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

§. 1 WE have fixed the Original of the Sabbatical Rest, according to the best light we have received into these things, and confirmed the Reasons of it with the consent of mankind. The next step in our progress must be an Enquiry into its Causes. And here also we fall immediately into those Difficulties and Entanglements, which the various Apprehensions of Learned Men promoted and defended with much Diligence, have occasioned. I have no Design to oppose or ⟨p. 117⟩contend with any, although a modest Examination of the Reasons of some, will be indispensably necessary unto me. All that I crave, is the liberty of proposing my own Thoughts and Judgement in this matter, with the Reasons and Grounds of them. When that is done, I shall humbly submit the whole, to the Examination and Judgement of all that call upon the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord, and ours.

§. 1 WE have fixed the Original of the Sabbatical Rest, according to the best light we have received into these things, and confirmed the Reasons of it with the consent of mankind. The next step in our progress must be an Enquiry into its Causes. And here also we fall immediately into those Difficulties and Entanglements, which the various Apprehensions of Learned Men promoted and defended with much Diligence, have occasioned. I have no Design to oppose or ⟨p. 117⟩contend with any, although a modest Examination of the Reasons of some, will be indispensibly necessary unto me. All that I crave, is the liberty of proposing my own Thoughts and Judgement in this matter, with the Reasons and Grounds of them. When that is done, I shall humbly submit the whole, to the Examination and Judgement of all that call upon the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord, and ours.

§. 2 First, It is agreed by all, that God alone is the Supreme, Original, and Absolute Cause of the Sabbath. When ever it began, when ever it ends, be it expired, or still in force, of what kind soever were its Institution, the Law of it was from God. It was from Heaven; and not of men; and the Will of God is the sole Rule and measure of our Observation of it, and Obedience to him therein. What may, or may not be done, in reference unto the Observation of a Day of holy Rest by any inferior Authority, comes not here under consideration. But whereas there are two sorts of Laws whereby God requires the Obedience of his Rational Creatures, which are commonly called Moral and Positive, it is greatly questioned and disputed, to whether of these sorts doth belong the Command of a Sabbatical Rest. Positive Laws are taken to be such, as have no Reason for them in themselves, nothing of the matter of them, is taken from the things themselves commanded, but do depend merely and solely on the Sovereign Will and Pleasure of God. Such were the Laws and Institutions of the Sacrifices of old; and such are those which concern the Sacraments and other things of