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

And Proclamations that come forth in his Majesties name usually call the Lords day by the name of Sabbath. And in the conference at Hampton Court, Doctor Raynolds made a ⟨p. 241⟩motion, for preserving the Sabbath day from profanation, according to the Kings proclamation, neither have we heard of any prelate of this kingdom, that then interposed to alter that phrase; And which is more, our Saviour calls it the Sabbath, speaking of the times of the Gospel, when the Jewish Sabbath was to be buried with Christ, to wit, Matth. 24.20. and Doctor Andrewes in his pattern of Catechetical Doctrine, justifieth this interpretation of that place, and that to this end, so to maintain the continuance of a Sabbath amongst us Christians. I do highly approve the distinction following of things commanded, and things permitted on the Lords day, and the explication of each member; the object of the one, all actions advancing Gods service, the object of the other, such things as are no hinderance thereunto; As in the first place works of necessity; then works of charity; yet the permitting of these, is rightly to be understood; not so as if the works of necessity here mentioned, were in such sort permitted as left to a mans liberty, whether he will perform them or no. For undoubtedly we are bound as much as lies in our power, to quench a dangerous fire kindled in a Town, on the Sabbath day, it being a work of mercy, necessarily required. For if to return a pledge ere the poor pawner of it went to his bed, in case it were his covering, were a work of mercy, how much more to save a mans house from burning, how much more to save a whole Town from being consumed, whereby many might be driven to lye without doors, void of all comfort to the body? So to draw the ox out of the ditch, and to lead Cattels to watering, I take it to be a work of mercy, as tending to the preservation of life in a dumb creature. In like sort the dressing of meat for the health of mans body, I take to be a work of mercy. So that the performing of these in reference to the end whereto they tend, I take to be of necessary duty (as here they are called works of necessity) and consequently not permitted only, but commanded also in the general, though not in this commandment;

And Proclamations that come forth in his Majesties name usually call the Lords day by the name of Sabbath. And in the conference at Hampton Court, Doctor Raynolds made a