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…

So the Jews observed yearly the feast of Purim, in remembrance of Gods merciful deliverance of them, from the conspiracy of Haman, but when did they ordain this feast to begin? not till a thousand years after, had they done so, who would not have said, that their wisdom herein had exceeded all humane discretion? Or to avoid the like unreasonableness on their side, well they say that the case is not alike; for as much as the fresh remembrance of the Creation, and of Gods resting on the seventh day was sufficient unto them, both for the maintaining of the division of time into weeks or seven days; and of sanctifying each seventh unto the Lord; but when the memory hereof began to be obliterated, to wit, about some 900 years after the flood, then it was fit the Lord should revive the observation of this day, by a particular ⟨p. 197⟩Commandment? But hereby they shall make the fourth Commandment not only moral, but also more natural then they are aware. Though I willingly confess they might well conceive that after some 15 or 1600 years, men might grow weary of observing the seventh day, the day of Gods rest from the work of Creation, because by experience we find that after some 15 or 1600 years, Christians seem to grow weary of keeping holy the Lords day, the day whereon the Lord Christ rose from the grave, & so rested from his work of redemption. But as not long after 1600 years the flood came to set an end to the World by water; so it may be after 1600 years of the Gospel, there are but as few years to the coming of Christ, to set an end unto this World by fire: certainly, as often as some festival day, is grounded upon some singular work of God done, on that day (which Doctor Lake proposeth as a general and undoubted rule, always to hold concerning festivals) no time more fit for the observation of such a day, then when the memory of the work is fresh; then is a man like to be more devout, more cheerful in Gods service, more thankful unto him for his great goodness, like as the Angels immediately upon their Creation praised God Job. 38. 7. When the Stars of the morning praised me, and all the children of God rejoiced, which in Cornelius his language was to observe the Sabbath. Now give me leave to enlarge this by proportion. As there are Sabbaths of rejoicing, so there are Sabbaths of mourning.

So the Jewes observed yearely the feast of Purim, in remembrance of Gods mercifull deliverance of them, from the conspiracy of Haman, but when did they ordaine this feast to begin? not till a thousand yeares after, had they done so, who would not have said, that their wisdome herein had exceeded all humane discretion? Or to avoid the like unreasonablenesse on their side, well they say that the case is not alike; for as much as the fresh remembrance of the Creation, and of Gods resting on the seventh day was sufficient unto them, both for the maintaining of the division of time into weekes or seven dayes; and of sanctifying each seventh unto the Lord; but when the memory hereof began to be obliterated, to wit, about some 900 yeares after the flood, then it was fit the Lord should revive the observation of this day, by a particular