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…

Now, as touching the particularity of the day, herein I confess, we are more to seek by the light of nature, than for the special proportion of time due unto God; Yet consider, whether herein also we are not assisted in good measure by the light of nature, and that in certain particulars. 1. As first the decent proportion of time being observed, it is nothing material in it self, as touching the advancement of the substance of Gods service; what day of the week it be performed under the duly specified proportion. For we find by experience, that all Masters stand for a proportion of service, which they expect from the hands of their servants; the quantity of service being a very considerable matter in the judgement of all; but whether a man work the first hour of the day, and rest the second, or five hours in the morning, and rest the sixth; or in what other difference soever, so the quantity and proportion of service for that day be performed, all Masters rest satisfied. So for the service of the week, if it be sufficient to perform thus much service, as namely, a days service in a week, it matters not what day it be done, so the work be performed; I say, it matters not, as touching the substance of the work it self to be performed. 2. But though it matters not in this ⟨p. 193⟩respect, on what day the service is performed; yet it may matter much in another respect: For whereas we are all Gods creatures, and consequently his servants; and the service we speak of concerns us all in general, and that equally, and all we are reasonable creatures, 1. First it seems fit in reason, that there should be an uniformity: For, like as we converse together by commerce and trade in the works of our calling on other days of the week; so it seems most fit we should walk together with God in the performance of his service, otherwise there would be a manifest breach of society. For suppose there be in such a town as ours, seven times four hundred persons (for we have almost 2000. Communicants; one of the three parishes in Reading hath as many) if one 400. should keep the first day of the week for their Sabbath, another 400. the second day of the week, and so to divide the days of the week between them, here were a manifest breach of society both in things humane, and in things Divine; for every day in the week 400.

Now, as touching the particularity of the day, herein I confesse, wee are more to seeke by the light of nature, than for the speciall proportion of time due unto God; Yet consider, whether herein also we are not assisted in good measure by the light of nature, and that in certaine particulars. 1. As first the decent proportion of time being observed, it is nothing materiall in it selfe, as touching the advancement of the substance of Gods service; what day of the weeke it be performed under the duly specified proportion. For wee find by experience, that all Masters stand for a proportion of service, which they expect from the hands of their servants; the quantity of service being a very considerable matter in the judgement of all; but whether a man worke the first houre of the day, and rest the second, or five houres in the morning, and rest the sixth; or in what other difference soever, so the quantity and proportion of service for that day be performed, all Masters rest satisfied. So for the service of the weeke, if it be sufficient to performe thus much service, as namely, a dayes service in a weeke, it matters not what day it be done, so the work be performed; I say, it matters not, as touching the substance of the worke it selfe to be performed. 2. But though it matters not in this