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

THE FIRST DIGRESSION, WHEREIN.

I. Answer is made to Tostatus his arguments proposed by Pererius, to prove that the observation of the Sabbath was ordained by God immediately from the Creation. II. Herewithall the question is disputed, whether Adam fell the first day wherein he was Created.

I. Answer is made to Tostatus his arguments proposed by Pererius, to proove that the observation of the Sabbath was ordeyned by God immediately from the Creation. II. Herewithall the question is disputed, whether Adam fell the first day wherein he was Created.

THE first argument of Tostatus proposed by Pererius is to this effect, the observation of the Sabbath had been superfluous to Adam and Eve, seeing nothing then could have called them away from the service of God, to wit, they being then in the state of innocency. To which I answer, first that herein is supposed somewhat whereabout there is much question, namely that Adam fell not before the seventh Day. Yet Pererius professeth that it was an opinion well known, and confirmed by the consent of many, and those noble and illustrious authors, that Adam fell the first day wherein he was created. This saith he, seems to have been the opinion of Irenaeus; and Cyrillus and Epiphanius are cited as approvers of it. He adds, that Moses Barcephas in his book ⟨p. 48⟩of Paradise both proves it, and avoucheth it as the opinion of many others, and especially of Philopenus in his oration, which he wrote of the tree of Life, and of Ephrem in his Commentaries upon Genesis, and of Jacobus Sabugensis in his oration of Christs Passion. To whom may be added, saith Pererius, Diodorus the Bishop of Tarshish, as he is cited in the chain of interpreters upon Genesis, upon those words of the third chapter, we do eat of every tree in Paradise. Tostatus himself as this author writes, was sometimes of the same opinion, though afterwards he changed his mind; and conceived as more likely, that Adam fell on the Sabbath Day; which Pererius approves not, though that was the opinion of the author of the Darash amongst the Jews, as David Kimchi writes upon that Psalm, whose title is, A psalm for the Sabbath; and that so by sinning he profaned the Sabbath. This opinion of Tostatus and the Jews, Pererius doth not approve: but the reason he gives for his dissenting from them, in my judgement is very weak. For that it runs, because the Lord blessed that Sabbath Day and sanctified it, resting from all his works which he had made, therefore it was not agreeable, that on that day, so severe a judgement of the Divine vengeance should be exercised. Now I say, this reason is very weak. For we commonly say, the better day, the better deed; and undoubtedly the Lord is holy, as in all his works, so in the execution of condigne vengeance.