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

For unto the holy separation of any thing unto God, it is required as well that it be taken from our selves, as that it be given unto him. This therefore the Law of our Creation requires as unto the separation of some part of our Time unto God. And if this doth not at first consideration discover it self in its Directive Power, it will quickly do so in its condemning Power upon a contradiction of it. Thus far then we have attained.

§. 25 Moreover, men are to worship God in Assemblies and Societies, such as he appoints, or such as by his Providence they are cast into. This will not be denied, seeing it stands upon as good, yea, better Evidence, than the Associations of mankind for Ends Political unto their own Good by Government and Order, which all men confess to be a Direction of the Law of Nature. For what concerns our living to God naturally, is as clear in ⟨p. 156⟩that Light and Conduct, as what concerns our living among our selves. Now a part of this Worship it is, that we honour him with what, by his Gift, is made ours. Such is our Time in this world. Nor can the Worship it self be performed and celebrated in a due manner, without the Designation, and Separation of some Time unto that purpose; and thereby, secondly, this Separation of Time becomes a branch of the Law of Nature, by an immediate, natural and unavoidable consequence. And what is so, is no less to be reckoned among the Rules of it, than the very first notions or impressions that it gives us concerning the nature of any thing, Good or Evil. For whatever Reason can educe from the Principles of Reason, is no less Reason, than those Principles themselves, from whence it is educed. And we aim no more from this discourse, but that the separation of some Time to the Worship of God, according to the Ends before insisted on, is Reasonable, so that the contrary in its first conception is unreasonable and foolish. And this I suppose is evident to all, I am sure by most it is granted. Could men hereupon acquiesce in the Authority and Wisdom of God, indigitating and measuring out that Portion of Time in all seasons, and Ages of the Church; there might be a Natural Rest from these contentions, about a Rest Sacred and Holy. However, I cannot but admire at the Liberty which some men take positively to affirm and contend, that the Command for the Observation of the Sabbath, when or however it were given, was wholly umbratile and Ceremonial. For there is that in it confessedly as its Foundation, and that which all its concernments are educed from,