The doctrine of the Fourth Commandement, deformed by popery, reformed & restored to its primitive purity objections answered, and the truth cleared, by Gods unworthy servant, J.O.

CHAP. VI. A refutation of the opinion of those, which af∣firm, there is no Sabbath day, whereon Chri∣stians are to abstain from corporall labour. As also their saying, that holy walking e∣very day, is the keeping of the Christian Sab∣bath.

I Shall not need to be large in this particular, by reason I have already proved, that the se∣venth day, to wit, Saterday, is the Sabbath which Christians ought to keep holy to the Lord, and to abstain from servill work on it: therefore I shall be brief.

These men following the generall notion, that the seventh day-Sabbath is abrogated; and find∣ing no other day instituted in the new Testament, in its stead, for a day of publick worship, they con∣clude all dayes are alike to those that are in Christ, and no one day to be observed above another; ap∣prehending the Apostle affords them such a liberty, Rom. 14.6. From whence they infer, they are not oblieged to the observation of the seventh dayes-Sabbath, but that they have liberty to doe com∣mon work thereon. Great is their errour herein, the Lord disclose it unto them; for, doubtlesse,

the Apostles meaning was farre from theirs, for they shall never be able to prove, that ever the Apostle gave Christians liberty to walk in diso∣bedience to the morall law, the docalogue. And therefore it cannot be, that where the Apostle saith, he that observeth a day, observeth it to the Lord, and he that observeth not the day, obser∣ueth it not to the Lord: That he spake of rhe seventh day-Sabbath, there is not a word of any such thing, nor any sound of any such meaning, that the Apostle had. And therefore it must be, that he spake of observing a day, for acting com∣mon, or indifferent things; and not in keeping the Sabbath, or not keeping of it, and that for the avoiding of these absurdities.

If the seventh day-Sabbath be abrogated, and no other day of rest instituted in its stead; then there is one holy day lesse then God in the be∣ginning instituted, and one working day more; a very absurd thing, for any so to affirme. Yea, that which followeth thereon is worse: viz. That God is lesse mercifull to man and beast, since our Saviour suffered death, then he was before: In that before he suffered death, hee afforded man and beast, a day of rest, to refresh their bodies af∣ter their wearisome and toylsome labour. And since he came and suffered death, he hath not af∣forded them any at all. These things suiteth not with Gods ordering providence; therefore

to say, there is no day of rest, is an errour.

These men doe also apprehend, the seventh day-Sabbath figured out to us, faith in Christ, Hebr. 4.3. because the Apostle saith, We which have believed doe enter into rest. From whence they conclude, that when men beleeve, they have that sanctification in Christ, of which the Sab∣bath was a signe. If it be granted, or if it could be proved, that the seventh day-Sabbath, was a signe of our sanctification in Christ. It will not therefore follow, that when men beleeve, they are discharged from the duty of observing it, un∣lesse it can be proved a ceremoniall precept also; the reason is, because a sign properly, or simply differeth from a ceremony, and that shall thus ap∣peare.

Ceremoniall Sabbaths spoken of, Levit. 23 & Col. 2.16, 17. which God gave to the Isralites, to be a signe, that the Lord sanctified them, Exod. 31.13. Ezek. 20.12. being signes and ceremo∣nies, was taken away by Christ, and nailed to his Crosse: of this kinde of signes was Circumcision, Gen. 17.11. and the Passover, Exod. 12.13. But signes which were not ceremoniall, being given of God, remaineth to the end of the world, Gen. 1.14. chap. 9.13. Mat. 24.29. And in this sence, indeed, the seventh dayes-Sabbath is a signe, Exod 31.17. But not as a signe, in relati∣on to a figurative ceremony.

Again, the seventh dayes-Sabbath, which was given to be a signe, that God made Heaven and Earth in six dayes, &c. was wrought in Tables of stone. But the Sabbath, which was given to be a signe, that the Lord sanctified them, was not. Therefore, although these Sabbaths were a∣brogated, it is no argument to prove, the other was abrogated also.

Secondly, These men which will have no Sab∣bath in that sence, which the fourth Comman∣dement requireth; namely, to abstaine from ser∣vile labour on the seventh day, doe apprehend, their ceasing from sinne, and growing in grace e∣very day, is the true keeping of the Christian Sabbath, and not ceasing from labour any one day, if it cannot with conveniency be omitted.

Answ. I doe very well approve of a holy walking every day, both for mortifying of sin, and grouth in godlinesse; and doe heartily desire, there may be a daily progresse therein by us all. But I must tell them, as the truth is, their holy devotion in the way they intend, doth not dis∣charge them of any duty that God requirerh of them by his Holy Law, the Decalogue, and wil∣ling I am that they should know it to. And therefore I desire to know of them, whether Gods people, before Christ suffered death, were not to walke holy every day as well as we? If yea, as doubtlesse they did. But had they omit∣ted

the duty of the seventh dayes rest, could they have been said to have walked holy every day? Oh no, they could not. Even so it stand∣eth with men ever since our Savtours death; for, the same Law which bound the Israelites to keep a holy rest on the seventh day, bindeth Christians now, as hath been shewn, pag. 34. 35. Therefore, surely men doe deceive them∣selves, to thinke they walk holy every day, when they doe directly contrary to the Law of God on the seventh day. Yea, I say, albeit they can∣not find any of the ancient six working dayes instituted, nor commanded in the Gospel to be a day for performance of publick worship; yet they may find Gods ancient Sabbath in the Law, where he commandeth them to keep the seventh day holy unto the Lord, whereon they are not to doe servile work, Exod. 20. Deut. 5. It be∣ing so, I desire that we may imploy it in his worship and service, and not after our owne wills, either for pleasure, or profit; but that we call the Sabbath a delight, to consecrate it as glorious to the Lord, and honour him, not do∣ing our owne wayes, nor seeking our owne wills, nor speaking a vaine word. This is the Sabbath to be observed, Isa. 58.13. And this let us doe; for, whosoever keepeth the whole Law, and fail∣eth in one point, is guilty of all, Jam. 2.10, 11. Mat. 5.19. Yea, certaine it is, Whosoever turneth

away his eare from hearing the Law, his Prayer shall be abominable. Prov. 28.9.