have considerable first the continued duty that is The celebration of the Sabbath 2. The persons exhorted to the duty and they are such as by entring into the spirituall rest through faith are the people of God 3. Here 's the ground and reason of the duty and this is twofold 1. Gods rest from Creation 2. Christs rest from Redemption First as to the remaining duty the celebrating of the Sabbath I need say little having already shewed that the seventh day Sabbath is one of those lively Oracles that Israel received from Sinai to give unto us And that our God hath especially commanded us to whom these Oracles are given to REMEMBER his seventh day Sabbath to sanctifie it and t is our mercy that his holy spirit doth here record what the translators were loath to reveale in english That there remaineth the keeping of the Sabbath to the people of God I know t is set downe in the margin of our Bibles the keeping of a Sabbath whence they would evade the seventh day Sabbath and set up a Sabbath of their own although the Dictionaries and Lexicons render it plainly the keeping of the Sabbath But let the people of God celebrate the seventh day Sabbath untill they can find the holy Spirit calling any other day a Sabbath and then let them change The second thing is the persons exhorted to this duty and they are believers entred into their spirituall rest and therefore t is most irrationall to affirm this remaining Sabbath to be nothing but a spirituall rest into which believers enter verse 3. and so become the people of God and as Gods people they are to celebrate the Sabbath There remaineth therefore the celebration of the Sabbath to those that are already the people of God And I hope such as are the people of God will remember to observe it as being under a double obligation I Gods institution and observation making himselfe our president of which I have already spoken 2. Christs cessation from his great works and entring thereupon into his rest and this is laid down as the Gospel reason why the Sabbath remaines to the people of God For he that is entred into his rest he also hath ceased from his works as God did from his owne works Some conceive That believers are here said to enter into rest but then it would be needless to excite them to enter in the verse following It is Christ only * Heb. 4.12 whose entrance into rest is here intended who ceased from his works as God did from his and therefore there remaineth che celebration of the Sabbath to the people of God Here then the mysterious payment of mans Ransome is matter of high admiration being the same day that man was made and that very day and time of the day whereon God finished the glorious work of creation and so ceasing from his labours our Saviour exactly entered into his rest that very day and time as God began his rest povidentially ordering his body to be taken down and laid to rest in his Sepulchre in the Close of the sixth day that no part of his Sabbath should be violated and thus ceasing from his works as God did and entering into his Rest exactly as God did it laies believers under a double engagement to sanctifie the seventh day Sabbath That all men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father i.e. As the Father engageth us to honour him in celebrating the sabbath because he rested on it from the works of Creation John 5.23 So 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 even so the Son engageth us to sanctifie the same holy sabbath because he rested in it from the works of our redemption There remaineth therefore the keeping of the Sabbath to the people of God Mr Aspinwall and others would perswade us without one word from God that Christ entred into his rest upon the day of his Resurrection whereas he journeyed fifteen miles that very day which was no faire president for celebrating a Sabbath But that he entred into rest the true seventh day Sabbath when he had finished his great worke of Redemption the Scripture gives full evidence Our deare Redeemers soule was no sooner seperated from his body but his better part immediately entred into glory by his own resignation of it into Gods custody saying Father into thy hands I commend my Spirit And now the converted theife reaped his promised fruits To day shalt thou be with me in Paradise And soon after our Saviours soul had taken possession for us of glory his blessed body was laid to rest in the grave the quiet cell of a weary soul There the wicked cease from troubling and there the weary be at rest Job 17.3 There are some that deny Christs rest in the grave mistaking that text of Gods loosing The pains of death As if God had not then loosed the pains of death Luke 24 25 26. when Christ resigned his spirit into his protection and for his body that also was far from pains for having finished his work John 19.30 Heb. 1.14 Rev. 14.13 and by one offering for ever perfected them that are sanctified he enjoyed that rest from his labours which is the lot of those that dy in the Lord yea the Spirit speaketh expressly that in the grave his heart rejoiced his tongue was glad and his flesh did Rest in hope Act. 2.26 Whiles the Deity held Christs body and soul asunder like a man with a drawn sword in one hand and a Scabberd in the other which the third day he again put into his sheath Since then it is so fully manifest that Christ ceased from his works as God did from his own works and so entring into his rest exactly celebrated the seventh-day Sabbath quietly and out of the reach of desperate enemies his soul in glory his body in the grave we must conclude that there remaineth therefore the celebration of the Sabbath to the people of God And so according to our pretious Saviours example let us resolve through grace with the close of the sixt day to recall our better part and resign it to Gods service saying Return unto thy Rest O my soul Psa 116. for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee and likewise with the burial of Christs body burying all our earthly business in the grave of oblivion Let us at last begin to consecrate the true seventh day-Sal bath as a day of delights to the Lord and so obtain mercy for the Sabbath pollution of our daies of ignorance and Christ will not fail to pour oyl and wine into those wounds our souls have received amongst Thieves who have stollen and taught us to steal holy time from God And thus grace by weekly returns from Sabbath to Sabbath shall so strengthen our hearts that at last we shall arrive at our expected home our joyfull jubilee a Sabbath whose Sun shall never set 5 Rest eternal which is that true eternal rest
our God that will accept of our service and give us true repentance and pardon for sabbath prophanation and that he will honor us to set up and celebrate his long slighted sabbath according to his faithful promises in several scriptures where the gracious soul may find out the work of his generation Wherefore let such as are sincere unite heart and voice with one shoulder Comp. Is 58.12 69.1 2 3 4. with Acts 15.16 Rev. 11.1 2. to advance this lively oracle to its antient glory I know this doctrine would be readily embraced by earthworms did it but produce such priviledges as are their prized portions a fat benefice a gainful office or a good market but how can such embrace Gods sabbath who are greedy of gain and sit upon thornes whiles they are at such services O the Egyptian bondage of such obedience to a home-born slave When will the new moon be gone that we may sell corn Jer 2 14. Amos 3.6 and the sabbath that we may set forth wheat said the like drudges of old Indeed all the discipline of the Gospel together calls not for such a measure of self-denyal Phil. 3.13.19 as this weekly duty of the holy Sabbath But in recompence of our obedience though our creation mercies oblige us to whatsoever the creator calls for the most High hath freely held forth very many priveledges to encourage us in our service 1. 1 Fredom Ps 84. 'T is no smal priveledge to be exempted from dunghil drudgeries to enjoy a whole day in a week in sweet Sabbath communion with our God Christians often complain for want of spiritual enjoyments and acquaintance with Christ the Sabbath opens the door of the holy of holies as a spring of spiritual joyes 2. 2 Fulness He who so freely handed forth health to body and soul on the Sabbath day by himself and his Apostles will not now fail to pour out of his spirit to such as seek him in his own wayes Acts. 16.14 he that opened Lydias heart upon his holy Sabbath will also open thine If thou set open the everlasting doors for the King of Glory 3. 3 Knowledge If once the soul set to the advance of those times which Anti-christ hath changed the promise will pursue him whiles he pursues his purpose many shall runne to and fro Dan. 12. and knowledge shall be increased yea the day is now dawned and will shine more and more as the Sabbath is sanctified that the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea The sabbath keeper shall enjoy the legacy that Christ hath left him He. 2.13 Peace Jo 14.27 Ps 119.165 great peace have they that love thy laws and nothing shall offend them the Lord longs to invest thy soul with this priviledge of peace Isa 43.73 O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments then had thy peace been as a river and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea He that will but follow Paul as well in sabbath keeping as in other gospel duties Ph. 4.9 shall be sure to enjoy the God of peace 2. The prince of peace 3. A life of peace Isa 26.3 4. A death of peace Psalm 37.37 5. And after death eternal peace Isa 57 2 5. 5 Pleasure The obedient foul shall not want his pleasure whose delight is placed in sanctifying Gods sabbath Isa 57.13 Iob. 36.11 6. Plenty 1 Tim. 4.3 Let him not fear scarcety for he may be assâ—â—ed of plenty which no man enjoyes but he that can be content with what God sends 7. prosderity Jos 1 7 8. All that he takes in hand shall prosper and all shall work together for his good his very miseries have mercy in their bowels witness Moses Mordecai Joseph Paul Heb. 11. the whole catalogue of Saints 8. Victory And whiles he is combating perhaps sometimes foiled he is assured of a compleat conquest Gen. 49.19 Gad saith Jacob A troop shall overcome him but he shall overcome at the last he shall overcome the beast and his image the triple-crowned monster Pope Prelate and persecuting Presbyter yea he shall not fail of an absolute victory over the mark of the Beast the changer of times and Laws i. e. he shall raise the foundations of many generations in restoring the Lords Sabbath time and the Lords supper time 9. Trials Phil. 1.29 And howsoever he meet with many difficulties such as must be expected in a work of this high nature even all that malicious men and Divels can do yet let the obedient soul build upon it that all his Trials shall end in Triumph 10. Triumph It is the faithful promise of the Sabbaths Lord to make a rich return for all the reproofs sorrows and sufferings of Christian Sabbath-keepers and we may rest upon it for it is a gracious Gospel-promise I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly Zeph. 3.18 who are of thee to whom the reproach of it was a burthen then Sabbath-keepers sorrow shall end and then Sabbath-slighters sorrows shall begin Jesus Christ himself forewarns had they hearts to consider that as it was in the dayes of Noe so shall it be also in the dayes of the Son of Man Now it appears in the dayes of Noah the deluge came upon the world on the seventh-day Heb. 2.14 Luke 17.26 Gen. 7.10 See the margin and the Apostle speakes exprâ—sly though scoffers remain willingly ignorant of this admonition that as the old world perished by water so this is reserved for fire against the day of judgement and perdition of ungodly men It will be sad for professâ—rs to be found fighting under Anti-christs banner in Sabbath-profâ—nation after admonion 2 Pet. 3.3 4 5 6. Ah poor slumbering souls it is not hearing fasting feasting baptising that will avail in that 〈◊〉 day it is not Lord Lord we have prophesied in thy name we have done many things by thy power alas miserable muck-worms many things will not serve their turn Mat. 7. â—2 he who keeps the whole law and offends wilfully in one point he is guilty of all God gave ten commandments to Israel and Israels duty was to deliver them as so many lively oracles unto us Ja. 2.12 now one of those lively oracles enjoynes the seventh day Sabbath Acts. â— 38 it will not avail to tell Christ they have kept nine of them in the very letter if the tenth be slighted in the letter they must then see and feel that not one jot or title of those lively oracles is in the least altered Confess Pag. 33. Eze. 33.4 or ANY WAY dissolved as Englands whole assembly have in words confessed Wo and alas what will become of those that Jeroboam-like have changed the time expresly appointed in that Law which they say Christ hath not ANY WAY dissolved but much strengthened to binde Gospel Saints
and truly since God hath so eminently crowned my weak but willing endeavours among you we cannot without ingratitude for get the many fatherly favours and constant encouragements of that worthy instrument who first invited me to serve you The good Lord strengthen us by the choice graces of his precious spirit that we may never forfeit our interest in this honoured Patriot or in the least blemish our most holy profession Your gracious submission to gospel truth hath filled my soul with joy and I am sure God hath enriched your hearts with gifts and grace since your souls were set towards his Sabbath T is very much for yoar sakes who have earnestly desired it that I have thus far engaged wherefore with endeared bowels of love I present it to you the good Spirit engrave it in your hearts that you may honour it in your lives till the Lord of the Sabbath crown all your services and sufferings with everlasting rest Dear Brethren cease not to pour out your souls on the be half of Your faithful and affectionate Minister Tho. Tillam THE Seventh Day SABBATH Sought out and celebrated BY Saints obtaining Victory over the Mark of the Beast THe first Royal Law that ever Jehovah instituted and for our Example celebrated namely his blessed Seventh-day Sabbath is in these very last days become the last great controversie between the Saints and the Man of sin The Changer of Times and Laws Awake ye slumbring Virgins the fig-tree is apparently budded the signs of his second coming who is The Lord of this Sabbath are so fairly visible that although the day and hour be not known yet doubtless this generation shall not pass till new Ierusalems glory shall crown obedient Saints with everlasting Rest Wherefore rouze up your selves ye spirited Citizens of Sion shake off the dust and trash of beastly Babylon and whiles that imperious Harlot shames not to assert that Ignorance is the Mother of Devotion let heavenly wisdome be your sole design with raised expectations of his faithfull performance Hab. 2.14 who hath promised That the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the Sea Many shall run to and fro Dan. 12.4 2 Thes 1.8 and knowledge shall be encreased Whiles vengeance in fiery flames shall be the portion of such as are disobedient and willingly ignorant Remember the slights and deceits of imposing Pope and Prelate their Altars Pictures Gossips kneeling at the Rail Surplice with the whole Systeme of invented service and let this consideration quicken all that fear the Lord That the very same Horn who thus imposed his Canons upon our consciences must change our Times no less then our Laws Dan. 7.25 or else he is not Antichrist Since therefore 't is undeniable that we have been deceived by his Laws 't is worthy our enquiry whether we have been cheated of the appointed Times of Gods worship 'T will be said to that soul that after warning shall be found in the weekly pollution of Gods Sabbath 't is not one day in seven will serve turn Rev. 2â— when the books shall be opened and that very seventh day on which God himself rested shall be found expresly commanded The Beasts Wafer câ—kes and Water in stead of enjoyned Bread and Wine will be as excusable one day as the change of Gods holy Sabbath As for such professors who surpass the late Prelates in scoffing at Gods Sabbath as an empty form a trifle c. let New-England however mistaken in the precise time mourn over their licentiousness in these sorrowfull strains No measure of tears are sufficient to lament the present estate of times that when the Lord Jesus was come forth to vindicate the cause and controversie of Sion there should rise up other instruments of spiritual wickedness in high places to blot out the name and sweet remembrance of this day from off the face of the earth The enemies of the Sabbath are now not so much negligent time servers and aspiring brambles whom preferment principally byassed to knock at the Sabbath but those who have eaten bread with Christ a generation of professing people do lift up their heel against the Sabbath So that what could formerly not be done by Angels of darkness the old Serpent takes another course to effect by seeming Angels of light And what enlightened soul can cease to câ—st in a heart full of sighs not onely for such frothy professors whose earthly minds under spiritual pretences contemn Gods hallowed time without fear or trembling but even for those whose ignorance hurries them hood-wink'd from week to week to wallow in wickedness being that day most busily imployed about their perishing bodies which God hath solemnly designed for his honour and health of their immortal souls Never more cause of mourning then to see Saints in these days of light still honouring the little Horn in the gross abuse of the Lords Sabbath time and the Lords Supper-time Why Christians will you stick here Have you got victory over the Beast and beheld the Holy One tumble down his Image and will you now lose all your labours for want of a compleat victory over the Marke of the Beast Rev. 15.2 20.4 which is so visible and legible in the head of the little Horn The changer of Times and Laws Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth Isa 24.5 Because they have transgressed the Laws changed the Ordinance broken the everlasting Covenant You are assured Christians the Horn hath changed the Laws and he cannot be that Horn unless he change your Times also will you therefore wisely weigh that he had no Times to change save the Lords Sabbath-time and the Lords Supper-time and these he and none but he hath changed as I shall plainly prove under this Position The seventh day Sabbath is a perpetual royal Rule for the righteous established by precept and president to Gods praise and Saints priviledge And to prevent a sudden censure of singularity let the ingenuous know that this Conclusion contains not a tittle different from the professed doctrine of the esteemed Orthodox of this age as will appear in its parts as so many heads of the ensuing Treatise 1. 1 The Rest The Sabbath is one of the Assemblies approved points Art Relig. p. 35. 2. 2 The Time Thes Sab. p. 100. Large Cat. p. 34 The time is confessed to be the very seventh day determined by God for thus write the Elders of New England with whom accord our English Synod Not onely a day not onely a rest day but the rest day or Sabbath day which is expressed and expresly interpreted in the Commandement to be the 7th day or a 7th day of Gods determining and therefore called the Sabbath of the Lord our God is here also enjoyned and commanded as generally moral Here is a full and free confession and all I shall crave of Christians is but to observe the true seventh day Sabbath
calamities of his rebellious Nation he directs his dear Disciples when to depart from those direfull miseries but especially to be importunate in prayer for forty years together Mat. 24 15. that they might not be forced to fly in the Winter for then the foul ways and short days would make it irksome to their bodies especially to breeding and nursing mothers and no less was the care of this tender shepheard to the souls of his Saints whom he bears in his bosome as also to the sanctity of his Sabbath and therefore adds this petition to their forty years Prayer that they might not be put to fly on the Sabbath day to the dishonour of God and trouble of their spirits in prophaning the sacred season for the preservation of their bodies which was designed for the sweetening of their souls in Hearing Prayer and Praise amiddest the precious societies of Gospell Saints It cannot easily be imagined that Christ should be so carefull in securing his Sabbath had it been ceremonial Col. 2.16 17. at such time as all ceremonies were abolished by Apostolical Proclamation Object And yet it is imagined and the best is but imagined that the Disciples were onely warned of fleeing on the Sabbath by way of prevention of Jewish persecution Answ And can it be conceived rationally that Vespatians Armies and Titus Ensigns should strike no more terrour then that the Jews in stead of securing themselves should trifle away their time in persecuting the Christians Had their flight been on the Sabbath yet seeing they were not to carry any thing no not their clothes they could not be counted transgressours Moreover so superstitious were the Jews that they durst not fight for their life much less persecute others and therefore this could not be intended by our Saviour but his sole designe was to have his seventh day Sabbath sanctified by his Disciples And as our Redeemer thus generally and particularly owned this Sabbath by his holy word so he gloriously crowned it above all other dayes by his mighty works viz. such miracles as never man wrought Mat. 11 20 11 20 If then those Cities were most honoured and engaged where his mighty works were done upon the same account is that day to bee most highly esteemed which Christ crowned with his greatest wonders God forbid that Gospel Saints should side with envious Sadduces in reproaching our Saviour for putting forth his glory on that blessed day but rather with heighthened affections let that Sabbath be religiously celebrated wheron such divine vertue was shewed Neither doth our great exemplar cease here to honour his Sabbath but having owned it by his word and crowned it with his works his constant care both in life and death was to leave a lively president for his people His constant custome during life is visible to all that can read the fourth Chapter of Saint Lukes Gospel and for his cessation from his work of redemption the same day of the week and time of the day that the father ceased from his work of creation entring exactly into his rest on the Sabbath as God did this is such a misterious discovery and full confirmation of the seventh day Sabbath as for ever binds all believers by a double obligation to this sweet soul-refreshing duty of which more may be spoken in due time This may suffice abundantly for the confirmation of the seventh day Sabbath by our blessed Saviour The third thing promised 3 Approbation is his approbation of that holy spirit which was appointed by the Saviour of souls to be a constant guide to Gods people So that whatsoever this blessed spirit shall approve of we may safely receive as tried gold weighed in the ballance of the sanctuary and rest upon 〈◊〉 as infallible truth Three things will fully evince the holy spirits approbation of the seventh day Sabbath 1. Luk. 23. ult His high Encomium 2. His mighty operation 3. His constant appellation 1. His high applause given to the pious womens practise of resting according to the Commandement is a full proof of divine approbation For though they celebrated the Sabbath upon Christs crucifixion yet Saint Luke was not inspired to write his Gospel till after Christs ascension as is evident in his preface and confessed by our learned adversaties Luk. 1.2 3 4. Leigh Syst p. 822. That divers years after when all Levitical institutions lost their power of binding the whole Law and each principle thereof doth binde all under the Gospel If then such praise were given to the holy womens celebration that the spirit so long after records it to their honour That they rested the Sabbath day according to the Commandement let the conclusion of the parable be the obedient souls instruction Luk. 10.37 Go and do thou likewise set to the Sabbaths observation according to the Commandement if thou wouldst have like praise of Gods spirit Though this might satisfie a willing soul yet others see such a measure of self-denial required in this duty that either God must stoop to their arms in recording the celebration of the 7th day Sabbath after Christs ascension or else they will not obey Well the blessed spirit sweetly condiscends and by the most glorious manifestation and wonderful operation that ever visited the earth confirms the seventh day Sabbath For it was upon this blessed day that he gloriously descended upon the Apostles to the amazement of men Act. 2. for though Antichrist hath long deceived us and we have taken it upon trust that Pentecost was upon the first day of the Week which he hath long honoured with Whitson Ales Wakes and May games yet in plowing up the truth with Gods heifer we shall finde such treasures of long-unveiled misteries in this renowned day as can never sufficiently be admired And the first mistery that displayeth it self Ez. 13.6 waâ— 19.1 11. lieth in the institution of the Feast called Pentecost or the fiftieth day for as the fiftieth day after the first Passeover and wonderfull deliverance from the Egyptian â—urnace the spirit descended in fire upon Sinai to instruct the twelve Tribes of Israel even so the fiftieth day most exactly after Christ our Passeover was sacrificed for us and had wrought our mighty deliverance from that worse then Egyptian bondage Heb. 2.14 15. did the same eternal spirit descend in fire upon Sion to inspire the twelve Apostles of the Lamb. And surely this harmonious descent upon the fiftieth day both at Sinai and Sion Barthol de propr rerum p. 152. cannot but be soul-ravishing satisfaction to the religious Christian for the confirmation of his faith in the true Messiah As also this marvellous dispensation upon the seventh day Sabbath cannot but affect his heart with this royal rest which the spirit so eminently approves by his superlative presence And the clearing of this fiftieth day to be the seventh day Sabbath will open more divine misteries as so many coals from the Altar to
were wrought so it will be sad for such as will persist in slighting the holy Sabbath which he hath so eminently arown'd with his wonders After labour hath bin spent in vain to fasten some defamation on the Lord of the Sabbath the next invention is to fal upon his servants And first they seek some shelter for Sabbathâ— breaking from the Apostles words One Man esteemeth one day above another Rom. 14.5 Another osteemeth every day alike The Apostle doth not here expose Gods moral Sabbath to our censure or to be esteemed or disesteemed as we please for he had before firmly established the moral Law * Rom. 3 31. and cannot be thought to destroy what he hath setled in the same Epistle onely in meats and dayes ceremonial he leaves weaklings to liberty for since Christ hath took down the wall of partition The persons places meats and days which did support it are all level'd but the seventh day Sabbath was instituted long before that partition wall was raised So that 't is not in our liberty to esteem it as we please for God himself hath made it holy and so esteems it whether we do or no. 'T is God that from the Worlds foundation placed holiness in this day and what God hath sanctified let not us presume any longer to make common Another argument is drawn from Gal. 4.10 Ye observe Days and Months and Times and Years Answ He cannot here condemn the observing of all days since Fasting and Feasting days are approved by Christ and his Church onely weak and beggarly seasons are condemned If any dare be so bold to reproach the seventheday-Sabbath instituted and observed by God himself as a weak and beggerly element at his peril be it 'T is a royal Law and will be the joy of a royal people The third argument aspersing the Apostles is raised from Col. 2.16 17. Let no man therefore judge you in meat or in drink or in respect of part of a Feast * So the Greek or of the New Moon or of the Sabbaths which are a shadow of things to come but the body is of Christ 1. Here at first sight 't is evident that onely such Sabbaths are ceased as were a shadow of good things to come But the seventh day was never such a Sabbath a sign indeed of good things past and present as is already shewed but never termed a shadow of things to come 2. The blessed Spirit by two other terms declares clearly what Sabbaths are ceased 1. Col. 2.14 such as were against us 2. contrary to us and such were those annual Sabbaths requiring great labour and travel in comming three times a year from all parts to Jerusalem far from the sweet Rest which the fourth Commandemnent enjoyns upon the seventh day Sabbath which never was in the least against us or any way contrary to â—s and therefore not here intended though he Prelates by perverting the Text would â—volve it for unto the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which onely signifieth Sabbaths they have deceitfully added dayes to the Text as though there were no other Sabbaths but Sabbath days whereas the seventh year was a Sabbath and the seventh seventh the great ceremonial Sabbath or Jubile And whereas by this bold and absurd addition some would cast off the seventh day as ceremonial who yet plead strongly for the morality of the Sabbath it is very considerable that this Text toucheth not the Day at all but the Duty that is the Sabbath which even many enemies of the seventh day confess to be moral Evident it is that as the seventh day points out the time of worship so the Sabbath denptes the worship it self and the Apostle mentions not the day or time as a shadow but the Sabbaths and so if any thing in the fourth Commandement were a shadow of Christ it must be onely the Rest which is the duty and not the Time which is the seventh day As warrantably may they reject the moral Law upon that expression of the Law being changed Heb. 7.12 as the seventh day upon this word of Sabbaths being ashadow We may as well distinguish of Sabbaths in this place as Laws in that Mr. Aspinwal pretends to reform the Bishops abuse of this Col. 2. and translates it rightly Sabbaths but renders those words a Feast which he knows is onely part of a Feast and from hence takes liberty p. 4. to descant upon Feasts contrary to the word Well after all attempts the 7th day Sabbath remains a glorious lively Oracle to Christians it is no bâ—se ceremony or beggarly rudiment for God himself observed it and with his own voice with great Majesty enjoyned and recorded it a mongst the rest of his royal perpetual precepts it requireth no toil nor trouble like the ceremonial Sabbaths but lovingly releaseth man from his labours It is no way against us or contrary to us unless we be against God and contrary to those heavenly spirits who prefer one day in Gods Courts before a thousand in that dunghil drudgery wherein earthy carnal base-born muck worms delight to be toiling and moiling in this bewitching world It mounts the Dove-like Spouse from earth to heaven where she obtains a tast of her eternal glory dwelling this day in her Beloveds bosome sweetly reposing her weather-beaten Vessel in this shining season of noon-tide Rest in the very arms of Christ Caut. 1.7 These are undeniably the sweet enjoyments and soul-ravishing delights which this Royal Sabbath of Iehovah opens to the sincere obedient soul and therefore onely to be slighted by such as observing lying vanities forsake their own mercies When restless spirits find their fancies frustrate and that they have onely wearied themselves with these inventions 1. To expel the glorious Sabbath out of Paradise 2. To imprison it in Palestina 3. To defame our Saviour as a Sabbath-breaker 4. To asperse the Apostles as Sabbath-slighters And finding the Sabbaths lustre breaking through these foggy inveations 5. Satan the Prince of darkness transforming himself into an Angel of Light furnisheth them with the last invention under the most specious pretence of a spiritual Sabbath to live in the weekly pollution of that blessed day which the Father of Spirits hath appointed for the inlet of all spiritual sweets into the soul And the poor deceived Notionists 2 Cor. 11.2 3. Gen. 3.5 forgetting how the serpent beguil'd Eve through his subtilty under the very same bait of disobedience to Gods Commands promising most gâ—orious spiritual enjoyments are so transported with the glistering Alchymie of his sublime aiery notions that away goes all the tryed Gold of the Law and the Testimony and now no duties will down with these lawless Libertines but all their devorion lies buried in the abysse of pretended spiritual prayer spiritual singing spiritual fasting spiritual feasting spiritual baptism spiritual supper spiritual sabbath leaving all literal obedience as too low for their bewitched fancies as if Christ and primitive Christians
as hath been shewed was first laid in that pure pleasant Paradise Eden where God rested and inseparably united the Sabbath to the seventh day The second holy Mountain wherein God established this foundation truth Sinai was Mount Sinat made glorious by the terrible Majesty of the Lord descending with shrill trumpet in dreadful tempests thunder and lightening where with a lively voice he immediately delivered this lively Oracle crowning this seventh day Sabbath with the very same honour and dignity as the other nine Royal statutes and recording the same in Tables of stone which by his new Covenant he writes in renewed hearts so that if Christians stand obliged to those ten Commandements as so many lively Oracles committed to the Jews to be given unto us Rom. 3.2 Act. 7.38 Iam. 2.8 and that we shall do well in observing these royal Laws according to the Scripture that is according as God himself hath written them then must this very seventh day Sabbath as one of those Royal Laws be for ever observed by saints without alteration or diminution and the rather since this foundation oracle obtains confirmation in the third glorious holy Mountain even in the heighths of Gospel Sion where the very same seventh day Sabbath instituted by the Father is established by the Son which is the second point proposed wherein I shall prove 2 Confirmation That the seventh day Sabbath sanctified by Iehovah is ratified by Iesus upon a two-fold account 1. He owns it by his Words 2. He crowns it by his Works And if this be cleared then surely Christians should carefully observe it both in word and work 1. Our blessed Redeemer confirms the seventh day Sabbath by his Word more generally amongst the rest of those Royal statutes which he assures us shall continue in every tittle not so much as one Hebrew point to be diminished or altered til the heavens be no more and the earth be removed and all be compleated and fulfilled Christian turn to thy Bible and behold with horror the dreadful doom which thy Redeemer hath denounced against such as shall transgress the least of his Laws and teach others to be disobedient Mat. 5.18 19. O how dangerous is the disobedience to this duty seeing it is undeniable that the seventh day Sabbath is a tittle and more then a tittle of that royal Law the wilfull offence of one point whereof renders the Rebel a transgressor of all Gods Laws Iam. 2.10 Suppose the Sabbath were the least Commandement yet saith Christ our King Comp. Mat. 5.19 with Act. 3.23 He that breaketh and bids others break the least of these Commandements shall be cut off from Gods Kingdome Neither doth Christ in flesh whiles the ceremonial Law was in full fore onely confirm the whole moral Law but even since his ascention by his holy spirit he moves his Apostles to establish the whole every part of the ten words Rom. 3. Do we then make void the law through faith saith Paul God forbid yea we establish the law Which cannot be the ceremonial Law Christ having utterly abolished all those beggarly elements It must be onely that * holy Rom. 7.7 12 14. just good spiritual Law which ends with this Command Thou shalt not covet And not in part is this Law perpetuated but in every point saith the other Apostle Jam. 2.10 And therefore let such as after warning slight the seventh day Sabbath make sure work that it be no point of that Law whose every jot and tittle is established by Christ and his Apostles And yet after this full confirmation how fain would vain contentious flesh find out a device to live in disobedience to that precious heavenly Law Object for 't is objected That Christ hath not expresly and particularly established the fourth Commandement and therefore it may be no sin to slight the seventh day Sabbath Answ By this reasoning the Papists may excuse all their Idolatry since Christ hath not expresly and particularly confirmed the second Commandement and therefore they may as lawfully make and worship Images as we may prophane the seventh day Sabbath 'T is sad to strengthen Antichrists lewdness by weakening Christs Law 2. Christ hath confirmed every tittle and his Apostles every point of the Royal Law will not this suffice if not behold the kindness of Christ condescending to our weakness shewing us as it were the very print of the nails fastening his seventh day Sabbath for ever as a foundation Oracle not onely in Eden and Sinai but in the beauty of Sion for he doth expresly own the seventh day Sabbath particularly with the honour that none other Law enjoys professedly acknowledging it to be his Sabbath proclaiming himself Lord of it and most punctually observing it yea solemnly averring that he came not to destroy the Law but to fulfil it And indeed this spotless Lamb did faithfully fulfil this Law of the Sabbath as the rest without the least violation of any tittle even then when those presumptuous spirits charged him Mar. 2.27 28. He cheeking their blind conceit who thought belike that Man was made for the Sabbath and informs them that the Sabbath was made for Man and not Man for the Sabbath that is for mans benefit and comfort both body and soul even as the Laws of a Nation are made for the subjects and not subjects for the Laws And further be compleats his answer to their false accusation by proclaiming himself Lord of the Sabbath as if he should say The Sabbath is mine I am the Lord of it I made it for Man that he should sanctifie it and therefore having given Man a precept and pattern to keep it I shall not make my self a president to prophane it as you superstitiously suppose Certainly Christs engagement to fulfil it to the least jot or tittle with his professed owning of it claim to it and care for it as its Lord is the fullest confirmation that can possibly be desired That which Christ lays claim to as Lord must needs be confessed to be his esteemed and honoured as his the Bride is his for he is her Lord Psal 45.11 the Harvest is his Heaven and Earth is his the Angels are his and all to be esteemed his who is proclaimed Lord of all Therefore we celebrate the holy Supper because 't is the Lords Supper and therefore we ought to sanctifie the holy Sabbath because he declares himself Lord of the Sabbath He gave it the institution when he made the world he gave it confirmation when he redeemed the world and his Saints must endeavour to observe every jot and tittle of it to the end of the world For as he doth expresly own his holy day in asserting himself Lord of the Sabbath so he takes special care by particular instruction that his Saints might avoid the violation of this rest on earth even whiles he himself should rest triumphantly in Heaven wherefore after his predictions of the approaching
be glad in But as the Sabbath day enjoyned in the fourth Commandement against the reason there rendred For in six dayes the Lord made heaven and earth and rested the seventh day wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and sanctified it Saints For your souls sake search the Scripture if ever you find the Lord resting upon the first day I have proveâ— unto you that when he arose the first daâ— he was so far from resting that he travelled 15 miles that very day and encouraged his Disciples so to doe Ask your consciences in the fear of God if this were sanctifying a new Sabbath The ancient Christians who called it the Lords day did never terme it the Sabbath day but religiously celebrated the seventh day Sabbath with it But see what partiality this is to avouch that to be the Lords day which is so uncertain in Scripture and to reject the seventh day which is constantly called the Sabbath And thus I have faithfully opened the 3 Scriptures which neither singly nor joyntly give the least ground to observe the first day as a Sabbath So that Scriptures failing they flee to unscripturall consequences to support their supposed change First Arg. 1 They tell us that the worke of Redemption is greater then the worke of Creation and therefore the greater worke deserves the honour of the day Answ 1 I may demand with the Almighty to lost Adam who told thee that thou wast naked who told thee the work of Redemption was the greater who told thee the greater â—ork if it were so deserves the honour of the day hath God no other way to bear up the honour and preserve the memory of Redemption but thy supposed Sabbath Then learne to know that for the honour of the glorious work of creation God hath instituted his holy Sabbath and for the commemoration of the gracious work of Redemption he invites thee if thou hast grace to his sacred Supper Wherefore cease presumptuous man to set up thy posts by Gods Pillars blesse his name for his Royall Sabbath to meditate on the worke of his hands and sound forth his praise for his precious Supper that sets forth the Love of his heart Arg. 2 A second reason is raised from the Israelites obligation to offer their first-borne and first-fruits and therefore t is thought more equall to offer the first day for a Sabbath then first to serve our selves six dayes and put of Gods Sabbath till the seventh Answ 1 T is most equall to offer unto God what he requires and therefore none other Sabbath will bâ— accepted but that very seventh day which God hath sanctified I freely joyne thus far with the adversaries argument That it is most meet for man to offer unto God his first day But I feare my Antagonists will not stick to their own conclusions when they are remembred that the seventh day is mans first day he being made on the sixth day and immediately the seventh day Sabbath made for him to offer his first fruites unto his maker who in very deed accepts no other Sabbath but mans first day since then the adversary himselfe hath concluded that mans first day is most equall to offer unto God for his Sabbath let him either stand to his own argument Job 5.12.13 1 Cor. 1.1 and see that he offer none other Sabbath to the Lord then mans first day or else be for ever condemned by his own mouth Thus the Lord disappointeth the devices of the crafty and snareth them in their own wisdome yet will they not cease their vaine jangling Arg. 3 But tell the people that as no Manna was to be found on the seventh day so those that observe the seventh day Sabbath cannot find Christ the true Manna upon it Ans Then the Apostle was unwise to preach constantly upon that day whereon no spirituall Manna fell Act. 2.41 1â— 42 44 45. 6.13.14 but blessed be the Lord of the Sabbath that multitudes of Jewes and Gentiles have found such plenty of the heavenly Manna upon this blessed seventh day Sabbath that the adversary may stop his mouth with shame yea many living witnesses can bear their joyfull testimony to the free effusion of Gospel grace upon the true sanctified seventh day Sabbath Another reason is rendred why the first day should be observed viz. Arg. 4 from the successe of sermons in the conversion of souls on that day Ans It may be feared many are judged converts that never knew the power of the Spirit Conversion is a turning from sin to the faith and order of the Gospell which many supposed converts will be found short of If more persons be truely converted on the first day then upon other days the honour is due to Gods grace in that meanes which more abounds on the first day then other dayes and he that commands the word to be preached in season and out of season will not faile to follow it with his blessing at all seasons witnesse the notable successe of Lectures But if conversion of souls be a seale to Gods Sabbath never was day so crowned with true converts in the Scripture as the seventh day instances whereof have been already given in that famous 50 day Acts 2. and 13. and 16. and 18. cap. Argu. 5 But 't is supposed that serveing God on the seventh day Sabbath is to put new wine into old bottles Old things are passed away all things are become new 'T is true Answ Old sins are passed away and all old Ordinances Curses and Covenants but surely old Scriptures and old promises and Gods old loving kindnesses are not passed away The good old way promising rest to our soules Jer. 6.16 Heb. 10.20 is none other then the Gospel New and living way The new commandement of Christs Apostle is the old commandement that was from the beginning John 3.17.8 And the very first institution that we here of in the beginning is the seventh day Sabbath therefore if we are Christs Disciples indeed let us reform in observing the true Sabbath as we are directed about the true marriage Mat. 14.5.6 i. e. looke to the beginning we do no more put new wine into old bottles by celebrating the Antient Sabbath then by joyning in the antient way of marriage The purest water is at the spring head 1 Joh. 2.24 Let that therefore abide in you which you have heard from the beginning if that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you ye also shall continue in the Son and in the Father If you will not believe that the Sabbath which was from the beginning doth still remaine to be observed unlesse you hear the same in so many words give me leave to take off the Translators vail and let but Gods Spirit speake in his owne language wherein the holy Oracles were written and you will soon be informed Heb. 4.9 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thero remaineth therefore the celebration of the Sabbath to the
Miserable Sabbath breakers that will not take warning I shall leave you to the hardness of your own hearts till you bring your own blood upon your heads I expect nothing from you but scoffes reproaches persecutions the worst you can do t is your nature you must act up to your principles and to the height of your power 2 Pet. 3.3 I pity you and pray that God may give you grace to pity your selves before it be too late He that overcometh shall sit with Christ in his throne when the Sabbaths weekly returns have wasted his obedient soul from strength to strength to keep a joyful Jubile in Messiahs Mansions of majesty Days shal be changed into years yea the Lords Sabbath of grace to a thousand years rest with the Lord of the Sabbath in glory Then those that carefully keep Gods Sabbath through reproaches as Jew turning back to Moses shall find a heavenly harmony between Jew and Gentile joyning in continual Alelujah to Jesus Rev. 19. then they shall find Christ and Moses friends and none honoured to sing his praise who have contemned Moses musick then those and only those that have obtained victory over the Beast his image his Mark and the number of his name Rev. 15.2.3 shall sing the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb happy souls who shall be found in the possession and faithful profession of Moses lively oracles and the oracles of the Lamb together Moses's ten precepts received from Sina Acts 7â— 38. and the Lambs six principles delivered in Sion are equally honoured by the Spirit of truth as the oracles of God Heb 5.12 Heb. 1.2 6.1.2 1 Pet. 4.11 and equally given to the Saints and therefore let such as would approve themselves Saints be careful to speak as the oracles of God This is the very day of singing the song of Moses the Lamb that is of reviving the ten precepts and six pinciples as through Gods grace I shall fairly prove in another peece wherein it will appear how the sixth seal opened the six principles of Christian Religon in their primitive puritie which many precious souls have with joy embraced and that of the opening the seventh seal hath now discovered the long concealed mystery of the seven pillars of wisdoms palace which I shall demonstrate by good authority to be the seven sorts of Officers that Christ hath appointed in his house As 1. Prov. 9.1 Prophets 2 Apostles 3. Evangelists 4. Pastors 5. Teachers 6. Elders 7. Deacons all which were brought to open view upon the late terrible commotion wherein the tenth part of the City fell with the tenth horn Re. 11.13 So the Greek and 7000 names of men in whose ruines all the seven stars oâ— heaven ascended our horizâ—n to trumpet forth the long concealed seventh day sabbath which with the foremenâ—ioned precepts and principles make up the melodious harmony of Moses and the Lamb. But look about you unbelievers for whiles the Saints stand on a sea of glass mingled with the oracles of Moses and the oracles of the Lamb in their hearts and mouthes professing the precepts and principles of Law and Gospel Rev. 15.1.23.4 Behold 7 Angels having the 7 last plagues full of the wrath of God to pour upon the heads and hearts of such as joyn not in the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb. Great and marvellous are thy works Lord God Almighty just and true are thy wayes thou King of Saints Observe as you desire your souls good that the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb are the JUST AND TRUE WAYES of the Lord handed forth by Moses and the Lamb. Rev. 15.3 Who shall not fear thee O Lord and glorifie thy name for thou alone art holy Vers 4. for all nations shall come and worship before thee for thy judgements are made manifest High praises to thy glorious majesty for thy special grace O God in the glorious discovery of thy pure precepts and precious principles those lively oracles left unto the Saints by Moses and the Lamb honour and glory unto thy great Name in revealing the high presumption of that little horn in changing times and Lawes for ever magnified be thy mercy in making this precious truth manifest to the souls of many of thy Saints That there remaineth the celebration of the Sabbath to the People of God Sweet spirit of Holiness do thou sanctifie our hearts that we may Religiously sanctifie thy blessed Sabbath till thou bring us to thy Palace in peace and receive us into our Masters joy where we shall enjoy everlasting rest Aleluâ—ah Blessed are they that do his Commandments that they may have right to the tree of life and may enter in through the gates into the city Rev. 22.14 Amen FINIS