A Defense of the Sabbath Day, Chapter 6 · Commentary · Section 1
SECT. I.
WHen I had founde out by diligent ſtudy (Chriſtian Reader) that this moſt ancient ordinance of Gods Sabbath, is ſtill in force; in the next place I gaue my ſelfe ſeriouſly to thinke of the practiſe of it; whither to fale to preſent practiſe, or to waite ſome more fit ſeaſon.
When I thought of a preſent practiſe, then theſe inconveniences preſented themſelues. 1. If we fale vponupon the preſent practiſe, then the Magiſtrate will be offended; becauſe we make a ſchiſme and rente in the Church. 2. Our Chriſtian brethren will be offēded; becauſe we diuid & ſeparate from their fellowſhip: & both of theſe will take it the worſe, when they thinke of our raſhneſſe & inconſideracy, that we will forſake the practiſe & fellowſhip of the Church, before we hauehave giuen them time ſufficient to conſider of the matter, as we our ſelues hauehave had, whereby we ſhould hauehave waited for their approbation in iudgement, & reformation together with vsus in practiſe: and herevpon may ariſe greate diuiſiones of heart, & much hartburning betwixt brethren, who ſhould liue in amity & godly louelove. 3. As in the two former, we ſhould doe that which would be euill to our brethren; ſo alſo ſhould we doe that which would proue euill vntounto our ſelues; & that in a double reſpect. 1. in regard of our bodies. 2. in reſpect of our ſoules: for the former, we liue not, as they doe in ſome parte of the world, who are at liberty to practiſe what they will in matter of conſcience, but we liue vnderunder an eſtabliſhed gouernment, where we cannot tranſgreſſe the lawes thereof, without perill to our perſones & goods. For the latter, if we enter vponupon a preſent practiſe of the Sabbath, then we rune into this ſpirituall inconuenience, that we ſhall pine our ſoules, for want of that ſpirituall food, which we were wont to inioy vponupon the Lords day, & which is needfull vponupon the Sabbath day: for the lawes of our kingdome, will not permit priuat conuēticles, or that a miniſter ſhould preach in priuate: & therfore we cannot hauehave the benefite of an able Miniſtry, to helpe vsus in the ſinctification of the Sabbath, & to feede our ſoules with the bread of life: theſe are the inconveniences which attend vponupon the preſent practiſe.
But when I thought of a delay, and to waite ſome more fit ſeaſon for the practiſe, then this euill preſented it ſelfe, that, by the neglect of a preſent practiſe, we fale into ſinne, and tranſgreſſion of the 4th commandement by prophanation of the Sabbath day; & we ſhould be guilty thereof, vntill that ſit ſeaſon of reformation cometh: ſo whither ſoeuer I turned me, I ſaw my ſelfe in a ſtraite: for, the former inconveniences, would be auoided; but this latter, of neceſſity muſt be ſhuned.
VVhilſt I was at a ſtand, it pleaſed God to cauſe me thinke of a diſpenſation; the which after J had ſeriouſly conſidered of, I reſolued, that the word of God would beare a diſpenſation in this caſe; & ſo it ſhould come to paſſe, that we ſhould ſhune the inconveniencies on the one ſide, & the ſinne on the other; & ſo we might walke on comfortablie, without offence either to God, or to man, or iniury to our ſelues.
Let vsus now therefore addreſſe our ſelues vntounto this Diſpenſation: touching which, firſt we will handle this queſtion in generall; whither a man is bound in conſcience, to conforme his practiſe, at all times without diſpenſation or exception, to the doeing of that which the word of God ſaieth muſt be done, & hee knoweth muſt be done, or noe? 2. we will handle this queſtion in particular; whither the Sabbath day, may not be neglected, in a caſe of neceſſity, for a ſeaſon, vntill the time of reformation; by thoſe who are verily perſwaded that it is ſtill in force; if in caſe they giuegive God for it, an other day in the meane ſpace, as the Lords day, by way of change. And firſt of the former of theſe two queſtiones.