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

time consisting in a continual flux and succession, one part afore, and another after. As namely, supposing one day in seven is to be consecrated to Gods service; yet we shall still be to seek, which day of the seven is to be set apart for an holy use. And no marvel; for in it self it is nothing material. For a proportion of service being required within a certain compass, so it be done within that compass, every Master rests satisfied with his servants work. But ⟨image 9⟩as for difference in the proportion, every one accounts that a matter of great moment. God himself acknowledgeth this; therefore to whom he gives but little, at their hands he expects but little; to whom he gives much, of them he expects much, as our Saviour teacheth. And Saint John exhorts Christians so to carry themselves in the Lords service, that they may receive a full reward. ¹Yet both for our assurance that our service shall be acceptable with God (for of Jeroboam the son of Nebat who made Israel to sin, we read, that He offered upon the altar which he had made in Bethel the fifteenth day of the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart, which latter clause undoubtedly is added by way of exprobration) as also to prevent divisions by reason of different opinions thereabouts, and as different courses therein; it is fit that herein we should wait for the Lords direction, and designation of the particular day. And even this also was so ordered by God himself, and that in great congruity, as appears to as many, as are acquainted with the story of the Creation. For the Lord having dispatched all his works in six days, and resting on the seventh, commanded man to imitate him. For in this respect it was, that at the first the Lord blessed the seventh day and sanctified it: and some thousand of years after gives this reason, why after six days of labour the seventh being the Sabbath of the Lord our God, no manner of work should be done therein: which being once thus ordered by the Lord of the Sabbath, it must be in force of perpetual observation, as a requisite determination of the morality of this Law; and not of an alterable nature, save only by the same authority whereby it was ordained. Now to my understanding, by the fourth Commandment it is clear: First, that God commanded some time to be set apart, and sanctified unto his service.

time consisting in a continuall flux and succession, one part afore, and another after. As namely, supposing one day in seven is to be consecrated to Gods service; yet wee shall still be to seeke, which day of the seven is to be set apart for an holy use. And no marvell; for in it selfe it is nothing materiall. For a proportion of service being required within a certaine compasse, so it be done within that compasse, every Master rests satisfied with his servants worke. But