Innovations unjustly charged upon the present church and state. Or An ansvver to the most materiall passages of a libellous pamphlet made by Mr. Henry Burton, and intituled An apologie of an appeale, &c. By Christopher Dow, B.D.

CHAP. IX.

Of the Doctrine of the Sabbath and Lords-day, falsely accused of Novelty. The summe of what is held or denyed in this point by those whom M^r B. opposeth. The Churches power, and the obligation of her precepts. The maintainers of this doctrine have not strained their braines or conscience.

THe last innovation in doctrine that he men∣tions, * 1.1 is concerning the doctrine of the Sabbath or Lords-day: wherein, he saith, our novell Doctors have gone about to remove the in∣stitution of it from the foundation of Divine authori∣ty, and so to settle it upon the Ecclesiasticall or hu∣mane power. Thus he. But in this (as in the rest)

he betrayes most grosse and palpable ignorance and malice. 1. In that he accuseth that doctrine of novelty, which was ever (as hath beene suffici∣ently demonstrated) the doctrine of the Ancient Church, and of the Church of England, and of the reformed Churches beyond the Seas, and the principall of the learned among them, as Calvin, Beza, &c. 2. In accusing those that teach this do∣ctrine, with removing the institution of the Lords day from the foundation of divine Authority: * 1.2 which taken together, and as he delivers it, is most false: For They acknowledge the appoint∣ing of set times and dayes, to the publick and so∣lemn worship and service of God, to be not one∣ly divine, but morall and perpetuall: and that the common and naturall equity of the fourth Com∣mandement * 1.3 obligeth all man-kinde to the end of the world.

Secondly, They affirme, that the institution of the Lords day, and other set and definite dayes * 1.4 and times of Gods worship, is also of divine au∣thority, though not immediately, but by the Church, which received her power from the ho∣ly Ghost; and that Christian people are to ob∣serve the dayes so ordained, in obedience to the equity of the fourth Commandement, to which those dayes are subordinate, and their observati∣on to be reduced.

Thirdly, they grant, that the resting from la∣bour on the Lords day, and Christian holy * 1.5 dayes, in respect of the generall, is both groun∣ded upon the law of nature, and the perpetuall

equity of the fourth Commandement.

Fourthly, they grant a speciall sense of that * 1.6 Commandement of perpetuall obligation: So that, they have not absolutely removed the insti∣tution of the Lords day from the foundation of divine Authority: Nor is the fourth Commande∣ment wholly abolished, as he falsely and unjustly clamours. That which they deny in this do∣ctrine, and concerning the fourth Commande∣ment, may be reduced under these heads:

They deny the fourth Commandement to be [ 1] wholly morall: so doth M. Burton.

Particularly, they deny the morality and per∣petuall [ 2] obligation of that Commandement, as it concernes the seventh day from the creation, which is our Saturday. And this is the Apostles * 1.7 doctrine, who calls it a shadow, which M. Burton also granteth.

They deny, that the peculiar manner of the [ 3] sanctification of the Iewish or seventh-day Sabbath in the observation of a strict and totall rest and surcease from ordinary labours, can, by vertue of that commādement, be extended to the Lords day, or Christian holy dayes, but that it (toge∣ther with the day on which it was required) is ex∣pired and antiquated. And this also M. Burton must needs grant: 1. Because there is the same reason of the day and the rest required upon it; both being appointed for a memoriall of Gods rest from his worke of creation, and other typi∣call respects: 2. Because otherwise he will con∣tradict his fellowes, and those that side with him

in this argument, who generally allow some * 1.8 things to bee lawfully done on the Lords day, which on the Jewish Sabbath were not permitted.

They deny that the fourth Commandement [ 4] determins the set time of Gods publick worship, either to one day in the revolution of seven, or to any other seventh, save onely that which is there mentioned; and that therefore the Lords day cannot thence bee said to have its institution, as being another day than that which the Comman∣dement speaks of; which, to conceive to be there meant, is to make the Commandement to speake riddles and arrant non-sense.

They deny that there is any Commandement [ 5] given in the New Testament for the observation of the Lords day: Though (they acknowledge) suf∣ficient ground there to warrant the Churches in∣stitution and observation of that day. And this they suppose they may justly maintaine, till Mr. B. or some other of his mind, in this point, produce the place where it is written; which, if they would once do, they would easily bring off the Bishops, and others who agree with them, to make a recantation, and to subscribe to their better information.

That which they ascribe unto the Church in this argument is; 1. The institution of the Lords day, and other holy dayes, that is, the determi∣nation of the time of Gods publick worship to those dayes.

2 The prescription of the manner of the ob∣servation of these dayes, both for the duties to be

performed, and the time, manner, and other circumstances of their performance.

Concerning which, they affirme 2. things. * 1.9 First, That the Church hath liberty, power and authority thus to do. Secondly, that Christians are in conscience bound to observe these pre∣cepts of the Church, and that they that trans∣gress * 1.10 them, sin against God, whose law requires that we must obey every lawfull ordinance of the Church: And as S. Bernard speakes, The obe∣dience that is given to Superiours (he speakes of the Prelates and governors in the Church) is ex∣hibited to God, wherefore whatsoever man in Gods stead commands (if it be not for certaine such as displease God) is no otherwise at all to be received, than if God had commanded it. For what matters it whether God, by Himselfe, or by his Ministers, men or Angels, make known his pleasure to us? So hee, and much more to that purpose in that place. So that, they which maintaine the institution of the Lords day to be from the Church, doe not thereby (as they are wrongly charged) discharge men from all tye of obedience, and give them liberty to observe it, or not, at their owne pleasure: which no man will affirme, but those onely who have learned to under-value and despise the Church of God, and her rightfull Authority.

Now, these things have beene so fully proved, so plainly demonstrated already, that it is need∣less, yea impossible for me to adde any thing, and as impossile for Mr. B. or any other to gain-say,

with any reason or evidence of truth. Which be∣cause he cannot do, hee betakes him to (the for∣lorne hope of contentious spirits) railing against his opposers, and traducing the doctrine, which he knowes not how to confute. For his opposers; he saith, that (in this point) they have strained all the veines of their conscience and braines, and that they are so mad upon it, that no shame will stay them, * 1.11 till confusion stop their mouthes. But, God bee praised, they have not, neither need they much to straine either: Their conscience need not be strained at all, in delivering that doctrine, and acknowledging that truth which is after godli∣ness; And for their braines, it is not Mr. Burtons * 1.12 Pamphlets, or lawless Dialogues, that can straine them; No, nor his larger answer which he threa∣tens, in answer to my L. of Elyes Treatise; which (were it not that simple and well meaning people might haply be seduced, and made to thinke them unanswerable) were quickly answered, with that which best befits them, silence and scorne. As for that grave and learned Prelate, whom he useth with such contempt and base language; The world hath seene his humility (joyned with that masse of learning which is lodged in that vene∣rable brest) that he hath not disdained to stoope to answer this railers railing dialogue of A. and B. which hee hath done (like himselfe) with great strength and evidence of reason, and solidity of judgement; and yet (blessed be God) hath not sacrificed the least dramme of reason, which yet remaines (in so great yeares) to admiration quick

and pregnant, and will be able, if need be, to dis∣cover M^r. Burtons arrogancy, and bold-fac't ig∣norance; So that he must be faine to sacrifice the remainder of his modesty and honesty (if any be yet left him) to finde any thing to reply.

Notes

• * 1.1

  pag. 126
• * 1.2

  See B. of Ely p. 271. &c. edit. 1.
• * 1.3

  B. of Ely, p. 120
• * 1.4

  2 De dispens. &c. c. 12. Quid enim interest utrū per se, an per suos ministros, sive homines, sive An∣gelos, hominibus innotescat suum placitum Deus.
• * 1.5

  3 B. of Ely, p. 121
• * 1.6

  4
• * 1.7

  Col. 2. 17.
• * 1.8

  Perkins cases. Amesius Med. Theol. l. 2. c. 15. n. 23.
• * 1.9

  Bishop of Ely p. 149.
• * 1.10

  Bern. de praec. et dispens. c. 12. Obedientia quae majoribus praebetur, Deo exhi∣betur, quamobrē quicquid vice Dei praecipit homo &c.
• * 1.11

  pag. 126.
• * 1.12

  Tit. 1. 1.