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.

Chap 3. Wherein is briefely declared, what is to be thought of the present Question.

IN this question, so hotly debated on both sides, I never conceived it of any great consequence, which way soever the ballance fell. For though they, that affirme the question, thinke it to make much for the morality of one in seven; yet all me know, thatc 1.1 Calvin, who is their greatest enemy in this, joynes with them in the other, as well 〈◊〉〈◊〉 he may, without cō∣tradicting himselfe, especially if we speake of Adam, and the Patriarches after the fall. Indeed had it been given our first Parents in Paradise, and state of inno∣cency; as it must universally have bound all men, so

neither could it have been in any thing ceremoniall, relating unto Christ, to bee abolished by him; as is alleaged in the third, and fourth arguments; and wee must still have kept that day, on which God rested But if it were in practice only after the fall, so were many other ceremonies, Altars, Sacrifices, washings, circumcision; which yet are not therefore morall, but only positive precepts, and forerunners of the cere∣moniall Law, to be established in the hands of Moses. Ob. If any man say, there is not the same reason; be∣cause the Law of the Sabbath was afterwards made one of the ten words, written in the tables of stone; which since it cannot be affirmed of Sacrifices, Cir∣cumcision &c. seemes to make a great difference:

[Ans.] I answere, that the Sabbath being in the Deca∣logue; Sacrifices, & all other ceremonialls were there also; for the Sabbath is there placed as the Summum genus, and short epitome of the whole ceremoniall Law, asd 1.2 Calvin hath well observed, and long before him S.e 1.3 Austin. To the question therefore, the whole seemes to move upon two hinges, matter of fact, and matter of faith. The matter of fact is what Adam did, or should have done in the state of innocency; but this, and all such of like nature, since Adam stood not, are meere speculations, knowne only to the Almigh∣ty, by that part of his infinite wisdome, whereby hee beholdeth all possibilities of things. The matter of faith may bee thought to be the text of Scripture, alleadged out of Genesis. Which is not so; for not the text, but the interpretation is here only questioned,

how it is to bee understood for circumstance of time only; in which case though sundry interpretations be brought, none can be said to be de fide, as long as all accord with the analogy of faith. Vpon those words, in the beginning God made Heaven and Earth, S. Austin saith, they may have a two fold interpreta∣tion.f 1.4 The first, that God made all things visible and in∣visible, in that perfect, and glorious frame, in which now they are. The second, that he made the rudiments of all things, out of which they were in their severall orders extracted. I see, (saith the Father) both may be true; but which only was in Moses mind, when he wrote the Story, I see not; nay who is able so perfectly to know, as to affirme this was it, and no other. Let no man therefore contend with me, saying, Moses meant not, as thou saiest, but as I say; it were foolish, and rash thus to affirme. If the doubt be, whether the place in the second of Genesis, which lies at stake in this question, may admit both interpretations, with∣out any prejudice to the Analogy of faith: that,g 1.5 which is given by our Adversaries may justly be suspected; ours, I am sure, cannot.

Notes

• c 1.1

  Evane scant nugae Pseudo prophetarum, abroragatum esse quod cere∣moniale erat in hoc manda∣to; remanere veró quod mo∣rale est; nempe unius diei ob∣servationem in hebaomade Calvin. Insti••, lib. 20. c. 8.33.34.
• d 1.2

  Ex hisdue∣bus iocis (Le∣vit. 19. & Levit. 26) ma∣nisestum est Sabbatho an∣nexum fuisse aultum taber naculi, nec modo res fuis∣se coniunctas insolubili vinculo, sedo∣tium à labori∣bus debuisse re∣serri ad sacri∣ficia. Calvin. in Exod.
• e 1.3

  Postaquā de∣scendit Moses de monte, opera ••ommendantur rabernaculi cōstruendi, & vestis sacer∣dotalis, de qui∣•••••••• faciendis antequam a∣liud praeci∣peret locutus est adpopulum de Sabbahi observatione Aug. q. Exod. •••• 2. q. 72.
• f 1.4

  Video vere potuisse dict quicquid ho∣rum diceretur, sed quid ho∣rum in his verbis 〈◊〉〈◊〉 co∣gitaverit, non ita video. Ne∣mo mihiiam molestus sit, dicendo mihi. non hoc senti•• Moses, quod t•• dicis, sed hoc sentit quod e∣go dico Aug. 1.12. Con. c. 24. &. 25.
• g 1.5

  Quam stul∣tum fit in tan∣tâ copiâ verissunarum sententiarum, quae erui pos∣sunt, temere affirmare, quam earum Moses potissmum senserit, & pernitiosis conten∣tionibus ipsam offendere charitatem.