A Defense of the Sabbath Day, Chapter 5 · Commentary
CHAPT. V. This Chapter conteineth ſondry & ſubſtanciall arguments out of the word of God, proueing that the Lords Sabbath day, written in the Morall Law, is ſtill in force; & ſo ought to be vntounto the worlds end; like as are the other morales.
I HaueHave now finiſhed the fowre firſt partes of my booke: the firſt whereof was in defence of the Morall Law. The ſecond was an expoſition of the 4th com. with a diſcouery of the corrupt expoſitiones thereof. The third was an anſwer vntounto thoſe Scriptures & reaſones, wich are vſually brought to proue the Lords day, the Sabbath day. The fowrth was an anſwer, vntounto thoſe abuſed Scriptures, which are brought againſt the Lords Sabbath day. And now by order I am come vntounto the fith parte of my booke, and herein I am to proue vntounto you, the perpetuity of the Lords Sabbath, and that it is ſtill in force, and ſo ought for euer to be.
Touching the Sabbath I note two things. 1. I ſee many lerned and greate Diuines of late, prime men, and of the formoſt ranke in the Vniuerſities, both on this ſide and beyond the Seas, diſclaiming and wrighting againſt the Lords day Sabbath; but I ſee none of them ſhew vsus where we ſhall hauehave an other Sabbath, in the abſence of this: as the former bewrayed their learning and iudgement, ſo this latter bewrayed their forgetfulneſſe: what, ſhall the Church of God be left without a Sabbath now? ſhall we turne from Superſtition to Anabaptiſtry? I ioyne with them in throwing downe the Lords day for a Sabbath, but I dare not put an end to the worke, when it is but halfe done.
2. As thoſe Iewes of old cried, the Temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, ſo I obſerue the Patrons of the Lords day, to cry out of the prophanation of the Lords Sabbaths, the prophanatiō of the Lords Sabbaths, as if they were the onelyonly friends to Gods Sabbaths; whereas in deed & in trueth, they are the chiefe enemies to them, and are foulely miſtaken in their iudgement: for they are the Lords dayes which they meane, & not the Lords Sabbath dayes: if therefore any man may in a right accompt be ſaid to be a true friend to Gods Sabbaths, it is not they, it is hee that writeth for them, and defendeth them againſt the world, and corruptiones of the time: hee may indede ſay with Eliah, I hauehave bene very Ielouſe for the Lord of hoſtes: for they hauehave forſaken thy Couenant, broken downe thy Sabbaths, and I onelyonly am left.