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…

we make no doubt but the Son of man is Lord of the Sabbath, and so hath power to change it, and none hath power to change it, but he that is Lord of it. It is true, this was one argument amongst many, which the Author of the Practice of Piety useth to prove that the fourth commandment stands still in force; because our Saviour professeth that, He came not to destroy the law, but to fulfil it: and that the least of them, should not be abrogated in his kingdom of the new Testament. In so much that whosoever breaketh one of the least of these ten commandments and teacheth men so, he should be called the least in the Kingdom of heaven, that is (saith the Author) he should have no place in his Church. To the first of these here the Doctor answereth thus, To which we say with the Apostle: Do we destroy the Law by faith? God forbid: We confirm it rather. 2 Christ then hath put away the shadow, but retained the light, and spreads it wider then before: showing thereby the excellent harmony, between the Gospel and the Law. As touching the first part of this present answer; that is too alien from our present purpose; the question between us, being not whether the Law be destroyed, by preaching justification by faith; we know that as touching the ceremonial Law, whatsoever was prefigured thereby is fulfilled by Christ; and as touching the moral Law, Christ hath fulfilled that also partly in himself by perfect obedience thereunto, and making satisfaction for our disobedience; and partly in us, by giving us more power to perform obedience thereunto through faith in him, then ever we had before since the fall of Adam. But our Saviour, Matth. 5. treats of destroying the law by abrogating it or any part thereof, which how they can avoid, who teach that Christ by his death, hath freed us from the Yoke of the fourth commandment, I cannot comprehend; Suppose it be but one of the least commandments, ⟨p. 217⟩yet let them look to it, who discourse of abrogating it, and teach men that they are not obliged by it, hand over head; least they be accounted by the Lord of Sabbath the least in the kingdom of heaven: therefore it stands them upon to confirm it rather as they profess, but how they do perform that which they pretend, I am utterly to seek. 2. I come therefore to the consideration of the second part of the answer consisting of two parts, 1.

we make no doubt but the Sonne of man is Lord of the Sabbath, and so hath power to change it, and none hath power to change it, but hee that is Lord of it. It is true, this was one argument amongst many, which the Author of the Practice of Pietie useth to prove that the fourth commandement stands still in force; because our Saviour professeth that, He came not to destroy the law, but to fulfill it: and that the least of them, should not be abrogated in his kingdome of the new Testament. In so much that whosoever breaketh one of the least of these tenne commandments and teacheth men so, hee should be called the least in the Kingdome of heaven, that is (saith the Author) he should have no place in his Church. To the first of these here the Doctor answereth thus, To which we say with the Apostle: Doe we destroy the Law by faith? God forbid: We confirme it rather. 2 Christ then hath put away the shadow, but retained the light, and spreads it wider then before: shewing thereby the excellent harmony, betweene the Gospell and the Law. As touching the first part of this present answer; that is too aliene from our present purpose; the question betweene us, being not whether the Law be destroyed, by preaching justification by faith; we know that as touching the ceremoniall Law, whatsoever was prefigured thereby is fulfilled by Christ; and as touching the morall Law, Christ hath fulfilled that also partly in himselfe by perfect obedience thereunto, and making satisfaction for our disobedience; and partly in us, by giving us more power to performe obedience thereunto through faith in him, then ever we had before since the fall of Adam. But our Saviour,