A14213:10
A very profitable and necessary discourse concerning the observation and keeping of the Sabbath…A verie profitable and necessarie discourse concerning the obseruation and keeping of the Sabboth…
A very profitable and necessary discourse concerning the observation and keeping of the Sabbath day serving as well to confute the superstition of the Jews, which obstinately urge the strict keeping of the seventh day, as also to overthrow the vain and godless reasons of others, that stiffly at this day maintain, that Christians ought to keep no set or appointed time to worship and serve the Lord in, in his church and faithful congregation. Written in Latin by Zacharias Ursinus, sometimes reader of the divinity lecture in the University of Heidelberg in Germany, and very newly turned into English, by John Stockwood schoolmaster of Tunbridge.A verie profitable and necessarie discourse concerning the obseruation and keeping of the Sabboth day seruing as well to confute the superstition of the Iewes, which obstinately vrge the strict keeping of the seuenth day, as also to ouerthrowe the vaine and godlesse reasons of others, that stiffely at this day maintaine, that Christians ought to keepe no set or appoynted time to worship and serue the Lord in, in his church and faithfull congregation. Written in Latine by Zacharias Vrsinus, sometimes reader of the diuinitie lecture in the Vniuersitie of Heidelberg in Germanie, and very nevvly turned into English, by Iohn Stockvvood schoolemaster of Tunbridge.
London: printed by T. East? for John Harrison the younger, 1584London: printed by T. East? for Iohn Harrison the yonger, 1584
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
First, that besides the many other heavenly graces of faith, knowledge of the will of God, love unto his everlasting truth and holy Scriptures, care to walk in life and conversation accordingly: with making much of the professors, and chiefly the preachers of the same: it may be a further spur unto you, to the stirring up & increasing of your godly zeal for the Lord his service & careful sanctifying of his holy Sabbath, not only in your own person, but also in your whole family: so that it may be truly said of you, to the glory of God & comfort of his people, as we read of that good & virtuous captain Jehoschuahh: I & my household will serve the Lord. For albeit the number be small, & the people few that have a due regard of christian spending the Lords day, in hearing the word preached, in receiving the sacraments, in prayer, supplication, & thanks-giving, & in private conferring with their families at home, of the word publicly preached (the greatest multitude both of men and women of all degrees and callings, letting loose the reins, and giving ⟨image 4⟩out the bridle unto all kind of vanities & licentiousness) yet let this be your crown and glory (good madame) letting these go, to have imitated and followed the example of those virtuous gentlewomen of Thessalonica, whose praise is in the Gospel,1 for their great diligence in reverent observing the Sabbath day, & in usual frequenting & resorting to hear the word, for the great con fort of their souls. And further, in the same place is the example of the godly women of Beroea commended, who not of custom,2 but of zeal, not of constraint, but with all willingness, not as sad & heavy, but with all readiness and joyfulness, not only heard the word preached by Paul and Silas, at the public assemblies and meetings of the Church, but also used daily and private conference in their houses at home, in searching the Scriptures, whether the things were so or no. How comfortable is that also which we read in the 16.
First, that besides the manie other heauenlye graces of faith, knowledge of the will of God, loue vnto his euerlasting truth and holy Scriptures, care to walk in life and conuersation accordingly: with making much of the professors, and chiefly the preachers of the same: it maye be a further spur vnto you, to the stirring vp & increasing of your godlye zeale for the Lord his seruice & carefull sanctifying of his holy Sabboth, not onely in your owne person, but also in your whole familye: so that it may be truly said of you, to the glorie of God & comfort of his people, as we read of that good & vertuous captaine Iehoschuahh: I & my houshold wil serue the Lord. For albeit the nūber be smal, & the people few that haue a due regard of christian spending the Lordes daye, in hearing the word preached, in receiuing the sacraments, in praier, supplication, & thanks-giuing, & in priuate cōferring with their families at home, of the word publiky preached (the greatest multitude both of men and women of all degrees and callinges, letting loose the raynes, and giuing