The doctrine of the sabbath plainely layde forth, and soundly proued by testimonies both of holy scripture, and also of olde and new ecclesiasticall writers. Declaring first from what things God would haue vs straightly to rest vpon the Lords day, and then by what meanes we ought publikely and priuatly to sanctifie the same: together with the sundry abuses of our time in both these kindes, and how they ought to bee reformed. Diuided into two bookes, by Nicolas Bownde, Doctor of Diuinitie.

To the Godlie and Christian Rea∣ders, and namely to the reuerend, wise, and godly learned Fathers and brethren, Ministers and Preachers of the Gospell, grace and peace hee multiplied.

RIght reuerend and welbeloued in the Lord, when as about nine yeeres since I was soli∣cited to publish my Sermons vpon the tenne Commaundements, by certaine of my godly brethren auditors then of the same, I had manie reasons that preuailed to disswade me from that enterprise, and especially be∣••ause I thought it superfluous in such great variety of learned writers, of that matter especially; wherein I haue been since more ••onfirmed by all those who of later times haue trauailed in that ••••nde. And moreouer, besides mine own vnsufficiencie for so great 〈◊〉〈◊〉 matter. J was of opinion, that hee that bendeth himselfe vnto ••riting, had neede to haue some relaxation from preaching, vn∣••esse hee bee of great gifts, and meruailously fitted for both, and ••herefore being necessarilie tyed vnto the one, I durst not vnder∣••ake the other; yet their importunitie preuailed thus farre with ••••ne, as to make triall what I could doe in this commaundement which I had then in hand: whereunto also I was the rather indu∣••••ed, because it contained that argument, which as it is of all o∣••her most excellent, so it was least of all dealt in by anie, largely, ••••nd of purpose. Hauing then within a fewe moneths, at my best ••••asure finished this treatise, as diuers of my fellowe Ministers ••••n whose hands it hath bin) are sufficient witnesses, and by them further encouraged to communicate it vnto all men: I yeelded thereunto, slowly indeede because I knewe a reuerend, godly, and learned father, who for the most part of his life time, greatly tra∣uailing

in this matter by his own reading, meditation, and confe∣rence, with sundrie learned men, had long before finished a great volume, and wayted but his opportunity to furnish it to the presse, though I neuer read one leafe of that booke, whome I did for iust cause so highly reuerence, that I was vnwilling to preiudice any of his godly proceedings, especially in this thing, wherein I knewe he had trauailed aboue most of his time: and thereupon suspen∣ding my purpose for a time, when I had imparted vnto him what I had done, he gaue me this aduise, to take his booke, and to com∣pare it with mine owne, and to make one of them both; which I refusing, as being vnmeete for such a purpose, and not knowing how I should well sorte out to the Reader such varietie of matter, as was like to arise out of them both, nor cunningly to fit the one to the other, as it were to put a new piece of cloth to an old garment, determined wholly to suppresse mine own, expecting the comming foorth of his in time: whereunto also I solicited him by writing, and that also was my iust defence to those that still called vpon me, for the comming foorth of mine owne. In which expectation I continued, vntill most vntimely, I vnderstoode to my great grief, and to the vnspeakable losse of the Church of God, that hee was fallen a sleepe in the Lord: And then I reuiued my former pur∣pose and reuised mine owne labours, in which hauing at the first contented my selfe, with the bare proofes out of the scriptures, which I then thought sufficient, especially for that auditorie, to whome they were first ment, did now compare the seuerall positi∣ons therein contained, with the doctrine of former times, and o∣ther Churches, as I found the same set downe in the writings of the fathers Greeke and Latine, new and olde, so many as I had, or could conueniently get, and as I had time to reade them: whom I finding to agree with me in the same points, or rather my selfe with them, was thereby the rather confirmed therin, and thought that by their testimony and consent, as it were by the pillar of truth, I might sustaine and defend the same against al those that should oppugne, or gainsay it. Thus hauing so many learned men on my side, managing the same cause with me, or rather my selfe fighting vnder their colours, haue at the last brought foorth this treatise vnto the view of the world, and haue adventured it vnto

〈◊〉〈◊〉 the censures and speeches of all men: wherin as I haue sought the ••••ory of GOD in the publishing of his truth, so I pray the same ••ord, to maintaine, defend, and blesse the same, so far foorth as it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his trueth. And here (derely beloued in the Lorde) as I haue ••••imply, and as it were with a naked breast declared vnto you, the ••auses of my beginning and proceeding in this worke, and that I ••aue not rashly, and on the sodaine fallen into these opinions, and ••hrust foorth my selfe into the world, so I most humbly craue of ••ou this fauoure, that all preiudice and sinister affection being ••ayd aside, al things might be weighed in an euen ballance, before they be refused, as not hauing their iust weight, euen there where they might cary some shew of vntruth, according to the Canoni∣••all rule of the Apostle, much more that al friuolous wranglings, contentions, gaine saying, ambitious desire to ouercome, and per∣uerse drawing of things to a wrong sense, beeing forborne, where I seeme to erre (as I acknowledge my selfe subiecte vnto it) I might charitably and Christianly bee admonished by your godly wisdomes, that so I might also either by better proofes second the truth, or els vpon more mature deliberation retract mine errour, ••f there be anie: For I doe most willingly submit my selfe vnto the Church of God, by it in all things to bee censured and refor∣med, according to his word. Which I doe so much the more ear∣nestly entreate at your hands, because besides the conscience of my great vnsufficiency to deale in so weightie a matter before so ma∣ny hundreths, as the Lord in our time hath raysed vp fit for euery purpose, I am not ignorant that this argument of the Sabbath is full of controuersie, aboue many other points of diuinitie, wherein many learned, & godly men dissent one from another: which as I was perswaded of at the first so now of late, since I attempted the ••ublishing of this booke I haue founde it to bee true by a most ••nwilling experience, euen among those who for their great va∣••ietie of all learning deserue singularly to bee admired. And ••••ough it were to be wished, that we should be like minded, being ••••one accord, and of one iudgement yet seeing wee are men, and haue but our measure of knowledge, and that in euerie thing, and so may easily dissent; in that whereunto wee are come let vs proceede by one rule, and if any be otherwise minded, GOD

shall reueale the same vnto him. Thus commending my selfe vnto your praiers, and these my labours vnto your fauourable good liking, I bid you most heartily farewell in the Lorde, who keepe vs alwaies his and one anothers in Christ. Norton in Suffolke, Iune 27. 1595. next after the yeare of Gods heauie and vnknowen iudgements, by sundrie tempestes continued and renewed, of boysterons windes, great raine, and outrage of waters, fearefull thunders and lightnings, pintching dearth, and vntimely fruits, to the de∣struction and losse of men, cattell and goods.

Your dutifull brother and fellow seruant in the Gospel of Christ: NICHOLAS BOVVNDE.

Notes

• M. Robert Greenchā.