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

Again they object that to a christian every day is a sabbath day, and therefore we should not restrain it to one day more then another: but the answer to this is, that it is most false, for God doth not require neither is a christian able to keep every day a sabbath day, so long as they remain on earth, indeed in heaven he shall keep a continual sabbath unto the Lord, but now so long as we live, there is as much difference betwixt the sabbath day and other days, as betwixt the consecrate bread we receive at the Lords table, and the common bread we receive at our own table. This is true that every one must serve God on the six days, and all his life long, but on the seventh day we must not only serve God, but we must serve him in the duties of religion and mercy, only. As for example, Gods children will not eat meat at their own table, without craving Gods blessing upon them, but when they are to come to the table of the Lord, they use a greater and more solemn preparation, because they expect a greater and more excellent blessing: so likewise a christian in all the works of his calling, hath a regard to serve and glorify God, but in a more special manner upon the seventh day, because he then looks for a more plentiful and liberal benediction both upon his soul and body; and these men that among us keep such a prating that every day must be a sabbath, and we must rest from sin, mark them whether they rest from sin at all, and observe if there be any families so bade as theirs, that commonly if one would rake hell, as we say, he could not meet with more profane and irreligious persons that speak of keeping every day holy, but in truth keep every day unholy; but others that in conscience of Gods commandment, do bind themselves to keeping of the sabbath which God hath instituted, go far beyond them in all virtue and holiness, if they could show any good effect in themselves of this their every day sabbath, we might give some credit to them, for God doth always give a blessing to his own ⟨image 75⟩ordinance, but for such vile and unholy persons, that in all their life never kept a sabbath holy, to make a talk of keeping every day as a sabbath, it is most palpable and damnable hypocrisy.

Againe they object that to a christian euery day is a sabboth day, and therefore wee should not restraine it to one day more then another: but the answere to this is, that it is most false, for God doth not require neither is a christian able to keep euery day a sabboth day, so long as they remain on earth, indeede in heauen hee shall keepe a continuall sabboth vnto the Lord, but now so long as wee liue, there is as much difference betwixt the sabboth day and otheir daies, as betwixt the consecrate bread wee receiue at the Lords table, and the common bread wee receiue at our owne table. This is true that euery one must serue God on the sixe daies, and all his life long, but on the seauenth day wee must not onely serue God, but we must serue him in the duties of religion and mercy, onely. As for example, Gods children will not eat meat at their owne table, without crauing Gods blessing vpon them, but when they are to come to the table of the Lord, they vse a greater and more solemne preparation, because they expect a greater and more excellent blessing: so likewise a christian in all the workes of his calling, hath a regard to serue and glorifie God, but in a more speciall manner vpon the seauenth day, because hee then lookes for a more plentifull and liberall benediction both vpon his soule and bodie; and these men that among vs keepe such a prating that euery day must bee a sabboth, and wee must rest from sinne, marke them whether they rest from sinne at all, and obserue if there bee any families so bade as theirs, that commonly if one would rake hell, as wee say, hee could not meete with more prophane and irreligious persons that speake of keeping euery day holy, but in truth keepe euery day vnholy; but others that in conscience of Gods commandement, doe binde themselues to keeping of the sabboth which God hath instituted, goe farre beyond them in all vertue and holinesse, if they could shew any good effect in themselues of this their euerie day sabboth, we might giue some credit to them, for God doth alwaies giue a blessing to his owne