A63997:207
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.
Now, whereas afterwards the false Apostles did so urge those free observations of the Mosaical Sabbath, and other feasts, as by law, and with opinion of necessity, as to condemn their consciences who observed them not. Paul forbade the observation of them. All which we willingly acknowledge, but that hereupon they began first to ordain another day in the week for their Ecclesiastical assemblies and exercises of piety, which yet Chemnitius proves not, I leave it to the indifferent to judge; by comparing his opinion with that of Austins, who professeth, as Chemnitius well knew, that the Lords Day was declared ⟨p. 129⟩unto Christians by the Lords resurrection, and from thence began to have its festivity alleged by Chemnitius himself, p. 156. especially considering the reason moving them hereunto, which Chemnitius confesseth to have been on that day the Lord role from the dead. And seeing all festivals, as Bishop Lake observes, have been observed in regard of some great work done on such a day for the good of man; whether ever any day brought forth a more wonderful or more comfortable work to mankind than the first day of the week, which was the day of our Saviours resurrection from the dead, let the Christian world judge. This day Chemnitius saith, seems to be called by Saint John the Lords Day, which appellation all antiquity did afterwards retain and use: yet notwithstanding (saith he) we do not read that the Apostles did impose upon mens consciences in the new Testament the observation of that day by any Law or Precept, but the observation was free, for order sake. Let us duly weigh and consider this, together with the reasons following: Calvin distinguisheth the observation of a day for order sake, and the observation of a day for some mysterious signification sake: had Chemnitius thus distinguished, we would have subscribed thereunto, and confessed, that now adays we observe no day for any mysterious signification sake, but only for order sake. And thus under the Gospel we are freed from observation of days for mysteries sake, not free from observation of one certain day in the week for order sake. At for his phrase of imposing the observation of the Lords day upon mens consciences; this phrase is most improper and unseasonable, in this case;
Now, whereas afterwards the false Apostles did so urge those free observations of the Mosaicall Sabbath, and other feasts, as by law, and with opinion of necessity, as to condemne their consciences who observed them not. Paul forbad the observation of them. All which we willingly acknowledge, but that hereupon they began first to ordaine another day in the weeke for their Ecclesiasticall assemblies and exercises of piety, which yet Chemnitius proves not, I leave it to the indifferent to judge; by comparing his opinion with that of Austins, who professeth, as Chemnitius well knew, that the Lords Day was declared