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

§. 8 It may seem to some necessary, that something ⟨p. 422⟩should be premised concerning the measure or continuance of the Day to be set apart unto an Holy Rest unto the Lord. But it being a matter of controversy, and to me on the Reasons to be mentioned afterwards, of no great importance, I shall not insist upon the examination of it, but only give my judgement in a word concerning it. Some contend that it is a natural Day, consisting of 24 hours, beginning with the evening of the preceding Day, and ending with the same of its own. And accordingly so was the Church of Israel directed, Lev. 23. 32. From even unto even shall you celebrate your Sabbath; although that doth not seem to be a general Direction for the observation of the Weekly Sabbath, but to regard only that particular extraordinary Sabbath, which was thus instituted; namely the Day of Atonement on the tenth Day of the seventh month, vers. 27. However suppose it to belong also unto the weekly Sabbath; it is evidently an addition unto the command particularly suited unto the Mosaical Pedagogy, that the Day might comprise the Sacrifice of the preceding evening in the services of it, from an obedience whereunto we are freed by the Gospel. Neither can I subscribe unto this opinion; and that because, (1) In the description and limitation of the first original seven Days, it is said of each of the six that it was constituted of an evening and a morning; but of the Day of Rest there is no such description; it is only called the seventh Day, without any assignation of the preceding evening unto it. (2) A Day of Rest according to Rules of natural equity, ought to be proportioned unto a Day of work or labour, which God hath granted unto us for our own use. Now this is to be reckoned from morning to ⟨p. 423⟩evening, Psal. 104. 20, 21, 22, 23. Thou makest darkness and it is night, wherein all the Beasts of the forest do creep; (from whose yelling the Night hath its name in the Hebrew Tongue.) The young Lions rear after their prey, and seek their meat from God. The Sun riseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens. Man goeth forth to his work and his labour until the evening. The Day of labour is from the removal of darkness and the night, by the light of the Sun, until the return of them again;