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

§. 47 I cannot but judge yet farther, that in the Caution given by our Saviour unto his Disciples, about praying that their flight should not be on the Sabbath Day, Matth. 24. 20. He doth declare the continued Obligation of the Law of the Sabbath, as a Moral Precept upon all. It is answered by some, ⟨p. 194⟩that it is the Judaical Sabbath alone that is intended, which he knew that some of his own Disciples would be kept for a season in bondage unto. For the Ease therefore of their Consciences in that matter, he gives them this Direction. But many things on the other side are certain and indubitable, which render this conjecture altogether improbable. For (1.) All real Obligation unto Judaical Institutions was then absolutely taken away; and it is not to be supposed, that our Lord Jesus Christ would before hand lay in provision for the edification of any of his Disciples in Error. (2.) Before that time came, they were sufficiently instructed doctrinally in the dissolution of all Obligation in Ceremonial Institutions; This was done principally by St. Paul in all his Epistles; especially in that unto the Hebrews themselves at Jerusalem. (3.) Those who may be supposed to have continued a conscientious respect unto the Judaical Sabbath, could be no otherwise persuaded of it, than were the Jews themselves in those Days. But they all accounted themselves absolved in conscience from the Law of the Sabbath upon eminent danger in time of War, so that they might lawfully either fight or fly, as their safety did require. This is evident from the Decree made by them under the Hasmoneans. And such imminent danger is now supposed by our Saviour; for he instructs them to forego all consideration of their Enjoyments, and to shift merely for their lives. There was not therefore any danger in point of conscience with respect unto the Judaical Sabbath to be then feared or prevented. But in general, those in whose hearts are ⟨p. 195⟩the ways of God, do know what an addition it is to the greatest of their earthly troubles, if they befall them in such seasons, as to deprive them of the Opportunity of the Sacred Ordinances of Gods Worship, and indispensably engage them in Ways and Works quite of another Nature, than, when they stand in most need of them. There is therefore another Answer invented;