Seven questions of the sabbath briefly disputed, after the manner of the schooles. Wherein such cases, and scruples, as are incident to this subject, are cleared, and resolved, by Gilbert Ironside B.D.

CAP. I. Wherein the first question is proposed, with the argu∣ments seeming to prove the Sabbath to be as ancient, as Adam in paradise.

AS in the maladies of the body, the symptomes are removed, when the roote of the disease is purged out: so our errors (the only sicknesse of our minds) are reformed, when the foundations, on which they are built, are overthrowne. Our first question therefore is, when the Sabbath had its origi∣nall; whether it were commanded Adam, and the Patriarches immediatly from God himselfe in the be∣ginning; or only to the Israelites in the wildernesse, by the ministery of Moses. The former tenent see∣meth to have many evidences, both from Scripture, from reason, and from the authority of many of the Learned.

First, from the words of Moses, So Gold blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it, because in it hee rested from all his works, an argument may be framed thus. The resting of God from all his works, and the bles∣sing and sanctifying of the Sabbath, were coetaneous; for when Moses saith, So God blessed, he referrs us both to the reason why, and the time when, and the manner how the Sabbath was first instituted: but God rested from all his works immediatly from the Crea∣tion, while Adam was yet in Paradise; therefore, im∣mediatly

mediatly from the Creation God blessed, and sanctified the Sabbath day.

Secondly,* 1.1 in the same Scripture, God said, let there be lights in the firmament for signes, and for seasons, for daies, and for yeares; in which place the word in the O∣riginall signifieth holy convocations. From whence thus. As soone as there was Sunne, and Moone, there were times appointed for holy convocations; for this was one maine end of their Creation. But the Sunne and Moone were from the beginning, therefore from the beginning there were times appointed for holy Convocations, therefore the Sabbath—

Thirdly,* 1.2 from the words of the Apostle, who seem∣eth to Comment upon the words of Moses, As I have sworne in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest, although the works were finished from the foundation; When the works were finished, a rest was appointed for Gods people: but the works of God creating the world were finished from the foundation, therefore from the foundation was a rest, or Sabbath appoint∣ed Gods people.

Fourthly,a 1.3 Moses could not haue spoken of the Sab∣bath unto the Israelites in the Wildernesse, as of a thing well known and practised, unlesse the Sabbath had been observed by them, & their fore fathers, be∣fore their comeing thither; but Moses doth thus speake unto them of the Sabbath in the wildernesse, before the law was given in Sinai; To morrow is the rest of the holy Sabbath unto the Lord,* 1.4 and the seventh day, which is the Sabbath. Where note, that first he

calls it the holy Sabbath. Secondly, he saith, it is the Sab∣bath; but unles it had been already instituted, it could neither he holy, nor be at all; therefore &c.

Fiftly, that which was observed by Noah, at the time of the flood, was doubtlesse observed of him be∣fore the Flood, and so from the begining; but the Sabbath was religiously observed by Noah,* 1.5 in the time of the flood. For having sent out the dove, and shee returning, finding no rest for the sole of her foot, he abode other seven daies, and afterward other seven daies: therefore &c.

Sixtly, that which Iob, and his children observed, was long in use before Israell came into the Wilder∣nesse; for all agree, that Iob was descended either from Shem or from Nahor, or from Ishmaell; andb 1.6 O∣rigen affirmes, that Moses wrote that story: but Iob and his children kept holy the Sabbath day, for there was a day,c 1.7 (saith the Text) wherein came the sons of God to present themselves before the Lord; these sons of God, are Iob and his children; and this day, the Sab∣bath (saithd 1.8 Pineda the Iesuit) therefore &c.

Seventhly, that which hath ever been the boundary of the weeke, was ever from the begining: but the Sabbath hath ever been the boundary of the weeke, for time hath ever been divided by weeks, therefore the Sabbath hath ever been from the begining.

Eightly, God left not Adam, and the Patriarches without any necessary instructions, (for God never failes in necessaries) but the Sabbath contained matter of necessary instructions for Adam, & the Patriarches;

both in regard of their faith, in the article of the crea∣tion of the World in sixe daies; and in respect of their hope, that there remained a rest for them in Gods Kingdome: Therefore God left them not without the ordinance of the Sabbath.

Ninthly, to whom God appointed publique wor∣ship, to them he appointed the time of worship, which is the Sabbath: but God appointed to Adam, and the Patriarches publique worship, for men called on the name of the Lord, neither was this any will-worship of their owne. Therefore &c.

Lastly, the testimony of many of the Learned.a 1.9 Philo the Iew saith, that this feast did appertain to all nations from the beginning. M^r Broughton affirmes, that the Fathers observed it before Moses.b 1.10 Calvin saith, that the blessing of the Seventh day was a so∣lemne consecration, whereby God laid claime to the studies and employments of men for himselfe upon the seventh day. And againe, God (saithc 1.11 he) did two things at the begining, first hee rested, then he blessed that rest, that it might bee holy amongst all men throughout their generations. Vnto this Catha∣rinus, Alcuinus and many of the Popish schoole sub∣scribe. Zanchius affirmes, as probable, that Adam kept the first seventh day in Paradise, and that the second person in the Trinity tooke upon him the shape of a man, and instructed him, and his wife upon that day in the works of the creation.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Gen. 1.14.
• * 1.2

  Heb. 4.3.4.
• a 1.3

  Nondum la∣ta erat lex, sed Sabhathum ••am servaba∣tur. Bar. Itin.
• * 1.4

  Exod. 16.23.
• * 1.5

  Gen. 8.10.12.
• b 1.6

  Moses mag∣nus homo non ita scripsir quemadmod•• Diabolus lo∣cutus est, sed decētius, utpo∣te devotus Dei famulus. Orig. in v. 11. c. 1.
• c 1.7

  Iob. 1.6.
• d 1.8

  In cap. 1.
• a 1.9

  Est enim fe∣stus dies non untus populi regioni so••, sed in univer∣sum omnium, quae sola dig∣na est ut dica∣tur popularis festivitas, & natalis mundi, Philo Iud. de oper. Mund.
• b 1.10

  Benedictio ista nihil ali∣ud est, quam solennis con∣secratio, qui sibi Deus stu∣dia, & occu∣pationes ho∣minum asserit die septimo. Calvin. in c. 2. Genes. v. 3.
• c 1.11

  Primum ergo quievit Deus, deinde benedixit hanc quietem, ut faeculis omnibus inter ho∣mines sancta foret, vel septimum quem{que} diem quiet•• dicavit, ut suum exemplum perpe∣tua ••sset regula. Calv. ib. Cathar, in Genes. Alcuin. quaestionib. in Genes.