The works of the reverend and faithful servant of Jesus Christ M. Richard Greenham,…The workes of the reuerend and faithfull seruant af Iesus Christ M. Richard Greenham,…

Now if the permission of the six days appertain to us, is not the sanctifying of the Sabbath day also commanded to us? And if those things be permitted us, which concern our calling; are not much more those things commanded, which respect our sanctification? Wherefore if any say, the commandment is ceremonial, may not the same say the permission is ceremonial? For who so affirmeth the one, may affirm the other: but both falsely. If we should admit these days were to be restrained in some respects, and for some special causes, we affirm this restraining must be for a time, but not continual: & that when the reasons of the exceptions should cease, then the exceptions themselves should cease also. But some will say: what will you not allow some day of rest for humbling & fasting, or allowing some days for humbling, will you not allow one also for thanksgiving & rejoicing? To this I answer, that concerning fasting when there is a special need of a day appointed,¹ this is no commandment of man, or of the Church, but of God himself, who as he hath laid upon us the need of the remedy: so hath he also commanded us to use the remedy. And as for the day of rejoicing, I think it may be put on the Sabbath, which we make our days of thanksgiving. For as the Jews used the Sabbath as a day to remember with thanksgiving their creation: so we may use that day for a thankful remembrance of our redemption, because in it we may meditate of all those benefits, which our Saviour Christ by his nativity, circumcision, passion, resurrection & ascension, hath purchased for us. But if any man object, that this is too niggardly and sparingly, because as God is extraordinary in mercy, so we should be extraordinary in thanksgiving: I grant that Christian Magistrates may for necessary occasion, in wisdom of the spirit, alter the times, and appoint some seasons for that purpose: so it be done for a while, and continue not as perpetual: for in six days, as we taught before, we must chiefly labour in our callings, and bestow some part of time in God his worship: and on the Sabbath day we must chiefly wait on God his worship, and bestow no time on other things, but upon necessity, because we are no less charged on the Sabbath to worship God, than we are ^*permitted on the other days to follow our ordinary callings.

Now if the permission of the sixe daies appertaine to vs, is not the sanctifying of the Sabbath day also cōmanded to vs? And if those things be permitted vs, which cōcerne our calling; are not much more those things commāded, which respect our sanctification? Wherfore if any say, the commandement is ceremoniall, may not the same say the permission is ceremoniall? For who so affirmeth the one, may affirme the other: but both falsely. If we should admit these daies were to be restrained in some respects, and for some speciall causes, we affirm this restraining must be for a time, but not continuall: & that when the reasons of the exceptions should cease, then the exceptions themselues should cease also. But some will say: what will you not allow some day of rest for humbling & fasting, or allowing some daies for humbling, will you not allow one also for thanksgiuing & reioycing? To this I answere, that concerning fasting when there is a speciall need of a day appointed,