A30197:185
Questions about the nature and perpetuity of the seventh-day Sabbath and proof that the first day of the week is the true Christian-sabbath / by John Bunyan.
London: printed for Nath. Ponder, 1685
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.
But we are as yet but upon divine Intimations, drawn from such Texts which, if candidly considered, do very much smile upon this great truth; namely, that the First day of the week is to be accounted the Christian Sabbath, or Holy day for Divine Worship in the Churches of the Saints. And now I come to the Texts that are more express.
Secondly then,
First, This was the day in the which he did use to show himself to ⟨p. 76⟩his people, and to congregate with them after he rose from the dead. On the first first day, even on the day on which he rose from the dead, he visited his people, both when together and apart, over, and over, and over, as both Luke and John do testify, (Luk. 24. Joh. 2.) And preached such sermons of his resurrection, and gave unto them; yea, and gave them such demonstration of the truth of-all, as was never given them from the foundation of the world. Showing, he showed them his risen body; opening, he opened their Understandings; and dissipating, he so scattered their Unbelief on THIS day, as he never had done before: And this continued one way or another even from before day until the evening.
First, This was the day in the which he did use to shew himself to ⟨p. 76⟩his people, and to congregate with them after he rose from the dead. On the first first day, even on the day on which he rose from the dead, he visited his people, both when together and apart, over, and over, and over, as both Luke and John do testifie, (Luk. 24. Joh. 2.) And preached such sermons of his resurrection, and gave unto them; yea, and gave them such demonstration of the truth of-all, as was never given them from the foundation of the world. Shewing, he shewed them his risen body; opening, he opened their Understandings; and dissipating, he so scattered their Unbelief on THIS day, as he never had done before: And this continued one way or another even from before day until the evening.
Secondly, On the next first day following the Church was within again; that is, congregated to wait upon their Lord. And John so relates the matter, as to give us to ⟨p. 77⟩understand that they were not so assembled together again till then: After eight days, saith he, again the Disciples were within; clearly concluding, that they were not so on the days that were between, no not on the old Seventh day.
Now why should the Holy Ghost thus precisely speak of their assembling together upon the first day, if not to confirm us in this, that the Lord had chosen that day for the new Sabbath of his Church? Surely the Apostles knew what they did in their meeting together upon that day; yea, and the Lord Jesus also; for that he used SO to visit them when SO assembled, made his practice a Law unto them: For Practice is enough for us New Testament Saints, specially when the Lord Jesus himself is in the head of that practice, and that after he rose from the dead.
Perhaps some may stumble at the word [after] after eight days; but ⟨p. 78⟩the meaning is, at the conclusion of the eighth day, or when they had spent in a manner the whole of their Sabbath in waiting upon their Lord, then in comes their Lord, and finisheth that their days service to him with confirming of Thomas's faith, and by letting drop other most heavenly treasure among them. Christ said, he must lie three days and three nights in the heart of the Earth, yet 'tis evident, that he rose the third day, 1 Cor. 15. 4.
We must take then a part for the whole, and conclude, that from the time that the Lord Jesus rose from the dead, to the time that he showed his Hands and his Side to Thomas, eight days were almost expired; that is, he had sanctified unto them two first days, and had accepted that service they had performed to him therein, as he testified by giving of them so blessed a farewell at the conclusion of both those days.
We must take then a part for the whole, and conclude, that from the time that the Lord Jesus rose from the dead, to the time that he shewed his Hands and his Side to Thomas, eight days were almost expired; that is, he had sanctified unto them two first days, and had accepted that service they had performed to him therein, as he testified by giving of them so blessed a farewel at the conclusion of both those days.
Hence now we conclude, that ⟨p. 79⟩this was the custom of the Church at this day▪ to wit, upon the first day of the week to meet together, and to wait upon their Lord therein. For the Holy Ghost counts it needless to make a continued repetition of things; 'tis enough therefore if we have now and then mention made thereof.
Answ. The names of all those days in which he so did are obliterate and blotted out, that they might not be idolized; for Christ did not set them apart for worship, but this day, the first day of the Week, by its name is kept alive in the Church, the Holy Ghost surely signifying thus much, that how hidden soever other days were, Christ would have his day, the first day had in everlasting remembrance among Saints.
Churches also meet together now on the Week-days, and have the ⟨p. 80⟩presence of Christ with them too in their employments; but that takes not off from them the sanction of the first day of the Week, no more than it would take away the sanction of the old Seventh day, had it still continued holy to them: wherefore this is no let or objection to hinder our sanctifying of the first day of the Week to our God. But
Thirdly, Add to this, that upon Pentecost, which was the first day of the Week, mention is made of their being together again: For Pentecost was always the morrow after the Sabbath, the old Seventh-day-sabbath. Upon this day, I say, the Holy Ghost saith, they were again with one accord together in one place.
Thirdly, Adde to this, that upon Pentecost, which was the first day of the Week, mention is made of their being together again: For Pentecost was always the morrow after the Sabbath, the old Seventh-day-sabbath. Upon this day, I say, the Holy Ghost saith, they were again with one accord together in one place.
But oh! the glory that then attended them, by the presence of the Holy Ghost among them: Never was such a thing done as was done on that first day till then. We will read the Text; And when the day ⟨p. 81⟩of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from Heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues, as of fire: And it sat upon each of them, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, Acts 2. 1, 2, 3, 4.
Here's a first day glorified! Here's a countenance given to the day of their Christian assembling. But we will note a few things upon it.
First, The Church was now, as on other, first days, all with one accord in one place. We read not that they came together by virtue of any precedent Revelation, nor by Accident, but contrariwise by Agreement; they was to gather with one accord, or by appointment, in pursuance of their duty, setting apart that day, as they had done the first days afore, to the holy service of their blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
First, The Church was now, as on other, first days, all with one accord in one place. We read not that they came together by vertue of any precedent Revelation, nor by Accident, but contrarywise by Agreement; they was to gather with one accord, or by appointment, in pursuance of their duty, setting apart that day, as they had done the first days afore, to the holy service of their blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Secondly, We read that this meeting of theirs was not begun on the old Sabbath, but when Pentecost was fully come: the Holy Ghost intimating, that they had left now, and begun to leave, the Seventh-day-sabbath to the unbelieving Jews.
