A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 169 (Question 59)
SERMON CLXIX.
QUESTION LIX.
WHICH Day of the Seven hath God appointed to be the weekly Sabbath?
ANSWER.
FROM the beginning of the World to the Reſurrection of Chriſt, God appointed the Seventh Day of the Week to be the Weekly Sabbath, and the Firſt Day of the Week ever ſince, to continue to the End of the World, which is the Chriſtian Sabbath.
UNDER the former Queſtion we conſidered the Morality of the Sabbarth: to the clearing whereof two Rules were laid down, and the Truth of them Eſſayed, viz. … That the Reaſon of keeping a Sabbath, is found in the Law of Nature. 2. That the obſerving of one Day in Seven, was Poſitively Moral, ſo that both of theſe belonging to the … Table or the Worſhip of God, the Fourth C…mand hath a reſultancy, partly from the firſt, partly from the Second. The Queſtion before us leads us to the Conſideration of the firſt Day or Time, which was Conſtituted for Sabbath. And here from the Premiſes, for our belp in clearing up the matter before us, thee Concluſions may be premiſed, viz.
1. THAT besauſe the reaſon for keeping a …, is in the Firſt Command, it bence follows, … here muſt be ſome Sabbath of force to the … the World. Natural Worſhip is unde…y perperual. If therefore the light of … faith, that Man cannot aright ſerve … great end, unleſs he devote ſome propoſition of his time to Religious Worſhip, ſuch Dory cannot ceaſe; while he is a Subject of …, and hath a particular as well as a … Calling to employ himſelf about; … will not ceaſe till time ends with him, and he paſſeth over to Eternity, to keep an …ſting Sabbath.
2. THAT becauſe the keeping of this or that … comes under the Second Command, which … to Inſtitured Worſhip, is belongs to Divine …trignty to appoint, and changes it, if be ſees …. If it had pleaſed God to continue the … Appointment unaltred through all Ages of the World, it ought to be ſo obſerved by …, and the Divine Will ſo revealed about is … …con ſufficient Obligation on Man to attend it. But if he ſees good to deelare his Pleaſure for the alteration of the time, and remove it from that to any other, we owe to him out voluntary compliarce, and no way to diſpute his Prerogative in it. So that our only inquiry in this Affair, is to inform our ſelves, what God hath done upon this account, i. e. whether he hath made ſuch a Charge. and to what portion of time he hath alotted it. And the force of all our Arguing, muſt reſolve it ſelf to a Word of Inſtitution.
3. THAT yet, becauſe Divine Sovereignty acts in Infinite Wiſdom, therefore, ſo far as God pleaſeth to give us a reaſon for bis Inſtitution, we are to inquire after it, and confirm our Faith by it. God always hath a reaſon of his Precepts; for his own Glory is the laſt end of them, and his unerring Wiſdom accommodates them to be ſerviceable thereunto. But be doth not always declare theſe Reaſons to us, becauſe he will have us to acknowledge his Supream right over us, and therefore he only ſets the Seal of his Sovereignty to them, I am the Lord. But at other times he expreſſeth a reaſon for it, whereby he affords us, a particular diſcovery of the Equity of the Command itſelf; and when he ſo doth, we ought to improve it, to ſatisfy our Obedience. But I proceed more particularly to inquite into the Anſwer that lies before us. And there are Two Propoſitions contained in it, which I ſhall endeavour particularly to give a brief account of.
I. THAT from the beginning of the World to the Reſurrection of Cbriſt, God appointed the Seventb Day of the Week, to be the Weekly Subbath. I need not delay here, in as much as under the formet Head, in the proving of the Morality of the Fourth Command, I endeavoured to make it to appear, that a Sabbath was Inſtituted in the time of Man's Integrity, and ever ſince continued, even to, and in the times of the Goſpel. That Day therefore which God did at firſt Conſecrate and make Holy to himſelf, muſt needs continue of force, till either God revoke it, by aboliſhing the Inſtitution of a Sabbath, or change it by introducing of another Day in the room of it, but neither of theſe can be aſſerted to have been before Chriſt's Reſurrection.
1. THAT God did never abrogate the Appointment of a Sabbath, may be argued both from the nature of the tbing, or the Conſtitution of Man under God's ſpecial Government: which bath already been ſuſficiently proved; and alſo from the total ſilenea of the Scriptures about any ſuch act. Now it is a ſuſficient reaſoning in Divinity, in reſpect of Poſitive or Inſtituted Worſhip, that as God's Command gives Authentickneſs to every ſuch Inſtitution, ſo it ſtands in force till God doth fignify his mind to Men, that it is his Pleaſure that it doth ceaſe.
2. THAT God did at the beginning ordain the Seventh Day to be a Sabbath. By the beginning we are not to underſtand the firſt moment of time, for there were fix Days which paſſed in the Creation of the World, before any ſuch notice was g…ven of it: but that as ſoon as God had ſi…ſhed the Work of Creation, in reſpect of the ſeveral kinds of Second Beings, and had made Man laſt of all, whom he endued with a Capacity of Sanctifying a Sabbath, in a teligious Contemplation & Improvement of the Works of God, and Glorifying him in them, he therenpon Conſecrated the Seventh Day to this end. And this muſt needs be implied in, Gen. 2.2.3. And on the ſeventh day God ended his work, which be had made; and b…r…ſted on the ſeventh day from all his work which be had made. And God bleſſed the ſeventh day, and ſanctified is; becauſe that in is be had reſted from all his work, which God bad created and made. For tho' God reſted from Creating any new Species of Being in the fixth Day; yet he reſted not on the Seventh from the Work of Providence, which continues without intermiſſion, to uphold with the right Hand of Power, the things ſo made, and to preſerve the Kinds of them. And as to any holy Reſt, God enjoys himſelf Erernally in perfection of Bleſſedneſs, and not being ſubject to time, cannot ſo himſelf keep any particular times as a Sabbath. But beſides, that he reſted on it, he alſo ſanctified and bleſſed it; which inrends his putting a relative holineſs upon it, which muſt needs be for the uſe of Man. And that this was the Seventh Day from the beginning of time, is every where aſſerted in the Old Teſtament, where any particular ancount of this Inſtitution is given.
3. THAT this Seventh Day was to continue for this uſe, from the beginning, till the. Reſurrection of Cbriſt. This is denied by ſome, who as they, without reaſon, deny the Inttitution of it to be expreſſed, in Gen. 2.2, 3. ſo they would perſwade us, that the firſt Inſtitution of the Sabbath, was at the giving of the Manna Exod. 16. and will on that account, have it to be meerly Ceremonial, and a branch of the Moſaical Paedagogy, and conſequently to be aboliſhed when that was. But ſuffieient hath been ſaid for the refutation of that Opinion, under the former Queſtion. And tho' the Seventh-day-Sabbath did end with the Law of Moſes eventually, yet the reaſon for its ſo doing, was not becauſe is was a part of it, but on another Conſideration, as will afterwards be conſidered. And further to confirm this Propoſition, let us obſerve,
(1.) THAT the Primitive Inſtitution of the Seventh-day-Sabbath, being given to Adam as the Head of Mankind, it continued in force to them, will God ſhould ſome way reverſe it. God's Or…l…ances are of force upon the Subjects of them, till the Seal that ratifies them come to be torn off by him. Every Ordinance of Man muſt ſtand, till it be repealed either by the ſame Authority that eſtabliſhed it, or … that is Superiour to it. But God hath no Supetiour, and therefore none but himſelf … diſannul it. Now all Mankind were concerned in this Ordinance, for it was ratifies in the Covenant with Adom, as he flood our, Common Head; and was to communica… whatſoever Inſtitution he received from God, as being in that Station or Capacity.
(2.) THAT from Adam till Moſes, there is un record in the Scriptures of any repeal of a Sabbath, or alteration of the time. A dean ſilence in the Word of God concerning … Poſitive Law, is a good Argument in Divinity, So that, if God hath once commanded a thing and never reverſed the Command, either in, general or particular, the ſtamp of Divin…. Authority abides on it, ſo that it cannot be rejected or neglected, without guilt of Si… in thoſe that do either reject or neglect is, Now that there is no ſuch act concerning this Sabbath to be found in Sacred Writ, muſt ſtand a Truth, till it can be produced, which I believe will never be.
(3.) THAT the ſilence of the Word of God about the Obſervation of the Sabbath from Adam till Moſes, is no Evidence that the Patrint… did not Obſerve it. There are few things h… on record about the Affairs of Religion during that time, eſpecially as to the particulary … it; and yet there is enough to ſatisfy, us that theſe things were. There is no Law of sacrifices from the fall, recorded; and yes that there was an Inſtitution for it, appears … only in that there was a Practice of it, … in that God accepted of Abels Sacrifice, Gen 4.4. And the Lord bed reſpect unto Abel, only his offering. Which he would not have done, had he not firſt Inſtituted it. And that about was a Religious Worſhipping of God … tained by the Petriarks, before and about, the Flood, is firmly to be believed.
(4.) THAT the ſuppoſition, that the Ordi… of a Seventh-day-Sabbath was generally leſt … known long before Moſer's time, doth are … prove the Autheathekneſs of the Procepa ſay, or ſay that in ceeſed to be Muns Doty. Certainly Adam, and the following Holy Patri… Communteated to their Poſterity, the … t…prs which God had revealed his will as them in; but many that: Deſcended from them, grew careleſs in this Affair, and ſo the notice of ſuch things might in time he … among them; and we are told, that God Winked at the times of Ignorance, Act, …. And how far this might excuſe thoſe Unhappy Nations, I diſpute not; but that God … meet in thoſe Days, to hand theſe Day … down by Tradition is certain. And it was great Sin in Parents not to teach them to their Children, tho' God was pleaſed, as his own People, to inſpire Men to ravivo ſuch things among them, when they began … loſt, or Degenerate into vain Supe…ſtiving
(5.) THAT the ſeventh Day Sabbath is menti… in the Writings of Moſes, before and at … giving the Law at Mount Sinai as a thing us unknown before to the People of Iſrael. At as giving of the Manne, which was ſome … before they came into the Wilderneſs of …, at the Hiſtory acquaints us; there is i…d a mention of a Sabbath on the ſeventh …y, but not as a thing then firſt Inſtituted, … already Obſerved in Exod. 16.23, 26, 29. … be ſaid unto them. This is that which the lord hath ſaid, To morrow is the reſt of the body ſ…h unto the Lord: bake that which ye will … to day, and ſeethe that ye will ſeethe; and us which remaineth ever, lay up for you to be … until the morning. Six days ye ſhall gather …but on the ſeventh day which is the ſa… …, in it there ſhall be none. See, for that to Lord hath given you the ſabbath, therefore …eveth you on the ſixth day the …ead of two …: abide ye every man in his place: …et no … go out of his place on the ſeventh day. And when, at leaſt a Month after that Law was …en, this Command is given with a Memento, …, 20.8. And though the word remember, if frequently uſed for the Obſervation of a thing, and Meditating upon it, yet doubtleſs if here intends Emphatically a calling to … of he former Precept that had been given for it; and which it is more than pro…, that they had been Wofully Defective … during their abode in Egypt.
(6.) THAT this Comm…nd was renew'd in …e…'s Law, with the reaſon enforcing it, which … from the Original Inſtitution of it, at the …ing. Exod. 20.11. Not that every Pre… that was revived under Moſes was a new …, or meerly Poſitive and Ceremonial; for all the Precepts of the Moral Law, were … revived, and given in the Covenant which … made with Iſrael at the Mount. Now … was directly for the ſeventh Day: and … thus put into Moſe… 's Paedagogy, it was … to ſtand as long as that laſted, and … reaſon, It was one of the great quar… that God had with that People, in the … of their Apoſſaſy, viz. their Negli… about the Sabbath, Iſa. 58. begin. Jor. …. 19. to the end. So that if we would … how long this Article of the Precept … to abide in force, the general Anſwer is, … it was to be, till God ſhould ſee meet to … in another Diſpenſation of the Cove…, in which, though no Moral Precept was …, yet there was a Change in the things … were meerly Poſitive in it.
(7.) THAT Moſes's Paedagogy continued in …, till the Reſurrection of Chriſt, and no …. The Law of Moſes was given to the … of Iſreal, to be a Rule of the out ward …niſtration of the Covenants between God … them, till the fulneſs of time ſhould …, in which the Promiſe made to Abraham ſhould be accompliſhed, and that was when … Meſſiah ſhould appear in our Fleſh, and … all that Righteouſneſs which was Ty…ly repreſented in that Diſpenſation. Now this was done by Chriſt, in his ſtate of Humillation, and finiſhed at his Death on the Croſs, Job. 19.30. And the Manifeſtation of this was made, in and by his Reſurrection: Now was the time when the Day brake, and the ſhades were to flee away; from hence it was that the Kingdom of the Goſpel was eſtabliſhed, and a new Adminiſtration on it was ſet up. Now had Chriſt fulfilled the Law, according as he ſaid. Mat. 5.17. And together with his ſo fulfilling of it, he Aboliſhed that Paedagogy, for which reaſon we are told, Eph. 2, 15. Having aboliſhed in his fleſh the enmity, even the law of commandments, contained in ordinances. Now all theſe Ordinances, which in their Day were glorious, being put to an end, become weak and beggerly Elements, Gal. 4.9. Not that the Antiquating of that Law did of itſelf put an end to the Seventh Day Sabbath, but becauſe till then, there was no appointment of God for the change of the Sabbath to another Day; for if there were then no ſuch appointment, that Day was ſtill in force; and whether there were ſuch a Change of it ordained by Divine Authority, is to be inquired in the next Propoſition; which is.
II. THAT the Firſt Day of the Week ever ſince, to continue to the End of the World, is to be a Chriſtian Sabbath. The great thing that is here to be conſidered, is the Change of the Sabbath. And in this Inquiry, we are to take it for granted, that there was to be a Sabbath during the ſtanding of the World, and the continuance of a Church of God in it. The reaſon for our belief of which hath been already laid down. Either therefore the Old Sabbath is to abide, or another is appointed of God. And except he hath told us what Day it is, we are ſtill at a loſs. If a reaſon ſhould be demanded, why God appointed one Day of the Week rather than another, or one Day in Seven, rather than a longer or ſhorter revolution; it is enough to anſwer, that ſo Sovereignty pleaſed. Nevertheleſs, not only doth God diſpenſe his Sovereignty in Wiſdom, and therefore hath a reaſon for what he doth; but he hath alſo pleaſed to give us a reaſon, why he hath ſo done. As to the reaſon of the Chriſtian Sabbath, and the ſpecial Day appointed for it, we ſhall conſider it afterwards. But for the reaſon of the Seventh Day, from the beginning, he hath himſelf given it in the body of the Command; which will be conſidered under a following Queſtion. In ſum, we may here obſerve, that the Sabbath was at firſt given to Man, to improve in a religious Contemplation and Adoration of the Glorious Perfections of GOD, ſhining forth, in the Works of Creation, which not being perfected till the Seventh Day, his Work was not compleatly prepared for him, but now it was fully ready. But becauſe there are many that keep a Sabbath, but deny any ſuch Change, and others, who tho' they acknowledge the Moral Duty of keeping a Sabbath, yet allow the Aſſignation of the time to be only of Eccleſiaſtical Authority, and not by a Divine Ordinance, we may for the ſettling our Faith in this Affair, take a brief and diſtinct account of a ſew things, which may give us light into it.
HERE,
[1.] THAT the Morality of the Fourth Command, doth not lay any reſtraint upon God, from Changing the Day of reſt. It is not a forcible way of Arguing, to ſay, that the Command for a Sabbath is Moral, and therefore perpetual and Immutible; if therefore the ſeventin Day were once the Day appointed for it, it muſt be ſo Unchangably: a reaſon of the invalidity of ſuch a way of reaſoning, hath been already laid, in the conſideration we had, wherein the Morality of this Command is to be placed, or in what reſpect it is Moral. We may therefore briefly confirm our Aſſertion from the conſideration of that, and ſhewing the force of the Concluſion, to derive from it;
HERE then Obſerve,
1. THAT though the keeping of a, Sabbath be primarily Moral; yet the deſignation and limitation of the time, is but ſecondarily ſo, In the former reſpect it is a Natural Precept, whereas in the latter it is Poſitive, it being a Declaration of the good pleaſure of God, what ſhall be the time, which he will have ſeparated from common uſe, and Sanctified to ſuch Service as Naturally requireth ſome time for the doing it in.
2. THAT this deſignation entirely depends upon God's Pleaſure. All time is in his hand. And he is Sovereign Lord over the Creature, which is a Subject of time; and hath Authority to lay out its Work, and tell it what portion of time it ſhall do its work in, and when it ſhall abſtain from that, and ſeperate itſelf to Religious Services of Worſhip. Hence that this Day hath more of Holineſs upon it than another, is not becauſe it is ſo in its own Nature, but becauſe it is his Pleaſure, that it ſhould be ſo.
3. THAT as there was a Reaſon why God did at firſt determine it to be the Seventh; ſo, if he ſeeth reaſon to alter it to any other, his Authority is Indiſputable. Indeed, we are not to Diſpute with him about the Reaſons of his Poſitive Precepts, but are bound to believe that a God Infinitely Wiſe, knows his own mind and purpoſe in all that he doth; and that there may be juſt reaſon why ſuch an Alteration ſhould be made, according to the different Diſpenſation of himſelf to Men, is beyond diſpute.
4. THAT there was not a fixed Natural Morality on the Seventh Day. I know that there are ſome who plead, that the Light of Nature did intimate to Man at firſt, that becauſe God took up Six Days in Creating the World, therefore the Seventh ought to be kept as a Day of reſt: but this ſeems not to hold, inaſmuch as all this was of Revolation: Man was laſt Created, and though the light of Nature told him that the World he came into was God's Wormanſhip; yet it did not of itſelf ſay how much time God t…k up, in the Creation of it; for God could have done all things with one Word, in … inſtant; and therefore the diſtinct knowle… of this is a matter of Faith, Heb. 11.9. … alſo that Man ſhould obſerve ſuch a time for the Contemplation of this great work, depended on Divine Inſtitution, and therefore could not immediately reſult from the light of Nature.
5. THAT hence, if God had as weighty rec… to alter the Day, as he had at firſt to aſſign it to The Seventh, neither may his Wiſdom or C… ſtancy be called in Queſtion for it. Though God be Immutable, yet the Creature is a Subject of change, and may paſs under … diverſe Condition, unto which God may, without a…y change in himſelf, ſuit the diſpenſation of his Providence to it: He is of one mind, his Purpoſes alter not; but according to thoſe purpoſes, he carries the Creatures through many viciſſitudes. And herein he manifeſts his manifold Wiſdom, by accommodating his ſpecial Government of Mankind, to their preſent ſtate. And that on this account there was abundant reaſon, to change the Day of the Sabbath will come under conſideration in the ſequel. Though ſtill the Duty itſelf conti… in force.
6. NEITHER doth this change in the … weaken the Morality of the Duty itſelf. It is not leſs a Natural Duty for Men to attend on Solemn Worſhip, at ſuch time, as God ſhall Poſitively appoint for ſuch an end, though he ſees meet in his Wiſdom to alter it; if ſtill there be a Seal of his Pleaſure upon it, the Obligation is of … force; and as the Holineſs of the Day … appointed, muſt needs ceaſe upon this chan… ſo the ſame ſtamp of Holineſs, is upon the Day which is by this Edict, thus determined; it having the ſame Original and Authority, which the former had.
[2.] THAT we have no other foundation … build our Faith on the Article of ſuch a chan… of the Sabbath, but the Will of God about … revealed in his Word. There may be ab… dant help for the Confirming of our Faith in it fetched from the conſideration of the great reaſon on which God was pleaſed to alter it, when we take a diſtinct view of it: but there is not ſufficient in that to infer that there is indeed ſuch a change becauſe all reaſons are not fetcht from … cauſes of things, but may refer to other Topicks, which may recommend to us, the uſefulneſs of them, their, ſuitableneſs to the deſign they are for, and conſequently the Wiſdom of God in ſo aſſigning of them, as Media to the advancing the great end … all his works, viz. the manifeſtation of his Glorious Perfections.
HERE then let us obſerve,
1. THAT this Change intirely depended on God's Pleaſure. It is from thence that all Poſitive Precepts have their Original. It is becauſe he Commands us, that we are under the Obligation to do ſuch things. It was his Edic … it, which made the Seventh Day holy to him; and it muſt be the ſame Authority which make another day to be ſo, … …der to Man's acknowledging and cefe…ting of it: And without that, all the Authority of the whole Creation, cannot oblige our Conſciences to ſuch Obſervation.
2. THAT God's Pleaſure in all his Institutions; muſt be made known to us, by Revelation. … Duties of Natural Worſhip are to be …d in the Law of Nature; and Man's Na…l-Conſcience did at firſt contain a full … legible Sculpture of them: Though, … the Fall, theſe are much obliterated, …d therefore God hath given us a new Revelation of them: But as to Poſitives, which … …tly reſult from the Divine Pleaſure, … muſt know what God's Pleaſure is in …g…rd of them, before we conclude them … be Duties: and this knowledge can be … …o other way-communicated to us but by …d himſelf, …elling us what is his Plea… is this regard; for who is able to dive … his Mind, till he himſelf declares it … ſome way?
3. THAT the way for us to know this, is by … Word. He did indeed make known his …ſure in this reſpect to his Servants of …; by Inſpiration, Dreams, Viſions, Meſſa… of Angels, which he continued till the … was perfected; but he hath now made … Word to be a ſtanding Rule for us to … of our duty by, and hath directed us … …ir thither for all our direction in our …ing and obeying him. Iſai. 8.20. To the … to the teſtimony: if they ſpeak not ac…ing to this word, it is becauſe there is no … in them. And therefore David pays … deference to the Word of God, Pſal. …. 105. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and is … unto my path. And we are aſſured of … compleat perfection of it, for all the … of Religion, 2 Tim. 3.16, 17. All ſcrip… is given by inſpiration of God, and is … able for doctrine, for reproof, for correcti…, for inſtruction in righteouſneſs: That the … of God may be perfect, throughly furniſhed … all good works.
4. THAT hence if there be no Change of the …, there to be diſcovered, our Faith of it hath … foundation. All other Arguments for it … what uſe ſoever they may be, for the … …iſhing of our belief of it, will not …hat of themſelves to a demonſtration of … truth of it: For if God hath not in …is Word declared his Pleaſure in this mat…, it would be daring boldneſs in us, to go … to ſubvert the order which he at firſt …ointed. Our principal Inquiry therefore will be, whether or no there be that in the Holy Scriptures, that will amount to ſuch an Ordinance, as carries in it the evidence that there is ſuch a Change. Which will be out next Contemplation.
[SEPTEMBER 22. 1702.]