Of the morality of the fourth commandment as still in force to bind Christians…Of the morality of the fourth commandement as still in force to binde Christians…

Therefore if any pretend that Christ hath delegated this power of his unto the Church, it stands upon them to make it good. But Chemnitius proceeds, pag. 155. col. 1. and shows how the Apostles at the first tolerated their weak faith, who without superstition observed days Mosaical, Rom. 14. and that such as were stronger in faith, after the abrogation of the old Testament, judged all days to be equal in themselves, and none more holy then another. We willingly grant as much, and add the reason hereof; to wit, because the holiness of the day preferred before his fellows consisted in some mysterious signification which had reference ⟨p. 128⟩unto Christ as to come; all which kind of shadows, the body being come, are now vanished away. He proceeds, saying. The Apostles also manifested by their example that in the new Testament it was free to come together, either every day, or what day soever they thought good, to handle the Word and Sacraments, and to the public or common exercises of piety. So the Sabbath day, and other festival days they taught. All this we willingly grant, but here-hence it followeth not, that one day of the week was not of more necessary observation for the exercises of piety than another. Farther (saith he) that they might manifest that the exercises of Ecclesiastical assemblies were not tied to certain days: they daily persevered in the doctrine of the Apostles, and in breaking bread, Act. 2. and 5. and 1 Cor. 5. Now we willingly acknowledge that we Christians are not so bound to one day in the week, as namely, to the Lords Day, as that we may not have our holy assemblies more often than once, but only so, that we may not keep them less often, nor omit the celebration of the Lords Day: like as the Jews might not omit the celebration of their weekly Sabbath, though sometimes many days together besides were kept holy by them. So we Christians also having our Sabbath as our Saviour signified we should have when he said, Pray that your flight be not in the Winter, nor on the Sabbath day; which Sabbath of ours, we keep on the Lords Day; though we may keep other days holy, yet we may not omit this; and if any shall take upon them to alter this Sabbath, we may be bold to demand of them quo warranto, by what warrant from the Lord of Sabbath? But Chemnitius proceeds thus: