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

(5) That in the Observation of the Lords-day, which is the first day of the week, we subject our consciences immediately to the Authority of Jesus Christ, the Mediator, whose Day of Rest originally it was, and which thereby, and for that Reason is made ours. And hereby in the observation of this Day, have we ⟨p. 435⟩fellowship with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ. Of old there was nothing appeared in the Day, whilst the seventh Day was in force, but the Rest of God the Creator, and his Sovereign Authority intimated unto us thereby, for the observing of an Holy Rest unto him, according to the Tenor of the first Covenant. But now the immediate Foundation of our Rest on the Lords-day, is the Lords Rest, the Rest of Christ, when upon his Resurrection he ceased from his works, as God did from his own. This gives great direction and encouragement in the duty of observing this Day aright. Faith truly exercised in bringing the Soul into an actual subjection unto the Authority of Christ in the observance of this Day, and directing the thoughts unto a contemplation of the Rest that he entered into after his works, with the Rest that he hath procured for us to enter into with him, doth more thereby towards the true Sanctification of this Day, than all outward Duties can do, performed with a legal Spirit, when men are in bondage unto the Command as taught to them, and dare not do otherwise. God in several places instructs the Israelites, what account they shall give unto their Children concerning their observation of sundry Rites and Ceremonies that he had instituted in his Worship, Exod. 13. 14. And it shall be when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What is this? that thou shalt say unto him, By strength of hand the Lord brought us out of the Land of Egypt, &c. It was in remembrance of such works of God amongst them, whereof those Rites were a Token and Representation. And we have here a special observance in the Worship of God; what account can we give ⟨p. 436⟩unto our selves, and our Children, concerning our observation of this Day Holy unto the Lord? Must we not say, nay may we not do so with joy and rejoicing, That whereas we were lost and undone by sin, excluded out of the Rest of God, so far as that the Law of the observation of the outward pledge of it, being attended with the Curse, was a burden and no relief unto us;