Answer to Two Books of the Sabbath, Part 10
His third Argument.
If the principall reaſons in the fourth Commandement be directly for one day in ſeven, and indirectly for that ſeventh and laſt day of the we…ke; then the fourth Commandement muſt rather be underſtood of the number, for one day in ſeven, then for the order, the laſt day of ſeven.
But the reaſons are directly for one day in ſeven, and indirectly for that ſeventh and laſt day of ſeven, as being the day then appointed, Ergo &c.
Anſwer.
I ſee all along hitherto that Mr Cawdry ſticks much at this ordinall number ſeventh in the fourth Commandement, and will nor endure this word order; it ſeemes to me he had rather be out of order than in order, fearing that Gods order may make him turne Jew and keep the Saturday-Sabbath: for rather than he will admit of Gods order, the ordinall ſeventh, which implies the daies put into order, he will invent an Expoſition of his own, which is without order, as one day of ſeven.
Furthermore, I have this one thing againſt his Argument, that he diſputes comparatively, noted by the word rather, when he ſhould diſpute abſolutely, and poſitively; for our queſtion is not whether the fourth Commandement muſt rather b… expounded of one day in ſeven than of the ſeventh day; but abſolutely and poſitively whether it ought to be expounded of the ſeventh day, or not of the ſeventh day; or whether it ought to be expounded of the ſeventh day, or of one day in ſeven, uncertainely which day; wherefore Sir, I deſire you to take home this Argument againe, and frame it anew, and ſee then if you can make any thing or nothing of it.
I have yet another thing againſt this Argument; whereas you do compare theſe two together, one day of ſeven and the ſeventh day, ſaying, the one muſt rather be taken than the other; here you compare ens with non ens; a thing which hath a being in the fourth Commandement, as the ſeventh day expreſſed, with that which hath no being in the fourth Commandement, as one day of ſeven indefinitely, which is neither expreſſed nor implied, but is a meere fiction of your own; remember Sir, that this is the place where you are to prove, if you can, that one day of ſeven indefinitly, that is, any one day of the ſeven is the ſenſe and meaning of the fourth Commandement; but inſtead of proving it, you ſleightly take it for granted you in a compariſon rather, &c. and is not this petere principium, plainly to beg the queſtion? for the comparative degree doth ſuppoſe the poſitive as granted; As for the B…ſhop, Dr H…ylin, and Mr Primroſe, you often taxe ſome of them for begging the queſtion, and are you, Sir, ſo frequent in the uſe of this peece of Sophiſtry? This is not the firſt time I have taken you guilty, nor will it be the laſt time.
Againe, whereas you ſay, the reaſons in the fourth Commandement are directly for one day in ſeven, and but indirectly for the ſeventh day.
1. Is it not ſtrange that what is expreſſed ſhould be indirectly in the Commandement, and what is not expreſſed ſhould be directly in it?
2. As for the two reaſons mentioned by him, the farmer is the ſixe daies labour, whereby God perſwades us to give him the ſeventh day, becauſe he hath allowed us ſixe daies for our ſelves; now foraſmuch as our ſixe daies labour muſt go together in labour, therefore this reaſon muſt be for the ſeventh and laſt day, not for one day of ſeven, or any one day of ſeven: for the ſixe labouring daies going together, theſe are the reaſons; now a reaſon cannot prove it ſelfe but another thing.
The latter reaſon, mentioned by him in page 268. and page 42. is Gods example in reſting the ſeventh day, which example leades us to the ſeventh day alſo, not unto one day of the ſeven indefinitely: for examples lead us to follow them as nearely, as cloſely, and as exactly as we can, as Copies ſet to Schollars, and Samplers for Girles to ſew by; and ſo Moſes was to make the Tabernacle after the paterne which God ſhewed him in the Mount, Exod. 25.40. now we then imitate God, and follow his example wh…n we keep the ſeventh and laſt day of the weeke, for it is as neere to God as poſſibly we can come; ſo you ſee the reaſons of the Commandement are plainly for the ſeventh day only.
But Mr Cawdry would have one day, or any one day of the ſeven for his Sabbath, and is this to imitate God? Or rather to croſſe God? For when God reſted on the ſeventh and laſt day of the weeke we will reſt on the firſt day, at the beginning of the weeke, and yet not aſhamed to ſay we imitate God, and follow his Example; yet, but ſaith Mr Cawdry, God reſt d one day of ſeven, and if we do ſo we imitate God. I Sir, but do you imitate God as neerely, as cloſely, and as exactly as you can, or as is poſſible? And as S…holars do, or ought their Cop…es? And as Moſes did about th… T…bernacle? Surely, it is no impoſſible thing for us to keep the Saturday for our Sabbath; but as Mr Cawdry loves not Gods ordinall number, the ſeventh, leſt he ſhould fall into Gods order, and ſo turne Jew: ſo he loves not to imitate God, leſt he ſhould turne Sabbatarian; if he ſhould follow Gods example ſo exactly and cloſely as he may or can do, then he ſhould be too too like God, and reſemble God too much.
For concluſion, here againe, Sir, give me leave to retort this your Argument on this manner.
If the principall reaſons in the fourth Commandement be directly for the ſeventh day, and indirectly for one day in ſeven, then the fourth Commandement muſt rather be underſtood of the ſeventh day than of one day in ſeven.
But the reaſons are directly for the ſeventh day, and indirectly for one day in ſeven, as you have ſeen it proved before, Ergo, &c.