A53694:236
Exercitations concerning the name, original, nature, use, and continuance of a day of sacred…
Exercitations concerning the name, original, nature, use, and continuance of a day of sacred rest wherein the original of the Sabbath from the foundation of the world, the morality of the Fourth commandment with the change of the Seventh day are enquired into : together with an assertion of the divine institution of the Lord's Day, and practical directions for its due observation / by John Owen.
London: printed by R.W. for Nath. Ponder, 1671
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.
§. 27 Farther to manifest this, we may enquire what is necessary unto any Duty of Obedience towards God, to evince it to be a Requisite of the Law of our Creation. And here our Diligence is required. For it must be said again expressly, what was before intimated, that it is a childish mistake to imagine, that whatever is required by the Law of Nature, is easily discernible, and always known to all. Some of its Directions it may be are so, especially such as are inculcated on the minds of men, by their Common Interest and Advantage. Such are neminem laedere, and jus suum cuique tribuere. But it is far from being true, that all the Dictates of the Law of Nature, and Requisites of Right Reason, are evident and incapable of Controversy, as they would have been unto man had he continued in his Integrity. Many things there are between men themselves concerning which, after all helps and advantages, and a continued Observation of the course of the world unto this day, it is still disputed, what is the sense ⟨p. 160⟩of the Law of Nature about them, and wherein, or how far they belong unto it. The Law of Nations among themselves with respect unto one another, on which is founded the Peace and Order of mankind, is nothing but the Law of Nature, as it hath been expressed in Instances by the Customs and Usages of them, who are supposed to have most diligently attended unto its Directions. And how many Differences never to be determined by common consent there are in and about these things, is known. For there are degrees of Evidence in the things that are of Natural Light. And many things that are so, are yet in Practice accompanied with the consideration of Positive Laws, as also of Civil Usages and Customs amongst men. And it is not easy to distinguish in many Observances; what is of the Law of Nature, and what of Law Positive, or of useful Custom. But of these things we have discoursed before in general. We are now to enquire what is requisite to warrant the Ascription of any thing unto this Law.
§. 27 Farther to manifest this, we may enquire what is necessary unto any Duty of Obedience towards God, to evince it to be a Requisite of the Law of our Creation. And here our Diligence is required. For it must be said again expresly, what was before intimated, that it is a childish mistake to imagine, that whatever is required by the Law of Nature, is easily discernible, and alwayes known to all. Some of its Directions it may be are so, especially such as are inculcated on the minds of men, by their Common Interest and Advantage. Such are neminem laedere, and jus suum cuique tribuere. But it is far from being true, that all the Dictates of the Law of Nature, and Requisites of Right Reason, are evident and incapable of Controversie, as they would have been unto man had he continued in his Integrity. Many things there are between men themselves concerning which, after all helps and advantages, and a continued Observation of the course of the world unto this day, it is still disputed, what is the sense