A53694:258
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.
§. 42 But the supposition it self that both parties proceed upon, is not only uncertain, but certainly false. For the very Order of Nature it self disposeth these things unto that series, and mutual Respect which can never be interrupted. The Command is about the separation of time unto the service of God. This he tacitly grants, nor will deny, if he be pressed, who contends for the seventh Day. Here therefore it is natural and necessary, that Time be indefinitely considered and required, antecedently unto the Designation and Limitation of the portion of Time that is required. This the Order of Nature requireth. For if it be Time indefinitely that is limited in the Command unto the seventh Day, Time indefinitely is the first Object of that Limitation. And the case is the same with Reference unto one Day in seven. This also hath and must have a natural priority unto the seventh Day; for the seventh Day, is one Day of the seven. And these things are separable. Some Part of Time may be separated unto Religious Worship, and yet not one day in seven; but any other portion in a certain Revolution of Days, ⟨p. 181⟩Weeks, Months, or Years; if there be not a distinct Reason for it. And one Day in seven may be so separated, wherein the seventh Day precisely may have no Interest. And these things the very Nature of them doth assert, distinguish, and determine. Whatever Morality therefore, or Obligation unto a perpetual Observance can be fancied by any to be in the Command as to the seventh Day, it is but consequential unto, dependant upon, and separable from, the command and duty for the Observance of One Day in seven. And this sufficeth as to our present purpose. For I do not yet treat with them who contend for the precise Observation of the seventh Day now under the Gospel. It is enough, that here we prove, that the fourth Commandment requireth the Sacred Observation of one Day in seven, and that so far as it doth so, it is Moral and unchangeable.
§. 42 But the supposition it self that both parties proceed upon, is not only uncertain, but certainly false. For the very Order of Nature it self disposeth these things unto that series, and mutual Respect which can never be interrupted. The Command is about the separation of time unto the service of God. This he tacitely grants, nor will deny, if he be pressed, who contends for the seventh Day. Here therefore it is natural and necessary, that Time be indefinitely considered and required, antecedently unto the Designation and Limitation of the portion of Time that is required. This the Order of Nature requireth. For if it be Time indefinitely that is limited in the Command unto the seventh Day, Time indefinitely is the first Object of that Limitation. And the case is the same with Reference unto one Day in seven. This also hath and must have a natural priority unto the seventh Day; for the seventh Day, is one Day of the seven. And these things are separable. Some Part of Time may be separated unto Religious Worship, and yet not one day in seven; but any other portion in a certain Revolution of Dayes,