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1. Sixth Reason. Mention is made in the Revelation, Chap. 1. vers. 10. of the Lords day.
2. Answer. It may be so called in two other respects, rather than that which is pretended.
3. Instance. It is called the Lords day, because he ordained it, as for that cause the Sabbath is called the Lords rest, the Eucha∣rist the Lords Supper.
4. Nullitie of this instance.
5. Many excellent Divines of the Protestant Churches speake of the first day of the weeke, as of a custome of the Church, not as a commandement of Christ.
1 IT is said in the first Chapter of the Revelation and the tenth verse, That Iohn was in the Spirit on the Lords day: whence also they would faine inferre, that the first day of the weeke, which hath obtained the name of The Lords day, was instituted by the Lord Iesus, or by his Apostles to be a day dedicated to the exer∣cices of godlinesse.
2 But from hence we cannot conclude a divine or Apostolicall in∣stitution of that day, for S. Iohn might make mention of that day, in respect of the Lords rising on such a day, and not to signifie that it ought to be appointed, or was already set a part more so∣lemnely than any other day, for Gods service, and for the com∣memoration of Christs benefits, and especially of his Resurrection.
Yea although he had qualified it with this title, in respect of the consecration thereof, which was ordinary at that time, and in consideration whereof it had commonly the name of The Lords day amongst Christians in their times, as it hath had many hundred yeeres sithence in the Christian Church, which honoureth the first day of the weeke with the name of the Lords day, it followeth not, that this consecration did proceed from the institution of Christ, or of his Apostles; Seeing it might be founded in the onely practice and custome brought in among the faithfull. The ancient Fathers speaking of the observation of Sunday, give no other reason thereof, saving the Lords Resurrection on that day, and not any comman∣dement of the Lord, which they had not forgotten, if there had beene any.
3 Certaine Divines, without any shew of good reason, will hold us in hand, that the first day of the weeke is called The Lords day, even as the seventh day is called The Lords rest, and the holy Sup∣per, The Supper, or the Table of the Lord, to wit, not onely in consideration of their end, which is, to be a memoriall, that of Gods rest after the Creation, this of Christs death, but also of their institution, which is from the Lord himselfe.
4 It is true indeed, that the one and the other are so called in these two respects. But this is also most true, that wee have in holy
Scripture an expresse declaration, that God of old gave to the Iewes the seventh day, because on it he rested, and would have it to be a signe that he was the Lord that sanctified them. It is true also, that Iesus Christ instituted the holy Supper in the roome of the an∣cient Passeover, to be a memoriall of his death, not a simple memo∣riall, but a Sacrament exhibitive and confirmative of the benefits flowing from his death, which it could not be, but by an expresse institution from himselfe, necessary in all Sacraments, because o∣therwise they cannot be Sacraments.
It is not so of this day which is called The Lords day. For we finde not any institution or subrogation thereof in roome of the ancient Sabbath day, neither by the Lord himselfe, norby his Apo∣stles: And it may be the faithfull called it the Lords day, in regard of that solemne action of our Lord Iesus Christ, when on it he rose from the dead, an action whereof they thought fit to make in it an ordinary and weekely commemoration. The place. where the ho∣ly assemblies meet together, is called in Greeke 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in Dutch, (and Scots) Kirk, by abbreviation (in English, Church) as if we should say, The Lords place, albeit there be no such place of the Lords institution, but onely of the Churches, who gives that name to the Temples, because they are consecrated to the Lords service. And wherefore, I pray, might not likewise the first day of the weeke be called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the day of the Lord, seeing the Church hath appointed it to the honour and service of the Lord, which she might doe, without any necessity of a divine institution by Iesus Christ our Lord, or by his Apostles?
This was the meaning of many of our most excellent Divines, which speake of the observation of the first day of the weeke, as of an observation proceeding, not from some apostolicall commande∣ment, which is not to be found in the Gospel, but from a custome introduced and received in the Christian Churches: custome which in it selfe is free, and without obligation of conscience: They ac∣knowledge also, that the argument drawne from the appellation of the Lords day, is weak. Their testimonies I might recite in this place and oppose them to the testimonies taken from others that are of a contrary opinion. But my intention is to dispute by reasons, and not by authorities of men, which in this point are different.
Iust. Mar∣tyr. Apol. 2. Ignat. ad Magnes. Aug. epist. 119. Idem de Civit. Dei l. 22. c. 30. I∣dem de verb. Apost. ser. 15, &c.
5. Calvin Inst. l. 2. c. 8. sect. 34. Bullinger. in Apoc. ca. 1. vers. 10. Vrsin. in Ex∣posit. decalo. Aret. loc. commun. de Sabbatho. Zanch. de o∣perib. Re∣dempt. l. 1. in 4. Praecept. Paraeus in Gen. c. 2. Simler. in Exod. c. 20.