A53694:64
Exercitations concerning the name, original, nature, use, and continuance of a day of sacred…
Exercitations concerning the name, original, nature, use, and continuance of a day of sacred rest wherein the original of the Sabbath from the foundation of the world, the morality of the Fourth commandment with the change of the Seventh day are enquired into : together with an assertion of the divine institution of the Lord's Day, and practical directions for its due observation / by John Owen.
London: printed by R.W. for Nath. Ponder, 1671
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Only I must add that the severe Reflections, and contemptuous Reproaches, which I have heard made upon, and poured out against them, who it may be out of weakness, it may be out of a better Judgement than our own, do abstain from the using of them, argue a want of due Charity and that Condescension in love, which become those who judge themselves strong. For the truth is, they have a Plea sufficient at least to vindicate them from the contempt of any. For there are some places of Scripture which seem so far to give countenance unto them, that if they mistake in their Application, it is a mistake of no other nature but what others are liable unto, in things of greater importance. For it is given as the Will of God, Exod. 23. 13. In all things saith he that I have said be circumspect, and make no mention of the names of other Gods, neither let them be heard out of thy mouth. And it cannot be denied but that the Names of the Days of the Week, were the Names of Gods among the Heathen. The Prohibition is renewed, Josh. 2. 7. Thou shalt not make mention of the names of their Gods; which is yet extended farther, Deut. 12. 3. to a command, to destroy and blot out the names of the Gods of the people, which by this means are retained. Accordingly the Children of Reuben, building the Cities formerly called Nebo, and Baal Meon, changed their names, because they were the Names of Heathen Idols; Numb. 32. 38. And David mentioneth it, as a part of his Integrity, that he would not take up the names of Idols in his lips. Psal. 16. 4. And some of the Ancients as hath been observed, confirm what by some at ⟨p. 37⟩present is concluded from these places. Saith Hierome; Absit ab ore Christiano dicere, Jupiter Omnipotens, Mehercule, & Mecastor, & coetera magis Portenta quam nomina. Epist. ad Damas. Now be it granted that the Objections against the Use of the Planetary Names of the Days of the Week from these places may be answered, from consideration of the change of Times and the circumstances of things, yet certainly there is an appearance of Warranty in them sufficient to secure them from contempt and reproach, who are prevailed on by them, to another use.