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…

And why should any man stick in acknowledging it to be moral; when never any man busied himself to find out any ceremoniality in reference to the proportion of one day in seven? Neither do I think ever any man called it judicial, but Azorius professeth it to be rationi maximè consontaneum most agreeable to reason: and no man that I know hath at any time set himself to devise a proportion of time to be spent in Gods service, more agreeable to reason then this. And as for the third offence taken (for I know not any that give it) The fourth Commandment is brought by none that I know to prove that the Lords Day is now become our Christian Sabbath; but supposing it to be our Sabbath, as the book of Homilies saith it is; and our Saviour signified that Christians should have their Sabbath, as well as the Jews had theirs, Math. 24. 20. we produce the fourth Commandment to prove, that we ought to sanctify it, and that we may the better sanctify it, to rest from all works that hinder the sanctification thereof; And indeed the Commandment is so drawn, as to command one day in seven to be observed, and whatsoever is that seventh prescribed by lawful authority, to sanctify it, and abstain from all works whereby the hallowing of it is disturbed; and all this we take to be moral, namely the worshipping of God in a certain proportion of time prescribed by him, and to that purpose to rest from works, not for any mysterious signification sake, as did the Jews; we think the practise of the Church in the Apostles days is sufficient to infer the apostolical, and divine institution thereof; from hence Athanasius, Cyril, Austin, and the Fathers generally, (for I know not one alleged to the contrary) so take it. And the Lords Day hath no other notion in Scripture language, then a day of the Lords institution; and this is confirmed in that it comes in the place of the Jews Sabbath, which is called in Scripture, the Lords holy day Isaiah 58. and Psal. 118. 24. of the day wherein Christ was made the head of the corner, having been formerly refused of the builders, it is expressly said, that it is the day that the Lord hath made; and thereupon we ⟨p. 237⟩are called to rejoice and be glad in it. And it hath this congruity in the cause of its institution to the first Sabbath;