Works, Book 4 · Letter 65
EPISTLE LXV.
Dr. Twisse's Twelfth Letter to Mr. Mede, containing Seven Quaere's, relating partly to Iewish and Christian Antiquities, and partly to some difficult places of Scripture.
Worthy Sir,
I Have been a stranger from you too long; I come now to renew my acquaintance. I presume you are acquainted with Dr. Heylin's Book of the History of the Sabbath. Do you know the Author whom he opposeth about the Precepts of Noah, for making the Commandment of the Sabbath one of them, though he name him not? Yet the question is not whether it be one of them, but whether not comprehended under one of them. But he allegeth Rambam to the contrary out of Ainsworth. I have read enough in Cocceius to discredit Rambam, and I pray let me know whether Aben Ezra upon Exod. 20. on those words [the stranger within thy gates] doth not maintain that it was one of them, coupling it with that of*2 of the 7 Precepts of Noah. See Book I. page 19. Nakedness and Shedding of Bloud. And though you doubted whether Solomon Iarchi on Gen. 26. 5. did deliver that which he doth of foreign two of them as out of his own opinion: yet Dr. Heylin confesseth that Abulensis and Mercerus testifie that the Rabbins upon that place are opinion that Abram kept the Sabbath.
I pray, what think you both of his and Dr. White's opinion concerning Synagogues, that the Iews had none before the Captivity, and their Inference thereupon, That the Sabbath was nowhere observed (save in the Temple) by any publick congregation but only in private? Dr. Andrews was of another opinion, as hath been shewed me in some Notes of his; and his ground in my judgment is fair, Levit. 23. 3. The Seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, an holy Convocation—it is the Sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings. The holy Convocation here mentioned seems to be in reference to all their dwellings: whereas the other Feasts and holy Convocations belonging thereto were to be celebrated at Ierusalem. But I have not yet consulted any Rabbines about this.
Then, I pray, What think you of Dr. Heylin saying, That Evening-prayer on the Lord's-day is but a late invention? Yet I find it in the Iewish Synagogue and Nocturnae after Vespertinae; like as I find the like in one of Austin's Epistles de Tempore: and in Cassian it appears that the Sabbath-Solemnity was not ended until the time of their Evening-repast corporal—
Doth your plough stand still in the Revelation and such like passages of a mysterious nature? I hope it doth not.
Is not that Matth. 25. spoken of the last period of the Day of Iudgment? It seems it is; for the Resurrection is general both of Sheep and Goats; yet to the Sheep it is said, Receive the Kingdom, Shall they receive a Kingdom when Christ resigns his unto his Father? and in Heaven it seems there are none for them to reign over. Or is it a Figure of speech, representing the glory of that State when God becomes all in all, by the greatest glory that we are acquainted with, which is the glory of a Kingdom?
I pray, what think you of that in Esa. 66. 23. From Sabbath to Sabbath shall all flesh come to worship before me? Shall not the Observation of our Christian Sabbath continue, after Christ's coming with his Saints, amongst the Nations that are saved from that Deluge of fire (though it be Irenaeus his phrase, yet I learnt it from you) wherewith the Earth and all the works thereof shall be burnt up? And if it be urged that by the same reason the Festivities of the New-moons shall have their place in Christ…s Kingdom as well as Sabbaths, and by consequence the Ceremonies of the Iews be restored: I answer, it followeth not; the words may be rendred, From month to month, as the Geneva doth. If we read it, From New-moon, &c. with our last English, yet it is not necessary to understand it of any peculiar Festivity denoted thereby, least of all Iewish. And we Christians in Cathedrals, Colleges and great Towns have our Monthly Communions all the year over.
And seeing I am upon it, what think you of Matth. 24. 20. Pray that your flight be not in the Winter nor on the Sabbath-day? We know Dr. Andrews B. of Winchester as well as Mr. Dod apply it to our Christian Sabbath: And to my judgment it is a strange fiction to apply it to unconverted Iews, that our Saviour should stir them up to pray, who scorned the Gospel whereby alone we come acquainted with such an Admonition, and certainly scorned Christ's Instructions: and how can we think that God would hear the prayers of such? and was it fit that our Saviour should lay such a ground for the countenancing of their prayers, yea and their Iewish Sabbath too?
And now truly, Sir, there is no Book that I desire to study more than your self. I have found great freeness and acceptance with you hitherto, I hope I shall do so still. I heartily desire God's blessing upon your person and studies, as upon my self and mine. I shall ever rest
Newbury, April 5. 1636. Yours in my best respects exceedingly obliged, Will. Twisse.