The Doctrine of the Sabbath Vindicated, Chapter 24
CHAP. XXIV. Breerwood. Pag. 39.
BVt might not the celebration of the Sabaoth, which thus ceaſed, bee juſtly tranſlated by the Church to the firſt day of the weeke? Yes certainely, both might and was iuſtly. For I conſider that the generality, was of the morall law, of the law of nature, namely that men ſhould ſequeſter ſometime from worldly affaires, which they might dedicate to the honour of God, onelyonly the ſpeciality, that is the limitation and deſignement of that time, was the churches ordinance appointing firſt one certaine day, and that in relation of Chriſtian aſſemblies, namely that they might meete and pray, and and praiſe God together with one voyce in the congregation. And ſecondly deſigning that one day to the firſt day of the weeke, for ſome ſpeciall reaſons and remembrances. For firſt it was the day of Chriſts reſurrection from the dead. Secondly it was the day of the holy Ghoſts deſcention from Heauen to powre infinite graces vponupon Chriſtians. The firſt of them for our iuſtification as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh. The ſecond for the ſanctification, and edification of the whole Church (to omit ſome other reaſons of leſſe importance) iuſtly therefore was the conſecration of the Sabaoth tranſlated to that day.
Anſwer.
Firſt, Yea; a ſhadow? Of which we have the ſubſtance in Chriſt? Out of Date? and expired of it ſelfe? Part of the partition wall? And yet the celebration and conſecration of the Sabbath tranſlated juſtly? Then the Church, by your Doctrine, may revive the ceremoniall law, and put life into the dead carcaſe thereof; the Church may not alone embrace the ſhadow, of which Chriſt is the body, but alſo appoint it to bee embraced: the Church may tranſlate part of the ceremonial Law (which yet Moſes the typicall mediator would not, might not order a tittle of it, to a loope, lace, or placing of either, but keepe to the patterne ſhewed him in the Mount) and ſo by the ſame reaſon tranſlate prieſthood and all, Heb. 6. The Church then is Lord of the Sabbath, and can conſecrate, and not only celebrate the Sabbath, all full of blaſphemy againſt Chriſt, and blemiſh to his chaſt ſpouſe.
Secondly, and for your diſtinction of generality and ſpeciality of the commandement, (beſides what hath been ſaid before) if you yeeld not the ſpeciality to bee morall, you turne out one commandement of the ten from being morall for all your generality for to ſay that this is the morality of the commandment & no more, that ſome time ſhuld be ſequeſtred to divine worſhip, maketh this commandment no more morall, then the building of the Tabernacle or Temple is morall: for therein this perpetuall will of God was ſhewed, that ſome place muſt bee aſſigned for Church aſſemblies and publike worſhip.
By this alſo it will follow, that the Papiſts that in their Catechiſmes render the fourth commandement thus, keepe holy the feſtivall dayes, doe render the full ſ…nſe of it. Which being yeelded, this alſo will follow, that you may aſwell put it downe thus, frequent the aſſemblies.
Moreover, all the feaſt daies of the Iewes conteined this generall equity. Laſtly, then God ſhould in this command nothing to particular men, becauſe it is not in their power to inſtitute theſe daies, and ſo nothing ſhalbe commanded to them further, than what publike perſons ſhall injoyne, be it but one day in the yeere: and for them neither is there any thing commanded in ſpeciall, and they ſinne not if they appoint but one day in a Moone, or if they appoint but one in a quarter, then alſo the Feaſts of Chriſts Nativity, of Eaſter of Whitſontide, &c. are of equall authority with the Lords day, which thing, what eares can heare with patience? Theſe alſo are conſtitutions of the ancient primitive Church.