The Christian Sabbath defended against a crying evil in these times of the antisabitarians…

3. The third reason is, that if this Commandment were then given, it should oblige all men; but it is plain that the Gentiles never observed it, neither do we read the Patriarchs did. I answer, there is no soundness in all this. For touching the Gentiles, we have no History before the Flood, nor till a long time after; in which space of time, this Doctrine of the institution of the Sabbath being carried only by tradition, might easily be obliterated. The Scriptures Divine are the most ancient Records in the World; but it follows not, that because the Scriptures do not Record how the Patriarchs did observe the Sabbath, therefore they observed it not; but much rather, because, the Scriptures Record, that The Lord blessed the seventh Day, and sanctified it, therefore the Patriarchs did observe it. And the truth is, until the coming of the Israelites out of Egypt, we read not of the Church of God any where but in single Families. Neither do we read of the Patriarchs before the Flood or a long time after that they kept any Day consecrate to GODS Service; will it therefore follow, that those holy Patriarchs ⟨p. 58⟩did set no time at all apart for Gods ervice? yet is it generally acknowledged as by the light of nature, that some time ought to be set apart for Divine service. And formerly I have showed out of Manasseh Ben Israel, that whereas the Lord enjoining to the Israelites the observation of the Sabbath, bids them remember that they were servants in Egypt; this the ancient wise men among the Jews do apply in this manner, Cogita in Egypto ubi serviebas, etiam ipsu Sabbato per vim te coactum ad labores; think with thy self, how that in Egypt where thou servedst, that by force thou wast constrained to work, even on the Sabbath. So that the observation of the Sabbath was a duty even in those days. Observe farther that in the fourth Commandment, the Jews are charged to look unto it, not only that their children and their servants did observe the Sabbath, but also, the stranger that was within their gates. Now these kind of strangers commonly called Strangers of the gate, and thereby distinguished from Strangers of the Covenant; were such as were not circumcised, though accounted Proselytes in the first dege e.

3. The third reason is, that if this Commandement were then given, it should oblige all men; but it is plaine that the Gentiles never observed it, neither doe we reade the Patriarchs did. I answer, there is no soundnesse in all this. For touching the Gentiles, we have no History before the Flood, nor till a long time after; in which space of time, this Doctrine of the institution of the Sabbath being carried onely by tradition, might easily bee obliterated. The Scriptures Divine are the most ancient Records in the World; but it followes not, that because the Scriptures doe not Record how the Patriarches did observe the Sabbath, therefore they observed it not; but much rather, because, the Scriptures Record, that The Lord blessed the seventh Day, and sanctified it, therefore the Patriarches did observe it. And the truth is, untill the comming of the Israelites out of Egypt, wee reade not of the Church of God any where but in single Families. Neither doe wee reade of the Patriarches before the Flood or a long time after that they kept any Day consecrate to GODS Service; will it therefore follow, that those holy Patriarchs