And it is a thing to be noted, That Luke saith not, that the Disciples were sent to hear Paul preach, but the Disciples being come together to break bread upon the first day of the week; that is, to be partakers of the holy Communion, at what time the Lord's death was by the preaching of the Word showed, 1 Cor. 11. 26. Paul preached unto them, &c. And that none kept those meetings but Christians, who only are called Disciples, Act. 11. 26. But at Philippi, whereas yet there were no Disciples, Paul is said to go on their Sabbath day, to the place where the Jews and their Proselytes were wont to pray, and there preached unto them, Acts 16. 12, 13. so that it is as clear as the Sun, that it was the Christians usual manner, toa pass over the Jewish seventh day, and to keep the Sabbath, and their holy meetings on the first day of the week. And why doth S. John call this the Lord's day; but because it was a day known to be generally kept holy, to the honour of the Lord Jesus (who rose from death to life upon that day) throughout all the Churches which the Apostles planted? Which S. John called the bLord's day, the rather to stir up Christians to a thankful remembrance of their Redemption, by Christ his Resurrection ⟨p. 235⟩from the dead. And with the day, the blessing of the Sabbath is likewise translated to the Lord's day: because that all the sanctification belonging to this new world is in Christ,3 and from him conveyed to Christians. And because there cannot come a greater authority, than that of Christ and his Apostles, nor the like cause, as the new Creation of the world: therefore the Sabbath can never be altered from this day to any other, whilst this world lasteth. Add hereunto, how the Scripture noteth, that in the first planting and settling of the Church nothing was done, but by the special order and direction of the Apostles, 1 Cor. 11. 34. 1 Cor. 14. 36, 37. Tit. 1. 5. Act. 15. 6, 24. and the Apostles did nothing but what they had warrant for from Christ, 1 Cor. 11. 23.
And it is a thing to be noted, That Luke saith not, that the Disciples were sent to hear Paul preach, but the Disciples being come together to break bread upon the first day of the week; that is, to be partakers of the holy Communion, at what time the Lord's death was by the preaching of the Word shewed, 1 Cor. 11. 26. Paul preached unto them, &c. And that none kept those meetings but Christians, who only are called Disciples, Act. 11. 26. But at Philippi, whereas yet there were no Disciples, Paul is said to go on their Sabbath day, to the place where the Jews and their Proselytes were wont to pray, and there preached unto them, Acts 16. 12, 13. so that it is as clear as the Sun, that it was the Christians usual manner, toa pass over the Jewish seventh day, and to keep the Sabbath, and their holy meetings on the first day of the week. And why doth S. John call this the Lord's day; but because it was a day known to be generally kept holy, to the honour of the Lord Jesus (who rose from death to life upon that day) throughout all the Churches which the Apostles planted? Which S. John called the bLord's day, the rather to stir up Christians to a thankful remembrance of their Redemption, by Christ his Resurrection ⟨p. 235⟩from the dead. And with the day, the blessing of the Sabbath is likewise translated to the Lord's day: because that all the sanctification belonging to this new world is in Christ,3 and from him conveyed to Christians. And because there cannot come a greater authority, than that of Christ and his Apostles, nor the like cause, as the new Creation of the world: therefore the Sabbath can never be altered from this day to any other, whilst this world lasteth. Add hereunto, how the Scripture noteth, that in the first planting and setling of the Church nothing was done, but by the special order and direction of the Apostles, 1 Cor. 11. 34. 1 Cor. 14. 36, 37. Tit. 1. 5
- aActs 21. 4, &c.
- bRev. 1. 10. Mos Christianus, &c. It is the manner of Christians, to call it the Lord's day. Bed. in Luc. cap. 41.
- 3Heb. 2. 5.
