The Institution of Christian Religion

This perpetual ceasing was represented to the Jews, by the keeping of one day among seven: which day, to make it be observed with greater devotion, the Lord commanded with his own example. For it availeth not a little to stir up mans endeavour, that he may know that he tendeth to the following of his creator. If any man ⟨p. 56⟩search for a secret signification in the number of seven: Forasmuch as that number is in the Scripture the number of perfection, it was not without cause chosen to signify everlasting continuance. Wherewith this also agreeth that Moses in the day that he declared that the Lord did rest from his works, maketh an end of describing the succeeding of days & nights. There may be also brought an other probable note of the number that the Lord thereby meant to show that the Sabbath should never […] perfectly ended, till it came to the last day. For in it we begin our blessed rest, in it we do daily proceed in profiting more and more. But because we have still a continual war with the flesh, it shall not be ended until that saying of Isaiah be fulfilled,¹ concerning the continuing of new Moon with new moon, of Sabbath with Sabbath,² even the• when God shall be all in all. It may seem therefore that the Lord hath by the .vij. day set forth to his people the perfection to come of his Sabbath at the last day, that our whole lite might by continual meditation of the Sabbath, aspire to this perfection.

This perpetual cessyng was represented to the Iewes, by the kepyng of one daye among seuen: whiche daye, to make it be obserued with greater deuotion, the Lord commaunded with his owne exāple. For it auaileth not a litle to stirre vp mans endeuour, that he maye know that he tendeth to the folowyng of his creatour. If any man ⟨p. 56⟩searche for a secret signification in the number of seuen: For asmuch as that nomber is in the Scripture the nomber of perfection, it was not without cause chosen to signifie euerlastyng continuance. Wherwith this also agreeth that Moses in the day that he declared that the Lord did rest from his workes, maketh an ende of describyng the succeding of dayes & nightes. There maye be also brought an other probable note of the number that the Lord thereby meant to shewe that the Sabbat should neuer perfectly ended, til it came to the last day. For in it we beginne our blessed rest, in it we doe dayly procede in profityng more and more. But bicause we haue still a continuall warre with the flesh, it shall not be ended vntill that sayeng of Esaye be fulfilled,