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

And as the Greeks and Latins made use of this Word borrowed from the Hebrew, so the Jews observing that their Sabbath Day had amongst them its Name from Saturn, Dies Saturni, as amongst us it is still thence called Saturday, they called him, or the Planet of that Name, [Greek or Hebrew]; and [Greek or Hebrew] Shabbetai. And even from hence, some of the Jews take advantage to please themselves with vain Imaginations. So R. Isaac Caro, commending the Excellency of the seventh Day, says, That Saturn is the Planet of that Day, the whole being denominated from the first hour, (whereof afterwards) He therefore, saith he, hath power on that Day, to renew the strength of our Bodies, as also to influence our minds to understand the Mysteries of God. He is the Planet of Israel, as the Astrologers acknowledge, (doubtless;) and in his portion is the rational soul, ⟨p. 28⟩and in the parts of the earth, the house of the Sanctuary, and among Tongues the Hebrew Tongue, and among Laws the Law of Israel. So far he; who whether he can make good his claim to the Relation of the Jews unto Saturn, or their pretended advantage on supposition thereof, I leave to our Astrologers to determine, seeing I know nothing of these things. And on the same Account of their Rest falling on the Day under that Planetary Denomination, many of the Heathen thought they dedicated the Day and the Religion of it unto Saturn. So Tacitus, Histor. lib. 5. Alii Honorem eum Saturno haberi. Seu Principia Religionis tradentibus Idaeis quos cum Saturno Pulsos & conditores Gentis accepimus; seu quod c septem syderibus queis mortales reguntur, altissimo orb & praecipua Potentia stella Saturni feratur; ac pleraque coelestium vim suam & cursiem septimos per numeros conficiant. Such Fables did the most diligent of the Heathen suffer themselves to be deluded withal, whereby a prejudice was kept up in their minds against the only true God and his Worship. The Word sometimes is also redoubled by a pure Hebraism. 1 Chron. 9. 32. [Greek or Hebrew], Shabbath, Shabbath; that is, every Sabbath; and somewhat variously used in the conjunction of another form; [Greek or Hebrew], Exod. 16. 23. Chap. 35. 2. And [Greek or Hebrew], Exod. 31. 15.