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

Precept indeed we have not for this in the new Testament, but that wch is better then a precept. For had the Apostles commanded it, and the Churches not practised it, their commandment had been obnoxious to various interpretations; but they took order to establish it as appeares, de facto. And D. Lake tells us, that where divine precept is wanting, practise guides the Church; and that the work of the day is the ground of hallowing the day; and the work of redemption is nothing inferior to the work of creation; and I appeal to every Christian ⟨p. 230⟩conscience,¹ whether upon suspicion that we Christians must have a Sabbath to observe, as the Jews had, for which we have the express words of our Saviour, Matth. 24.20. D. Andrewes concurring with us in this; and that this Sabbath must be some one day in the week; which from the ordinance of God immediately from the creation, that God himself hath declared unto us, as Chrysostom observeth, and reason concludeth as much for this, and that from consideration of the proportion of time which the Lord required of the Jews under the law, for undoubtedly we should sin if we should allow God a worse proportion under the Gospel; and it is evident that no ceremoniality can be found in the sanctification of one day in seven, or in the rest of one day in seven. I say let every one judge whether in Christian reason any day in the week be to be preferred for this before the Lords day; that being the day of Christs resurrection, the day wherein The Stone which the Builders refused was made the head of the corner; and this day not of the year, but of the week being in Scripture-phrase called the Lords day; like as the Jewish Sabbath was formerly called the Lords holy day, Es. 58. Add unto this that D. Prideaux here justifieth their observation who maintain the celebration of the Lords day to be by authority divine consisting in these particulars. 1. That it seemed a dangerous thing to the whole Fabric of religion, should humane ordinances limit the necessity of Gods worship. Or that the Church should not assemble but at the pleasure of the Clergy, and they perhaps not well at one among themselves.

Precept indeed we have not for this in the new Testament, but that wch is better then a precept. For had the Apostles commanded it, and the Churches not practised it, their commandement had beene obnoxious to various interpretations; but they tooke order to establish it as appeares, de facto. And D. Lake tels us, that where divine precept is wanting, practise guides the Church; and that the worke of the day is the ground of hallowing the day; and the worke of redemption is nothing inferiour to the worke of creation; and I appeale to every Christian