The Lords Day Vindicated, Tract · Section 8
SECT. VIII.
HE propoſes the Queſtion, Page 38. Whether Chriſt in his own Perſon did not obſerve the Seventh Week-day-Sabbath, and no other during his Life. To which we anſwer affirmatively with him, that he did ſo, that he was bound to do it, that it was part of his Righteouſneſs which he was to fulfil; for he was born under the Authority and Obligation of the Old Teſtament Adminiſtrations; even of the Ceremonial ones, and therefore was Circumciſed the eighth day; went up to Jereuſalem with his Mother in his Childhood to keep the Annual Feaſts; and in his Manhood was a Conſtant, Conſcientious and obedient Attender upon, and obſerver of the Paſſover; as we read in the Hiſtory of his Life, after his Baptiſm, and manifeſting himſelf to the World, home to his Death, or juſt before his Sufferings; and ſo doubtleſs did by all the other Ceremonial Laws, according to Gods Injunction of them, and was an Obſerver of all other poſitive Divine Laws; and ſo conſequently muſt he be of this; for neither all the former, nor this particular, were to be abrogated and lain aſide, as to their Authority, till he himſelf was lain aſide and buried in the Grave. Without doubt he alſo dutifully kept and practiſed all the Judicial Laws; being born a Member of their State, as well as of their Church, as far as their Roman Lords would permit; for the Authority of theſe Laws laſted as long as the Judicial Polity; and with it declined and perfectly expired. Will this Pleader for the Seventh day, contend for the Authority of all thoſe Ceremonial and Judicial Laws home to our days, becauſe our Bleſſed Lord obſerved and kept them? He muſt do ſo, if this Argument be of any weight. And it has been the Fate of all his Arguments hitherto, to militate as much for all the Ceremonies (except that of the Sabbaths being given in Innnocency) of the Jews, as for the Seventh day. Enough for their own Confutation.
Juſt another ſuch Medium is cunningly inſinuated, Page 39. to prove the Goodneſs of the Obſervation of this Sabbath, viz. Its Antiquity, having been the Sabbath of the Church for four thouſand Years; which will introduce Sacrifices into the Worſhip of God, a Bloody Offering up of Beaſts, for they are as ancient within a day or two (as 'tis probable) for God taught Adam to offer up ſuch Sacrifices as the Types of the Seed of the Woman who was to have his Heel bruiſed by the Serpent, his Humane Nature murthered by the Devil and his Agents; but then ſacrificed and offered up to God, as the Expiratory Victim for the ſins of Fallen Man: And 'tis probable that thoſe Skins which God made Coats of for Adam, might be of ſuch ſacrificed Beaſts: And Adam taught his Sons to Sacrifice to God: And we read Gen. 4.4. That Abel brought to God the Firſtlings of his Flock, and the Fat thereof. Will he therefore plead that their venerable Antiquity muſt ſtill give them a place in the Evangelical Diſpenſation, now that that Grand and All-ſufficient Sacrifice, the ſubſtance of thoſe Shadows, is offered up? I trow not: So neither can the Antiquity of the former Sabbath, till our Saviour's days, and through his days, be any Argument for its Admiſſion and Authority now; ſeeing by our Saviours coming, we have the new Heaven and the new Earth, which the Prophets foretold, Iſa. 65.17. & 66.22. and a more glorious and bleſſed Work accompliſhed, than that of the Creation; which doth much more deſerve a Sanctification and Separation of that day, whereon its Compleater reſted from all his former Labours, and a new external Adminiſtration was introduced; and a new day and conſecrated time ſuitably alſo inſtituted.