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

(6) Upon a supposition of the Institution of the Sabbath from the Beginning, Whether the Additions made, and Observances annexed unto it, at the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai, with the Ends whereunto it was then designed, and the Uses whereunto it was employed, gave unto the seventh Day a new State distinct from what it had before; although naturally the same day was continued as before. For if they did so, that new State of the Day, seems only to be taken away under the New Testament; ⟨p. 9⟩if not the Day it self seems to be abolished: for that some change is made therein from what was fixed under the Judaical Economy, cannot modestly be denied. (7) Whether in the fourth Commandment, there be a Foundation of a Distinction between a seventh Day in General, or one Day in seven; and that seventh Day, which was the same numerically and precisely from the Foundation of the World. For whereas an Obligation unto the strict Observation of that Day precisely is as we shall prove, plainly taken away in the Gospel, if the Distinction intimated, be not allowed, there can be nothing remaining obligatory unto us in that command, whilst it is supposed, that that Day is at all required therein. Hence (8) It is especially enquired, whether a seventh Day, or one Day in seven, or in the Hebdomadal Cycle, be to be observed Holy unto the Lord, on the Account of the fourth Commandment. (9) Whether under the New Testament all Religious Observation of Days be so taken away, as that there is no Divine Obligation remaining for the Observance of any one Day at all; but that as all Days are alike in themselves, so are they equally free to be disposed of, and used by us, as Occasion shall require. For if the Observation of one Day in seven, be not founded in the Law of Nature, expressed in the Original Positive Command concerning it; and if it be not seated Morally in the fourth Commandment, it is certain that the necessary Observance of it is now taken away. (10) On the other extreme, whether the seventh Day from the Creation of the world, or the last Day of the Week, be to be observed precisely under the New ⟨p. 10⟩Testament by virtue of the Fourth Commandment and no other. The Assertion hereof supposeth that our Lord Jesus Christ the Lord of the Sabbath hath neither changed, nor reformed any thing in or about the Religious Observation of an Holy Day of Rest unto the Lord;

(6) Upon a supposition of the Institution of the Sabbath from the Beginning, Whether the Additions made, and Observances annexed unto it, at the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai, with the Ends whereunto it was then designed, and the Uses whereunto it was employed, gave unto the seventh Day a new State distinct from what it had before; although naturally the same day was continued as before. For if they did so, that new State of the Day, seems only to be taken away under the New Testament;