An Abstract of the Doctrine of the Sabbath, To the reader
To the Chriſtian Reader.
COnſidering that the profanation of the Lordes holy Sabbaoth is one of the generall and capitall ſinnes of the lande, which not a little provoketh the high diſpleaſure, and deepe vengeance of God againſt our whole Nation, for that whereſoever it goeth, it is accompanied with the contempt of all religion, pietie, and good order, to the letting in of Poperie, Atheiſme, impietie, and all iniquitie. I doubt not (good Reader) but thou wilt eaſily confeſſe, that it is high time for euerie man to put to his helping hand for the remooving, or at leaſt, for the abating (if it may be) of this high contempt of the Lords day. And to vſe all good meanes, whereby thoſe which yet ſinne of ignorance, and weakeneſſe, rather then of any ſetled wilfulneſſe, may be brought in ſome meaſure to the ſound knowledge, and holy obedience of this moſt glorious commandement of God. That ſo (at the leaſt) for their ſakes ſo fearing God, and in his feare drawing neare vntounto his true worſhip (which yet are likely, no doubt, to proue the ſmalleſt number) the Lord may in his merciemercy ſpare the whole land, as he ſpared ripe ſinning Sodome, for iuſt Lots ſake. To which end and purpoſe, it hath pleaſed God to ſtirre vp many of his ſervants, both godly and learned, to trauel, both by ſpeaking and writing in the former argument. And among the reſt, D Bound. Ma. Grenham. Ma. Widly.ſome have laboured as I ſuppoſe (without preiudice to any be it ſpoken) more abundantly then the reſt, and that both learnedly and godly, having ſoundly prooved the doctrine by authoritie of the worde, and conſent of the best Writers, and conſent both of antiquitie, and of later yeares, as alſo vrged the ſame by many religious and patheticall perſwaſions vntounto the conſcience. For whoſe painfull trauels I muſt acknowledge my ſelfe (the leaſt of all) amongst many other moſt highly bound to give God praiſe. But ſuch is the corruption of our nature in generall, (but eſpecially of the ſluggard, to whom a few lines more then ordinarie in ſpirituall matters, ſeeme to be ſo many Lions lying in his way to keepe him from reading the ſame) that few of many will hardly take the paines to travaile to the ende of any learned diſcourſe, though it be likely to prove never ſo profitable vntounto them at their iourneyes end And many againe are induced rather to read ſuch things as are ſhort and compendious, like men that love to goe the neareſt way home with a light burthen. In which reſpects I have preſumed to offer vntounto thee this ſhort abridgement of the doctrine of the Sabbaoth: partly to thruſt on the ſluggard, and partly to toll on the wearie and faint, and partly to helpe the memories of thoſe that have read and forgot againe: but chiefly to ſtirre vp them with my ſelfe to a more carefull and conſcionable practiſe of the ſame. Herein know that I have but imitated thoſe travellers, who having beene in other Countreys, have made a briefe collection of ſuch things as they have obſerved, and deemed memorable: telling the world of many a faire Citie which they never builded, of many a goodly Orchard which they never planted, of many ſtately Monuments which they never erected, and of many curious workes which they never invented, &c. And all this yet, not without ſome comfort to themſelves, and ſome delight to others, & not without ſome provocation perhaps vntounto ſome to take the like, or greater iourneys to their further benefite and delight: having learned, that if a man doe but even ſpeake the ſame things againe, which have beene ſpoken before, it is not altogether a fruitles labour. If I have added of mine owne (as in ſome places I have) though verie little, and followed mine owne Method and order in the contriving of this poore ahridgement. I have not done it without the approbation of many godly and learned, both in the miniſterie, and otherwiſe, (whoſe iudgement I muſt, and doe eueryevery way preferre before my owne) who having peruſed the ſame, have not onelyonly affoorded thereunto thear good approbation, but have alſo earneſtly intreated me (many of them) and encouraged me all of them, to publiſh the ſame. Whatſoever it be, I do humbly ſubmit both my ſelfe and it to the charitable & Chriſtian cenſures of the reverend Fathers and Brethren of the Church of Chriſt, and to the gracious bleſſing of the Lord our heauenly father, who wil witneſſe with me againſt all that ſhall be contrarie minded, that my principall care and deſire herein hath beene, and is, the advancement of his own glorie, in the edifying of his church: but eſpecially of that people, and congregation, amongeſt whom I have (through his merciful providence) my ſtanding and abiding. Make thy beſt vſe of it, & aſſiſt me with thy praiers:
Thine in Chriſt, W. Buiton.