A63997:117
The Christian Sabbath defended against a crying evil in these times of the antisabitarians…
The Christian Sabbath defended against a crying evil in these times of the antisabitarians of our age: wherein is showed that the morality of the fourth Commandment is still in force to bind Christians unto the sanctification of the Sabbath day. Written by that learned assertor of the truth, William Twice D.D. late prolocutor to the Assembly of Divines.The Christian Sabbath defended against a crying evil in these times of the antisabitarians of our age: wherein is shewed that the morality of the fourth Commandement is still in force to bind Christians unto the sanctification of the Sabbath day. Written by that learned assertor of the truth, William Twisse D.D. late prolocutor to the Assembly of Divines.
London: printed for Thomas Pierrepont, 1652
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.
To this they answer (saith he) that it is no inconvenience that there is no certain number or circle of days defined for Gods service by any precept. It is enough that the nature of public worship, in general comprehended in the fourth Commandment, doth require that not only certain days be observed, but that the number of them be sufficient also, nor fewer then the right institution of the Church, the salvation of men, and glory of God do require, and that God by not defining it, hath not left unto us a wild licentiousness but a prudent liberty. And therefore that it cannot be differed to one day in twenty, or thirty, much less to one of a thousand.
To this they answer (saith he) that it is no inconvenience that there is no certaine number or circle of dayes defined for Gods service by any precept. It is enough that the nature of publique worship, in generall comprehended in the fourth Commandement, doth require that not only certaine dayes be observed, but that the number of them be sufficient also, nor fewer then the right institution of the Church, the salvation of men, and glory of God doe require, and that God by not defining it, hath not left unto us a wild licentiousnes but a prudent liberty. And therefore that it cannot be differred to one day in twenty, or thirty, much lesse to one of a thousand.
2. Over and above they note (saith he) that from the moral reason of precept it is gathered what number of days is sufficient for Divine Service; namely that seeing we are eased ⟨p. 69⟩of the burden of ceremonies, whereof the Jews were not, and yet God required one day in seven to be kept holy by them, we may be more frequent in Divine offices, but ought not to be lesse•: but yet that GOD hath not precisely tied Christians to any, that is (as I take it) to any day in the week, whereas it should be to any proportion of time, otherwise it is nothing to the present purpose.
2. Over and above they note (saith he) that from the morall reason of precept it is gathered what number of dayes is sufficient for Divine Service; namely that seeing we are eased