Fifty Godly and Learned Sermons (The Decades)

For all these things must we ¹apply to our selves, and our churches. It is most sure, that to Christians the spiritual sabbath is given in charge, especially and above all things. Neither is it to be doubted, but that the good Lords will is, that even in our Churches at this day, as well as of the Jews of old, there should be kept and appointed order in all things but especially in the exercising of outward religion. We know that the sabbath is ceremonial, so far forth as it is joined to sacrifices and other Jewish ceremonies, and so far forth as it is tied to a certain time: but in respect that on the sabbath day, religion and true godliness are exercised and published, that a just and seemly order is kept in the Church, and that the love of our neighbour is thereby preserved, therein I say it is perpetual and not ceremonial. Even at this day verily we must ease and bear with our family, and even at this day we must instruct our family, in the true religion and fear of God. Christ our Lord did no where scatter abroad the holy congregations, but did as much as he could, gather them together. Now, as there ought to be an appointed place, so likewise must there be a prescribed time for the outward exercise of religion, and so consequently an holy rest. They of ²the primitive Church therefore did change the Sabbath day, least peradventure, they should have seemed to have imitated the Jews, and still to have retained their order and ceremonies: and made their assemblies and holy restings to be on the first day of Sabbaths, which John calleth Sunday, or the Lords day, because of the Lords glorious resurrection upon that day. And although we do not in any part of the Apostles writings, find any mention made that this sunday, was commanded us to be kept holy, yet for because in this fourth precept of the first table, we are commanded to have a care of religion, and the exercising of outward godliness, it would be against all godliness and Christian charity, if we should deny to sanctify the Sunday: especially, since the outward worship of god can not consist without an appointed time and space of holy rest.

For all these thinges muste we ¹apply to our selues, and our churches. It is most sure, that to Christians the spirituall sabboth is giuen in charge, especially and aboue all things. Neyther is it to be doubted, but that the good Lordes will is, that euen in our Churches at this day, as well as of the Iewes of olde, there shoulde be kept and appointed order in al things but especially in the exercising of outward religion. We knowe that the sabboth is ceremoniall, so farre foorth as it is ioyned to sacrifices and other Iewish ceremonies, and so farre forth as it is tyed to a certaine time: but in respect that on the sabboth day, religion and true godlinesse are exercised and published, that a iust and séemely order is kept in the Church, and that the loue of our neighbour is thereby preserued, therein I say it is perpetuall and not ceremoniall. Euen at this daye verily we must ease and beare with our familie, and euen at this day we must instruct our familie, in the true religion and feare of God. Christ our Lord did no where scatter abroad the holy congregations, but did as much as he could, gather them together. Nowe, as there ought to be an appointed place, so likewise muste there be a prescribed time for the outward exercise of religion, and so consequently an holye rest. They of