A63997:295
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.
how much more fit that the Creator should prescribe unto his creature, then that the creature should prescribe unto his Creator; considering, 1. how the dominion of God over his creature is incomparably greater than that which any other Master hath over his servant. 2. That man may become unreasonable in his demands and commands, God cannot. 3. God can give strength to his creature to perform what he commands, man cannot. 4. The more clear and express the Commandment is, the more comfortable to the creature, being hereby assured, the service he performs is in ⟨p. 192⟩the way of obedience, not unto his own will, but to the will of his Master. 3. May I not add a third? namely, that by the very equity of a natural conscience, it is more fit to apportion unto Gods service one day in a week, rather than one day in a month; especially considering that originally time hath been divided into weeks, and not into months, until along time after. In all which, I am content to appeal to the judgement of Doctor Prideaux himself. Yet we have not done in this argument; For in the fourth Commandment, there is enjoined, not only the setting apart of some time in general for Gods service; and the proportion of one day in seven in special, but also the particulating of a certain day under this proportion; and who seeth not, that so many different things (though one in subordination to another) being duly considered, it is no way fit to confound them, and to speak hand over head of the fourth Commandment without distinctions? Now, as touching the particularity of the day, herein I confess, we are more to seek by the light of nature, than for the special proportion of time due unto God; Yet consider, whether herein also we are not assisted in good measure by the light of nature, and that in certain particulars. 1. As first the decent proportion of time being observed, it is nothing material in it self, as touching the advancement of the substance of Gods service; what day of the week it be performed under the duly specified proportion. For we find by experience, that all Masters stand for a proportion of service, which they expect from the hands of their servants; the quantity of service being a very considerable matter in the judgement of all;
how much more fit that the Creator should prescribe unto his creature, then that the creature should prescribe unto his Creator; considering, 1. how the dominion of God over his creature is incomparably greater than that which any other Master hath over his servant. 2. That man may become unreasonable in his demands and commands, God cannot. 3. God can give strength to his creature to performe what he commands, man cannot. 4. The more cleare and expresse the Commandement is, the more comfortable to the creature, being hereby assured, the service hee performes is in