet there confesseth what those Commandments were in particular we cannot tell so we are to presume what he admits we cannot tell which to me is a new Article in Religion made for this purpose And upon such Presumptions without one word from Christ that I know the Doctor 's opinion seems built P. 41. He considers Mark 2. 28. The Son of Man is Lord also of the Sabbath and supposeth by Son of Man is there meant Christ and if he suppose it why then does he there controvert it which Text shews the Sabbath to be the Lords Day as ver 27. The Sabbath was made for man shews it was made for the good of Man for his Spiritual and Eternal good And says I can't shew that ever the Jewish Sabbath is called the Lords day although he knows if he have read the Enquiry p. 64 65 66 67. that I there quote divers Scriptures where the Lords Seventh day is called the Lords Day whereof more by and by upon Rev. 1. 10. What he says p. 43. that I cannot tell whether of the two that is the Seventh or the First day is the Seventh day of the Week does again overturn all his Book for if it be as he says uncertain so as we know not which day is which how can any Man observe his day in Faith and what is not of Faith is Sin and what then is become of all his Arguments for an uncertain weekly First day But I think we can tell which is the Seventh-day-Sabbath and I say as before from Nehe. 9. 13 14. that the Lord made known to them his Sabbaths his Sabbaths so the Sabbath was the Lords Day which they knew and from him and them we have his Sabbaths And Rom. 3. 2. to the Jews were committed the words of God which with the Old-Testament and therein the Ten Commands they still have and I think we ought to believe what the Lord Christ accounted and named to be the Sabbath day was then and I think is now his Sabbath-day that is the Lords Day Mark 2. 28. P. 44. 45 46. Rev. 1. 10. I was in the Spirit on the Lords day which he would have to be on the First day which I think I have shewn by the Scriptures Enquiry from p. 64. to 68. to be the Seventh day to which I do not remember he offers any answer unless some Traditions to which to avoid Tautologies I refer the Reader and am of the same opinion as there and without Prejudice which he would often insinuate I think the Lords Day Rev. 1. 10. was not only the name of a day but the name of the Seventh-day-Sabbath Gen. 2. 2 3 4. Exod. 20. 10. Deut. 5. 14. Isaiah 58. 13. Matth. 12. 8. Mark 2. 28. Luke 6. 5. which Scriptures he that will examine and consider may easily see that the Seventh-day-Sabbath is the Lords Day if the Scriptures be as they ought to be the rule of judging in this case which the Doctor would fain have to be the First day and cannot tell us which day of the Week the First day is now from Christs time as before and does not know it and thinks it impossible to know it And p. 46. 47. he again admits That Christ was the God who gave the Commandments by which he does admit that the seventh day there given by Christ is the Lords day for Exod. 20. 10. the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God i. e. the Seventh day is the Lords day And so it often falls out in this debate that what he and others are constrained to admit in one point answers what they would deny in another as I think this does for if the Lord gave the Commandments as he did and as the Doctor admits together with the Father and Holy Spirit then he gave the Fourth Command and therein the Seventh day Exod. 20. 10. which Seventh day is there expresly said to be the Sabbath of the Lord thy God that is to be the Lords day which as I think by his own admission tells us which is the Lords day Rev. 1. 10. Of his Traditions p. 48. 49. on which the Doctor before I think there is or can be no certainty from them And their Authority to alter any thing in Doctrinals or Practicals stated in the Scriptures is of no force with me nor with any Protestant that I know nor I hope with him and he may see in the Enquiry divers Traditions Histories and Records for the Seventh-day-Sabbath which the Doctor answers not although I build all upon the Scriptures and not on Traditions I say as before that Christs manner was not
Doctor thinks most likely to be meant of the Sabbath though he acknowledges it is not said and if it be not so said how can any mans Conscience build upon what is not said in the Word and the Heathens generally observed Sunday and their Princes and Magistrates being Heathens some of those converted to the Christian Faith might in some sort decline giving them offence upon their days whether Feastivals or Fasting days but that tho it might be is conjectural 'T is certain that many do things now which relate to Worship in complyance with those under whom they live and so have done I doubt in former Ages and t is certain they observed days which observation Paul blamed and some of those days might also be Jewish days as Passover New Moons c. as in the Enquiry or days of purim Hester 9. 26. which the Jews observe still as I think in all Nations where they live And t is to me most likely and scarce to be doubted that one of those days blamed by Paul and the principal one was Sunday which the Heathens observed wherein the converted Heathens were by their Heathen Parents who knew not God first instructed before they knew God Gal. 4. 8. which Paul calls weak and beggarly Elements ver 9. which words of weak and Beggarly Elements do certainly not refer to any part of the Moral Law as afterward So that upon the whole of this in Gal. 4. 9 10 11. it seems more likely that Paul blames them for observing the First day if it were at all then observed by Christians And Gal. 4. 12. which is the next verse Paul adds Brethren I beseech you to be as I am who constantly observed the Sabbath day as before As to what is objected from Coloss 2. 16. where Paul says Let no man judge you in meat or in drink or in respect of an holy day or of the new moon or of the Sabbaths Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which the Doctor p. 55 56 57 58. understands of Sabbaths and so of the Seventh-day-Sabbath and p. 59. does not think it by the Fourth Command to be so determined to this day that is the Seventh day as to be unchangeable to after Ages And when Christ or his Apostles by direction from him did put it into a new order this new order doth as well suit the words of the Fourth Command as that former all which are postulata and I reply if it be not changed then the Doctor cannot change it and if it be settled in the Word that the Seventh day is the Sabbath as I think it is then it is unchangeable and the Doctor cannot suit the Command to his Sense and when the Doctor or any other produceth any such new order from Christ or from his Apostles to change the Seventh to the First day he will say somewhat and I hope all Christians will obey it but I see not yet any such new order produced In the General I acknowledge this of Coloss 2. 16. at first seemed the most colourable Objection that I knew Colosse is said to be in Phrygia and the Inhabitants Heathens this Epistle Coloss 1. 1 2. Paul directs to the Saints and faithful Brethren in Christ which are at Colosse which it seems were converted Heathens and it may be some persecuted and converted Jews ver 9. 10. Paul prays for them that they may be fruitful in every good work of which good work the law of God is a rule and ver 13 14 15 16. Paul tells them that the son of God the redeemer created all things whom ver 3. he calls the Lord Jesus Christ to whom those who were enemies by wicked works which wicked Works I think were Works against the Moral Law were then reconciled to present them ver 22. holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight free from all Immoralities and present them perfect in Christ Jesus whom as they had received so they should walk in him which good Works Perfection receiving Christ and holy Walking I think were true Conversion sincere Repentance Faith Holiness and new Obedience to the Word of God and Moral Law And Coloss 2. 8. Beware least any man spoil you through Philosophy and vain deceit after the tradition of men after the rudiments of the World and not after Christ The Philosophers who are thought to have been Platonists would then as others now have brought the Doctrine of Christ and Laws of his Kingdom to be judged by their Reason who were Heathens who would have put a cheat upon them by their Traditions to withdraw them from Christs institutions after the Rudiments or first Teachings of the Heathenish World which were corrupt The Heathens had other Objects as Sun Moon and Stars c. and ways of Worship contrary to Christ and his Laws Let no man therefore judge you in meat or in drink or in respect of an holy day or of the new moon or of the sabbaths or weeks Coloss 2. 16. Let no man judge or censure you or impose upon you that as necessary which is not after Christ and his Laws there were Feastivals among the Jews which were Typical and Ceremonial and amongst the Heathens which were Idolatrous Against which Rudiments of the World ver 8. Paul speaks more from ver 20. to 23. to which Paul would have them dead and not as tho living in the World which was there Heathenish to be subject to Ordinances after the Commandments and Doctrines of Men of Heathenish Men which things have indeed a shew of Wisdom in Will-Worship Which second Chapter seems mainly aimed against the Philosophical Heathenish World and their Will Worship after the Commandments and Doctrines of Heathenish Men. Though some Learned Men have also thought that it refers to the inclinations of some there to the Ceremonial Laws abolished by the Death of Christ Now that the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sabbaths does signifie Week or Weeks I refer to the Enquiry p. 70 71 72 73. John 20. 1 19. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Luke 24. 1. the like 16. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Matth. 28. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which in the plural number doth signify Sabbaths or Weeks and in the New Testament is used for Week and for Sabbath whether it be put there for Weeks I cannot now examine nor do I see it necessary seeing the plural number does ordinarily signifie more then one What I offered in the Enquiry p. 70. that the word Sabbaths in the New Testament is never applyed to the weekly Seventh-day-Sabbath was mistaken by me and the word never should have been left out or the Expression otherways cured and Enquiry p. 136. that God who reserved a Tenth of our Substance reserved But a Seventh of our Time But should have been left out Both which with other Errata's before I read it in any Printed Book I gave particular order to amend in a Printed Paper of Errata's and upon a question which requires such
this Reply too large And he there makes the Sabbath abolished By which affirmings he may make other Commands abolished if his Sayings and Comments may pass for Doctrine to abolish and overthrow any part of the Law of God And adds there That it is as meerly circumstantial as the place of Worship is whether a Sabbath be kept on this or another day which is the Doctor 's Opinion I think directly against Gen. 2. 2 3. and against the Moral Law Exod. 20. 9 10 11. Established and made perpetual by Christ Matth. 5. 17 18. Luke 16. 17. besides his indifferency to this or another day My taking notice of the Doctor 's Allegations about Facts which much concern this question may be excused for that otherways some Readers may take them for true and so be misled in their judging this Case and many I have passed by which observing Readers may note Pag. 61. he repeats from Exod. 31. 13. that the Sabbath is a Sign and yet p. 60. 61. doubts was either not observed at all or long before this time had been forgot To which I Reply if the Sabbath were a Sign and such a perpetual Sign to be kept throughout their Generations as it was as the Doctor and if it were a perpetual Covenant between the Lord and them as it was as the Doctor and made known to them as before then surely they knew what day of the Week it was and forgot it not but observed it as they do every where where they live to this day which the Doctor has no reason that I know to doubt And if that were so that the Sabbath was long before forgot and if the days of the Week are all uncertain and none can tell which was which Where are we then but in utter uncertainties And these Objections from the Seventh-day-Sabbath being abolished and a perpetual Sign and yet forgot and uncertain contradict one another Pag. 61. he says God had a particular respect to their Rest from their Bondage in Aegypt by the Preface to all the Commands I the Lord thy God which brought thee out of Aegypt and by the close of this Command as repeated Deut. 5. 15. I Reply be it so yet that was such a Deliverance as the Gentiles then had a share in and as concerned all the People of God at that time in the World to take special notice of and such a Deliverance as is celebrated by all the Christians in the World to this day and doubtless will be so by all such to the end of the World and is celebrated as such I think in the English Common Prayer Book See their Catechism He there again recurs to Exod. 16. for a new Epocha of days which is Replyed to before that I find no such thing there as a new Epocha And pag. 62. he says As God by Moses did give a new Epocha or Beginning to a Circulation of Sabbaths at Marah so might Christ by himself or his Apostles fix another Epocha from his Resurrection I Reply that neither of these Epocha's being found in the Word I think the Doctor blameable for saying God did give a new Epocha by Moses which we do not read he did give and if it be not in the Word Why does the Doctor affirm that God by Moses gave it And he says It is not expresly said that Christ did bid his Apostles to fix another Epocha from his Resurrection yet he says he gave them Commandments for that purpose Acts 1. 2 3. Now for the Greatest Man living to say Christ gave them Commandments for that purpose without a word from Christ for that purpose seems to me highly blameable Every word of God is pure add thou not unto his words least he reprove thee Prov. 30. 5 6. We do suppose with Reason the Commandments given by Christ to the Apostles were to preach the Gospel to disciple all Nations to baptize in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and to teach all things he had commanded them Matth. 28. 19 20. And see Mark 16. 15 16 17 18. Luke 24. 46. to 52 c. And we have other Commandments of Christ to some of his Disciples John 21. 1 2. where he gave this to Peter and in Peter I think to all the rest and to all succeeding Ministers of Christ ver 15. feed my Lambs ver 16 17. feed my Sheep ver 19. follow me which things did and do pertain to the Kingdom of God of which things Acts 1. 3. Christ spake but what Commandments in particular Christ gave to the Apostles for a new Epocha does not appear that I know there or elsewhere in the Word But when they are produced I hope his Ministers and Churches will receive them and what else the Apostles had by Inspiration of the Holy Spirit after Christs Ascension concerning the ordering of his Churchse and rightly constituted Offices or concerning any thing else which are recorded in the Scriptures we readily embrace And I may request the Doctor to take heed how he grafts any other Commandments for any purpose on Christ but what are written in his Word and if there be no such Commandment from Christ in the Word for that purpose for his Apostles to fix another Epocha from his Resurrection Why does the Doctor affirm it if his Cause were good yet such means to defend it I think cannot be justified and such affirmations in Facts material to the main question I think ought to be reproved As to what is said p. 62. That not one jott or tittle of the law meaning the Decalogue is destroyed I think he means that in Matth. 5. 17 18. but doth still continue in force and that we are all under that Law as to the substance of the Duty I Reply that he there again acknowledges that we are all under that Law that is under the Ten Commands and that they still continue in force And if so I would ask the Doctor one Question who asks me Divers Who can resolve us what is and what is not Substance in Gods Commands but God himself who gave them he knows what bad work several have made by endeavouring to mangle them especially those of the first Table and indeed those of both Tables For what is said p. 62. that Matth. 24. 20. Pray that your flight be not in winter nor on the sabbath day which flight was about thirty eight Years after Christs Resurrection that that makes nothing at all to my purpose I think a fair answer to that is in the Enquiry p. 73. 74 to which I add that we cannot as well argue from hence that it were a Sin to Labour in Winter as on the Sabbath day as the Doctor p. 63. for that the Sabbath and Winter stand on different Reasons which are obvious the Sabbath was commanded and the Winter bad to fly in because of the Cold Wet c. and work was not forbidden in Winter which was forbidden on the
sixth and seventh Days which Seventh day is called the Sabbath throughout the Scriptures how ever that may seem to the Doctor I make no Scruple to call the Days of the Week by the same Names as the Lord calls them and if the Doctor will retain the old Idol Names without Scruple notwithstanding his own acknowledgement whence they are and notwithstanding the Word against them I cannot help it and it seems to me the most subtile of those who are so fond of holding fast the Idol Names of Days do doubt the consequence of laying them aside as if it might by degrees introduce both true Names and Things What is said p. 68. 69 70. upon the occasion of Scruples about Spiritual Worship and Worshipping in Spirit and in Truth I think does much concern all that fear God But because he does not speak out directly but only falls upon Scrupulosities and Shadows and Circumstances seemingly though I think it pretty plain what he reflects upon I shall reply but a little to that and do refer the Reader to the Enquiry p. 32. where he may find in few words what I think from the second Command besides many other Scriptures of Forms of Worship Graven Printed or Written and not instituted by the Lord but invented And in Reply to another I think Luke 11. 2. compared with Matth. 6. 5 6 7 8 9. about the Lords Prayer that the same Cautions of into thy Closet shut thy Door and in secret and in secret c. Matth. 6. 6. do refer to and explain Luke 11. 2. By which Cautions I think he should be governed and Enquiry p. 32. he may see what I think from Eph. 5. 18 19. Col. 3. 16. about singing all which and much more some may count little things Scruples and causeless Scruples nice Speculations and needless Scrupulosities whereby as such may pretend men are diverted from the Substantials of serious Religion and spiritual Worship which I think are very hard Reflections Now I doubt that not only the Romish World but some others not of that way as far as I can discern are yet at some distance from their Duty in those cases who are held to the Frames wherein they walk by the Authority of Men and who for years past have taken a liberty to comply with the Worship of the Country where they live and take all down without chewing as they find them and so I doubt esteem those who differ from them who upon the most diligent Search and long Experiance Worship God as they think according to the Word as scrupulous and as standing for little Circumstances and Shadows and so Conscientious Lively Spiritual Worshipping as but Shadows and not substance of Christian Worship and such Worshippers as diverters of others from serious Religion many of whose Rods do yet bud and blossom and bring forth Almonds which if God so please I shall be heartily glad to hear of their Rods who reflect upon them Which little Circumstances and Shadows as they are called do not at all as some pretend influence the substance of spiritual Worship but are meer scruples and minute things and here it seems we have some thoughts of spiritual Prayer c. as before of Preaching And thus the very Life and Power of Christian Worship is as I think reflected upon by some who have Frames of right Worship 2 Tim. 3. 5. and some of them correct Frames that is who have a way of Worship which has some similitude or likeness to right Worship who change their Glory for that which doth not profit and drink the Waters of other Rivers instead of Living Fountains between which several Waters there is an internal difference as great and manifest as there is between good wholesome running and living Springs and dead Water which may be some short and weak Reply to the Reflections before mentioned And if it were not to avoid offence I had written and might write more on this subject which so much concerns all Mankind certainly to know how to Worship Jehovah aright and which for all Mankind Ministers and others old and young who have the Scriptures of the Old and New-Testament and common Sence and can speak and are by Grace made willing is demonstrably as easie to be put in practice without Crutches and to be taught even to Children without more adoe as for such to be taught for just Reasons to speak for any thing they stand in need of and would desire another in whose power it is to give unto them And upon this occasion I had thought on some Lines about Swearing to a Point and about abjuring Endeavours whether lawful peaceable and honest Praying and Preaching Endeavours be excluded but to avoid offence have crossed them out And to return Tho it be all one to the Doctor whether the days be called Saturday Sunday or Alpha Beta Gamma in this we differ a little he takes them as it seems as he finds them in the World and I take them as I find them in the Word and I know no principle amongst men which does so effectually answer and cure all blamable scruples and unquietnesses of Mind as a sincere Obedience to all the Wills of God which he that will do shall know John 7. 17. which I doubt taking all as one finds them though it may lull in security will never perform Pag. 66. He blames the whole of Judicial Astrology as precarious and only a Trick to amuse credulous People and make a gain of them which is truly blameable yet amongst two sorts of People is now very common As to what is said p. 68. about meeting once upon a Sabbath day besides Morning and Evening Worship c. I Reply that I think that most for the real Service of God and the Good of his People which God has directed in his Word which Rule unless some necessity intervene will be always found free from all Inconveniences and for that I refer the Reader to the Enquiry p. 83. 84. Almost all the Questions in these Papers depend much upon this Whether Man shall be allowed to be wiser then God Pag. 69. Whether to begin the Sabbath at Six or Twelve a Clock at Night he thinks a thing not worth contending about And if it be so small a thing not worth contending about Why does he not begin it when the Lord began it that is in the Evening one would think that none should differ with the Lord over all for a small thing and of so little worth when he has in his Word plainly told us his Will And tho he thinks it not much more whether on this or that day so the Sabbath be well kept I do not yet know what he means by well keeping but the words this or that day seem in him very indifferent to either and I doubt will make any Man of that mind very cold in well keeping it I think with the Doctor we are to avoid foolish Questions and to study things which
And if I had supposed the Sun in his Declination to either of the Topicks the various Climates and obliquity of the Horizon might have occasioned disputes which what I can I avoid and therefore take the 11th of March 1692 3. Nor do I enquire the place of Paradice where it is about which there are many disputes which place Learned Mr. Chafie confesseth is not known And if we know not where Paradice is then I cannot begin to give Instances of the Scheme before from thence but if it lies East or West from Mount Synai that will make some difference of time in the beginning and end of Days at Synai and at Paradice and yet not alter the days of the Week in either for that the Seventh day of the Week in Paradice was is and will be in the weekly Circulation of days the Seventh day of the Week there And the Seventh day in the Week at Synai though it may differ in degrees of Longitude from Paradice yet was is and will be in the weekly Circulation of Days the Seventh day of the Week at Synai and so of the rest of the Days there and in every other place as in Aegypt Exod. 5. 5. where the Israelites kept the Sabbath and Exod. 16. 1 23 to 30. in the Wilderness of Sin And yet notwithstanding that difference in Degrees between Paradice and Aegypt and the Wilderness and Synai that made no difference between them as to the beginning or ending of Days In Paradice the Seventh day as the First Second and other Week-days began in the Evening and ended the next Evening and so the Seventh day in Aegypt in the Wilderness and at Synai began in the Evening and ended the next Evening And at all those places according to appointment at the making of the World Gen. 1. and Gen. 2. notwithstanding the different Degrees or Minutes there might be of the Sun-setting at Paradice and at those places The Lord who knows all his own Works the Beginning or Head of whose Word is Truth Gen. 1. 1. Psal 119. 160. The entrance of whose words will give light Psal 119. 130. Blessed and made holy the seventh day Sabbath Gen. 2. 3. at Paradice And blessed and made holy the seventh day at Synai Exod. 20. 11 12. although it is likely there are some Degrees or Minutes between But how ever that be yet we are pretty certain by the Maps where Synai was and is and where Jerusalem was and is And according to the common received Principles of Astronomy fifteen Degrees making an Hour Jerusalem is situate about six Degrees in Longitude Westward from Synai and so the Sun sets at Jerusalem after his setting at Synai twenty four Minutes of an Hour or thereabout that is two fifth parts of an Hour Westward from Synai and yet that difference in the beginning of the Seventh day at Synai and of the Seventh day at Jerusalem made no alteration of the beginning or ending of the Seventh day-Sabbath at either The same Seventh day which was commanded to be remembered to be kept Holy at Mount Synai and which was repeated by Moses in Deuteronomy near Jordan which place near Jordan may be about twenty two Minutes of Longitude from Synai was certainly remembered and kept Holy by the Israelites at Mount Zion in Jerusalem with this difference that the Seventh day began at Jerusalem twenty four Minutes of an Hour after it began at Synai and some Minutes after it began near Jordan which made no alteration of Days at either but the Seventh day at Synai began in the Evening twenty four Minutes of an Hour before it began at Jerusalem and at Jerusalem the Seventh day began twenty four Minutes of an Hour Westward after it began at Synai and yet was the Seventh day in both and began in the Evening at both that is at or about Sun set at both notwithstanding the difference in time of twenty four Minutes which may a little direct how to find when the Seventh day doth begin and so of the rest of the Days every where This may be illustrated by further Instances and for certainties sake I will set out and begin to reckon from Jerusalem where they observed the true Seventh day Westward without setting a Meridian there altho it be Arbitrary as the Doctor acknowledgeth and may be set where we will and by degrees bring the Account round the Earth to Jerusalem again From Jerusalem to Colosse are about seven Degrees that is twenty eight Minutes From Jerusalem to Ephesus 9 Degrees that is 36 Minutes From Jerusalem to Antioch where Paul and his Company kept the Sabbath Acts 13. 13 14 15 16 27 42. q From Jerusalem to Philippi now ruined and desolate which was situated on the confines of Thrace are about 14 Degrees that is 56 Minutes where they kept the Sabbath Acts 16. 12 13 14. From Jerusalem to Corinth are about 17 Degrees that is 1 Hour and 8 Minutes yet this difference of time and so of beginning of the Sabbath made no alteration of the Sabbath where they also kept the Sabbath Acts 18. 1 4. As they did also as Thessalonica Acts 17. 1 2. where the Sun sets about 1 Hour and 10 Minutes after it sets at Jerusalem And every where as the Sun did set so the Sabbath day as every other Day of the Week did begin and end as before From Jerusalem to Warsaw in Poland are about 22 Degrees that is 1 Hour and 28 Minutes difference of Sun-setting From Jerusalem Westward to Vienna are about 29 Degrees that is 1 Hour 56 Minutes From Jerusalem to Rome are about 30 Degrees that is 2 Hours From Jerusalem to Amsterdam are about 40 Degrees i. e. 2 Hours and 40 Minutes From Jerusalem to Paris are 44 Degrees that is 2 Hours 56 Minutes From Jerusalem to London are about 48 Degres that is 3 Hours and 12 Minutes From Jerusalem to Edinburgh 49 Degrees that is 3 H. 16 Min. From Jerusalem to Dublin about 53 Degrees that is 3 Hours and 32 Minutes From Jerusalem to Lisbon are about 57 Degrees that is 3 Hours and 48 Minutes From Jerusalem to New England are about 120 Deg. that is 8 H. I have passed over the first Meridian which is Arbitrary as before and follow the Sun as it goes round the Globe of the Earth till it comes about to Jerusalem again which as to this way of accounting I think makes no alteration And all these differences in Hours and Minutes from the setting of the Sun at Jerusalem and the setting of the Sun in all these before-mentioned and all other places in the Earth make no alteration of the Days or of the Sabbath all which begin every where as the Sun sets every where and when the Sun every where did set so the Sabbath day as every other Day of the Week did begin and end as before I still follow the Sun from Jerusalem to Japan the Sun may be said to set seventeen Hours at Japan after it
sets at Jerusalem and when the Sun sets at Japan then the Seventh day begins at Japan 11 of March 1694 5. And from Japan to pass over the other Meridian and Rest of the Land in Asia to Jerusalem again about seven Hours And so from Jerusalem as the Sun goeth round the Earth to Jerusalem again are 24 Hours that is from the Sun-setting at Jerusalem the 11th of March 169â— â— to the Sun-setting at Jerusalem the 12th of March 169â— are 17 Hours from Jerusalem to Japan and 7 Hours from Japan to Jerusalem and 17 and 7 are 24 Hours the Evening and the Morning which make up the Day Which Scheme does as I weakly can travel round the World and if it be right in the main may answer some Doubts about the Days in this case And if I mistake I think I do not wilfully mistake in which account I had no help from Globes and so I have no great assurance but that there may be mistakes and I am content to be corrected by the Learned Doctor who excels in Astronomy in Geography and I think in most other Learning Or any other Ingenious Unprejudiced and Skilful who may find mistakes in the Degrees of Longitude and in the Hours or Minutes which however I think may not hurt the Opinion built upon it that the difference in the time of the Sun setting in any of and all those places and so of all other places in the Earth the 11 of March 1692 3. makes no alteration in the beginning or ending of the Sabbath day supposing as before that day with the rest of the Days of the Week did begin at the Creation and does still begin and end about the time of the Sun setting and suppose also that beginning and ending never altered since the Creation to this day And if this be so it seems demonstrable that every Day of the Week began every where in the Evening and to the Seventh day also round the World as the Sun did set The Doctor 's other expedient he would have me begin my Week on Monday and then Sunday will be the Seventh day I suppose he means if I can tell seven But if the Doctor please to begin the Week as God begins it Gen. 1. 5. and if he reckon on v. 8. 13 19 23 31 as God does he will find Gen. 2. 2 3. the Seventh day to be the Sabbath and as it seems to me to begin in the Evening And in lieu of his two Expedients I will with his Favour advise him and others two things 1st Upon the Fourth Command Exod. 20. 8 9. To take heed how they assume a liberty to alter any Command of God or any jot or tittle thereof because of Mat. 5. 18 19. Rev. 22. 18 19 c. 2dly Upon the Second Command Whatever be the manner of Worship in the place where he or they live unless they be sure that for Matter and Manner it be according to Christs Institutions That they beware how they take it as they there find it which though it may be a probable means of worldly Advantages yet I have some doubt it is no sound Rule to Worship by because the Lord thy God is a jealous God visiting iniquity c. and shewing mercy to those who love him and keep his commandments Exod. 20. 4 5 6. Deut. 5. 8 9 10 c. And upon the whole I think not A but the Seventh-day-Sabbath was observed by the Lord Gen. 2. 2 3. and afterward by the Patriarchs by Moses and by the Israelites in Aegypt and in the Wilderness of Sin where they had Mannah and at Mount Synai and at Mount Zion in Jerusalem and to the end of the Old Testament to whom the Lord made known his sabbath Neh. 9. 13 14. his Sabbaths as before and to whom he gave them as a sign and as an everlasting covenant and that not A but The Sabbath was observed perfectly and constantly by Christ during his life which I think proves it not forgotten nor altered to his time and that not A but The Sabbath was observed by his Disciples inspired by the Holy Spirit after his Resurrection and Ascension which also proves it not forgotten nor altered then And as their losing the Knowledge which was the Seventh day is not in the Word that I know so the certain Seventh day was preserved by all Nations Worshipping the Sun on Sunday Mr. Chafie p. 20 c. and all the Israelites before Christ and all the Jews since that we can read or hear of and some Christians still keep not A but The Seventh day and many Christians keep the first day other Christians keep both Seventh and First day as in the Enquiry and the early and long Controversies about what Days to keep the Passover on and the Histories Counsels Centuries and our own Records Ancient and Modern as in the Enquiry seem plainly to prove that the Seventh day was never altered from Christs time to this day nor from the Creation to Christs time and that the Seventh day in England is the same Seventh day varying the Hours and Minutes as before which was observed by Christ which was made perpetual by Christ which was observed at Mount Zion which was given at Synai and which was blest and made holy at the Creation Gen. 2. And here I might also observe that the Doctor neither denys nor answers the Authorities in the Enquiry for observing the Sabbath 400 and 700 years c. after Christ and for the changing the Seventh day to the First day by Rome c. not the clear Evidence for the first bringing in the First day into Scotland by a Counsel there above 1200 years after Christ nor that of the King and Nobles of England here to like purpose Enquiry p. 106. to 114 c. Nor that how all our Antient and Modern Records in England to this day call the Seventh day of the Week the Sabbath day Enquiry p. 117. to which the Doctor says nothing nor to that of the many Provinces and one Empire still observing the Seventh day Enq. p. 119. 120. And all put together I think may sufficiently disprove the uncertainty which is the Seventh day which the Doctor so often would leave doubtful against himself and may prove that our Seventh day of the Week is the true Seventh day blessed and made holy at the creation And I insist that Christs Command to keep Holy the Seventh day not being altered nor repealed but with all the rest confirmed and made perpetual by him still binds as all the rest of the Commands do I have passed by divers Expressions in the Doctor 's Book but have not that I know declined any thing that required as I think further Reply and what he objects again and again I often think it enough to answer to but once And if I do not fully repeat his Objections or Words at large it is to make this Reply as short as I can and the Reader
may resort to the Book And to conclude Instead of further summing up what I have weakly written here in Reply to the Learned Doctor and others as I could I commend to the Reader a few Scriptures Gen. 2. 2 3 4. On the seventh day God ended his work which he had made and he rested the seventh day from all his work which he had made and God blessed the seventh day and made it holy because that in it he had rested from all his work which he had created and made and so the Sabbath is the day upon which God rested after his Work and which he Blessed and made Holy who is v. 4. Jehovah Aelohim the Lord God so the Seventh day is the Lords day Exod. 16. 29. The seventh-day-sabbath is said to be as it is a gift The Lord hath given you the sabbath and so we should take it as a Gift from him as his Gift and as the Lords day Exod. 20. 8 9 10 11. Remember the sabbath day to keep it holy c. The seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God and so the Seventh day is the Lords day Exod. 31. 13. The Lord calls them my sabbaths verily my sabbaths ye shall keep so the Sabbath is the Lords day it is a sign between me and you c. that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctifie you v. 14. and ye shall keep the sabbath because it is holiness to you v. 15. Six days work shall be done but the seventh is the sabbath of rest holiness to the Lord v. 16. the sabbath a perpetual covenant t is holiness to you v. 14. and holy to the Lord v. 15. v. 16. the sabbath a perpetual covenant and v. 17 a sign for ever For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed so the Seventh day is the Lords day And v. 18. The Lord gave to Moses to tables of testimony written with the finger of God And Exod. 32. 15 16. the tables were the work of God and the writing the writing of God upon which tables of testimony or witness the fourth command was one Exod. 35. 2. Six days shall work be done and on the seventh day it shall be to you holiness Lev. 23. 3. Six days shall work be done but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest an holy convocation ye shall do no work therein it is the sabbath of the Lord c. so the Seventh day is the Lords day Lev. 23. 32. from even unto even shall ye celebrate your sabbath which I think is directing in an Humiliation day which is there to begin in the Evening when they were to afflict themselves And I think states this part of the Question when the Days began that is in the Evening and when they ended that is at the next Evening which the Dr. p. 27. thinks began and ended at mid-night In Numb 15. 32. we have the case of the Man who gathered sticks not A but The Sabbath day which is a great certain undeniable example against the least prophaning of the Sabbath day Deut. 5. 12. Keep the sabbath day to sanctifie it as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee 13. Six days labour c. v. 14. But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God c. so the Seventh day is the Lords day of Rest i. e. the seventh day is the Lords day Psal 119. 1 6. blessed are those who walk in his law and in keeping of his commandments there is great reward Psal 19. 11. Esai 56. 2. Blessed is the man who keepeth the sabbath from polluting it v. 4. 6. from polluting it Ezek. 20. 13 16 24 my sabbath they greatly polluted if we would be Blessed keep his Sabbaths and dont pollute them which it seems was Israels Sin of old Esai 58. 13. If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath from doing thy pleasure on my holy day and call the sabbath a delight or delights the holy of the Lord so the Sabbath day is the Lords day honourable and shalt honour him not doing thine own ways nor finding thine own pleasure nor speaking thine own words v. 14. then shalt thou delight thy self in the Lord c. and is not that a desirable frame Ezek. 22. 1 2. The word of the Lord thou hast prophaned my sabbath v. 26. her Priests have violated my law c. and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths So the Sabbath day is the Lords day Ezek. 44. 4 5 15 24. in the prophesie of the new temple there is a promise that the Priests who shall come near unto the Lord to minister unto him they shall hallow my sabbaths So the Sabbath day is the Lords day Matth. 5. 17. Think not that I am come to destroy the law v. 18. For verity I say unto you till heaven and earth pass one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law till all be fulfilled dont think that Christ altered one tittle of the Law and so not one jot or tittle is yet passed from the Law Matth. 18. 8. Christ is said to be Lord of the Sabbath day and if Christ be Lord of the Sabbath day then the Sabbath day is the Lords day Mat. 24. 20. Pray that your flight be not on the sabbath day which flight was about 38 years after Christs Death which I think shews it was to continue after his Death that is as I think as long as the World lasts Matth. 28. 18 19 20. Christ to his Disciples go teach all nations teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and Christ with the Father and holy Spirit one Jehovah gave the commands as before Mark 1. 21. after Christs Baptism by John v. 9. Jesus came into Galilee preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God v. 14. repent ye and believe the Gospel v. 15. then he calls Simon and Andrew James and John and they followed him v. 16 to 20. and they went into Capernaum and straitway on the sabbath day he entered into the Synagogue and taught and Mark 2. 27. the sabbath was made for man for his good for his spiritual good Mark 16. 1 2. Jesus came into his own country and his disciples followed him and when the sabbath day was come he began to preach in the synagogue which also proves the Sab. made for the spiritual use of man Luke 4. 16 to 27. in v. 14. after his being tempted v. 13. Jesus returned in the power of the spirit into Galilee and v. 15. taught in their Synagogues and v 16. he came to Nazareth where he had been brought up and as his custom was he went into the Synagogue on the sabbath day and stood up for to read and preached the Gospel v. 17 to 29. and then he came down to Capernaum and taught them on the sabbath day besides divers other places in the Evangelists which do all prove