A37046:838
The law unsealed
The law unsealed: or, A practical exposition of the Ten Commandments With a resolution of several momentous questions and cases of conscience. By the learned, laborious, faithful servant of Jesus Christ, Mr. James Durham, late minister of the Gospel at Glasgow.
Glasgow: printed by Robert Sanders, 1676
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.
3. Yet care would be had lest under pretext of these we exceed, and apply too much of what is the Lords unnecessarily for our selves and on our lusts; and if we will wake for ordinary business, and keep up on such and such a Diet, other Days, yea if we might do it, or others no more strong then we, do it, the pretence of infirmity will not excuse us, especially seeing hardly it can be often instanced, that timeousness at Gods Work in that day, or earnestness and continuance in it, hath proved hurtful, which we may account as a part of Gods blessing on the seventh day, that less meat and sleep may be as refreshful as more at another time▪ thus much for the quamdiu, or the Continuance of the day.
3. Yet care would be had lest under pretext of these we exceed, and apply too much of what is the Lords unnecessarily for our selves and on our lusts; and if we will wake for ordinary business, and keep up on such and such a Dyet, other Dayes, yea if we might do it, or others no more strong then we, do it, the pretence of infirmity will not excuse us, especially seeing hardly it can be often instanced, that timeousness at Gods Work in that day, or earnestness and continuance in it, hath proved hurtful, which we may account as a part of Gods blessing on the seventh day, that less meat and sleep may be as refreshful as more at another time▪ thus much for the quamdiu, or the Continuance of the day.
Secondly, it may be enquired how often by virtue of this command that day doth recur? if it be one of seven? or, if it be the very seventh? And so if this day be to be taken definitely for the very seventh day after the Creation, or indefinitely for one day of seven, as the Lord should otherwayes determine, or had elsewhere determined; a stricting then to a day: but not any particular day by virtue of this command, but to such a day as was formerly described or prescribed from the beginning, during the Jewish State, and to such another day as God should after Christs coming reveal unto them, and pitch upon for his service? for taking it for granted, that a Seventh day as moral is commanded, it followeth to be inquired, whether it be the Seventh in number, that is, one of seven, or the seventh in order, that is, the Seventh day?