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

and this I took, and do take to be the highest degree of morality in this precept, and herein hitherto I have found no opposition. 2. As touching the second, by light of nature we are somewhat to seek, as whether one day in a week or more; or one day in a month or more; or one day in a year or more, ought to be set apart for the solemn worship and service of God. So that herein it is fit we should expect direction from God, the Lord of the Sabbath. 1. Because the service of the day is his, and it seems fit he should cut out what proportion of time he thinks convenient. 2. For the maintenance of uniformity therein; and lest otherwise there might be as many divisions hereabouts, as there are Churches in the world, and contentions also consequently, each standing for their own election. For reason of a conjectural nature is very various, and therein commonly affection ⟨image 9⟩bears the greatest sway, and draws the judgement to comply with it. But when God hath determined a certain proportion of time, it may be we shall find great congruity therein, even to natural reason, and far more than in any other. D. Field, as Master Broad reports, professeth, that to one who knows the story of the Creation, it is evident by light of nature, that one day in seven is to be consecrated to Gods service.¹ And Azorius the Jesuit in his moral Institutions acknowledgeth that It is most agreeable to reason, that after six work days, one day should be consecrated to divine worship. The least division of days is into a week, the next greater division is into a month, the next into a year. Now by light of nature it seems far more reasonable, that one day in seven should be employed in Gods service, than one day in a month. And if a seventh part of our time be to be consecrated unto God, better a seventh day, than a seventh part of every day, because the worldly occupations of each of those days, must needs cause miserable distraction. Thus reason may discourse in probable manner, when God hath gone before us to open a way unto us. Certainly, when God hath once determined the proportion of time, it is so far from being accounted moral, as perpetual, and still to hold, until God himself shall alter it. 3. As for the particularity of the day according to the forenamed proportion; therein we should be far more to seek, were we left unto our selves;

and this I tooke, and doe take to be the highest degree of morality in this precept, and herein hitherto I have found no opposition. 2. As touching the second, by light of nature we are somewhat to seeke, as whether one day in a weeke or more; or one day in a month or more; or one day in a yeare or more, ought to be set apart for the solemne worship and service of God. So that herein it is fit we should expect direction from God, the Lord of the Sabbath. 1. Because the service of the day is his, and it seemes fit he should cut out what proportion of time he thinkes convenient. 2. For the maintenance of uniformitie therein; and lest otherwise there might be as many divisions hereabouts, as there are Churches in the world, and contentions also consequently, each standing for their owne election. For reason of a conjecturall nature is very various, and therein commonly affection