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

when the free will offerings were now to be received for the promoting of the workmanship of that which formerly was commanded. And that dressing of meat was not forbidden them, no not in the gathering of Manna, as some think; if then, yet not as a general course to be observed for ever; And as touching the Table that Nehemiah kept, thus we read. Moreover there were at my Table, ¹an. 150. of the Jews and rulers which came unto us from among the Heathen that are about us. And there was prepared daily an Ox, and six chosen Sheep, and Birds were prepared for me—and he was so far from consciousness of profaning the Lords Sabbath herein, that he concludes thus, Remember me O my God in goodness, according to all that I have done for this people. But suppose they were tied so strictly to such a rest, as from works not servile, only in seeking again, (as Zanchy instanceth the condition of a work servile) but even from such as ten led to the refreshing of their natures; yet the reason hereof depended upon the mysterious signification of this rest, as formerly I have represented out of Lyra, from which ceremoniality we are absolved, and consequently freed from that rigorous rest depending thereupon, and rest only from works so far forth as they are avocations from Sacred Studies and meditations, as Calvin expresseth it; and this we account a moral rest, distinguished from ceremonial. And whereas the Doctor tells us that such a like distinction is infirm, being content to say nothing to confirm it, save that the Text (as he ⟨p. 227⟩saith) affords it not: I had thought the very light of nature had been sufficient to embolden us to conclude,² that where the sanctification of the day is commanded, therewithal is commanded abstinence from all such things as would hinder the sanctification of it, And as for the text it self, it is apparent that neither the kindling of the fire, nor dressing of meat is particularly forbidden in the fourth Commandment. Neither doth he so much as obtrude upon his adversaries that they derive the sanctification of their christian Sabbath from ought in the old Testament, save from Gen. 2.3. and from the fourth Commandment. In neither of which doth he deal fairly; but is content to confound things that differ, as if in this particular he affected to fish in troubled waters;