Exercitations concerning the name, original, nature, use, and continuance of a day of sacred…

First, As it is Publicly and Solemnly professed in the World, whereon the Glory of God, and the Honour of Jesus Christ do greatly depend: And Secondly, As it prevails and rules in the Minds and Lives of Private Men, neither of them can be maintained without a due Observance of a Stated Day of Sacred Rest. Take this away, Neglect and Confusion will quickly cast out all Regard unto Solemn Worship. Neither did it ever thrive or flourish in the World from the Foundation of it, nor will do so unto its End, without a due Religious Attendance unto such a Day. Any man may ⟨image 5⟩easily foresee the Disorder and Profaneness which would ensue upon the taking away of that, whereby our Solemn Assemblies are guided and preserved. Wherefore by Gods own Appointment it had its Beginning, and will have its End with his Public Worship in this World. And take this off from the Basis whereon God hath fixed it, and all Humane Substitutions of any thing in the like kind to the same purposes, will quickly discover their own Vanity. Nor without advantage which it affords as it is the Sacred Repository of all sanctifying Ordinances will Religion long prevail in the Minds and Lives of private Men. For it would be just with God to leave them to their ⟨image 5⟩own Weakness and Decays, which are sufficient to ruin them, who despise the Assistance which he hath provided for them, and which he tenders unto them. Thus also we have known it to have fallen out with many in our Days, whose Apostasies from God have hence taken their Rise and Occasion. This being the case of a Weekly Sacred Day of Rest unto the Lord, it must needs be our Duty to enquire and discern aright, both what Warrant we have for the Religious Observance of such a Day, as also what Day it is in the Hebdomadal Revolution that ought so to be observed. About these things there is an Enquiry made in the ensuing Discourses; and some Determinations on that ⟨image 6⟩Enquiry. My Design in them, was to discover the Fundamental Principles of this Duty, and what Ground Conscience hath to stand upon in its Attendance thereunto. For what is from God in these things, is assuredly accepted with him. The Discovery hereof, I have endeavoured to make, and therewithal a safe Rule for Christians to walk by in this matter; so that for want thereof they may not lose the Things which they have wrought.