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

§. 8 The first peculiar dealing of God with them about the Sabbath, was evidently in their first Station at Alush, Exod. 16. The occasion of the whole is laid down, v. 4, 5. Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold I will rain Bread from Heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them whether they will walk in my Laws or no? And it shall come to pass, that in the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in, and it ⟨p. 237⟩shall be twice as much as they gather daily. Here is no mention of the Sabbath; nor any Reason given why they should gather a double portion on the sixth Day. This Command therefore must needs have seemed somewhat strange unto them, if they had before no notion at all of a seventh Days Sacred Rest. They must else otherwise have been at a great loss in themselves, why they must double their measure on the sixth Day. However it is apparent, that either they had lost the true Day they were to observe through that long Bondage in Egypt, or knew not what belonged to the due Observation and Sanctification of it. For when the people had observed this Command, and gathered a double portion of Manna, to keep one part of it for the next day, although they had Experience that if at another season it were kept above one Day, it would putrefy, and stink, v. 20. The Rulers of the Congregation fearing some mistake in the matter, go and acquaint Moses with what was done amongst them, v. 22. Hereon Moses replieth unto them, v. 23. This is that which the Lord hath said, to morrow is the Rest of the holy Sabbath unto the Lord, bake that which you will bake.

§. 8 The first peculiar dealing of God with them about the Sabbath, was evidently in their first Station at Alush, Exod. 16. The occasion of the whole is laid down, v. 4, 5. Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold I will rain Bread from Heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them whether they will walk in my Laws or no? And it shall come to pass, that in the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in, and it ⟨p. 237⟩shall be twice as much as they gather dayly. Here is no mention of the Sabbath; nor any Reason given why they should gather a double portion on the sixth Day. This Command therefore must needs have seemed somewhat strange unto them, if they had before no notion at all of a seventh Dayes Sacred Rest. They must else otherwise have been at a great loss in themselves, why they must double their measure on the sixth Day. However it is apparent, that either they had lost the true Day they were to observe through that long Bondage in Aegypt, or knew not what belonged to the due Observation and Sanctification of it. For when the people had observed this Command, and gathered a double portion of Manna, to keep one part of it for the next day, although they had Experience that if at another season it were kept above one Day, it would putrifie, and stink, v. 20. The Rulers of the Congregation fearing some mistake in the matter, go and acquaint Moses with what was done amongst them, v. 22. Hereon Moses replyeth unto them, v. 23. This is that which the Lord hath said, to morrow is the Rest of the holy Sabbath unto the Lord, bake that which you will bake.