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

4. The Emphatical Expression insisted on; Remember the Sabbath Day, hath respect unto the singular Necessity, Use, and Benefit of this holy Observance, as also to that neglect and decay in its Observation, which partly through their own sin, partly through the Hardships that it met withal in the world, the Church of former Ages had fallen into. And what it had lately received of a new Institution with reference unto the Israelites, falls also under this Command, or is reduced unto it, as a Ceremonial Branch under its proper Moral Head, whereunto it is annexed. And whereas it is greatly urged, that the Command of the seventh Day precisely, is not the Command of one day in seven; and that what God hath determined, as in this ⟨p. 203⟩matter the Day is, ought not to be indefinitely by us considered, it may be all granted without the least Prejudice unto the Cause wherein we are engaged. For although the Institution of the seventh Day precisely, be somewhat distinct from one Day in seven, as containing a determinate limitation of that which in the other notion is left indefinite; yet this hinders not, but that God may appoint the one and the other; the one in the Moral Reason of the Law, the other by an especial determination and Institution. And this especial Institution is to continue, unless it be abrogated or changed by his own Authority, which it may be, without the least impeachment of the Moral Reason of the whole Law, and a new day be limited by the same Authority, which hath been done accordingly, as we shall afterwards declare.

4. The Emphatical Expression insisted on; Remember the Sabbath Day, hath respect unto the singular Necessity, Use, and Benefit of this holy Observance, as also to that neglect and decay in its Observation, which partly through their own sin, partly through the Hardships that it met withal in the world, the Church of former Ages had fallen into. And what it had lately received of a new Institution with reference unto the Israelites, falls also under this Command, or is reduced unto it, as a Ceremonial Branch under its proper Moral Head, whereunto it is annexed. And whereas it is greatly urged, that the Command of the seventh Day precisely, is not the Command of one day in seven; and that what God hath determined, as in this ⟨p. 203⟩matter the Day is, ought not to be indefinitely by us considered, it may be all granted without the least Prejudice unto the Cause wherein we are ingaged. For although the Institution of the seventh Day precisely, be somewhat distinct from one Day in seven, as containing a determinate limitation of that which in the other notion is left indefinite; yet this hinders not, but that God may appoint the one and the other; the one in the Moral Reason of the Law, the other by an especial determination and Institution. And this especial Institution is to continue, unless it be abrogated or changed by his own Authority, which it may be, without the least impeachment of the Moral Reason of the whole Law, and a new day be limited by the same Authority, which hath been done accordingly, as we shall afterwards declare.