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
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
in his change of Gods seventh day to his eighth day hath little spiritual eye sight But that Gods children may for ever beware of changing his appointments let his displeasure that brake forth against holy David be our admonition David had a pious purpose to fetch the Ark of God to Jerusalem he goes with 30000. chosen men 2 Sam. 6. sâ—ts the Ark upon anew cart the oxen they shake it Vzzah endeavours to support God smits him dead and spoils all their mirth But what is the cause of all this why it is their invention of setting the Ark upon a new a cart which should onely have been carried on the Levites shoulders of which errour holy David being made sensible humbly repents before the Lord saying 1 Chr. 15.2.13 None ought to carry the Ark of God but the Levîtes for because ye did it not at the first the Lord our God made a breach upon us for that we sought him not after the due order I solemnly professe unto you my flesh trembles in writing this sad example and dare any continue by weekly disorder to provoke this jealous God believe it Christians it is not all your doing that will avail it must be so doing that God will accept Let all things be done decently and in order Now all these things were written for our admonition Rom. 15.4 Therefore think not after admonition that any sabbath will be accepted but that alone which God hath ordained God will at last make a breach upon you if you do not repent in time and seek him after the due Order I have nowthrough grace fully proved the unchangable perpetuity of Gods seventh day Sabbath That it is Gods special command to remember it That it is one of those lively oracles received by Israel from Sinai to give unto us That we are under a double obligation to observe it First from Gods rest at the Creation Secondly from Christs rest at our Redemption There remaineth therefore the celebration of the sabbath to the people of God Undoubtedly Sinai's lively oracles given to Christians are some of Sions cords or stakes to fasten us in obedience to our God and it is his faithfull promise that they shall be perpetuated Not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed Isa 33.20 neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken Let Antichrist conspire with earthly powers to break these bands in sunder Psa 2.3 and cast away these cords from them 'T is but for a time times and half a time Da 7.25 The saints shall recover their changed Laws and changed times too and in keeping the royall Law those lively oracles according to the scriptures they shall do well and be blessed in their deed Ia. 1.15 2.8.10 whiles such as content themselves with partial obedience shall know when Lord Lord will be to late that whosoever shall keep the whole Law and yet off end in one point wilfully after warning he is guilty of all Now that sincere souls may sweetly conform themselves to this Royal Law this lively Oracle this perpetual remaining seventh day-Sabbath I shall in the power of the Highest assist them in the next part of my Position The fifth Head Sanctification AS the word sabbath fignifies holy Rest so this rest is to be sanctified to the honour of the holy God by a holy People in a holy manner T is no small mercy that God hath winked at the daies of our ignorance while we were weekly wallowing in Sabbath-pollution and that now he calls upon us to repent Acts 17.30 and reform in Sabbath sanctification The seventh seal being undoubtedly opened Pro. 9.1 Rom. 12. Ep. 4.11 12. hath discovered the seven Pillars of wisdomes house i. e. Those seven sorts of officers into whose Hearts God will put grace to trumpet forth the glory of the seventh-day-Sabbath whiles faithful souls coming out of their one thousand two hundred and sixty years wilderness condition Can. 8.5 leaning upon their beloved Re. 12.17 will readily embrace and keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Observe here the blessed character of those blessed souls that come flying as a cloud out of Babylonish abominations to the Windows of the Ark of God These are they that keep the Commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Here 's the Character of a new Creature that hath a faith working by love he knows that circumcision is nothing Compare Gal. 6 15. with 5.6 1 Cor. 7.19 and uncircumsion is nothing but the keeping of the commandements of God All the tongue profession in this World is nothing all the pretences of spiritual Sabbatizers with their guilded expressions of living in the bosom of love is nothing This is the Love of God 1 John 5.3 that we keep his commandments and his commandments are not grievous To be sure this command of sanctifying Gods Sabbath is not gâ—ievous to gracious souls As the Jewes in their return from literal Babylon set to the observation of all they sound enjoined them in the holy Scriptures though some things bad been discontinued a long time So the faithful Christians coming out of mystical Babylon Read Neh. 8.8.14.17 such as do not only believe in Jesus but are likewise found with the commandments of God those lively oracles that Israel received from Sinai to give unto us Wherefore seeing how Antichrist violated the second commandment by his idolatrous images they first cast out the Idols and kept the second commandement they also relinquished the horrible blasphemies of the Beast and so observed the third commandement And at last taking a serious view how Antichrist had changed times as evidently as laws Rev. 12.17 they set long since to the sanctification of Gods seventh-day Sabbath according to the fourth commandement upon which the Dragon was wroth with the woman and went to make war with the remnant of her seed which keep the commandements of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. A remnant there was in the Prelates daies that endeavoured to keep Gods Sabbath amongst his commandements but the Dragon in Lawn sleeves was wroth with them the Proud image of the Beast pushed at them and undoubtedly whatsoever relique remains of the Beasts image in the present powers will be putting forth the horn to push at the observers of the true seventh-day-Sabbath whatsoever is of Antichrist in the present Authority will not cannot indure to see those times reformed which the little horn hath changed It is the nature of all Jeroboams golden Calves not only to observe those times which their Founder hath devised of his own heart But to push at Gods people and impose penalties upon them for observing Gods Sabbath But whiles these go on in sin and make England to sin in the weekly pollution of the Lords true Sabbath handed from Sinai by Israel unto us and whiles others have devised an every-day Sabbath to secure themselves under
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
until some other day of Gods determining shall be produced but since that will never be done I shall proceed to the third point 3 The Authority Gods precept seconded by his own practife gives such full honour to the Sabbath that I hear of none save Atheists Papists Prelates Ranters Quakers and some Notionists that gainsay it 4 Perpetuity Neither was this ancient Law instituted for a year or an age but perpetuated to all posterity as is sully acknowledged Synod confess p. 38. 5 The sanctification This royal Sabbath is no base or beggarly rudiment as some tremble not to reproach it but an honourable perfect Law of liberty Thes sab p. 49 worthy to be imbraced by all the heavenly race of true believers 6 The Rule Not as a Covenant accompanied with thunder denouncing curses for the least disobedience but as a holy just religious Rule breathed by the still and soft voice of the Gospel 7 The Persons To persons principled in Church order Isa 8.13 the Antitype of Gods Ark in whose renewed hearts by vertue of the new Covenant all Gods Laws are fairly registred which are by others slighted Hos 8.12 8 The Vse and End And all for these two great Ends 1. To honour God 2. To enjoy him for ever which is the peculiar prerogative of such as obtaâ—u victory over the Beasts Mark The changer of Times and Laws And thus each tittle of my tenent being attested in so many words by such as are esteemed Orthodox I hope it may freely appear without prejudice The seventh-day Sabbath is a perpetual royal Rule for the righteous established by precept and president to Gods praise and Saints priviledge First Of the Rest The Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Shabbat signifieth a cessation from common work Gen. 2. and where it is first found it is Gods rest and the day for ever separated and consecrated or the honour of the most High in memorial of his most glorious works of Creation the benefit whereof is extended even unto us and morally engageth us to the Religious Observation of it which can never be truly sanctified until all false Rests be removed such as National custome humane tradition shadie speculation all which are but vain worship Matth. 15.9 and as for natural or civil relations carnal encumbrances with those sensual pleasures which steal away the soul from Gods Sabbath they are all but Aegyptian reeds and therefore let the Prophets alarm rouze up the self-denying Disciple from every deceit Mic. 2.10 Arise ye and depart for this is not your rest because it is polluted it shall destroy you with a sore destruction And so taking up the Cross of Christ with Spouse-like affections enquire as for the place so for the Time of rest Tell me O thou whom my soul loveth Caut. 1.7 where thou feedest where thou makest thy flocke to rest at Noon Observe the Spouse of Christ enquires not onely where but when not onely for his flocks resting place which is his bosome but also for the Time Isa 40.11 the rest at Noon Christ hath his Gospel seasons to sit in State Meridian heighths like the Sun in his circuit weekly returns to beam forth his grace to his beloved 2 Tim. 4.1 2. which the Spirit terms IN SEASON I have heard of a silly shift to shuffle off Gods Sabbath in making Christ the bolster of disobedience unscripturally asserting that Christ is the Sabbath thus confounding resting place with resting time But as for this Time of rest placed in the middest of the Royal Law it is truly Moral and so termed as Baptism and the Lords Supper are termed Sacraments in distinction from inferiour Ordinances though neither of the terms Moâ—al or Sacrament be found in Scripture The word Moralis signifieth belonging to manners and therefore the ten Commandements are fitly termed Moral as being indeed an exact rule of good manners informing us how to demean our selves towards God and men and it is in all things equal holy just and good yea and every way sutable to pure Nature and Grace and though the Bishop * White see not a sutableness in the Sabbath to pure Adam yet those who are better learned can see it sutable to the glorious Creator who in observing it made himself a pattern to his Creature and surely nothing can be more lovely and delightful to a person principled then to follow his gracious God in a president so pleasant Indeed Natures light as now 't is blurred and clouded is not capable of judging in the things of God every man is naturally Popish framing Idea's of the Deity 1 Cor. 2.14 setting up images or imaginations 't is therefore most absurd to try the morality of the Second or of the Fourth Commandement at corrupt natures Tribunal But this threefold mystery may possibly add strength to the Sabbath Morality if it be observed 1. That innocent Adam had all the ten Commandements written in his heart whiles his heart was flesh Rom. 2. 2. When his heart was condensed into stone and thereby the Moral Law was defaced Gal. 3.19 God condiscends for prevention of sin to write all the very same Lawes in Tables of stone 3. And when Gospel grace appears in new Covenant clemency transforming our hearts again from stone to flesh Heb. 8.10 11. 2 Cor. 3.3 Eze. 11.18 19 20. the very Laws written in Tables of stone are once more registred in the fair Tables of renewed hearts and that for this end that we should walk in his statutes and keep his ordinances and do them He that sees not through this three-fold mystery depths of wisedome with unsearchable riches of mercy may well suspect an unchanged stony heart whiles the renewed soul beholds the revived glory of Gods seventh-day Sabbath as a Moral duty sutable to Adam in his pure nature and good for Saints in the present state of grace freely concurring with this conclusion touching the morality of a Law That a moral Law is not meerly good because commanded but it is therfore commanded because it is good and such is the nature of the seventh day whereon God rested purely good and therefore commanded though depraved Nature cannot discern it As the nature of a moral Law doth thus confirm Gods Sabbath and none other So the title of the moral Law involves and secures this blessed day amongst the ten precepts termed in Hebrew Exod. 34.28 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in English it hath borrowed the title of Decalogue or the Law of ten words or Commandements all of equal honour and dignity though Satans delusions have prevailed with licentious spirits to slight and censure one of these ten Moral commands as ceremonial and from hence to ascend even to Blasphemy in reckoning this Moral precept amongst beggarly Elements and so charging the glorious God with the observation of a base Ceremony since nothing is more certain then that the Highest himself
of any hour to be the bounds of the Sabbath as it sooner or later riseth or sets Were not the Mariners of the men of Iudah bound to observe the seventh day in all the several coasts where they made their voyages Did God limit them to the rising or setting Sun of Indea onely c. Thus far New Englands answer to that argument taken up by Mr. Ienison against them into whose treasury I shall cast my mite upon consideration of 1. Act. 2.5 15.11 13.14 17.1 The Proselytes of Ierusalem out of all Nations under heaven whose undoubted observation of the Sabbath in their several Countreys is a full confutation of this aiery argument 2. There will probably be granted some variation between â—â—ai and Sion yet the Sabbath punctually observed in both places Captain Ienison is not ignorant of four hours difference in the rising Sun between England and the American Colonies and yet the same first day observed both here and there But by the way we may observe that the wounds he would give unto the seventh day Sabbath fall as heavily upon the first day whereunto he pretends great devotion with his Brethen for if the seventh be uncertain the first must needs be so and thus whiles he would weaken the true Sabbath he opens a gap to that impiety of rejecting the authority of the fourth Commandement which sober spirits abhor But our God hath not bound us to the obedience of such hours but of such a day the Clock is not to be our guide but the Sun Here they object That in some though scarce any habitable Regions the Sun for many moneths leaves not their view whence they suppose an impossibility of observing the sabbath The answer is That in all parts the Sun is ever upon motion his Eastern Western circuits are not onely observed but exactly measured familiarly each four and twenty hours so as not onely to know their times of repose but possibly to shame us in the abuse of ours should the clouds or other meteors in ercept their sight of the Sun or ours the fowls of the heaven would give information 〈◊〉 8.7 And as sleeping and working time is easily discerned each four and twenty hours with like facility may the six working days be distinguished from the Sabbath If once the heart be free to yeeld obedience it will cease to create * Prov. 22.13 and invent difficulties and the renewed nature will no less breath after the souls weekly Sabbath than the old nature will expect its accustomed repose The Suns daily circuit and weekly revolution is no such difficulty to a devout soul But whither are we roving Will not our own Climate contain us Joh. 21.21 22. Are we not more inquisitive with Peter to know what other Nations shall do then to study our own duty We should even shame to slight Gods Sabbath whiles the Heavens declare his glory and whiles we fancy Bugbears of uncertainty in observing the exact time Lo day unto day uttereth speech Psal 19. night unto night sheweth knowledge there is no speech or language where their voice is not heard What beter directions can we desire then this faithfull witness of Heaven by his several circuits exactly measuring out our time and informing our eye as words instruct our ear When his fix days light leaves our Land 't is then time to leave our labours For then doth the glorious Lamp of Heaven like a Herald proclaim the approaching Sabbath that Saints may set open the everlasting Gates for the King of Glory I would not leave this scruple wherewith the self condemning adversary reproached his own principles till the path rendred so abstruse and intricate attain its promised perspicuity Isa 35. even to the weakest sight that so way faring men though fools may not erre therein Wherefore observe that in the beginning when Heavens bright Eye declined the sixth Evening in Eden the holy God gave unto man not onely a precept but a fair president also in ceasing from the work of Creation to sanctifie and observe his holy Sabbath Howbeit at the same hour it was impossible for other Climates of the World regularly to begin the Sabbath for the more Western parts must wait for the Suns warning or else they should not sanctifie the seventh day exactly as measured and regulated by the Sun which God hath purposely set for signs and for seasons Gen. 1.14 and for days and years Having therefore proclaimed rest in Paradise leaving man with his Maker to sanctifie the Sabbath away he posts as a Bridegroem from his Chamber Psal 19. rejoycing as a Giant to run his race and so coursing in his circuit through the Heavens he declares to the Regions sooner or later as fast as he can sly when to cease from their six days servitude to sanctifie the exact seventh day Sabbath Yea when mounting the other Hemisphere the interposition of the terrestrial Globe makes their Meridian the Antipodes Midnight yet is the seventh day as measured by the Sun punctual and certain in each Region God hath not engaged us to the same hours but to that assured seventh day or seventh part of time regulated by the glorious Lamp ordained for times and seasons for days and years Where then lies the difficulty of the seventh days certainty which was suggested to the people with such a cloud of confusion But lastly the difference between out Summer and Winter Sabbath in this little Island is as evident to every A B C Christian as is the certainty of the seventh day in the midst of such variation for who knows not that our Winters Sabbath begins four hours sooner then in Summer and ends upon the same account making full eight hours difference between Summer and Winters Sabbath But though the hours so much differ yet the seventh day surrounded by the Sun is unalterabiy the fame and the Sabbath certain as in Summer and Winter season with us so in each Climate and Countrey throughout the world And therefore 't is but an aiery flourish borrowed from the Bishops and perhaps a vaunt of more Aâ— then suits education or capacity to compass the earth for an agument to prove the variation of time which is so obvious and familiar in our little angle and yet I suppose never begat the least scruple in any Christian neither is there the least cause But I hope the adversary sees great cause by this time to be ashamed of his cloudy speculation amusing the people and humbly to confess he did he knew not what against New Englands testimony and Scripture evidence and so obtain the benefit of Christs Petition Luk. 23.34 Father forgive them for they know not what they do Carnal hearts might with more reason contend against the Lords Supper in some Countreys for want of Wine then against the Lords Sabbath for want of Light But when Grace shall make Saints as zealous for the Sabbath as the Sacrament
give unto us or else we must become followers of God as dear children in sanctifying this lively Oracle of his seventh day Sabbath This divine truth of the Sabbaths perpetuity is in words confessed by our English assembly who doe not only acknowledge that the Law in generall doth for ever binde Christians Confes Pag. 33 and that Christ did not ANY WAY dissolve it but much more strengthen this obligation in the Gospell But in particular they confesse that God by a positive morall and perpetuall commandement doth bind all men in all ages to that particular seventh day which himselfe hath appointed Idem Pag. 39. And whereas they say this is changed in the Gospell from that seventh day to the first day of the week I shall with the candle of Gods word search their grounds which will be found too shallow to satisfie an awakened conscience for if Christ doth perpetually bind his Saints to exact intire personall obedience to his lively Oracles then surely no power is able to absolve his people from that obedience And if it be as they say that Christ did not any way dissolve but much strengthen this obligation in the Gospell then it is impossible to prove any kind of alteration yet Further If God by a positive morall and perpetuall commandement doth binde all men in all ages to such a particular seventh day as himselfe appointed then either they must prove that God hath made his morall Law mutable by appointing some other day or else the seventh day Sabbath must be restored to its primitive glory Their first ground for change of the Sahbath to the first day is raised from Christs resurrection and apparition to his Disciples But the very great difference between the fathers example at the worlds creation and the Sons action at his resurrection will soone discover the vanity of this argument For upon the Creation of the world God did solemnly sanctisie the seventh day for his Sabbath and rested on it giving as an example for the ground of our obedience but upon the resurrection there 's not the least syllable of a change institution sanctification or celebration yea so farre was Christ from resting upon his resurrection day that be travelled 15 Miles upon this supposed New-Sabbath and this not to any Church-meeting but from Jerusalem the place where most of his Disciples were purposely joyning with the two Disciples that were journeing on foot 7 miles and a halfe into the Countrey Luke 24.13.15 Mar. 16.13 Why Christians awake in the name of the Lord and polute your soules no longer with weekly prophanation upon such a salf supposition of a change at Christs resurrection you see your Creator sanctified his seventh day Sabbath and solemnly rested upon it but for the resutrection day you have not one word of a command to keep it as a sabbath and for an example you have indeed a lively one in your Saviours refusing to appeare all that day to his Disciples at Jerusalem and travelling with two upon their private occasions not giving them the least admonition about Sabbath observation which undoubtedly he would have done as freely as in other things had he intended that day for his new Sabbath Now I beseech you consider whether this be likely that Christ who was saithfull in all his house should intend the first day for his Sabbath and yet never leave one word of institution nor any other pattern but journeying 15 miles And whereas 't is gloried that our Lord appeared severall first dayes to his Disciples as they were assembled I believe upon diligent search it will be found but a vainflourish and that he never appeared to any assembly no not any one first day For it is most certaine that the day upon the Scripture account begins with the evening And now let us observe that upon the first day Luke 24.29 30. he arose we find him at the Village 7 Miles from Jerusalem when it was towards evening and the day far spent Luk. 24.29 30. after which he supped with the two which tooke up some time then they returned that 7 miles and a halfe to Jerusalem on foot So that if the day were far spent before they entred the Village it must doubtlesse be quite spent before they could provide and eate their suppers and returne 7 miles and a halfe And so before Christ appeared to the eleven Luk. 24.22 John 20.19 the first day must needs be done and whereas 't is said he appeared the first day at evening yet you must know that the first day was then as fully ended as it is plaine the sabbath * Mar. 1.32 was ended at evening when the Sun did set and the people brought their sick to be healed which they were forbidden to doe on the Sabbath day As for Christs second appearing to the assembled Disciples John 20.26 it 's expresly said it was after eight dayes and therefore could not be on the first day of the Week And for his third apparition John 21. surely they will not say 't was on the first day seeing they were at their trade But indeed the Lord was seene of some Acts 1.2.3 or other of them fourty dayes never being idle all the time 1 Cor. 15.6 so that his apparations prove not any thing as to a change of the Sabbath There is a conceit that the cause of the Disciples assembling on the first day was to celebrate the new Sabbath in honour of Christs resurrection when as they were so far from believing Christ was risen that the womens tydings there of Luk. 24.11 Mar. 16.13 seemed to them as idle tales Yea the first day was finished before they beleeved so that they could not in faith doe any such thing But here 't is evident how sadly they are put to it that must say something for their first day Sabbath and yet can say no better For although they would make some shew of Scripture yet all amounts to a bare endeavour to draw some support for an unwarantable Sabbath from any Text that doth but mention the first day of the Week Act. 20.7 As first from the Disciples occasionall meeting to breake bread upon Paul's departing by Sea they suppose this may make something for a first day Sabbath and truly they may as groundly plead for an every day Sabbath Act. 2.26 since it is as clear that the Saints assembled and brake bread every day 2. We find the Saints at Troas no sooner assembled but many lights are seen in their upper chamber So that 't is not probable they met till towards evening which is no good example for celebrating a Sabbath 3. If breaking of bread had been a service designed for the honour of the first day the Apostle who so much pressed to Church-order 1 Cor. 11. ulâ— and particularly in this Ordinance would not have deferred breaking of bread till the second day especially now that he was to
whereunto the Apostle presseth v. 11. Let us therefore labour to enter into that Rest Heb. 4.11 lest any man fall after Israels example of Disobedience And thus in opening the five-sold rest contained though promiscuously in the third and fourth to the Hebrews I hope it is convincingly manifested that the seventh day Sabbath by a double obligation remaines to the people of God And indeed it is impossible to change it without violation to the confessed morality of the commandement for whereas our adversaries assert a just seventh part of time yea and a seventh day as truly Moral they know the seventh day from the Creation was instituted in Paradise and the same day commanded from Mount Sinai and certain it is that if the Jewes had observed any other day they had destroyed the morality neither can the wisest Christian in the World contrive a change but he destroys the morality for let him change the Sabbath to the sixth day and that cannot be a seventh day or seventh part of time Let him translate it to the eighth day and then seven daies passe without any one Sabbath Let him keep the seventh day and the eighth or first day at his change of the sabbath and then he keeps two sabbaths within the circuit of seven daies So that do what he can the morality is subverted either he must deny the morality of a seventh day or seventh part of time or else he must stick to the good old seventh-day-Sabbath I would not smother any objection that might carry the least shew for any other Sabbath then this lively oracle of the Seventh day knowing therefore that some endeavours have been used by such my soul honours for the image of God upon them I shall weigh their apprehensions as they are declared and first from Mark 16.1 Object 1 Object Mark 16.1 1. T is supposed that the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may signifie being dissolved and so it may be rendred when the Sabbath was dissolved Answ Answ T is strange that any tender conscience should take liberty from a strained participle to live in the weekly pollution of the Royall Sabbath but the word is fairly translated when the Sabbath was past or the sabbath being passed over or compleatly finished 2. It onely intends the passing over and compleat finishing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of that one individual sabbath there is not the least appearance of abolishing that lively oracle which enjoines the seventh day sabbath Behold the Wisdome of the spirit overturning this device while he secures what the Objectors strike at for it is not the Sabbath they contend against but the seventh day now if they will strain at the word let them stick to the word which mentions not the seventh day at all but the sabbath St. Mark doth not say the seventh day was finished but when the sabbath was ended so that they cannot hence reject the seventh day and retain the sabbath 4. The scope of the Evangelist is to hold forth the passing over of that rest which prevented the womens applications of their spices Luke 23. ult and that was the sabbathday or the duty not one syllable expressed of the time or seventh day and though I am aboundantly satisfyed that the sabbath and the seventh day are unseparable never to be divided yet the objectors can distinguish as clearly as my self between the seventh day which is the time and the sabbath which is the duty so that if they 'l dissolve any thing from a squeezed participle it must not be the seventh day which lies unmentioned but the sabbath duty which is expressed And doubtless many great professors had rather cashier the sabbath duty morality of the fourth commandement yea and the morality of all the commandements as no way concerning Christians then set to the celebration of the seventh daie The Lord pity them whiles I return to another precious to the Lord and faithfull amongst the Saints who yet objecteth Object that Saint Matthews 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may signifie the ultimate end of the sabbath Math. 18.1 never to be celebrated more amongst Christians 1 Answ This may receive the same answer with the former for if it destroy any thing it must be the duty which is expresly in the word sabbaths and not the day and time of the rest which is not mentioned If persons will strain at expressions they must keep to these expressions This adverb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth not primarily or properly signifie the end but the genuine signification of it is vespere the evening and to it should be rendred viz. the evening of the Sabbaths Let the scriptures be consulted where this advâ—â—b is used which is but twice that I can find in the new testament Mark 11.19 and 13.25 in both which places it signifies the evening for the sence would be mar'd to render it other wise and so here the evening of the Sabbaths termed Sabbath in the plural as being not onely the seventh day sabbath but the Jews passover sabbath as is evident well I hope it is not possible for Satan to delude tender consciences long with such sory slights Luke 23. with John 19.24.31 as to neglect a royal statute of Jehovah upon such slender terms But since the seventh day sabbath is undoubtedly one of those lively oracles which Israel received from Sina to give unto us O Christians embrace it love it lay it in your bosomes it in vites and will conduct you weekly into the Princes presence where it will open unto you all the rest of those lively oracles and divine mysteries that are coupled with it while such as slight and reject this heavenly law and still assert a chang without book shall run themselves upon many dangerous rocks and sands which tender hearts should tremble at As first they must affront the holy spirit who was most punctual in sundry scriptures for the solemn repeal and abrogation of circumcision and all those typical Sabbaths which were against us and contrary to us shaddowing good things to come with the visible burial of the whole body of the ceremonial law and yet this blessed spirit purposely appointed to lead us into all truth was so far from repealing the seventh day Sabbath that he constantly calls that and none other the Sabbath day that is the Lords holy rest-day and pours down his graces in most abundant measure that day So that if the sabbath day be altered Gods holy spirit cannot escape an affront for concealing the change from us Certainly there is need of a clear word for the change or repeal of such a royall Law and lively oracle Next to their traducing of Gods spirit Acts 20. The sabbath changers must needs bring a high charge against the Apostle for calling God to record that he had not shunned to declare all the counsel of God and yet never opened his mouth about the change of the royal seventh day sabbath He manifestly
spiritual pretences in literal disobedience the Lord will perswade his pretious ones to receive the Alarm of the seventh Angel sounding forth the antient glory of the Lords Sabbath Re. 10.6 swearing by him that liveth for ever and ever That time shall be no longer Me thinks none should be so simple as to suppose the seventh Angel should put an end to all time seeing it is evident that his Alarm must yet pass among Many peoples and Nations and Tongues Vers 11. and Kings But in swearing that time should be no longer is meant that the mystery of God by his Prophets should be finished which is the mystery of iniquity Vers 7. and the mysterie of Israels glory and since it is impossible that Sion should be raised but in the ruins of Babylon after a time times and the dividing of time the seventh Angel means that the time changing horn shall no longer prevail Dan. 7.25 26 27. but the Lords Sabbath time and the Lords supper time shall be recovered by the Saints who keep the commandements of God as well as the faith of Jesus Wherefore awake arise and arm your selves ye obedient souls to Jehovahs Sabbath at the distinct sound of the seventh Angel who swears for your encouragement that you shall be no longer deprived of your appointed time changed and obscured by the mystery of iniquity as the grand obstruction and stumbling block to Israels glory And to quicken your souls to this heavenly royal duty Ja. 4.12 Je. 5 22. consider t is the will of that one Royal Law-giver who is able to save and to destroy will you not fear him will you not tremble at his presence who hath declared himsel Lord of the sabbath not to break it no not in one title but that faints thould sanctifie it Mat. 24.30 because it is hiâ— will who will shortly set forth his Royal Mâ—jesty in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory to take account of all his Citizens who shew their hatred to him in slighting that sabbath whereof he is the Lord which he hath for ever established by a perpetual decree Ah! what can be expected by sâ—bbath-breakers when the Royal Lord of the sabbath shall appear Luke 19.27 But those mine enemies who would not that I should reign over them bring them hither and slay them before me Happy souls who shall then be found observing his sabbath because it is the will of the Royal Law-giver Because it is a Royal Law a lively Oracle the Christians Legacy a holy just spiritual commandement Rom. 7.12 14. a perfect Law of Liberty setting the heaven-born soul free from that earthy bondage to which dunghil-drudges would willingly be slaves being then chiefly in bondage when called from the World to wait upon God But the soul that is a Saint indeed takes sweet delight in this Royal Law which not onely allowes him the open freedome of Jehovahs Courts his ear his heart a whole day together Ja. 1.25 but sends him away laden with blessings fraught with spiritual favours shaming himself that he can yet be no more like this Royal Lawgiver in the sanctification of this Royal Law whiles his soul labours to be transformed into the same Royal image 1 Cor. 3.18 because it is a Royal Law and yet Because it is ordained for a Royal people For 1. The Lord did not institute it till he had made his Royal image to rule as Soveraign over all his works and when he had made man he presently made this royal Law of the sabbath for man Mark 2 ult 2. The Lord did not afterwards dispense this lively oracle with the rest till he had prepared a royal people to imbrace it and when he had instructed them as his peculiar treasure his royal nation of Priests Exod. 19.5 his Israel that is in the Hebrew A Prince with God then he dispensed this Law in great Majestie and glory to them 3. He did not bequeath it under hand and seal unto us Christians till he had furnished his new spouse with the glorious graces of his holy spirit But when great grace was upon all the Church And seven men were singled out the most royally adorned of them all Acts 4.33 then the first and most Princely of all these seven was selected whose name signifies A Crown And whiles the power of the spirit appeared in the purest lustre for the vindication of the faith of Jesus Acts 6.3.5 by the Peerless Protomartyr this glorious deed of gift was made to all Christians by the precious Doctrine of Stephen who assures us in the word of the Lord that Israel received the lively oracles from the Mount of Sinai to give unto us and having declared this blessed truth he suddenly sealed it with his blood Acts 7.38 And now it cannot be but Gods royal people should bethink themselves of this royal Doctrine delivered by the first Christian Martyr and as becomes a royal people set to the sanctification of the royal sabbath of our royal Lord Jehovah in Jesus the Lord of the Sabbath And Gods Saints shall no sooner search the Scriptures whether this be so or no but presently they shall be made noble men and women Acts 17.11 and when once they are brought into obedience of this and therest of those lively oracles which seeming Saints must stumble at they are presently proclaimed A Royal Priesthood 1 Pet 2.8 9. a chosen generation a holy Nation a peculiar People And as they grow up in obedience to Stephens lively Oracles all which are set opâ—n especially on Gods Sâ—bbath they shall be transformed into Christs image and the same Character stampt upon them as once upon Gideons Brethren As thou wast Jesus Jud. 8.18 so are they each one resembling the children of a King And whiles this royal race are sanctifying the Royal rest of their Royal Redeemer Behold Num. 23.4 the Lord his God is with him and the shout of a King is among them Now who would not be one of these who would not sanctifie this true Sabbath as becometh such a Law such a Lawgiver such a people 1. The way to perform this is by preparation the Lord our God would have us to remember so to sanctifie his sabbath as to remove all impediments that might any way obstruct out solemn celebration Then away with all your lusts and lovers I will wash mine hands in innocencie so will I compasse thine Altar O Lord. Psal 26.6 Sin is doubled on the sabbath day Sin is sinfull at all seasons but exceeding sinful in this sanctified season A way with all your labours In it thou shalt do no work that is no servile gainful work Sx days thou maist do all thy work in six dayes thou must so finish thy work that the seventh may be wholly designed to My work saith the Lord whose service is pure freedom Saints must so leave their labours as Abram left
to the new creature 2. Is 8.20 and this new creature is he whose faith works by Love and this is the love of God that we keep his commandements Gal. 6.15 5.6 1 Cor. 7.19 1 Joh. 5.3 Ga. 6.16 and as many as walk according to this rule of the new creature peace be upon them and mercy and upon the Israel of God Christs death hath not opened a door to our disobedience Heb. 5.9 10. The good law of God is to the righteous man a perfect Law of liberty 3. Ja. 3.25 2.8 12. As first it would be such a bondage to bow to any other God that with the three children the saint would rather be bound like a saggot for the fire Should he be confined to Spain or Italy his spirit would be perplexed like Pauls to see their abominable idolatry O! what a righteous rule O! what a Law of Liberty is that which calls the soul from the bondage of Babylon in breaking the second commandment Acts 17.8.10 And alas what a bondage is it to his blessed soul to hear the third royal Law broken by Blasphemers his flesh trembles his hairs stands an end his heart and soul is wounded to hear the name of God blasphemed But when he gets among righteous men and women walking by this most righteous rule why he is out of prison and at perfect liberty though his feet were ever so sast in the stockes But amongst all Gods royal Lawes none sets the righteous soul more at liberty then the fourth lively oracle which therefore he cannot but esteem as his blessed Legacy O how the setting of the sixth dayes sun comforts his soul why now he is cal'd regularly to cast off his carnal encumbrances and to meet with his fellow citizens assembling to celebrate the seventh day sabbath which God hath sanctified Now he shall rest at noon in his beloveds bosom and get up two or three rounds more of Jacobs ladder towards new Jerusalem Here is the perfect Law of libertie here is the righteous rule of a Christian here is the lawful use of the good Law for a righteous man who is the person for whom the sabbath was specially made which is The seventh Head The Persons I have already fully shewed that the sabbath was made for Man and it is evident that in the first invtitution it was made for righteous Man Eccl. 29. Adam was not onely Man but good man upright Man when the sabbath was made for him The proud Prelates have indeed confessed that Adam was then a righteous man but they would perswade their proselytes that the sabbath was not suteable for pure Adam and that he had no need of the sabbath in the state of innocency But surely every saint can see further then such blind guides that the sabbath was as suteable and needful for the pure creature as for the transcendantly pure Creator neither can it enter into a wise mans heart that Adam should be dressing his garden upon the seventh day when God was sanctifying his holy sabath when the morning stars sang together Job 38.7 and all the sons of God shâ—â—ted for joy Eph. 5.1 certainly if Adam were a follower of God as a dear child he then kept sabbath with his father 2. Eph. 19.5 When God dispenced his sabbath upon Sinai it was to righteous Israel and when they degenerated the Lord did even abhor their sabbaths and services 3. When this lively oracle with the rest was given unto us It was intended to righteous Stephen and all his fellowes The sabbath is certainly designed for the same persons to whom the supper is enjoyned Our Lord tels us that his sabbath was made for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 man and woman Mar. 2. ult 1 Cor. 11 28. and the same Lord puts 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 man and woman upon the celebration of his supper they both belong to the same persons Not but that the vilest men in the world are bound to observe the sabbath the pollution whereof shall encrease their damnation for though man hath lost his ability to obey yet God hath not lost authoritie to command The Sabbath is a precept as ancient and universal as marriage both made for Adam a publike person and for all his posteritie But none can though all should sanctifie the Sabbath save Christs Disciples who are redeemed from earthly interests and brought out of Babylon Rev. 14.4.12 and 12.12.17 these in these last dayes hath God designed to build the old wast-places to raise up the soundations that Antichrist hath destroyed of many generations to repair the breach and restore pathes to dwell in by turning the foot of transgression from any further pollution of the sabbath Isai 57.12 13. This is a generation work here is royal service for enlightened souls Glorious work for such onely as get victory over the Beast his image and his mark viz. THE CHANGE OF TIMES AND LAWES Object But had not our Godly Fathers victory over the Beast his Image and his mark Answ They have worthily performed the work of their generation in their courageous renouncing the Beasts detestable Decalogue and restoring the ten lively oracles to their ancient glory that all might hear in their own language the roâ—al Law of the Lord. They have most gallantly contended with the proud image of the Beast for the morality of the Sabbath like so many Davids preparing materials for the royal building and some of them with a prophetick spirit have foreseen and foretold glorious things such as themselves never knew As Mr. Rogers of Dedham c. but now when those glorions things are in view by the discovery of the beasts mark the great admirers of our fathers are become the greatest opposers of their glorious predictions Object But we hear nothing of the Patriarchs keeping Sabbath or reproof for Sabbath prophanation before the Law at Sinai Answ It is probable that Abels sacrifice was on the sabbath day for though the word be translated in processe of time yet the Hebrew is at the end of days and what may this end of dayes mean more likely then the end of the week dayes when the time came for solemn sacrifices If the old World did as t is like prophane the seventh day sabbath no wonder God poured the deluge upon them on the seventh day Gen. 7.10 as is evident in the margent of our Bibles It is not probable that Enoch walked with God so as to please him Gen. 5.4 or that Noah should be esteemed righteous or that Abraham should be recorded for one who kept Gods commandments Gen. 5.14 7.1 26.5 his statutes and his Laws unless they observed his sanctified sabbath which was undoubtedly one of Gods commandments If they were sabbath breakers and were without reproof yet does it not follow that the sabbath had then lost its authoritie any more then marriage which was in full force from the
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