A63997:158
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.
only the death of Christ setting an end to ceremonies. Then he demands whether the Apostles did not keep the Jewish Sabbath? now, I do not find they did, although they took occasions of their meetings on that day to dispute with them, and to instruct them in the Faith of Christ. Then he demands, whether the Primitive Church did not design as well the Sabbath as the Lords Day to sacred meetings? I find in Baronius, 1that Orthodoxi Orientals did, and the occasion also, to wit, in detestation of the Marcionites; yet without any such respect, it had been nothing strange, considering, that even now adays Saturday is counted half holy day; and that the Jews had a preparation for the Sabbath, in such sort, that on their behalf, Augustus made a rescript, that no Jews should be compelled to make good their suretiships (as much to say,2 they should not be arrested) either on the Sabbath days, or after three a clock of the day going before. Hereupon (which is yet a very weak ground in my judgement) he saith, that Papists infer, that the Lords Day is not of Divine institution; he doth not ⟨p. 92⟩make any such inference himself. Yet notwithstanding (he confesseth that) even in the Church of Rome, Anchoranus, Panormitane, Angelus and Sylvester (all which this Prefacer conceals very judiciously for his own advantage) have stoutly set themselves against these luke-warm Advocates, in affirmation of the Divine authority of the Lords Day. And I find, that Azorius in his institutions, makes mention of them to the same purpose, and adds, that Sylvester professeth, hanc esse opinionem communem, that this is the common opinion. And after this, Doctor Prideaux in that Section, disputes for the Divine institution thereof, rather than against it. After this he takes notice of Pauls fact, Acts 20.7. and disputes therehence for a custom to celebrate on the first day of the week their public meetings; and confesseth, that the Fathers, and all Interpreters almost, do so conceive it: though withal he professeth he sees not how from a casual fact (so he calleth it, upon what ground I know not) a solemn institution may be justly grounded; yet that which went before, in some opposition whereunto this is delivered, pleaded not for a solemn institution, but for a custom only;