A63997:344
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.
Thirdly, for my part, I see no cause, we should desire any such liberty, but rather pray unto God to bless us from it, 1. For as I am flesh, I shall be sure to put it off to the end of the week; and I may be gone out of the world ere that day comes; and when that day comes, I shall be as loath to come to the service that day requires as ever, and as soon weary of it, and say, when will the Sabbath be gone, that I may return to my former courses, secondly, as I am spirit, I have cause to make choice of the first day; for à Jove principium; and Adam and Eve, being after the beasts of the field, made on the sixth day, and planted in Paradise, the seventh day, was the first entire day to him ⟨p. 232⟩4. Doctor Lake Bishop of Bath and Wells, observes that festivals days have ever been commended unto us; by some notable work done on that day. Now what work, like unto the resurrection of Christ, on the first day of the week? 5. Bishop Andrewes observes in his Star Chamber speech, that this resurrection brings with it a new creation, and calls for a new Sabbath; and I find this, to have been the observation of Athanasius, about 1300. years ago. 6. If we were left at liberty in the choice of the day, it is to be feared, that if there were twenty days in the week, there would be twenty differences between us thereabouts, 7. Lastly, if left at liberty; I find no reason why we should keep ourselves, to the observation of the same day; this is so apt and prone to breed in us an opinion of the necessity thereof, and so plunge us into superstition ere we are aware, and thereby make our whole service of God, on that day distasteful unto him. To proceed, the Practise of the Apostles is in Scripture, represented unto us in three several places; the first whereof is Act. 20▪ 7. upon the first day of the week, when the Disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them. The practise is improved thus, why is it said expressly, that the Disciples came together to hear the word preached, and receive the Sacraments, rather on this day then any other; rather then on the Jewish Sabbath, were it not then a custom, to celebrate on that day their public meetings, the Sabbath of the Jews, beginning by degrees to vanish? It is farther confessed, that the Fathers and all interpreters (almost) do so conceive it.