The works of the Reverend and learned John Lightfoot D. D., late Master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge such as were, and such as never before were printed : in two volumes : with the authors life and large and useful tables to each volume : also three maps : one of the temple drawn by the author himself, the others of Jervsalem and the Holy Land drawn according to the author's chorography, with a description collected out of his writings.

VERS. VIII.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

For the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath.

I. HE opposed this very Argument against their cavils, before the Sanhedrin, Joh. V. When he was summoned into the Court, concerning his healing the paralytic man, on this very Sabbath, or on the Sabbath next before; he shews his dominion over the Sabbath, from this very thing, that he the Son was invested and honoured with the same Authority, Power and Dignity, in respect of the Administration of the New Testa∣ment, as the Father was, in regard of the Old.

II. The care of the Sabbath lay upon the first Adam under a double Law, accor∣ding to his double condition. 1. Before his fall, under the law of Nature written in his heart: under which he had kept the Sabbath, if he had remained innocent. And here it is not unworthy to be observed, that although the seventh day was not come before his fall, yet the institution of the Sabbath is mentioned before the history of his fall. 2. After his fall, under a positive law. For when he had sinn'd on the sixth day, and the seventh came, he was not now bound under the bare Law of Nature, to celebrate it, but according as the condition of Adam was changed, and as the condition of the Sab∣bath was not a little changed also, a new and positive Law concerning the keeping the Sabbath was superinduced upon him. It will not be unpleasant to produce a few passages from the Jewish Masters, of that first Sabbath.

n 1.1 Circumcision saith R. Judah and the Sabbath, were before the Law. But how much backward before the Law? Hear Ba••l Turim: o 1.2 The Israelites were redeemed, saith he, out of Egypt, because they observed Circumcision and the Sabbath day. Yea and further back∣wards still: p 1.3 The inheritance of Jacob is promised to those that sanctifie the Sabbath, because he sanctified the Sabbath himself Yea and more backwards yet, even to the beginning of the world. q 1.4 The first Psalm in the world was when Adams sin was forgiven: and when the Sabbath entred, he opened his mouth and uttered the Psalm of the Sabbath. So also the Targum upon the title of Psalm XCII. The Psalm, or Song, which Adam composed concer∣ning the Sabbath day. Upon which Psalm, among other things thus Midras Tillin: What did God create the first day? Heaven and Earth. What the second? The Firmament, &c. What the seventh? The Sabbath. And since God had not created the Sabbath for servile works, for which he had created the other days of the week, therefore it is not said of that, as of the other days, And the evening was, and the morning was the seventh day. And a little after; Adam was created on the Eve of the Sabbath: the Sabbath entred when he had now sinned, and was his Advocate with God, &c.

r 1.5 Adam was created on the Sabbath Eve, that he might immediately be put under the Com∣mand, &c.

III. Since therefore the Sabbath was so instituted after the fall, and that by a Law and Condition, which had a regard to Christ now promised, and to the fall of man, the Sab∣bath could not but come under the power and dominion of the son of Man, that is, of the promised seed, to be ordered and disposed by him as he thought good, and as he should make provision, for his own honour and the benefit of Man.

Notes

• n 1.1

  Mid. Tillin, fol. 15. 3.
• o 1.2

  In Exod. I.
• p 1.3

  R. Sol. in E∣sai. LVIII. 14.
• q 1.4

  Targ. Id Cant. ••.
• r 1.5

  ••ab. Sanhedr. fol. 38. 1.