The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A…

If Adam had need of a sabbath, when he had no let within nor without, how much have we, that both within and without are beset, and one every side compassed with such strong impediments, from our selves and from others, that when we have a sabbath to bestow wholly and only on Godliness and religion, can yet hardly, and with much ado keep our harts from wandering after the world and earthly things. Therefore most fond is this objection, if Adams strength must be helped by a sabbath, then no man in this world hath so much strength, as that he for that cause may exempt himself from keeping a sabbath: it was given to strengthen and help the ⟨p. 64⟩Jews, and they needed it, and it is given to us to make us stronger, yea it was given to Adam, and he needed it, that he might more freely serve God, and more comfortably rejoice in him; and for this reason also is perpetual and no ceremony.

If Adam had neede of a sabboth, when hee had no let within nor without, how much haue we, that both within and without are beset, and one euery side compassed with such strong impediments, from our selues and from others, that when wee haue a sabboth to bestow wholy and onely on Godlinesse and religion, can yet hardly, and with much adoe keepe our harts from wandring after the world and earthly things. Therfore most fond is this objection, if Adams strength must bee helped by a sabboth, then no man in this world hath so much strength, as that hee for that cause may exempt himselfe from keeping a sabboth: it was giuen to strengthen and help the ⟨p. 64⟩Iewes, and they needed it, and it is giuen to vs to make vs stronger, yea it was giuen to Adam, and hee needed it, that hee might more freely serue God, and more comfortablie rejoyce in him; and for this reason also is perpetuall and no ceremonie.

Thirdly the manner of delivery confirms the perpetuity of it, & shows that it is still of as great force as any of the rest; for this was written by the finger of God in the table of stone, with the other to show the durable continuance of the same, and therefore this is not exempted, Deut. 40. 4. That reason which Moses brings to confirm the authority of all, is not taken from this, that God first spake it with the rest, & after wrote it also in tables of stone. God did give the ceremonial law by Moses hand, and used him as an instrument to write them, but for the greater reverence of these ten, he would not use the help of Moses hand and pen, but with his own finger wrote them, not in paper with ink, but in stone to show the strength and continuance of them, and commanded Moses to put them in the ark to show that no man could fulfil & perfectly obey them but only Christ: If these ten were all written by God, and no exception made, whereby the sabbath should be inferior to the rest, but altogether put into the Ark, then a man may even as well rend any of the other ten away as this, yea and with more warrant to, for none of them all is more fenced with reasons, and mounded about with more strong arguments to keep out the cavils and objections of men then this, so that where God hath as it were of set purpose, given more strength, for a man to impute more weakness to this thing, is a note either of great folly, or else of singular impudency and impiety.