The Lords Day Vindicated, Tract · Section 4
SECT. IV.
THE fifth Queſtion: Whether the Ten Commands were given by Chriſt to Jews and Gentiles? Page 24. He thinks he hath proved the Legiſlation of Chriſt from the Beginning: But how this is to be underſtood, and wherein he has taken falſe Meaſures, has been before ſhewn. Whether he gave them to Jews and Gentiles, that is, to all Mankind, he takes this for granted alſo, Which we alſo aſſert, even that all the Moral Law was given to the Humane Nature, and ſo to all Mankind in Adam: But withall, that the Seventh-day-Sabbath was no part of the Moral Law; no nor yet a ſeventh part of time to be Conſecrated and Sanctified to Divine Worſhip. (I mean not Primarily and in it ſelf Moral) which I ſhould endeavour here to prove; if I did not foreſee a more convenient Opportunity for it hereafter. Only let us here conſider what he himſelf here grants, viz. That the Moral Law was written upon Man's Heart; that it did conſiſt in Knowledge, Righteouſneſs and Holineſs; wherefore the Seventh-day-Sabbath is no part of it; becauſe it was not written upon Man's Heart at firſt. 1. Becauſe God revealed it to Man after his Creation; which needed not, if it had been in him before. 2. Becauſe there are obſcure Remains of the Moral Law, in the Humane and Rational Creature, with reſpect to all the other Commands (as might be eaſily manifeſted by an Induction) but none as to the Seventh-day-Sabbath. It is true, as to the Moral Subſtance of the Law, that is found in Mankind, even a Separation of time, and proper Seaſons for the Worſhip of God; but this is not: Nay, it is ſo rare, that not one among Ten thouſand does dream of it, or ſcarce one in an Age does ſo much as fancy it. 3. Becauſe by his own Orthodox Aſſertion in this very place, the Moral Law is reingraven, that is, more fully, clearly and diſtinctly, and in its Spiritual Senſe and Latitude upon the Hearts of thoſe that are revived by the Spirit of God, which is the Image of God, reinſtamped upon the Regenerate and Converted; as St. Paul ſaith Col. 3.10. Eph. 4.24. Now it is as clear as the Sun, that the Generality of the Called, inlightned and ſanctified, have not the Law of the Seventh-day-Sabbath written in their Hearts: Nay, they have an Averſion from it. Of all truly Religious ones, that ever I knew, Mr. B—is the Solitary Perſon of this Perſwaſion; whence it muſt neceſſarily follow, that it is no part of the Moral Law, or of that Image of God which was inſtamped upon Man plainly and fully at firſt; and remains imperfectly and obſcurely in all Men; and is reſtored to the Saints in their Regeneration, and is increaſed in them in their progreſſive Sanctification: Whence it is alſo clear, that this Command, thus ſtated, was not given by Chriſt to Jews and Gentiles in the Creation: And his proof for it is very weak and invalid; which is taken from thoſe expreſs Commands given by God to the Jews, of cauſing them that were either their Subſtance, (Slaves bought with their own Mony) or Proſelytes, Strangers by Nation, but yet joyning themſelves to them, and dwelling among them; and ſo were of their Body; who were bound, as he himſelf there acknowledges and proves, to be Circumciſed, to obſerve the Paſſover, &c. And now what Tendency hath this to prove, that the Seventh-day-Sabbath was given to Jews and Gentiles? When this proves only, that thoſe Gentiles were bound to keep it, who were within the Gates, and of their Body Politick: But has no reference to, nor does at all concern other Gentiles; ſome of which might never hear of the Name of Iſrael; or of any of their Laws and Sabbaths. It pities me to ſee ſuch weak and invalid Arguments; which if they have any force, it is to Judaize all the Chriſtian World.
As to the ſecond part of the Queſtion, whether the weekly Seventh-day-Sabbath were obſerved ever after, during the Old Church: We acknowledge it was ſo ſtill among the Jewiſh Nation; and he needed not to have produced any proofs for it: But withall we ſay, never among any other Nations, nor any Footſtep of it, which is a ſure Proof againſt its proper Morality. As to that Obſervation, Page 28. That the Seventh Day, throughout the Old and New Teſtament, was called the Sabbath day. It was fit it ſhould be ſo all along till our Saviour's Reſurrection; becauſe it was the Sabbath day till then: And afterward, if it be ſo called, it was in compliance with the Jews, who ſtill held it ſo to continue, or to uſe the Expreſſion which was in moſt common uſe, whereby the day might be known they ſpake of; (as we do of Sunday, Monday, &c. only to declare what day of the Week we mean) or elſe to declare the Abolition thereof: And (if we remember it) we may make ſome uſe of that Aſſertion, that the Seventh day and Sabbath are Synonimous in the Language of the Old and New Teſtament.