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

The fourth reason is drawn from the persons upon whom it lieth, and unto whom it is given: for we know that the ceremonies did lie only upon the Jews, the Gentiles were not bound to observe them: but now this commandment saith not only thou, thy son, thy daughter, thy man, thy maid, which contains all the whole commonwealth, but it goes further & saith, thy stranger which is within thy gates: so that if an ⟨image 72⟩heathen man of another country and religion, had come amongst them, the magistrate was bound to look to it, that he do not openly and publicly violate the sabbath, but of force should celebrate an outward, though to perform duties of religion, that lay not in mans hand to constrain them. Now the ceremonies were as a partition wall betwixt the Jews & Gentiles, to separate the church of the Jews, and the seed of Abraham, from all other congregations, until after this partition was broken down by Christ, and both brought into one fold, for when Christs death did tear asunder the vale of the temple, then he tare all ceremonies in twain, that they could no longer bind the conscience either of Jew or Gentle: but for the sabbath even the Gentiles must keep it, and because they would not themselves, when they came among the servants of God, they were to be constrained; as in Nehemiah time, when the men of Tyre came to sell wares on the sabbath day, in Jerusalem, he would not suffer them, but threatens to lay hands upon them, if they did any more come after that manner. If God had here commanded only to look to the Jews, and not to strangers, it had been some appearance, but sith God will have strangers of the Gentiles bound to the keeping of it, so far as men can, if they come within the walk and reach of Christians, now the matter is put quite out of doubt that this is no ceremony.

The fourth reason is drawen from the persons vpon whom it lieth, and vnto whom it is giuen: for wee know that the ceremonies did lie onely vpon the Iewes, the Gentiles were not bound to obserue them: but now this commandement sayth not onely thou, thy sonne, thy daughter, thy man, thy maide, which containes all the whole commonwealth, but it goes further & saith, thy stranger which is within thy gates: so that if an ⟨image 72⟩heathen man of another countrie and religion, had come amongst them, the magistrate was bound to looke to it, that he doe not openly and publikely violate the sabboth, but of force should celebrate an outward, though to perform duties of religion, that lay not in mans hand to constraine them. Now the ceremonies were as a partition wall betwixt the Iewes & Gentiles, to seperate the church of the Iewes, and the seede of Abraham, from all other congregations, vntill after this partition was broken downe by Christ, and both brought into one fold, for when Christs death did teare asunder the vale of the temple, then hee tare all ceremonies in twaine, that they could no longer binde the conscience either of Iew or Gentill: but for the sabboth euen the Gentils must keepe it, and because they would not themselues, when they came among the seruants of God, they were to be constrayned; as in Nehemias time, when the men of Tyrus came to sell wares on the sabboth day, in Ierusalem, hee would not suffer them, but threatens to lay hands vpon them, if they did any more come after that manner. If God had heere commanded onely to looke to the Iewes, and not to strangers, it had beene some appearance, but sith God will haue strangers of the Gentils bound to the keeping of it, so farre as men can, if they come within the walke and reach of Christians, now the matter is put quite out of doubt that this is no ceremonie.