Selected quad for the lemma: tradition_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
tradition_n	father_n	holy_a	scripture_n	2,746	5	5.8863	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A16567	A defence of that most ancient and sacred ordinance of Gods, the Sabbath day Consequently, and together with it. 2. A defence of the iiijth commandement. 3. A defence of the integrity and perfection of the Decalogue, morall law, or X. commandements. 4. A defence also of the whole and intire worship of God, in all the partes thereof, as it is prescribed, in the first table of the Decalogue. 5. A discouery of the superstition, impurity and corruption of Gods worship; yea, and idolatry, committed by multitudes, in sanctifying the Lords day, for a Sabbath day, by the iiijth commandement. Vndertaken against all anti-Sabbatharians, both of Protestants, Papists, Antinomians, and Anabaptists; and by name and especially against the X ministers, ... by Theophilus Brabourne.	Brabourne, Theophilus, b. 1590.	1632 (1632)	STC 3473; ESTC S120442	538,800	670

it meete that Christian people shold be pressed in sermones to sanctify this Lords day that vpon certaine paine of damnation if they faile when it is vncertaine whither it be of Christs institution or not iudge of the matter good reader To conclud how euer this is plainly yeelded by M. Perkines that if we will borrow light from the Histories of the Church it is the common opinion of such as are acquainted with them that the old Sabbath was noe throwne downe nor the Lords day Sabbath set vp vntill long after Christs ascention vntill a matter of 300 yeeres after Christ And so much concerning the testimony of M. Perkins XIII My 13th Testimony shall be that of Doctour Prideaux in his Treatise of the Sabbath day where he thus writeth where is there saith he any the least mention of surrogateing the Lords day into the roome of the Sabbath day pag. 140. and againe where saith he is there amonge the Euangelists or Apostles any distinct institution of the Lords day yea where is the text wherby you can necessarilie proue it if you should deale with an aduersarie with whom you must deale punctuallie not by prayer intreatie pag. 143. and againe as for an institution of the Lords day whither expressed or gathered by consequence let him shew it that can finde it pag. 144. In which vvords this learned great Divine plainly denieth the Lords day to be of Christs ordination and affirmeth that it cannot be so much as collected out of the Scriptares XIV My 14th and last Testimony shall be that of M. Brerewod in a learned Treatise of his lately come forth against M. Byfield on the Sabbath day who in pag. 37. thus writeth You will say saith hee the celebration of the old Sabbath was translated to the first day of the weeke translated by whom by any commandement of God where is it it is certaine there is none And therefore the solemnity of the Lords day was not established iure Diuino by any commandement of God and consequently to worke on the Lords day is for certaine no breach of any Diuine commandement Hereby we may see that a man may worke on the Lords day safely without the danger of sinne and how ably and sufficiently M. Brerewod hath managed this point against M. Byfield his worke shall speake for it selfe To the like effect I might here adde the Testimony of M. Broad of Gomarus de Orig. Sabbat and of Riuetus in Decal all late writers against the Lords day Sabbath also as is well knowne XV. I thought here to haue surceased and wrote no more for matter of Testimony but time and further serch haue ministred vnto mee yet an other cloude of witnesses for I shall yet further sett before your eyes the Testimonies of sondry lerned Diuins of two Godly Martyrs and of the Church and state of England assembled in Parliament all with one ioynt consent testifying that the Lords-day-Sabbath is not of Diuine institution My 15th Testimony then shall be that of Zwinglius ad Coloss cap. 2. pag. 515. who thus writeth The Sabbath so farr forth as it is Ceremoniall is abolished and therefore now wee are not tied or bound vnto any certaine times Where you see the iudgement of Zwinglius is that now we are not tyed vnto the sanctification of any dayes or times and consequently that we are not tied vnto the sanctification of the Lords day And this is that which elsewhere I haue said admit this errour that the old Sabbath day is a Ceremony and abolished and farewell all Sabbaths for we can find no other Sabbath then that neither in the Old nor yet in the New Testament XVI My 16th Testimony shall be that of Melanchthon in his Loc. Commun De potestate Ecclesiastica seu de clavibus who thus writeth The Church at the begining appointed the Lords day and certaine other Holy daies that there might be certaine times for instruction But these ordinations ought not to be superstitiously vnderstood For they are no necessary partes of Gods worship but they are in verie deede 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 things of an indifferent nature which out of the case of scandall may be omitted without sinne Therefore vnto these Traditions we owe obedience in regard of scandall but out of the case of scandall our consciences are free at libertie In which Testimony you see Melanchthon affirmeth these things of our Lords-day-Sabbath 1. That it is a Tradition They therfore who preach so for the Lords day Sabbath they are Patrones of old Traditions they doe but defend vphould maintaine Traditions and why may they not aswell preach for other Popish Traditions as for this And further if the Lords day proue but a Tradition then it appeareth that all Romish Reliques are not as yet abolished out of the Reformed Churches 2. That that Church which instituted the other holy dayes the same Church instituted the Lords day Sabbath and consequently the Lords day Sabbath other Holy dayes are all of equall like authority 3. Whereas hee saith that the Church appointed the Lords day thereby it appeareth that it was not the appointemēt of Christ his Apostles but of the Church after them 4. He affirmeth that the obseruation of the Lords day is but an indifferent thing so as if authority be not offended our consciences are free at liberty vve neede not sanctify it 5. For any man to esteeme better of the Lords day then as of an indifferent thing he affirmeth it plainly to be Superstition Hovv many thowsands then of superstitiouse people Ministers haue we now in this Kingdome XVII My 17th Testimony shall be that of Hemingius in his Enchiridion class 3 cap. 12. pag. 366. who thus writeth Traditions are rites which are said to be deliuered without Scripture either of the Apostles or of the Holy Fathers after the Apostles of which kinde are the Baptisme of infants the obseruation of the Lords-day Here Hemingius affirmeth 1. that the Lords day is a Tradition of the Church 2. That there is no Scripture for the obseruation sanctification thereof The Lords day then is but an vnwritten tradition A Popish Tradition preach for it as long as they list they doe but preach for Popish Traditions XVIII My 18th Testimony shall be that of Bastingius in his Commentary on the Catechisme on the 4th Com. pag. 455. where he thus writeth In that the Lords day certaine other daies alloted for the hearing of Sermones are still retained obserued therein wee differ farr from the Iewes and we doe nothing against the Doctrine of the Apostle forbidding difference of daies For the obseruation of the Lords day differeth from the Jewish Sabbath in that it was not lawfull for the Iewes to omit or to change the Sabbath of the 7th day by reason of the expresse Command of God But the Christian Church whither it doth allote the first day or any other day doeth it

taught or maintained in its integrity wholenesse and perfection in our Church this I haue made plaine also in the former parte of this booke for vnlesse we hold and teach which we doe not that the Decalogue is wholly Morall without any Ceremony commanded in it and so maintaine the Lords Sabbaths for morall we doe not teach and maintaine Gods Lawes in their integrity perfection but we teach the lawes of God by halues and by peeces in a lamed manner taking and leauing picking and choosing now is it not high time for euery man to bestirre him when the Priests are become partiall in the Law and when they reueale not vnto the people the whole counsaile of God III. Yet further that the whole 4th commandement is vtterly ouerthrowne and altogether abolished both roote and branch this I haue also formerly proued here therefore the mentioning of it is enough not onely the roote and body of the commandement is nullified but also that most preualent and liuely reason which Almightie God in his wisedome thought good to annex vnto his 4th commandement Exod. 20.11 And the which was drawne from his owne example and also from his blessing it As you may see Exod. 20.11 This is also become as a Cipher in our Churches and so the whole commandement is abolished both in the duety prescribed and in the reason also to moue vnto that duety and so roote and branch is quite gone and is not a reformation necessary thinke you when a whole lawe of God and a Morall Law too is abolished is it not high time now for euery man to stirre what will you see the lawes of God trampled vnder foote and still be silent IIII. Furthermore that euery man lyeth in the weekly profanation of the Lords Sabbaths and transgression of the 4th commandement this is most plainly proued also in the former parte of this booke for we haue alredly firmely proued that the Sabbath day mentioned in the 4th commandement it is no day of the weeke but Saturday now since we profane the Saturday it followeth vndeniably that we profane the Lords Sabbaths and that weekly and are guilty of the breach of the 4th commandement and so may as well liue in the sinne of Adultery weekly against the 7th commandement as in Sabbath breaking against the 4th commandement and is it not necessary that there be a reformation when vntill then euery man is a Sabbath breaker and euery weeke guilty of a sinne against the 4th commandement is it not high time that men cast aside shame and feare of men and such carnall affectiones and shewe forth their shame and feare towards God and be no longer silent V. Vntill a time of Reformation a profane common day is giuen vnto God in stead of a sanctified and holy day for the cleering of this we must remember that the Saturday or 7th day Sabbath it was consecrated sanctified and so made an holy day by God at the Creation Genes 2.2.3 yea it is expresly so called Exod. 16.23 To morrow is the rest of the Holy Sabbath c. The like we read of in Isa 58.13 but we no where reade that the Lords day or first day of the weeke was euer so called nay it is by Gods ordinance in the 4th com one of the 6 working daies so a profane and common day as Thursday or Friday is wherefore such as giue God the Lords day they giue him a profane and common day for a Sanctified and Holy day now as well may we vse common bread in the Sacrament for Consecrated Bread as a common day for a Consecrated day and as well might the Iewes haue performed Gods worship in a common house in stead of the Temple as we to giue God a common day for an Holy day and is it not time then that a reformation were made that so the Holy God might be serued with an Holy Sabbath his Holy Church haue an Holy day wherein to performe hir Diuine seruice Furthermore which is worse we not onely sanctify a profane day but we also profane a Sanctified day who can but take it to heart to see sacred things profaned now were it not meete this should be reformed VI. Vntill a time of a Reformation Gods worship will languish of a declining consumption and profannesse will invade vs for the cleering of this note that Masters will not permit their seruants one wholl day in euery weeke to be vacant from their seruice and to goe to Church spend the time in holy exercises nor will they set apart one day in a weeke for themselues for holy exercises so freely when that day is but of mans institution as when the day is of Gods institution this we may see cleerly in the difference betwixt the Lords day now which is supposed of Diuine institution our other Holy daies which are of humane institution how deuoutly is God serued on the Lords day what greate Assemblies then in comparison of other Holy daies But now since the Lords day is found faulty and destitute of a Diuine institution what difference thinke you will erre long be made betwixt the Lords day other holy daies and thus the heate of Religion will abate and prophannesse creepe in now is not a speedy Reformation needfull to preuent this VII Vntill a time of Reformation a Romish Relique and Popish Tradition is honoured in stead of an ordinance of Gods his Holy Sabbath for the cleering of this I shall proue vnto you first that the Lords day is a Tradition and secondly that it is a Popish Tradition or worse 1. That the Lords day is a Tradition of the Church you may remember I haue formerly proued it and that by the Testimonies of S. Augustine of Melanchthon of Hemingius and out of the Harmonie of Confessions 2. It must needs be a tradition no better for the institution of it is no where found in the Holy Scriptures as hath bene showne and therefore it must be supposed to be ordeined by the Fathers or to come vnto vs from the Apostles by some vnwritten Tradition of the Church or else it must haue a worse originall Thus you see the Lords day is a Tradition or worse giue it its due and it is an old Tradition newly furbushed trimmed vp or an old Tradition cullered painted ouer with Scripture Now that it is a Popish Tradition and Romish Relique I thus proue it because there being no grownd for it in Scripture yet for all that the patrones of it doe vrge presse the obseruation of it as a necessary thing as tying mēs consciences vpon paine of damnatiō now for any to vrge indifferent things not found in the Scriptures vpon paine of damnation is Romish and Popish Neither let this seeme strange vnto any that I call it a Romish and popish Tradition for the Papists thems●lues doe willingly owne it and father it and stifely defend it for one of their vnwritten

of Christ his Resurrection The Friday because of Christ his Passion Loe here then were two dayes in a weeke sanctified the Friday the Sunday and that without difference Now who that readeth this can thinke that the Church in Constantins time kept the Sunday or Lords day as a Sabbath vnlesse he should absurdly thinke that they kept two Sabbaths in a weeke the Friday the Sunday it is more likely that they kept them both but as we keepe some light holy dayes Nor did the memory of the Resurrection exalte the Lords day any higher then did the memory of the Passion exalte the Friday Thus you see in what esteeme the Church of God had the Lords day in Constantins time III. My third Testimony shall be that whereof we reade in Socrates his Ecclesiasticall Historie lib. 5. cap. 21. vvhere he thus writeth The drifte saith he of the Apostles was not to lay downe Canons Decrees concerning Feastes holy daies but to become paternes vnto vs of piety of good life Godly conuersation Whereas there is greate contention at this time to proue the Lords day to be a Sabbath day instituted in the new Testament by Christ his Apostles this Historian will determine the controuercy for vs if we will be guided by the iudgement of those primitiue Churches for hee saith plainly that the Apostles made no Decrees concerning Holy dayes of which number the Lords day is one and what he saith here of the Apostles the same also in the same Chapter he saith of Christ namely that hee made no law for the Church to celebrate the feast of Easter c. Thus you see it is the iudgement of antiquitie that neither Christ nor his Apostles did euer appoint Easter day vvhich is the Lords day nor any other dayes to be sanctified for Sabbaths I deny not for all this that those times gaue any respect vnto the Lords day and other Holy dayes but this onely I deny that they sanctified this Lords day as Diuinely instituted and appointed by Christ or his Apostles but rather as from the same authority from by which they sanctified other holy dayes of the Saints to wit from by the Tradition of the Church IV. My fowrth Testimony shall be the iudgment of S. Augustine who in his 118 Epistle de festis diebus thus writeth But as for those things which we obserue by Tradition not by wrighting we vnderstand them to be giuen either by the Apostles themselues or by approued Councells c. As the anniuersary celebration of the Lords Passion the Resurrection the Ascention c. In vvhich passage vve note these particulars 1. That S. Augustine accounted the Sanctification of the Lords day to be a thing receiued by Tradition 2. That its institution was not to be founde in the Scriptures for he saith which we obserue by Tradition not by wrighting c. 3. That S. Augustine was doubtfull vncertaine vvhither the obseruation of the Lords day vvere a Tradition receiued from the Apostles or from Councells 4. That S. Augustine rekoneth the Lords day being the Feast of the Resurrection to be of no better nor higher authority then are Good Friday Hallow Thursday the Feasts of Christs Passion Ascention We may as well therefore by S. Augustins iudgement sanctify euery Friday and euery Thursday for Sabbaths throughout the yeere as euery Lords day for they haue all three the same originall selfesame grownd Authority for they be all Traditions vnwritten Traditions and doubtfull whither from the Apostles or from Councells By the way since S. Augustine knew no Scripture for the sanctification of the Lords day for the Sabbath how cometh it about I maruaile that many in our dayes haue found out so many Scriptures for it vve haue now this text of Scripture Ioh. 20.19.26 witnessing that Christ did often appeare vnto his Disciples on this day Another Text we haue for it Act. 20.7 where S. Paul preached a sermon at Troas on this day An other Text we haue found out 1. Cor. 16.2 vvhere there was a collection for the poore on this day And yet an other Text we haue Reuel 1.10 where this day is called the Lords day I maruaile S. Augustine and his times should be so ignorant as not to see these textes as warrantable institutions for the Lords day to become a Sabbath since wee see them and say they are so cleere to proue the point Shall I tell you mine opinion it is this I suppose they that first set their witts on worke to finde a Diuine institution for this Lords day they sawe nothing but Tradition of the Church for it as for the rest of Holy dayes but miseliking this they iudged it better to haue it stand by a Diuine ordinance and therefore haue vsed their witts to wrest these Scriptures thitherwards so now they haue fathered the matter all vpon God and made this Lords day a Diuine ordinance to get the more honour vnto it this durst not S. Augustin doe but he more ingenuously plainly confessed it to be as indeed in trueth it is A Tradition of the Church of equall authority for its sanctification with Good Friday Hallow Thursday other Holie daies To conclude well we may make of the Lords day what esteme we vvill but yet you see it is but a Tradition a Popish Tradition as this vvas the Iudgement of S. Augustine so you shall see it confirmed by others also by by Now if it proue but a Tradition them may vve conclud that all Romish rubish is not as yet cleane swept out of the Reformed Churches An other Testimony of S. Augustine I finde in his vvorkes contra Adimant cap. 16. vvhere he thus vvriteth For we also doe celebrate both the Lords day the Feast of Easter certaine other festiuall daies but we obserue not the times but onelie the things signified by or in those times c. Loe here S. Augustine saith they kept the Lords day indede in his time in that Church but how they kept it much like as they kept other Holy dayes and festiualls for saith he non tempora observamus we regard not the times c. I but did the Lords day stand by the ordinance of Christ then S. Augustine would haue regarded the time for he must haue regarded that very day if Christ had ordained it did the Lords day stand by virtue of the 4th Com. then S. Augustine must haue obserued the time for the day time to wit the Seauenth day vvas no lesse inioyned in the 4th Com. then rest from laboures holy excercises how can men that worke on the Lords day Sabbath be said to rob God of his time if the time be not to be regarded it is more then manifest therfore that S. Augustine the Church of God in his time did not beleeue it that the Lords day vvas instituted by Christ or that it was to be

persons nor yet to stop the eare and winke with the eye least we should see and vnderstand for so thou shalt both wrong thy selfe and thy Author Remember thou art now in the place of a Iudge for thou must reade the Controuercy of the Lords Sabbathes pleaded pro con betwixt these 10 Ministers and mee they against Gods Title and I for Gods Title they against Gods Sabbaths and I for them and betwixt them and mee thou must Iudge passe sentence now a Iudge must not be carried away with partiality and respect to persons nor suffer his minde to be prepossessed with an ill will to the cause before he heareth it these things are but equall and right which I craue of thee wherefore I trust I shall obtaine with thee This onely note that if thou wi●t suffer thy selfe to be swaied rather on the one side then on the other thou oughtest rather to take in with mee then with them for the Sabbath day it being an ancient ordinance of Gods a long time in vse in his Church therefore the cause and Title it is Gods and since I stand in defence of this Sabbath day therfore I stand in defence of Gods cause and Gods Title so side it with God but they setting themselues against Gods Sabbath set themselues not onely against me but also against Gods cause Gods Title wherfore iudge thou whither it were better for thee to take in with them or with mee against Gods cause Title or with Gods cause Title And so I commend thee to the grace of him who is able to build vs vp further in the knowledge and loue of his Trueth Thine in Christ Jesus THEOPHILUS BRABOURNE The Contentes of this Booke Chapt. I. This Chapter conteineth A defence of the Morall Law or 10 Commandements of Almightie God wherin for the defence of Gods Sabbathes it is proued that this Law is in force vnto Christianes and here Libertines Anabaptists Antinomians are confuted who deny that the Law of God consequently his Sabbaths doe belong vnto Christians and their obiectones to the contrary are answered Chapt. II. This Chapter conteineth an Exposition of the 4th Commandement together with a discouery of the manifould shamefull corruptiones abuses of this diuine Law by many Diuines of these times who doe wrest it mancle it corrupt it by their idle answers distinctions false glosses most absurd Expositiones from all which this Holy Law is vindicated by the Authour restored to its proper genuine ancient sense againe Here also it is made apparent that the whole 4th Commandement is abolisbed nullified by the common doctrine of these times Furthermore and by the way here it is showne how long a Sabbath day is as namely that it is but the time of Day light onely here is discouered the errour of such diuines as hold teach that the Sabbath day is to begine at midnight or in the Euening before or to last from morning to morning 2. By the way also here it is showne that there is no such preparation to the Sabbath to be made on the euening before by a cessation from the workes of our callings the like as some Ministers doe wright call for Lastly this Chapter is concluded with an Exhortation to the loue of Gods Law the Integrity perfection thereof Chapt. III. This Chapter conteineth A discouery of the vanity of all their Arguments brought for the maintenance of the Lords day to be a Sabbath day of their abuse of sondry Scriptures to that end This is handled in two questions the one shewing that it can neuer be proued that the Lords day was in the Apostles dayes constantly weekly obs●rued weeke by weeke as we now obserue it The other That it cannot be proued that so much as any one Lords day was euer kept in the Apostles dayes for a Sabbath day and that therfore it is no sinne against God but Lawfull for Husbandmen to make Hay in Hay seile to sow corne in wheat seile to reape corne in Haruest for all sortes of Tradsmen Taylers Shomakers Brewares Bakers Weauers and the rest to doe the ordenary workes of their callings as well vpon the Lords day as vpon any other day of the weeke Yet further here it is proued that the Lords day is but an indifferent thing that by the Testimony of the best writers some lerned Godly Martyrs the State and Church of England assembled in Parliament Here also the Lords day is discouered to be but A Popish Tradition so all Romish reliques are not yet remoued Finally it concludeth with an Admonition Dehortation from Superstition voluntary-religion will-worship Chapt. IV. This Chapter conteineth an Answer vnto all those Textes of Scripture reasons and arguments profanly impiously brought against the 7th day Sabbath commanded in the Morall Law It sheweth the absurdeties which the vndertakers against Gods Sabbath doe fale into And it wipeth off that slaunder of rigorousnesse of the Iewish Sabbath and sheweth that God required no more stricktnesse of Iewes then then the patrones of the Lords day doe require of Christians on the Lords day now Chapt. V. This Chapter conteineth sondry Substanciall Arguments prouing vndeniably that the 7th day Sabbath mentioned in the Morall Law is still in force ought to be to the worlds end This is proued both out of the Old Testament out of the New Testament also out of the ancient Records of the Church For 1. God Commanded it 2. Christ the Sonne of God ratified it 3. The Apostles after Christ practised it 4. The Primitiue Churchs religiously obserued it And in this last passage by the way it is showne 1. when the Lords day first sprang vp to be a sole Sabbath day and who were the founders thereof 2. When the Lords ancient Sabbath was first throwne downe who were the wicked Authors thereof Occationally in this Chapter the obseruation of the old Sabbath is freed from the uniust slaunder of being Iewish and Iudasme with the like Here also are confuted the vaine Euasions distinctions which are vsually framed against the ancient Sabbath day Lastly here is a discourse of the Antiquity of the Sabbath where it is proued that the Sabbath day it from the Creation so as ancient as the world Chapt. VI. This Chapter conteineth A dispensation shewing that Christians who desire the Ancient Sabbath are not necessarily bound in conscience to make A rent from our Church in their present obseruation of it but that they may waite for the opportunity of a publike Reformation by the Magistrate prouided they keepe the Lords day for the Sabbath day by way of a change in the meane season 2. It concludeth with an Exhortation to vse all possible lawfull meanes for a speedy publike generall Reformation amongst other Motiues therevnto these are touched that vntill A Reformation 1. The Decalogue is defaced of

the King our So●eraigne Lord with the assent of the Lords Spirituall Temporall the Commons in this present Parliament assembled that all the daies hereafter mentioned shall be kept holie daies c. That is to say all Sundaies in the yeere c. S. Mathew S. Mark S. Iohn Baptist S. Peter S. Iames c. Then a prouiso is added Prouided alwaies it is enacted by the Authoritie aforesaid that it shall be lawfull to euery Husbandman labourer fisher man to all euery other person or persones vpon the holie daies aforesaid in Haruest or at any other times in the yeere when necessitie shall require to labour ride fish or work any kind of work at their free wills plesures any thing in this Act to the contrarie in any wise notwithstanding These things are remarkable in this Statute 1. That our Sunday or Lords day was by these Law-makers rekoned to be of no higher nor other authority then are the other holy dayes of the Apostles as S. Mathews S. Marks S. Iohns dayes and the rest 2. That the Sunday or Lords day is ordained by the Church and State for a Sabbath day or holy day that it is at their liberty to doe in this matter as they shall iudg most convenient 3. A most remarkable thing in this Statute for our purpose is that the Lords Spirituall and Temporall with the Commons and so consequently the Church of England were cleere of iudgment openly in this Act professed it that our Sunday or Lords-day-Sabbath is not of Diuine institution for they declared it whilst they said it is not to be thought that there is any certaine time or definit number of daies prescribed in the holy Scriptures so then there is no Scripture for the Lords day Againe But that the apointment both of the time and also of the number of daies is left by the Authoritie of Gods word to the libertie of Christs Church to the Rulers thereof to be determined so then ther 's no Diuine institution for the Lords day SECT XXII Hauing finished my answer touching the Lords day Sabbath for a conclusion of this Chapter I purpose to spend a few words in this Section by way of Admonition dehortation from Superstition voluntary religion will-worship the which as I direct it vnto all men whome it may concerne so in a speciall sorte I apply it vnto such patrones of the Lords day Sabbath as haue alredy made head against my former booke with greate zeale haue scandalized it among the people so occationed this booke by name Mr. Hutchinson Mr. Benton Mr. Furnace Mr. Gallard Mr. Yates Mr. Chappell Mr. Grenewod Mr. Stinnet Mr. Iohnson Mr. Ward These men obstinatly persisting in their erroniouse false doctrine after sufficient meanes of conviction ought to take these things into consideration First touching the Admonition by the whole discourse touching the Lords day already finished thou maiest see Christian reader that there is no footeing or grownd in the word of God to make the Lords day a Sabbath wherefore I doe hereby admonish both Ministers and people and desire them to take knowledge of it henceforth that this their zealouse sanctifying of the Lords day in conscience of the 4th com of Christ his institution it is no better before God with wisemen then Superstition and needlesse religion for when men will doe that in Gods seruice in obedience vnto God the which hee hath no where commanded them what is this but a needlesse religion and superstition when men cannot shew Gods will for that they doe then it must follow that it is of their owne willes so their religion in that point is a voluntary-religion and a will-worship Let me not be mistaken the Lords day may be considered as an ordinance of God or as an ordinance of man as it is ignorantly conceiued to be an ordinance of God in this sense only I speake against it but as it is an ordinance of man that is as it is commanded by the Magistrate so at his will and plesure to continue it or discontinue it in this regard I haue nothing against it so much for the Admonition I come now vnto the Debortation my first reason disswasiue is because we hate Superstition will-worship in others how doe we beare against our aduersaries the Papistes because of their superstitiouse Traditiones and Religion of will-worship and can we see an errour in them and cannot we see the same errour in our selues had we bene wise for our selues we might haue seene this errour long agone for they haue often admonished vs in their writings against vs telling vs that our Lords day is but a Tradition from the fathers and a Tradition of the Church herein giue the deuill his right as they say they haue spoken most truly albeit we haue giuen deafe care vnto them laboured to shifte it of and will we condemne them for will-worship superstition practise the same our selues well heare what S. Paul saith therefore thou art inexcusable O man whosoeuer thou art that condemnest for in that that thou condemnest an other thou condemnest thy selfe for thou that condemnest doest the same thinges Rom. 2.1 Many Ministers thinke them selues farr enough of from superstition will-worship whilst in the pulpit they can cry out against the superstition of Papists when as indeed and in trueth themselues are euen then very Papistes in this point greate patrones and maintainers of superstition will worship wherefore let them reforme themselues or else let them be silent touching Papistes you haue seene it proued by good Authority that the Lords day is but a Tradition of the Church shall we retaine Popish Traditiones will these Ministers be still patrones and supporters of vnwritten Traditiones I would hope better of them My second reason disswasiue is because we shall all leese our labour in the Sanctification of the Lords day vve shall labour in vaine For if we like seruants will be doeing of such vvorkes as our Maister neuer appointed vs doe vve thinke our Maister vvill thanke vs yea reward vs for them you haue heard that God neuer commanded vs to sanctify the Lords day by the 4th Com. that Christ neuer appointed it in the New Testament if therefore we will be hallowing of the Lords day thinke you that God will reward you for it or that Christ vvill thanke you for it many men that are honestly disposed of ingenuouse minds being misled by some Ministers they leese some yeeres their Hay in the field some yeers their corne in the field all of conscience thinking it a duety for them so to doe rather then to labour on the Lords day many others keepe the Lords day very strictly both priuatly publikly erroniously misperswaded that that text Isa 58.13 inioyneth thē so to doe but is not all this Labour in vaine God neuer commanded it Christ neuer

against them saying well ye reiect the commandement of God that ye may obserue your owne Tradition Mark 7.9 For they trample downe the Lords Sabbath day that they may keepe their owne Lords day My 4th reason disswasiue is because by the vphoulding of this Lords day Sabbath the sacred Scriptures vvord of God is profaned I make that appeare thus Ministers doe daily vrge the 4th Com. vpon the Lords day doe presse mens consciences to the Sanctifying of the Lords day by the 4th Comm. now the 4th Com. doth speake as he that hath but halfe an eye may see of the day called Sabbath day but this is a day called Lords day the 4th Com. was made for a sanctified hallowed day for God himselfe blessed it sanctified it Genes 2.3 but this Lords day is a profane day a common day neuer sanctified by God but on the contrary appointed for labour it being one of the sixe working dayes mentioned in the 4th Com. Christ himselfe trauailing on it c. Now for Ministers to apply this sacred word of Gods 4th Com. vnto a profane common and vnsanctified day time this or nothing is to profane the Sacred word of God Secondly many portions of Scripture in the New Testament with some also out of the old are hereby also wrested abused profaned the Spirit of God is made to speake for that which neuer came into his minde to thinke a most horrible vnsufferable thing in a Christian Church as for example these Texts Psal 118.24 Ioh. 20.1.19.26 Act. 1.2.3 Act. 2.1.14 c. Act. 20.7.1 Cor. 16.2 2. Cor. 5.17 and Reuel 1.10 these eight Textes at least besids the 4th Com. are abused for the maintenance of a forged new coined and counterfait Sabbath day who that hath any zeale of Gods glory or loue vnto his Holy word can endure it that Gods word and trueth should be thus profanly vsed profaned abused wherfore if you beare any reuerence vnto the sacred word of God let a reformation be made Looke vpon the third Com. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vaine now Gods word is a parte of his name wherby he is knowne Act. 9.15 therfore for men to abuse profane Gods word it is to abuse profane Gods name so a sinne against the third Com. now the reward of such profanation is this that God will not hold him guiltlesse that taketh his name in vaine hee shall surely therfore be punished vvithout repentance amendement But vvhat doe I speaking to deafe Adders men will not be charmed what they haue holden they will hold as for me I am but one meane they are many mighty so that I almost despaire of remedy howeuer I haue discouered their sinne vnto them at their perill be it whither they will amend it or not I abhorre to thinke of it yet this I am sure of that that is true amongst vs which the Lord once complained of by his Prophet Ieremiah that is that an horrible filthy thingis committed in the land the Prophets prphecy lies people delight therein Ierem. 5.30.31 that the Prophets prophecy lyes this is apparent as hath bene showne and the people delight therein this is manifest in asmuch as many that are both religiouse also counted wise are not ashamed to speake it that they wish from their hearts that I had neuer medled in this point so we haue for the most parte like Priest like people both delighting in this counterfait Sabbath both like vnto Nadab Abihu who offered straung fier before the Lord which hee had not commaunded them Leuit. 10.1 My 5th and last reason disswasiue is because it is a sinne for Ministers to preach for the Lords day This I proue because they cannot speake for it in faith now whatsoeuer is not of faith is sinne saith the Apostle Rom. 14.23 now that they cannot preach for it in faith is plaine by this that they haue no word of God for the grownd of their faith we haue alredy showne that they haue no word of God for this Lords day Sabbath for they can not shew vs where Christ or any of his Apostles left any commandement for it no nor yet haue they any necessary consequences for it so often therefore as A Minister presseth the people to sanctify the Lords day Sabbath so often he sinneth And so much touching this Lords day Sabbath CHAP. IIII. An answer vnto all those textes of Scripture reasones arguments which are vsually profanly brought against the Sabbath day mentioned in the 4th com to wit the 7th day Sabbath I Haue now finished the 3 first partes of my booke the first whereof was in defence of the morall law the second was an exposition of the 4th com with adiscouery of the corrupt expositiones thereof the third was an answer to those Scriptures reasones that are brought for the Lords day and now I am by order come vnto the fourth parte of my booke herein I am to answer to the Scriptures and reasons whereby the enemies of the Lords Sabbathes goe about most wickedly vngodlily to throw them downe and here my purpose is not onely to make answer vnto those textes reasones which these 10 Ministers or any of them in the name roome of the rest haue impiously obiected against the Lords Sabbathes but also I purpose to answer vnto all obiectiones generally what soeuer I can heare or reade of Gods Ancient Sabbaths are not abolished or The Lords ancient 7th day Saturday Sabbath is not abolished SECT I. IN the first place let me discouer an high point of folly in these Antisabbatharians for a seruant to forsake his old Master before he knows where to haue a new or for any man to pull downe his old house before he had found for certaine that he was able to build vp a new house is a greate folly into this folly are falne not onely those other 9 Ministers by caling the Lords Sabbaths Ceremonies Iewish Iudaisme to bring them into reproch but especially M. Chappel by preaching against them openly now what an egregiouse folly is this in them to throw downe the old Sabbath before they knew where to find a new Sabbath to abolish the 7th day before they were able to raise vp the 8th day me thinke a smale portion of discretion should haue taught them to haue made sure worke that they were well able to defend the Lords day before they had aduentured to debase and abolish the Sabbath day I wish all men to learne wisedome by their folly that is neuer to debase striue to abolish the old Sabbath vntill they know how to proue the Lords day to be a Sabbath so to set vp a new Sabbath That with the moreculler and shew of trueth men might abolish Gods Sabbathes besides their loading of them with reprochfull termes of Iudaisme and abolished Shaddowes and Ceremonies and

Traditiones It may be it will be said that Popish Traditiones come vnto vs as is holden from the Apostles by the practise and allowance of the Fathers but we hold the Lords day to come from the the Apostles by the Scriptures by force of necessary sound consequence c. Herevnto I answer for my parte I can see no difference betwene these two vnlesse it be that our case is the worser and the Tradition the better for what wise man would not as much reley vpon the Fathers as vpon their vaine consequences or more honour the Authority of the Fathers then these mens friuolouse consequences To conclud seeing all Romish rubbish is not yet swept out of our Church is it not necessary there should be a speedy Reformation This is that point for the discouery whereof I haue suffred so much they say indeed I will suffer nothing and therefore haue made a Dispensation but they say amisse At my first discouery of it I said no worse of it then thus that there is no warrant for the Lords day Sabbath in the Scriptures therefore I durst not preach for it if I might gaine 500 l. I did not deliuer this my iudgement in Pulpit but onely in priuate to 3 or 4 of my inward friends Now for this I was censured by some godly religiouse Ministers to be vnworthie of the place I then inioyed and hereupon the Gentleman of whom I did depend dismissed me of my place it is now more then fowre yeeres since all this time I haue suffred with my family greate want for the want of that my maintenance and for ought I can foresee so am like to liue and so to dye But if now it be found that I was in the trueth and those godly and religiouse Ministers in the errour will not all men say they are bound in conscience to make me amends by a restitution of my losse I demand it of them by these presents without restitution repentance is vnsound the cries of the oppressed are entred into the eares of the Lord of Hostes VIII Vntill a reformation be made 1 There is a gate set vpon vnto Anabaptistry that so Gods Church should haue no Sabbaths 2. The religiouse obseruatiō of the Sabbath by the primitiue most pure Churches is not imitated as if it were erroniouse 3. A godly prayer of our Church is but a meere babling before God 4. The religion vsed in obseruation of the Lords day is but Superstition and will-worship the Corne Hay men loose in the fields the neglect of their callings with all their deuotiones done on this day in conscience of the day shall neuer be rewarded these particulars I haue handled formerly more largly and therefore a touch of them here is enough And doe not all these things plead for a speedy reformation Arminianisme is a greate mote in many mens eyes greate is their desires it were reformed but loe here is a Beame in most mens eyes and should we not first labour to plucke out this beame out of our owne eyes so should we see better to plucke out the mote that is in other mens eyes IX Furthermore I shall shew vnto you that vntill a reformation cometh Gods worship is daily neglected amongst vs. By a daily neglct I meane an euery 7th daies neglect or a neglect euery day when the Sabbath cometh By the worship of God I vnderstand seruice and obedience to be performed vnto God according to the first Table of the Decalogue for Diuines account the dueties of the first Table to be the partes of Gods worship and seruice yea and of his immediate worship Now that Gods worship is neglected among vs this will easily appeare for the sanctification and hallowing of Gods Sabbath it is one of the dueties specially commanded in the first Table and therefore it is a parte of Gods worship yea Diuines accord in this that the old Sabbath it was not onely the time of Gods worship but also a parte of Gods worship wherefore we standing for the old Sabbath and speaking of it it is a parte of Gods worship by the iudgement of our owne Diuines to proceede then if the old Sabbath be a parte of Gods worship then this old Sabbath be neglected among vs as it is then is Gods worship or a parte of his worship neglected among vs Nay further which is worser in as much as the Saturday Sabbath is exceedingly contemned and depised by contemning it men contemne and despise the worship of God a most fearefull thing Now tell me if it be not time to seeke a reformation when God is denied his worship due vnto his Honour yea and denied it weekly too yea and a principall parte of his worship for it is his immediate worship and the worship of the first Table for you see that God hath not his weekly worship prescribed in the 4th commandement furthermore is it not time to seeke a reformation when Gods worship is lamed and parselled out vnto him for God is denied his whole worship hee hath it not in all the partes thereof in its integrity and perfection for of iiij partes of his worship prescribed in the first Table of the Decalogue God hath but iij. And as for the 4th parte concerning his most holy Sabbaths this he is vtterly denied and is it not time that all good people should wish for a reformation that so God may haue his intire worship seruice among vs that hee may be intirely worshiped and not by halues Furthermore whereas at this day the Lords sacred and hallowed Sabbaths are trampled vpon and contemned and dispised as Iewish and as Iudaisme and as vaine Shadowes abolished Ceremonies and so a parte of Gods sacred worship is trampled vpon and a principall parte of his worship to wit his immediate worship is contemned and dispised is it not time more then time that these things should be amended When we consider of the time how long time God hath bene denied his intire worship in all Churches both of Protestants Papists to wit for a thowsand yeeres and vpwards is it not now high time then that a reformation should be sought for that this spreding euill should goe no further oh let vs no longer prouoke God with our sinnes of ignorance The fogges mistes and blacke darkenesse of Popish ignorance are not yet all dispelled a greate light I confesse came in by Luther by meanes whereof the corruptiones of the second commandement were happily reformed but yet all that Romish rubbish was not then remoued the sanctuary of the Lord was not then cleane purged for albeit the worship of God as touching the second commandement was then restored yet Gods worship as touching the 4th commandement was left vntouched and no doubt God that appointed that parte of his worship to be restored by those times hath reserued this parte of his worship to be restored by our times if we will be so happy