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

§. 4 But every one may easily see the Vanity of these Pretences, and how easy it is for any one to frame a ⟨p. 46⟩thousand of them who knows not how better to spend his time. Aben Ezra and Abarbinel. both confess that the words used in the Repetition of the Law, Deut. 5. do refer to the giving of it on Mount Sinai. And if we must seek for especial Reasons of the inserting of those words, besides the Sovereign Pleasure of God, they are not wanting which are far more probable than these of the Masters. (1) The one of these Commandments closing up the first Table concerning the Worship of God, and the other heading the second Table concerning our Duties amongst our selves and towards others, this Memorial, as the Lord thy God commanded thee, is on that account expressly annexed unto them, being to be distinctly applied unto all the Rest. (2) The Fourth Command is as it were Custos primae Tabulae, the Keeper of the whole first Table, seeing our owning of God to be our God, and our Worship of him according to his mind, were solemnly to be expressed, on the Day of Rest commanded to be observed for that purpose; and in the neglect whereof they will be sure enough neglected; whence also a Remembrance to observe this Day is so strictly enjoined. And the Fifth Commandment is apparently Custos secundae Tabulae; as appointed of God to contain the means of exacting the observation of all the Duties of the second Table, or of punishing the neglect of them and disobedience unto them. And therefore, it may be the Memorial is not peculiarly annexed unto them on their own distinct Account, but equally upon that of the other Commandments whereunto they do refer. (3) There is yet an especial Reason for the peculiar Appropriation of ⟨p. 47⟩these two Precepts by that Memorial unto this people. For they had now given unto them an especial Typical Concern in them, which did not at all belong unto the rest of mankind who were otherwise equally concerned in the Decalogue with themselves. For in the Fourth Commandment, whereas no more was before required but that one Day in seven should be observed as a Sacred Rest, they were now precisely confined to the seventh Day in order from the finishing of the Creation; or the establishing of the Law and Covenant of Works; or a day answering thereunto.