Christianismus primitivus, or, The ancient Christian religion, in its nature, certainty, excellency, and beauty, (internal and external) particularly considered, asserted, and vindicated from the many abuses which have invaded that sacred profession, by humane innovation, or pretended revelation comprehending likewise the general duties of mankind, in their respective relations : and particularly the obedience of all Christians to magistrates, and the necessity of Christian-moderation about things dispensible in matters of religion : with divers cases of conscience discussed and resolved / by Thomas Grantham ...

SECT. III. Of the practice of the Antient Churches, succeeding the first Churches touching the religious observation of the First day, as the Lords day.

As the many thousand Jews which believed were all zealous of the Law, Act. 21. 20. And very hardly brought off from Circumcision and other Ceremonies, so it may be presumed they were no less zea∣lous for the Sabbath; And hence it is very probable, that some in the succeeding Ages kept both the Seventh and First days holy to the Lord. As the Ebionites are said to observe the Jewish Sabbath; and other Ceremonies they observe alike with the Jews. Here note the Sab∣bath is put upon the account of the Jewish Ceremonies by this Au∣thor, They Celebrate the Sundayes, as we do, in remembrance of the Re∣surrection of our Saviour. This Ebion (the Author of this Sect) is said to live in the latter end of the first Centurie: so that here we find the observation of both days in the first Age of the Gospel, albeit we are certain God no where requires the observation of two days in seven. Yea, Mr. Tillam (an Apostate from the Gospel) is forced to confess, that some of the Churches, for several Centuries, did ob∣serve both days; so hard a thing was it to bring the Jews off from that Sabbath as commanded by Moses. However we find the First day honourably esteemed together with it, which shews, that these Churches did understand, that the Christian Religion had given being to it for an holy solemnity.

Ignatius, contemporary with some of the Apostles, delivers his mind to this effect: * 1.1 Intermitting the Sabbath, let all that love Christ, make the Lords day Holy, the Queen of days, the Resurrection day, the highest day.

And giving account of some Jews which were Converted to the Faith, tells us, They did no longer keep the Sabbath, but led their life according to the Lords day, in which our life arose. And Justin Mar∣tyr, is brought in saying, TETOU HELIOU LEGOMENE HEMERA, &c. Upon the day called Sunday all that abide within the Cities or Villages do meet together in some place: — we send up our prayers to Heaven, which being ended, there is given unto us Bread and Wine, &c. then those of the richer sort, every one as his good will is, contributes some∣thing towards the relief of the poor Brethren. * 1.2 This Justin Martyr lived in the second Century. Thus we have the full explication of these two Texts, Acts 20. 7. 1 Cor. 11. 1, 2. from this Antient Doctor of the Church, and it were easie to trace the practice through the following Ages which we here contend for. But this being done by others, and by none more satisfactory than by Mr. Warren, I shall refer the Reader to his learned Labours on that Subject.

I shall only insist a little upon the Disputations which were between the Antient Christians and the Jews about this matter. Tryphon the Jew objected three things against the Christians, viz. That they

did neither observe the Festival days, nor Sabbaths, nor Circumcision. Justin Answers, We verily should observe these things, did we not know the reason for which these things were imposed upon you. Where we have to observe, that the Antient Christians even in the second Century, took the Jewish Sabbath to be no more obliging to Christian men than Circumcision and the other Festivities. But Tryphon presseth him with this demand, Whether a Christian observing these Customs of the Law, might be saved? Justin Answereth, Such a one in my judgment may be saved, provided he do not industriously labour to perswade others, (especially those among the Gentiles which are converted unto Christ) to observe the same things, as that without which they cannot be saved. And this moderation may now be as needful (in my judgment) as in the days of Justin Martyr.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ignatius accor∣ding to Mr. Warren his quotation of him.
• * 1.2

  Justin Martyr, Apol. ad Calc.