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

it stands us upon to plead our own cause, and to labour herein as for life: even in examination of the doctrine here delivered, that we may find upon how just ground it proceeds; otherwise we may be justly condemned of all: and in the censures that pass upon us whether of Excommunication, or Suspension, or Deprivation, find none to plead our cause, or to commiserate us. The second thing I observe in this title, is the passage of Scripture here mentioned, as justifying the doctrine here delivered out of Mark. 2.27. The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. Now none of us makes question but that the Sabbath was made for man: Nay we nothing doubt but that all the days of the week were made for man, that is, for the good of man, but the Sabbath for the best good, not the basest good of man in following his worldly pleasures. The six days of the week are given us to labour in our ordinary callings, ⟨p. 7⟩for the maintenance of our life temporal: but the seventh is sanctified by God, that is, dedicated to holy exercises in the service of God, and to inure us to recreate our selves and to delight in the Lord; that as his soul takes pleasure in us, so our souls might be accustomed to take pleasure in him; and to make his Sabbaths our delight, to consecrate them as glorious unto the Lord. It is true, there is another end of the Sabbath, and that was ut vires recolligeret, to recollect his strength which had been spent and wasted in the six days of labour; whence it follows evidently, that when a man was hungry as the disciples were, when they plucked the ears of corn, they were not bound by any religion of the Sabbath to abstain from such a course, whereby a mans strength would become more and more weakened and impaired. Not that these things were commanded on the Sabbath day, but permitted; as is often signified by the word [Greek or Hebrew] it is lawful; and for good reason.^“ For the Sabbath being ordained to promote a mans bene esse, his well being; and that in the best things it supposeth liberty to provide for his esse in case of necessity; lest otherwise he shall be found uncapable of those things that concern his bene esse, his well being. For our nature wanting necessary refreshment doth thereby many times become the more unfit for holy exercises, and to perform that duty which God requires, and hath deserved at our hands.