A26918:201
The divine appointment of the Lords day proved as a separated day for holy…
The divine appointment of the Lords day proved as a separated day for holy worship, especially in the church assemblies, and consequently the cessation of the seventh day Sabbath : written for the satisfaction of some religious persons who are lately drawn into error or doubting in both these points / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for Nevil Simmons, 1671
The Divine Appointment of the LORDS DAY, proved, as a separated Day… › Chapter 5
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Ans. True: that is, Christ may: And when he doth it by himself, or by new Apostles, who confirm their Commission by Miracles, we will obey: But we expect his presence with the Apostolical constitutions to the end of the World, Mat. 28. 20.
Theodosius also enacted that on the Lords day and in the Christmas, and on Easter and to Whitsuntide the public Circuses and Theatres should be shut up. (For we grant that when Christian Magistrates took the matter in hand, other Holy days were brought in by degrees; whereas before the Christians indeed met (yea and Communicated) as oft as they could, even most days in the week; but did not separate the days as holy to Gods service as they did the Lords day: Only Christmas day, and the Memorials of those Martyrs that were near them (to encourage the people to constancy) they honoured somewhat early; But those were anniversary, and not weekly. And the Wednesdays, and Fridays, were kept by them but as we keep them now, or as a Lecture day.
Theodosius also enacted that on the Lords day and in the Christmas, and on Easter and to Whitsuntide the publike Cirques and Theaters should be shut up. (For we grant that when Christian Magistrates took the matter in hand, other Holy dayes were brought in by degrees; whereas before the Christians indeed met (yea and Communicated) as oft as they could, even most daies in the week; but did not separate the daies as holy to Gods service as they did the Lords day: Only Christmas day, and the Memorials of those Martyrs that were neer them (to encourage the people to constancy) they honoured somewhat early; But those were anniversary, and not weekly. And the Wednesdays, and Fridays, were kept by them but as we keep them now, or as a Lecture day.
I grant also that when Christian Magistracy arose, as the Holy days multiplied, the manner of the days observation altered. For whereas from the beginning, the Christians used to stay