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ALthough the Sabbath be a day of rest, yet the que∣stions, that have been moved about it, I doubt not, will be restlesse, untill that truth be brought to light, wherewith, if not all, yet moderate minded men at least, may rest themselves satisfied. Some of that truth I think I have found, and that appertaining to the very foundation, upon which the re∣ligious
observation of the Christian Sabbath or Lords day is grounded, viz. the perpetuall morality of the fourth Commandment. Which whilest some have openly set them∣selves of purpose, with all their might and maine, not onely to deface, but also to demolish utterly, crying, Down with it, down with it, even to the ground: they have been much encouraged, on the one side, by those, who, thinking to settle it surer, have onely cemented with sand, or daubed it over with untempered morter; by the weaknesse of their evidence brought the strength of their cause more in question, and made it seeme lesse defensible to them, that had a mind to bend their force against it, when they saw the defendants so poorely provided, disdaining them as Goliah did David, and triumph∣ing before the victory, as if they would have said, Videas ante de∣lectet contra retiarium ferula: on
the other side by those, who presuming it capable of such superstructions, have raised a vast pile of rigorous impositions upon it, enough almost to crush it to pieces. So that the Chri∣stian Sabbath or Lords day began to be crucified between Superstition and Profanenesse, as Christ himself, the Lord of the Sabbath, was between two theeves: and they, that had a mind to try their strength, in resto∣ring it unto its ancient right, found their passage unto their adversaries such, as Jonathan and his Armour∣bearer had to the garison of the Phi∣listines, between Bozez and Zenah, a sharp rock on the one side, and a sharp rock on the other side, which to climbe up they had need to make use both of their hands and feet. This consideration, together with the solli∣citations of some private friends, a∣bout five yeers ago, set me on work, to search about this foundation, to see if I could find upon what ground it
stood, and whether their mouthes, that were disposed to cry down the morality of the fourth Command∣ment, with so much confidence, as if there had been no colour either of Re∣ligion or of reason for the mainte∣nance thereof, might not be stopped, and the edge of those arguments aba∣ted, whereby they made account, they should cut asunder all the sinews of that opinion for ever: whether the head of that Philistine, which defied the armies of the living God, might not be cut off with his own sword, and the reproach taken away from Israel.
That endeavour then brought forth these Propositions, wherein though the principall thing, that I aymed at, was to enquire, whether the morality of the fourth Command∣ment might not be made manifest, by such evidence, as nature it self might see sufficient reason to subscribe unto, yet I thought by the way I had met with such truths, as might serve to
give some ground of satisfaction un∣to other doubts, both in the doctrinall and practicall part, which I drew in∣to corollaries or conclusions, such as I thought might be naturally dedu∣ced, from the same Propositions. But knowing how apt men are to over∣ween their own works, and resolving that I might be though willingly I would not be deceived, I did both of∣ten enter into examination of that which I had done my self, and some∣times, as opportunitie was offered, submit it unto the censure of others. Which course occasioned, though no alteration in the maine, yet some ad∣ditions unto that which I had done at first, and at last brought forth that Appendix, wherein I have endea∣voured to remove all the doubts, that probably I could conjecture might be made of any thing therein. And now, for that common interest, that all men have in truth, I am content to put this work upon a publick triall,
in hope that I shall either be better confirmed in mine own opinion, by the approbation of others, whose judge∣mēts I may better build on then mine own, or meet with so much ingenuous charitie in some, as meekly to make mee understand wherein I have er∣red, and to direct me better.
The way of truth is that I seek, but whether I have found it already my self, or shall hereafter be shewed it by another is not so much materiall. I would not willingly either like error any thing the better, because it is homeborn, nor truth the worse, because it comes to me as a stranger from an∣other place. Which indifferency that I may not be drawn from but, as far as I can, keep my self free from any personall engagement. I am bold to put on the borrowed name of
Irenaeus Philalethes.