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

After the destruction of Jerusalem, City and Temple, these professing Jews fell into several distinct ⟨p. 402⟩ways. Some of them, who as is probable had despised the heavenly warning of leaving the place, took up their lot amongst their unbelieving Brethren; relinquishing the profession of the Gospel which they had made, not it may be with any express renunciation of Christ, but with a dis-regard of the Gospel, which brought them not those good things they looked for; of which mind Josephus the Historian seems to be one. These in time became a part of that Apostate brood which have since continued in their enmity to the Gospel, and into whose new and old superstitions, they introduced sundry customs which they had learned among the Christians. Some absolutely relinquished their old Judaism, and completely incorporated with the new Gentile Churches, unto whom the promise and Covenant of Abraham was transferred and made over. These were the genuine Disciples of our great Apostle. Others continued their profession of the Gospel, but yet still thought themselves obliged unto the observation of the Law of Moses, and all its institutions. Hereupon they continued in a distinct and separate state from the Believers and Churches of the Gentiles, and that for some Ages, as some say to the days of Adrian. These it may be were they whom Eusebius out of Hegesippus calls [Greek or Hebrew], Masbothai, whom he reckons as a Sect of the Jews, Histor. lib. 4. 21. The Jews call them [Greek or Hebrew], that is, Sabbatarians, which must be from some observation of the Sabbath in a distinct manner, or for different Reasons, from themselves. Buxtorfe, and our late learned Lexicographer, render [Greek or Hebrew], by Sabbatarii, adding this explanation, Qui secundum Christi Doctrinam Sabbatum observabant, by a ⟨p. 403⟩mistake; For as they are reckoned unto the Jews by Hegesippus, so those who followed the Doctrine of Christ, did not Sabbatize with the Jews, nor were ever called Sabbatarians by them. There was indeed a sort of persons among the Samaritans who are called Sabuaei, whom Epiphanius makes the third sect of them. But these were so called without any respect unto a Sabbatical observation. [Greek or Hebrew] the Jews call them, that is Septenarii. from [Greek or Hebrew];

After the destruction of Hierusalem, City and Temple, these professing Jews fell into several distinct ⟨p. 402⟩