A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 170 (Question 59 cont.)
SERMON CLXX.
[3.] THAT the Scriptures afford us ſufficient diſcoveries of God's mind about this Change. That which we are here to conſider, is, that the Word of God doth afford us Light to aſſure us that there was a New Sabbath to be brought in, in the days of the Goſpel, and conſequently there was a Change to paſs from the Seventh, to another Day. Which Day this was, will be ano… conſidered. Some have thought that this was fore-ſignified in the Moſaical Law, by the Appointment of the Eighth Day, of the Feſtival to the ſolemnly kept, as holy, at the Feaſt of Tabernacles, Lev. 23.36. Seven days ye ſhall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord: on the eighth day ſhall be an holy convocation unto you, and ye ſhall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord: it is a ſolemn aſſembly, and ye ſhall do no ſervile work therein. Which Feaſt had a peculiar reſpect to the Incarnation of Chriſt. But I inſiſt not on that. But,
1. THERE are ſome Typical and Prophetical Text in the Old Teſtament, which manifeſtly predict this. And that which I ſhall peculiarly take notice of is, Pſal. 118.24. This is the day which the Lord hath made, we will rejoyce and be glad in it. That Chriſt is aimed at, at leaſt in this part of the Pſalm, as the Antetype, the Jewiſh Writers themſelves do acknowledge, and is commonly believed by Chriſtians; yea, the very matter of it inforceth it, being too lofty to be applied to David, and further than in a dark ſhadow. Here then we may obſerve, 1. The thing which he is ſpeaking of, viz. the Exaltation of Chriſt, ver. 22. The ſtone which the builders refuſed, is become the head ſtone of the corner. And that Chriſt was aimed at in it, is evident, becauſe it is in the New Teſtament aſcribed to Him, Math. 21.42. Jeſus ſaith unto them, Did ye never read in the Scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the ſame is become the head of the corner? this is the Lords doing, and it is morvellous in our eyes. Act. 4.11. This is the ſtone which was ſet at nought by you builders, which is become the head of the corner. And this was done when Chriſt was exalted, the firſt ſtep whereof was in his Reſurrection, of which the Pſalmiſt brings in the Father ſpeaking, Pſal. 2.6, 7. Yet have I ſet my king upon my holy hill of Sion. I will declare the decree: the Lord hath ſaid unto me, Thou art my ſon, this day have I begotten thee. 2. He puts a ſtate of Adminiſtration upon it, ver. 23. This is the Lord's doing, it is marvellous in our eyes. Aſcribing it to God as the Author of the Work, and noting the Surprize it carried in it, Challenging a ſpecial Obſervation. 3. Hereupon he brings in the Conſecration of a Day, for the Celebration of this great Wonder, ver. 24. where. 1. There is a remark made on the Day itſelf, This is the Day; and ſome read it, and more agreeable with the Original, This is that Day, the Lord bath made it. q. d. This is the Day which above all Days, is worthy to be remembred for the Glorious Work that was done on it; and what Day was this, but the Day in which His Exaltation was introduced. Now when he ſaith that God made it, it muſt needs have ſomething ſpecial in it, for God makes every day; but it intends ſomething illuſtrious; He hath made it, ſo as that it deſerves a remark to made upon it, and to be Celebrated to the Lord, and to be kept in Honour of this great Work. As to thoſe that would have this Day to intend the whole time of the Goſpel Diſpenſation, which therefore they would have to be kept as a time of ſpecial gladneſs, it is precarious, and only made uſe of to leave us no Sabbath at all, which how pernicious it is to the upholding of the Power of Godlineſs, we have before obſerved. In the Antetype it Points to the Chriſtian Sabbath, and is therefore to be aſſigned to the Lords-Day, which was Sanctified upon the Reſurrection of Chriſt. 2. There is a Reſolution to Celebrate it as ſuch; we will rejoice, &c. i. e. We will Celebrate it with Holy Duties and Exerciſe of Praiſe to God; for which reaſon the Chri…an Church is here brought in, taking up ſuch a Reſolution. And tho' this Text alone, doth not teil us which Day of the Week it is, yet it tells us, that the Day of Chriſts Reſurrection, is to be kept by his Subjects, as a Sabbath, in Honour to Him. This alſo was foretold, Iſa. 11.10. And in that day there ſhall be a root of Jeſſe, which ſhall ſtand for an enſign of the people; to it ſhall the Gentiles ſeek, and his rest ſhall be glorious. That this is ſpoken of Chriſt, the foregoing Verſes evidently prove, & that this reſt intends His Finiſhing or Perfecting His Work of Redemption is manifeſt, as will appear in the Sequel.
HENCE,
2. THIS is further Confirmed by the New Teſtament. And here, the moſt remarkable place, is that, Heb. 4. begin. Let us therefore ſear, leſt a promiſe being leſt us of entring into his reſt, any of you ſhould ſeem to come ſhort of it, &c. The Apoſtles great deſign in this Epiſtle, is to prove that Chriſt was the end of the Law, and was to bring in more Glorious Church ſtate, which was Prefigured in the Moſaical Diſpenſation: And in the beginning of this Chapter, he deſignedly proves, that there was another Reſt remaining for the People of God, beſides that which He gave Man at his Creation, and that which Be renewed to Iſrael, upon their going into Canaan, which be proves, and then expla… For the proof of it, he cites, Pſal. 95. w… Pſalm, the Jewiſh Rabbi's themſelves … knowledge to refer to the Kingdom of th… Meſſiah: In which, at ver. 7. he inv… Men to the Celebration of Goſpel Worſhip, and argeth his Invitation, by an Arg…m… fetched from the Miſery which beſel Iſrael, of Old, for their refuſing to enter into the Reſt of Canaan: From the manner of lay…g down this Argument, our Apoſtle proves that there was another Reft yet behind, to be introduced in Goſpel times, which muſt of … ceſſity be aimed at by the Pſalmiſt. For t… end he mentions three Reſts appointed by God for his Church in this World, according … the threefold ſtate of it; …two whereof … been already paſt, at neither whereof th… Pſalmiſt could aim, which he proves diſtinctly. The firſt of theſe was the Reſt appo… ed to the Church, under the Covenant of Works, preſcribed to Man under the Law of Nature, upon God's having finiſhed the Work of Creation, when he appointed and ſ… fyed the Seventh Day; this he proves … not the Reſt intended, ver. 3, 4, 5. And … ſum of his reaſoning is, becauſe the Law … ſpeaks of another Reſt. The ſecond … that which was renewed under the Moſ… P…dagogy, which was to be enjoyed in the Land of Canaan; in which, tho' he had appointed the continuance of the Seventh Day, (in as much as under that Diſpenſation, … had revived the Moral Law, and rein… the Covenant of Works, tho' together … it, he gave them a vailed Goſpel, and … was truly a Covenant of Grace,) yet b… it was to be preparatory for Chriſt's c… it was more Servile, and for that reaſon … put a new Sanction to the Seventh Day, … added new inſtitutions and Ceremonial … to be attended on it. This he proves … not be intended, becauſe it was ſo long … J…ſhu… had carried them i… the Ty… Reſt of Canaan, ver. 6, 7, 8. And the S… ture acquaints us, that it was about … Hundred Years; whereas the Pſalmiſt ſp… of another yet to come. Hereupon he … his Concluſion, ver. 9. There remaineth … fore a reſt unto the people of God. The … is, a Sabbatiſm, or keeping of a Sabbath, … which he uſeth the Hebrew word for a … hath, with a Greek termination, to … know that he intended a Day of Reſt, of the ſame kind or nature with thoſe … had been before appointed. He therefore further explains what Reſt it is, and in … foundation it is laid, ver. 10. For be that is entred into his reſt, be alſo hath ceaſed, ſ… his own works, as God did from his. Here … makes a compariſon between the work … Creation, and that of Redemption, and gi… us to underſtand, that Chriſt our Red… finiſhed his Work after the ſame m… that God did his, i. e. Appointing a … Sabbatiſm for the Commemoration of … for by him that entred into his Reſt, is … nife…ly uſe…ly inteeded Chriſt. And the word, as, …eads, after the like manner, i. e. with a Sabbath; and no other ſenſe can be given is agſe…able with the Apoſtles deſign and …ce of arguing. So that herein is manifeſt… ſaid down the Inſtitution of the Chriſtian …bath, upon the introduction of the new State of the Church, under the Goſpel, and that the very day is i…d…g…tated in …, will …her appear, under the next Concluſion.
[4] THAT th…s Change is from the Seventh at the First Day of the Week. Having made it is appear that there is ſuch a Change, according to Divine Ordination or Appoint…, the way now lies open, the lairer, to …aire for the Day itſelf to which it is Changed. That ſuch a Change is no way …radictory to the Law of Nature, we have already conſidered enough to evidence it: … tho' a Sabbath is purely Moral, yet the …tion of the ſtated time is Poſitive, and …ſive depends intirely on the pleaſure of the Law giver. Now, that the Seventh … was firſt ſtated, and was alſo revived at the giving of the Law in the Wilderneſs, … evident in the Word of God, that it … with reaſon be queſtioned. And that … was tranſlated from the Seventh to the … Day. will alſo find a ſatisfying proof … the Holy Scriptures. I ſhall not here … in the Argument, which ſome place … upon, viz. that elſe there would … …ea a loſs of time, and a breach made … the Appointment of Weeks from the …ing, becauſe I cannot diſcern any …ght to be in it; the numbring of Time … Weeks, being of a Civil, and not Theo…cal Conſideration; and this matter de…ing intirely on the Wiſdom and Pleaſure of the Lawgiver. Nor am I convinced a… the Light of Nature doth warrant our …ing of one Day rather than another, as a…gth, by reaſon of any great Work of … upon it, antecedently to a Poſitive …, given about it; though it may … is it a good reaſon for the Celebration …th a Day, and of the Wiſdom of God …manding it, when once we have an …tion for it. But there are Three …tion that may here be propoſed, which … put together, may be enough to deter… this matter, upon ſuppoſition that there … Change; and of the neceſſary that God … reveal his Pleaſure to us on this account, is order to our being capable of keep…ch a Day in Faith, or knowing of our … on this account.
1 THAT the Day thus Preſcribed, is that … the Week on which Chriſt Roſe from the …. This was touched at before, and it is … Providenced from the two Principal texts …ed: That the Day Celebrated in that …tical Scripture, (Pſal. 118.24.) did in … …type intend this Day. And this may … …ther Confirmed, if we conſider; that it … the Day in which He paſt from His Hu…tion, to his Exaltation, as appears from ver. 22. Now that not only Chriſts Death, but alſo the time wherein He lay in the litare, refers to His ſtate of Hun …ation, is agreed of on all hands. And for this reaſon, the Goſpel aſſures us, that he received his diſchange upon his Reſurrection; Hence that in Rom. 4.25. Who was deliverd …or our eſſences, and was ra…ſod again ſor…ur juſtification. In this it was that the Binds of Death, which before hold him, were broken, Act. 2. 24. Nor is it l…ſs evident from that in Heb. 4.10. For be that is …red into his reſt, be alſo hath ceaſed, from his own works, as God did from his. For we are not to ſuppoſe that he reſted from his works, during his ſtate of Humiliation. Now when he did ſo Reſt, he did it after the ſame manner that God reſted from His, i. e. with a Sabbath, and that in mediately upon the Reſt, which muſt be the Day of his Reſurrection.
THAT this was the Firſt Day of the Week. This is ſo fully aſſerted by every one of the Evangeliſts, that nothing more need to be ſaid for the proof of it, ſince it is a Divine Teſtimony, which cannot be miſtaken. For though the words in their proper ſignification be, one of the Sabbaths. yet it is a manifeſt Hebraiſm, who uſe the Cardinal number for the Ordinal, and the word Sabbth for the Week, the moſt Honourable Day whereof is the Sabbath: beſides that, the Hiſtory alſo determines it, becauſe it aſſures us, that it was the next morning after the Jeſwiſh Sabbath was ended, which we are ſure was the Firſt Day. And it is worthy conſideration, that the Spirit of God took order, that this Paſſage ſhould be ſet down by every Evangeliſt, which tells us, that there was ſomething remarkable in it, and doubtleſs this was one thing at leaſt, that it was a Day to be had in Honour to the end of the World.
THAT this Day had a peculiar Honour put upon it, from Christs Reſurrection, end during the Days of the …ſ…ſlies. How far we are to conclude Inſtitution from the Practice of the Apoſtles, I now ſhall not diſpute; though we are aſſured Chriſt referred many things of his will, to be ſuggeſted to them after his Aſſention, by Inſpiration Infallible, Joh. 16.12 13. I have yet many things to ſay unto you, but ye cannot bear them now: Howbeit, when he the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he ſhall not ſpeak of himſelf: but whatſoever he ſhall bear, that ſhall be ſpeak, and he will ſhew you things to come. But when we are aſſured of the thing itſelf, theſe things will be cumulative, to eſtabliſh us in the Truth. It was on this Day, that Chriſt did firſt after his Reſurrection appear to his Diſciples, Joh. 20.1…. Then the ſame day at evening being the fuſt day of the week, when the doors were ſhut, where the diſciples were aſſembled for fear of the Jews, came Jeſus and ſtood in the midſt, and ſaint unto them, Peace be unto you. And his ſecond too, if we take eight days incluſively, ver. 26. And after eight days, again his diſciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jeſus the d…rs being ſhut, and ſtood in the midſt, and ſaid, Peace be unto you. The Day of Pentecoſt ſeems to have been always on this Day, as is pleadable from Lev. 23.15, 16. And on this day the Apoſtles had a ſolemn Meeting, and the Lord too, choſe it to be the Day of his miraculous Co…firmation of them in their Ap…ſtleſhip, and beſtowing on them the extra…rdinary Gifts whereby they were furniſhed for it; as appears, Act. 2. bgin. It was the Day upon which the Church at Treas was app…ined to aſſemble together for Preaching, and the Adminiſtration of the Lord's Supper, and for that purpoſe, Paul tarried there ſeven days, Act 10.6, 7. And me ſailed away from Philipps, after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Treas in five days, where we abole ſeven days. And upon the firſt day of th… neck when the d…ſciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, re…y to depart on the morrow, and continued his ſpeech until …night. It was a a ſtared time for the Church at Corinth. for making their Publick Contributions, 1 Cor. 16.1. N…w concerning the collection for the ſaints, as I have given order to the churches of G…lati…, even ſo do ye. And why, but becauſe then they were to convene for Religious Duties? N…w for what other reaſon ſhould the Apoſtles pitch upon This Day rather than another, had they not received it from Chriſt by his Spirit. Paul uſeth ſuch an expreſſion to them, 1 Cor. 11.23. For I have received of the Lord, that which alſo I delivered unto you. Beſides, there is Emphaſis in calling it the Lord's Day, Rev. 1.10. I was in the ſpirit on the Lord's Day. That it muſt intend a Sabbath is therein evident, becauſe the Apoſtle mentions it as a Day well known by ſuch a Name, which muſt needs be, with reſpect to its being conſecrated by him, to his Service. For in no other reſpect is one Day His more than another. That it was to be kept in Remembrance of Him, is aloſo apparent from the title, as the Sacrament is called the Lord's Supper; for the ſame reaſon, now the word Lord, in the New Teſtament is uſed for Chriſt, who alſo is ſaid to be Lord of the Sabbath; which intimates his Authority to appoint, and put on Holineſs on what Day he ſees meet.
[5.] THAT the Reaſon of this Change, will further ſerve to confirm us in the Belief of it. For though God acts his Sovereignty in aſſigning the Day, yet he doth it in Wiſdom, and therefore muſt needs have a reaſon for if; and though he doth not always tell it us, yet in point of the Sabbath he hath pleaſed to reveal ſufficient to ſatisfy us about it; and this may come under a double conſideration; either with reſpect to Chriſt, or to the ſtate of the Goſpel Church.
1. WITH reſpect to Chriſt. I ſhall not here particularize but offer this ſummary account of it. That although the keeping of a … bath, for the performing of the Duties Worſhip to God, be a putely Moral D… yet the fixing of this or that Day, for it … ing Poſitive, God hath pleaſed to do it … the Commemoration of ſome great Work of … in remembrance whereof, the Day is to be … Holy. This therefore is the ſpecial re… given of the Seventh Day Sabbath, Exod. 20.…. For in ſix days the Lord made heaven and … the ſea, and all that in them is; and reſind… ſeventh day: wherefore the Lord bleſſed the Sabbath Day, and ballowed it. Now there …e two great works which God would have the Commemorated, viz. that of Creation all that of Redemptiom; the one whereof is ſpecially aſcribed to the Father, the … to the Son. As therefore when the W… of Creation was finiſhed, God immedia… appointed a Sabbath to be kept by mankind to be as it were I Sacred Monument of it, Gen. 2.1, 2. Thus the heavens and the evil were finiſhed, and all the bod of them. And to the ſeventh day God ended his works, which he had made; and be reſted on the ſeventh day … all his work which be had made. (Although he works hitherto in the the Admi… works of Providence, which are a continue Creation:) ſo when Chriſt had accompliſhed his work of Redemption, in the making satisfaction for Sin, which he declared … finiſhed in his Death, Joh. 19.30. What Jeſus therefore had received the vineger … ſaid, It is finiſhed: and be bewed his head … gave up the ghoſt. And for which he … a diſcharge in his Reſurrection; He commanded the Remembrance of it to his Chriſt Redeeming of His Elect out of the hath of Sin and Satan by Power. And this is … direct aim of the forecited. Heb. 4.2. … There remaineth therefore a rest to the … of God. For he that is entred into his … alſo hath ceaſed, from his own works, … did from his. Chriſt Himſelf hath to… … that it is His Fathers Pleaſure, that be … have an equal Divine Honour paid to …, on the account of His Redemption, to … which was due to Him, as He is the Lo… of all: Joh 5.23. That all men ſhould be now … Son, even as they honour the Father. He … honoureth not the Son, honoureth not the … which hath ſent him. And this is one … why the Chriſtian Sabbath is called the Lord's Day, becauſe it is to be kept in Ho… of the Lord Redeemer; and it is as …, that the keeping of a Sabbath to any, … pay him Divine Honour. Not ever was … ſuch a Benefit brought to Mankind, as … of Chriſts Redemption, in which he repa… the ruines of the Apoſtafy, and open… a way, by which miſerable finners, might obtain Salvation; in which God Himſelf aſſigned the manifeſtation of the Glory of … Grace, in which he would be admired forever in thoſe that Believe. Well them …ight He keep up the venoration of this …o astoniſhing a Work, by ſuch a Day, diſtinct from the Sabbath of the Creation.
2. WITH reſpect to the ſtate of the Goſpel Church. Here alſo let us briefly obſerve, that is the Reavation of fallen M…, which was …vided for by the Death of Chriſt, is cal… a New Creation, and reſembled to the …ſt Creation 2 Cor. 5. Eph. 2.24. And that … put on the no… man, which after. God is …ed in righteouſneſs and true holineſs. And …where. On that account may well chal…ge a Sabbath in honour of it; ſo the lay… the foundation of the Goſpel Church, is frequently ſet forth under this Compariſon; had therefore we frequently read of God's …ing a New Heaven, and a New Earth, …ch properly aims at the Goſpel Church …: Now we are aſſured, that there was … change to paſs in this New Creation, upon … the old things of the Law. Hence that, in …r. 5.17. Old things are paſt away, behold, all things are became new. Not that the mo… Law was to ceaſe, for that was of perſonal force, being the Law of Nature, but whatſoever was purely Poſitive in it, was to …ergo a change, in order to, or by the …ging in of another Diſpenſation, more …nual and glorious; and this is one deſign of the Epiſtle to the Hebrews, to prove …h… there is ſuch a change; and in particular the Apoſtle argues it from the conſideration, of the New Covenant, to be made in theſe Days, Chap. 8. to ver. ult. And hence it comes to paſs that to return to the In…tion, proper to that Covenant, is to re…ce the new one; Hence that, Gal. 5. 2, …, 10. Behold, I Paul ſay unto you, that if … circumciſed, Chriſt ſhall profit you nothing. Chriſt is become of no effect unto you, whoſoever … are justified by the law; ye are fallen … grace. I have conſidence in you through the Lord, that you will be none otherwiſe mind …, but he that troubleth you, ſhall bear his …ment, whoſoever it be. For though the …les did for a while, till the Jewiſh Law was buried, and to avoid the offence of …at Nation, uſe ſome of thoſe Ceremonies … things neceſſary for the Intereſt of the Goſpel, till ſufficient Conviction might be …id before the people of the Antiquating of them, yet they maintained the Liberty at the Gentile Churches, and ſuffered them … to be brought into Bondage. In a word, … Lewiſh Sabbath, in ſo far as it was a …ow of things to come, is for that reaſon aboliſhed, (Col. 2.16, 17. Let no man therefore judge you in meat or in drink, or … reſpect of an holy day, or of the new moon, … of the ſabbath days. Which are d…ſhadow of …ings to come, but the body is of Chriſt) …t it may give place to the Sabbath which … a remembrance of Him that is already …e.
[6.] THAT this Change began, at the Reſurrection of Chriſt, and is to c…nt…n…c till the End of the World. There are two Things aſſerted in this Concluſion, which will need but little to be ſaid for the clearing of them.
1 THAT this Change Commenced at the Reſurrection Chriſt. Thence the …a of it had its da…e. Enough hath been already ſpoken for the confirmation of this. For we have before proved, that the Seventh Day Sabbath was to continue till then, during the time wherein the Moſaical Padagogy was in force; that at that time Chriſt had Conſummated his Work, and was thereupon to enter into his Reſt, till which, the Sabbatical remembrance of it was not made way for; that now Chriſt having fulfilled the Law, and compleated all that which pointed to him in the Ordinances of it, there was no more uſe of them, and therefore the Subſtance being come, the Shadows were to fly away: That the great Work of Redemption being wro…, which equalled at leaſt that of Creation, it was to be ſolemnly Celebrated with a Sabbath. Now all theſe things were finiſhed at his Reſurrection, by which that New and more Glorious State of the Church was brought in, in which all things were to be New.
2. THAT this Sabbath is to continue to the End of the World. That the New Church State of the Goſpel hath its Ordinances, is every where aſſerted in the New Teſtament, which tho' they are called Spiritual, in compariſon of thoſe Carnal ones under the Law, during the Non-Age of the Church, are yet External Media of our Communion with God; which mediate Fellowſhip muſt abide, as long as we are in this Life, and therefore, as long as he hath a People in this World; the immediate one being referred for a ſtate of Glory, in another. Now this is the difference between the Church ſtate under the Old, and under the New Teſtament, that That was ſet up but for a Time, and the Apoſtle tells us how long, in Heb. 9.10. Which ſtood only in meats and drinks, and divers waſhings, and carnal ordinances impoſed on them until the time of Reformation. Whereas This new one is to remain unchanged, till the conſummation of all things. The Kingdom of Chriſt, which is ſet up under the Goſpel, is to abide till he hath done all the Work that is to be done in it, and that will not be until he hath vanquiſhed the laſt Enemy, and diſtributed the Eternal Rewards, 1 Cor. 15.25. For be must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. And that will not be, till the great Reſurrection and Judgment is over. His Prieſthood alſo abides equally with the other, Pſal. 110.4. The Lord hath ſt…rn, and will not repent, thou art a prieſt for ever. after the order of Melchizedek. Hence ſaid to be … , Heb. 7.24. But this …, be…ſ … ever, hath on unchangable Prieſthood. And becauſe he hath no Succeſſor either in his Kingdom or Prieſthood, the Orders and Ordinances of it are Immutable. On this account it is ſaid to be immovable, Heb. 12.26. It Whereſore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace whereby we may ſerve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear. And in this regard is the time of the Evangelical Diſpenſation called the Laſt Days. Hence alſo we have that remark, in ver. 27. And this word, Yes once more, ſignifieth the removing of thoſe things that are ſhaken, as of thoſe things that are made, that thoſe th…nes which cannot be ſhaken may remain. So that as the Church of God cannot do well without a Sabbath, while their imperfect ſtare abides, and they are neceſſirated to ſee through a Glaſs: And the Firſt day Sabbath was ſtated upon the ſetting up of the New-Teſtament Adminiſtration, it muſt continue till time be no more, and the Redeemed of Chriſt ſhall be removed to be with Him in his Glory, there to enjoy with Him an Everlaſting Sabbath. For we are told; that the eſtabliſhment of theſe things abides, till the whole Church is brought to a perfect State. Eph. 4.11, 12, 13. And he gave ſome Apoſtles: and ſome, Prophets: and ſome, Evangeliſts: and ſome, paſtors and teachers: For the perſecting of the ſaints, for the work of the miniſtry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man … the p…ſ…re of the ſtature of the fulneſs of Chriſt.
USE. I ſhall here only draw this … rence, viz. That we may here ſee the … of …ſe, w… either retain the Seventh … Sabbath in Goſpel …es, or under a pr… of Spiritual Worſhip obſerve no parti… Sabbath at all, or keep the Chriſtian Sab… meerly upon the account of Eccl ſ…aſ…ical A… rity. The former of theſe do in effect … though in words they deny it, that … is not come in the Fleſh, and that the, … Covenant ſtill abides. The ſecond pre… to a ſtate which cannot, without the grea… vanity and folly be expected in this Wo… and put from themſelves one of the grea… and excellent Media, which Chriſt … ordained for Communion with him on … ſide Glory. And the laſt do utterly ene… the Authority of the Sabbath, and take a… the relative Holineſs of it; which ca… depend on the Power of any Order of … whatſoever, but upon Him alone, who … Lord of the Sabbath. Let us then fortify our ſelves in the belief of this Article, and ladi… to expreſs our intire Love and Thankfulneſs to God and Chriſt for that Glorious W… of Redemption, on the Efficacy whereof, … hope to obtain Salvation; and ſerve … with Reverence and Godly Fear, in the … ligious Obſervation of the Chriſtian Sabbath.
[NOVEMBER 17. 1702.
N.B The Reader is deſired to Obſerve, that by reaſon of ſeveral Preſſes being made uſe of in this Large W… has fallen out (as is frequent is ſuch caſes) that the Pages for a conſiderable may, are …bred ever a….