A Defense of the Sabbath Day

II.

In the second place, we will consider of the Honourablenesse of this reformation: and this will appear, by the Honourablenesse of the thing to be reformed, to wit, the Lord's Sabbath: touching which, first we will consider of its antiquity: this ordinance of God's Sabbath, of all others, it is one of the most ancient; for it is of the age of the world; it being instituted at the Creation Genes. 2.3. If therefore the honorableness, may be valued by the antiquity, what can be more honorable? for nothing is more ancient: who would not have an hand and a voice, in the raising up again, of so ancient and honorable an ordinance of God's, as is his sacred Sabbath?

Secondly, we will consider of its constant observation, a longe all times and ages, from before the giving of the Law upon Mount Sinai, until 300 or 400 years after Christ's ascension: for as we have formerly proved: the Sabbath day was in use in the Church, before the giving of the Law; and so also it was in use, after the giving of the Law, until Christ: yea, and it was in use in the days of the Apostles, by the Apostles themselves after Christ • : and also it was in use in the primitive Churches after Christ, for 300 or 400 years, even so long as the Church retained its best purity; and until corruptions and popery began to creep in: now if we shall value the honor of the Sabbath day, by the honorable estimation, that the Church of God had constantly for thousands of years of it before Christ; and if we shall esteem of its honor, by the honorable estimation, which the Christian Churches had of it, for near 400 years after Christ, then doubtless the Sabbath is an honorable thing: and the reformation of it will be no less honorable: and who would not put hand and voice, to such an honorable reformation?

Thirdly, we will consider how Almighty God hath honored it: this will appear in these particulares 1. God honored it by, his own observation of it, at the Creation: for God himself rested upon the Sabbath day Genes. 2.3. 2dly, God honored this day and time above all days and times, in that he blessed, hallowed, and sanctified this day, as we read Genes. 2.3. Exod. 20.11. and so made it an Holy day. 3dly, God honored this day, by commanding it by his own immediate voice, upon Mount Sinai; and by placeing it amongst the other Morales; and giving it there also an eminent and chief place; for he put it into the first Table of the Decalogue; and after that, caused it carefully to be laid up and preserved in the Ark, with the other Morales. 4thly God honored this day, by taking it unto himself in a special sort, calling it his day, as mine holy day, Isa. 58.13. And, the Sabbath of the Lord Exod. 20.10. whence it is called the Lord's Sabbath, Emphatically.

Wherefore, since God rested on this day, let us endeavor a reformation, that we his children also may rest on this day: and since God hallowed and sanctified this day, let us use all good means, that we may hallow and sanctify this day also: & since God delivered this day by lively voice; let us use our tongues & voices for it: and since God placed it amongst the other Morales, & set it eminently in the first Table; let not us suffer it to be thrust out amongst the Ceremonies; and seeing God gave it an high place in the Moral Law; let not us suffer it to be thrust quite out of place, so as now it should have no place at all in the Moral Law: whers your courage? whers your zeal for God, if you can endure these things? If Christian men, love to have their hands in an honorable work, then let them cast aside shame, and fear, and such like carnal affections; and let them armed with courage and zeal, speak for God, and defend his Sabbaths, and call for a reformation: the work is honorable; for it is honored with Antiquity; & with the constant practice of God's Church, & that also of the purest & primitive Church; and with special honor done unto it, by Almighty God himself.

Yet further, this Sabbath is in Scripture expressly called an Holy day: To morrow is the Rest of the Holy Sabbath unto the Lord Exod. 16.23. Isa. 58.13. and one reason thereof may be, because at the Creation, God blessed it and sanctified it, Genes. 2.2.3. And so made it an Holy day. Now no day of all the 7, no not the Lord's day, was ever sanctified by God, or called an Holy day. Yea, God had many anniversary Sabbaths, as we read in Levite. 23. Yet do we not read, that ever God blessed & sanctified any of them, as he did this Sabbath of the 7th day, So highly God honored it. This difference therefore of this day from others, is as the difference of Sacramental bread from common bread and as was the sacred Temple from common howsen, and who would not labor the reedifying, of such an holy and honorable thing?

III.

In the third place, we will consider of the necessity of this Reformation: and here, If until a reformation be made, diverse & sundry verses of the holy Scripture, yea in the 10 commandments, be as so many verses rent out of the Scripture, or quite blotted out of the book of God, or stand but as so many Ciphers: And also, the Decalogue or Moral law, is not taught, and maintained in our Church, nor in any Christian Church besides, in its integrity and perfection, but only lamely and maimedly. If until a reformation, the whole 4th commandment, is utterly and wholly abolished, both root and branch. If until a reformation be made, the Land and Kingdom wherein we live, with all other Christian Churches, do live in the weekly profanation of the Lord's Sabbaths, and transgression of the 4th commandment. If I shall show unto you, that until a reformation be made, we sanctify a common and profane day, and profane a sanctified and holy day: And God's worship will languish and profaneness invade us: And that a Romish Relique is honored instead of an ordinance of God's: And that God's worship is daily neglected: yea and corrupted: with many other euiles. If I shall prove unto you, that until a reformation, the sin of Idolatry is committed by many in the Land: if (I say) I shall make these things plainly appear unto you, then I trust you will say with me, that it is high time, that every man lay too his helping hand for a reformation, & that speedily.

I.

For the first of these, there are not many verses in the Decalogue or 10 commandments, and yet there are no less then four whole verses in the 10 commandments, which be as so many verses, rent out of the Scripture, or blotted out of the book of God, or stand but for so many Ciphers: and they are these, verse the 8th, & verse the 9th, and verse the 10th, and verse the 11th of the xx Chapter of Exodus: for, the Sabbath day, there specified, we have not: and the 7th day, there specified, we have not: and the Six days for working days, there specified, we have not: and the 7th day, wherein God rested, and the which God blessed and sanctified, we have not. These things we have more largely proved in the former parts of this book, & therefore a touch of them here is enough. Wherefore seeing we have not in use, the things specified and commanded, in those iv verses, therefore those iv verses, be as if they were rent out of the sacred Bible, or blotted out of the book of God, or stand but for Ciphers. Now is it not high time to stir, when the Scriptures of God are thus abused? for we have but the brann or husk, that is, the bare words of the 4 verses, as for the flower & kernel, which is the sense and the things meant by those words in these verses, this we have not.

II.

Furthermore, that the Decalogue or Moral law, is not taught or maintained in its integrity, wholenesse, and perfection, in our Church; this I have made plain also, in the former parte of this book: for unless we hold and teach (which we do not) that the Decalogue is wholly Moral, without any Ceremony commanded in it, and so maintain the Lord's Sabbaths for moral; we do not teach and maintain God's Laws in their integrity & perfection; but we teach the laws of God by halves and by pieces, in a lamed manner, taking and leaving, picking and choosing: now is it not high time for every man to bestir him, when the Priests are become partial in the Law? and when they reveal not unto the people, the whole counsel of God?

III.

Yet further, that the whole 4th commandment, is utterly overthrown, and altogether abolished, both root and branch; this I have also formerly proved, here therefore the mentioning of it is enough: not only the root and body of the commandment is nullified, but also, that most prevalent and lively reason, which Almighty God in his wisdom, thought good to annex unto his 4th commandment, Exod. 20.11. And the which was drawn from his own example; and also from his blessing it, As you may see Exod. 20.11. This is also become as a Cipher in our Churches: and so the whole commandment is abolished, both in the duty prescribed, and in the reason also, to move unto that duty; and so root and branch is quite gone: and is not a reformation necessary (think you) when a whole law of God, and a Moral Law too, is abolished? is it not high time now for every man to stir? what, will you see the laws of God, trampled under foot, and still be silent?

IIII.

Furthermore, that every man lieth in the weekly profanation of the Lord's Sabbaths, and transgression of the 4th commandment, this is most plainly proved also, in the former parte of this book; for we have alredly firmly proved, that the Sabbath day, mentioned in the 4th commandment, it is no day of the week but Saturday: now since we profane the Saturday, it followeth undeniably, that we profane the Lord's Sabbaths, and that weekly and are guilty of the breach of the 4th commandment, and so may as well live in the sin of Adultery weekly against the 7th commandment, as in Sabbath breaking against the 4th commandment, and is it not necessary that there be a reformation, when until then, every man is a Sabbath breaker, and every week guilty of a sin against the 4th commandment? is it not high time, that men cast aside shame, and fear of men, and such carnal affections, and show forth their shame and fear towards God, and be no longer silent?

V.

Until a time of Reformation, a profane & common day, is given unto God, instead of a sanctified and holy day: for the clearing of this, we must remember, that the Saturday or 7th day Sabbath it was consecrated & sanctified, and so made an holy day, by God at the Creation, Genes. 2.2.3. yea, it is expressly so called Exod. 16.23. To morrow is the rest of the Holy Sabbath &c. The like we read of in Isa. 58.13. but we nowhere read that the Lord's day, or first day of the week, was ever so called: nay it is by God's ordinance in the 4th come. one of the 6 working days, & so a profane and common day, as Thursday or Friday is: wherefore such as give God the Lord's day, they give him a profane and common day, for a Sanctified and Holy day: now as well may we use common bread in the Sacrament, for Consecrated Bread, as a common day for a Consecrated day: and as well might the Jews, have performed God's worship in a common house instead of the Temple, as we to give God a common day, for an Holy day: and is it not time then, that a reformation were made, that so the Holy God, might be served with an Holy Sabbath? & his Holy Church have an Holy day, wherein to perform hir Divine service?

Furthermore which is worse, we not only sanctify a profane day, but we also profane a Sanctified day: & who can but take it to heart, to see sacred things profaned? now were it not meet this should be reformed?

VI.

Until a time of a Reformation, God's worship will languish of a declining consumption, and profannesse will invade us, for the clearing of this, note, that Masters will not permit their servants, one wholl day in every week, to be vacant from their service, and to go to Church, & spend the time in holy exercises; nor will they set apart one day in a week for themselves, for holy exercises, so freely, when that day is but of man's institution, as when the day is of God's institution: this we may see clearly, in the difference betwixt the Lord's day now, which is supposed of Divine institution, & our other Holy days, which are of human institution; how devoutly is God served on the Lord's day, what great Assemblies then in comparison of other Holy days? But now, since the Lord's day is found faulty, and destitute of a Divine institution, what difference (think you) will err long, be made betwixt the Lord's day, & other holy days? and thus the heat of Religion will abate, and profaneness creep in: now is not a speedy Reformation needful, to prevent this?

VII.

Until a time of Reformation, a Romish Relique, and Popish Tradition is honored, instead of an ordinance of God's, his Holy Sabbath: for the clearing of this, I shall prove unto you, first that the Lord's day is a Tradition, and secondly that it is a Popish Tradition, or worse. 1. That the Lord's day is a Tradition of the Church, you may remember I have formerly proved it, and that by the Testimonies of S. Augustine, of Melanchthon, of Hemingius, and out of the Harmonie of Confessions. 2. It must needs be a tradition & no better: for the institution of it, is nowhere found in the Holy Scriptures, as hath been shown, and therefore it must be supposed, to be ordained by the Fathers, or to come unto us, from the Apostles, by some unwritten Tradition of the Church; or else it must have a worse original: Thus you see the Lord's day is a Tradition, or worse: give it its due, and it is an old Tradition, newly furbushed & trimmed up: or an old Tradition, cullered & painted over with Scripture.

Now that it is a Popish Tradition, and Romish Relique, I thus prove it; because there being no ground for it in Scripture, yet for all that the patrons of it, do urge & press the observation of it, as a necessary thing, as tying mens consciences, & upon pain of damnatiō: now for any to urge indifferent things, not found in the Scriptures, upon pain of damnation, is Romish and Popish: Neither let this seem strange unto any, that I call it a Romish and popish Tradition: for the Papists thems • lues do willingly own it, and father it, and stifely defend it for one of their unwritten Traditiones.

It may be it will be said, that Popish Traditiones come unto us, as is holden, from the Apostles, by the practice and allowance of the Fathers: but we hold the Lord's day, to come from the the Apostles, by the Scriptures, by force of necessary & sound consequence &c. Herevnto I answer, for my parte I can see no difference between these two, unless it be that our case is the worser, and the Tradition the better: for what wise man, would not as much reley upon the Fathers, as upon their vain consequences? or more honor the Authority of the Fathers, then these men's frivolous consequences? To conclude, seeing all Romish rubbish is not yet swept out of our Church, is it not necessary there should be a speedy Reformation?

This is that point, for the discovery whereof I have suffered so much: they say indeed I will suffer nothing, and therefore have made a Dispensation, but they say amiss: At my first discovery of it, I said no worse of it then thus, that there is no warrant for the Lord's day Sabbath in the Scriptures, & therefore I durst not preach for it, if I might gain 500 l. I did not deliver this my judgment in Pulpit, but only in private to 3 or 4 of my inward friends: Now for this, I was censured by some godly & religious Ministers, to be unworthy of the place, I then enjoyed, and hereupon the Gentleman of whom I did depend, dismissed me of my place: it is now more then four years since, all this time I have suffered with my family great want, for the want of that my maintenance, and for ought I can foresee, so am like to live and so to die: But if now, it be found that I was in the truth, and those godly and religious Ministers in the error, will not all men say, they are bound in conscience to make me amends, by a restitution of my loss? I demand it of them by these presents: without restitution repentance is unsound: the cries of the oppressed are entered into the ears of the Lord of Hosts.

VIII.

Until a reformation be made, 1, There is a gate set upon unto Anabaptistry, that so God's Church should have no Sabbaths. 2. The religious obseruatiō of the Sabbath, by the primitive & most pure Churches, is not imitated, as if it were erroniouse. 3. A godly prayer of our Church, is but a mere babbling before God. 4. The religion used in observation of the Lord's day, is but Superstition and will-worship: the Corn & Hay men loose in the fields, the neglect of their callings, with all their deuotiones done on this day, in conscience of the day, shall never be rewarded: these particulars I have handled formerly more largely, and therefore a touch of them here is enough: And do not all these things plead for a speedy reformation? Arminianism is a great mote in many men's eyes, & great is their desires it were reformed; but loe, here is a Beam in most men's eyes, and should we not first labor to pluck out this beam out of our own eyes? so should we see better to pluck out the mote that is in other men's eyes.

IX

Furthermore, I shall show unto you, that until a reformation cometh; God's worship is daily neglected amongst us. By a daily neglct, I mean an every 7th days neglect; or a neglect every day when the Sabbath cometh. By the worship of God, I understand service and obedience to be performed unto God, according to the first Table of the Decalogue: for Divines account the duties of the first Table, to be the partes of God's worship and service; yea and of his immediate worship.

Now that God's worship is neglected among us; this will easily appear; for the sanctification and hallowing of God's Sabbath, it is one of the duties, specially commanded in the first Table; and therefore it is a parte of God's worship: yea Divines accord in this, that the old Sabbath, it was not only the time of God's worship, but also a parte of God's worship: wherefore, we standing for the old Sabbath, and speaking of it, it is a parte of God's worship, by the judgment of our own Divines: to proceed then, if the old Sabbath be a parte of God's worship, & then this old Sabbath be neglected among us, as it is, then is God's worship, or a parte of his worship neglected among us: Nay further which is worser, in as much as the Saturday Sabbath is exceedingly contemned and depised, by contemning it, men contemn and despise the worship of God; a most fearful thing.

Now tell me, if it be not time to seek a reformation, when God is denied his worship, due unto his Honor yea, and denied it weekly too: yea, and a principal parte of his worship: for it is his immediate worship, and the worship of the first Table: for you see, that God hath not his weekly worship, prescribed in the 4th commandment: furthermore, is it not time to seek a reformation, when God's worship is lamed, and parselled out unto him? for God is denied his whole worship, he hath it not in all the partes thereof, in its integrity and perfection: for of iv partes of his worship, prescribed in the first Table of the Decalogue, God hath but iii. And as for the 4th parte, concerning his most holy Sabbaths, this he is utterly denied: and is it not time that all good people, should wish for a reformation, that so God may have his entire worship & service among us? that he may be entirely worshiped, and not by halves?

Furthermore, whereas at this day, the Lord's sacred and hallowed Sabbaths, are trampled upon, and contemned, and despised, as Jewish, and as Judaism, and as vain Shadows & abolished Ceremonies; and so a parte of God's sacred worship, is trampled upon, and a principal parte of his worship, to wit, his immediate worship, is contemned and despised; is it not time, & more then time, that these things should be amended?

When we consider of the time, how long time God hath been denied his entire worship, in all Churches both of Protestants & Papists, to wit, for a thousand years and upwards, is it not now high time then, that a reformation should be sought for, & that this spreading evil should go no further? oh, let us no longer provoke God, with our sins of ignorance: The fogs & mists, and black darkness of Popish ignorance, are not yet all dispelled; a great light I confess came in by Luther, by means whereof, the corruptions of the second commandment were happily reformed; but yet all that Romish rubbish was not then removed; the sanctuary of the Lord, was not then clean purged; for albeit the worship of God, as touching the second commandment, was then restored; yet God's worship, as touching the 4th commandment, was left untouched; and no doubt, God that appointed that parte of his worship, to be restored by those times, hath reserved this parte of his worship, to be restored by our times; if we will be so happy, as to take the hint: our Protestant Churches, have obtained that honorable Title, to be called the Reformed Churches; and this we obtained, by a reformation of the worship of God, touching the second commandment: but if unto that reformation, we shall add now another, and reform the worship of God touching the 4th commandment, and so purg the Lord's Sanctuary and make it clean, that so God may have his entire worship, in all the duties of the first Table; then shall we doubly deserve that honorable Title, of Reformed Churches.

We have a notable exhortation recorded for this purpose, Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you, & will be a father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters saith the Lord Almighty. 2. Cor. 6.17.18. This exhortation, we may fitly apply unto this purpose: the Church of Rome, she liveth still in the neglect and corruption of God's worship, both in the duties of the second commandment, and also in the duties of the fowrth commandment, for she neglecteth and denieth God also, the worship of his Sabbaths to this day: now as saith the Apostle, what communion hath light with darkness? 1 Cor. 6.14. This Romish Church, she lieth still in ignorance, blindness, and darkness touching this parte of God's worship, prescribed in the 4th commandment, as well as in that other parte of his worship, prescribed in the 2th commandment, now since we will have no fellowship with hir, in hir darkness, blindness, and ignorance touching the 2th come. why should we have any communion with hir, in hir darkness, blindness, and ignorance touching the 4th commandment? The principal and immediate worship of God, is contained in iv commandments of the first Table: now the Church of Rome, hath divided with God, and ii of them, she yieldeth God, and the other ii she robbeth him of most sacrilegiously: she giveth God those partes of his worship, contained in the first, and third commandments, but she denieth God those other partes of his worship, contained in the second, and fowrth commandments; well, we have happily forsaken hir, in hir corruptions of the 2d commandment, let us also forsake and depart from hir, in the corruption of the 4th commandment: let us come out from hir; let us be separate from hir; and let us touch none of hir uncleanness. And thus much for this, namely, that God's worship is weekly neglected.

X.

I come now unto that other thing forementioned; to wit, that until a time of reformation, God is not purely worshiped, for his worship is corrupted amongst us: And this shall appear by this, that the Lord's day, which by God's ordinance in his 4th commandment, is appointed for a working day, it is by many brought into the worship of God, and sanctified by virtue of the 4th commandment.

It is a poor shift that some make; saying, we keep not the Lord's day now, as a parte of the worship of God, as the Jews did the Sabbath day: For, 1 since we hold that the Lord's day, is kept in room of the Sabbath day, as the Lord's Supper is kept in the room of the Passover; it must needs follow, that forasmuch as the Sabbath day whilst it stood, was a parte of God's worship, that so in like manner, the Lord's day, must be a parte of God's worship also: for it stands in the place of that which was a parte of God's worship. 2. If we will keep the Lord's day, by virtue of the 4th commandment, then it must of necessity be kept as a parte of God's worship: for, what is performed in obedience to any of the 4 precepts of the first Table, that must needs be the worship of God: because the duties therein contained, are the worship of God.

It is to be noted, that the Lord's day, it is by God's ordinance in his 4th commandment a working day; for God himself wrought on it, at the Creation, it being the first day of the world; and by his exemplary working on it, he set us a pattorne that we should do the like. Yea to his example, he gave us his precept for it, saying, Six days shalt thou labor &c. Now the Lord's day, is the first day of those Six, and therefore also a working day. Yea further, God did not hallow, bless, and sanctify the Lord's day, as he did the Sabbath day Genes. 2.3. So that this Lord's day, it is a profane, unhallowed, and unsanctified day; like unto the other 5 working days of the week. Yet further, Christ himself, and his Disciples, made it a travailing day; and never made it a Sabbath day, wherefore it is but a common day: now for any man, to advance this common and unhallowed day, and place it in the first Table of the Decalogue, amidst and amongst the partes of God's worship; and then to sanctify it and consecrate it unto God, by virtue of his 4th commandment, it is to pollute the holy worship of God, with profane things: and they that so use it, do worship God impurly and corruptly: as well might those profane persons, whom our Savior whipt out of the Temple, for buying and selling there, bring their doves, & wares into the Temple to sell there, as in a common market, Mark. 11.15. As these may bring the Lord's day, into the first Table, and worship of God. And as well might Nadab & Abihu, put strange fire, which the Lord had not commanded, into their Holy Censers, to offer unto God Levite. 10.1.2. As these may put the Lord's day, into the first Table, to be consecrated to God: as well may they put the name of some King or gentleman into the third commandment, or of S. Paul or S. John: and then sanctify these by virtue of the third commandment, with like divine adoration, as the name of God is to be sanctified, by virtue of the third commandment, as to put the Lord's day, into the 4th commandment, and sanctify it by the 4th commandment, as the Sabbath day was sanctified.

M. Dod on the second Commandment, saith, that Papists sin against the second Com. by defiling of God's worship: his words are these, Papists are to be condemned, because they do defile the worship of God, with their own inventions; as by praying for the dead, by putting holiness in meats and days &c. Now do not these patrons of the Lord's day, put holiness in days, to wit, in the Lord's days? for God never put holiness in this day, it is themselves therefore that have set it apart from all other days in the week for an Holy day, and to be consecrated by the 4th Com. and Christ's institution: thus doing, by M. Dods judgment, they have together with Papists, defiled God's worship, & live in the weekly transgression of the second Com.

Now is it not high time, that a general reformation be sought after, when God's worship is impure and imbased? and when the Doctrines & Traditiones of men, are crept into the worship of God? and when common and unhallowed days, are offered and consecrated unto God, instead of pure and sanctified days? Loe how God's worship is polluted.

XI.

Yet further, if I shall make it appear, that multitudes (I do not say all) are guilty of Idolatry, until a Reformation cometh; then you will say with me it is high time indeed, to seek for a reformation. For this purpose, you must know, that there is as well a puritane Idolatry, as a Popish Idolatry: for, as when A Crucifix, the Breaden God, the Images of Christ, the virgins Mary, & the rest, come in presence, instantly Papists uncover the head, and perform much honor in respect of them: So, no sooner doth the Lord's day Sabbath come, but forthwith Puritans, vncloth themselves of their base array, and attire themselves in their best apparel; and they lay aside all servile labors for that time, as a profanation of that sacred time; and much religious honor and devotion, is performed in respect of this days presence: yea great conscience is made of it. (Pardon me beloved, the sins of God's children must not be clocked; neither must I be partial, no neither must I deal overly, but tell every man, or rank of men of their sin, without baulking) I call it Puritan Idolatry, because these are the great Patrones thereof.

That I may discover it unto you, first we will begin with the word Idolatry; this word is a Greek word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 & it is compounded of two words: the one whereof signifieth, an image and likeness of a thing; or, an imagination and fiction of the brain: the other signifieth, honor and reverence; now put both these together, and they signify, an honor and reverence, of an image and liknesse of a thing; or of an imagination and fiction of the brain: thus you have the signification of the word Idolatry. Now when divine and religious honor is given to a similitude or fiction of the mind, then it is a dangerouse matter: and when the conscience stands in awe, of a similitude or fiction of the brain, reverencing it for a divine ordinance, then it is Idolary. Now to apply this.

The Lord's day is this Idol; and they that preach for it, and practice it, are the Idolaters: to make this good, you shall see how fitly these may be called Idolaters, and their practice Idolatry: first touching that parte of Idolatry which consisteth in imagery & liknesse, you shall see how like they have framed the Lord's day, to the Sabbath day, & made it a very image, similitude, & liknesse of the Sabbath day, & consequently an Idol, for, 1. They have given the very name, the proper name of the Lord's Sabbath unto it, for do they not usually call the Sunday or Lord's day, the Sabbath day? 2. They sanctify and keep the Lord's day, like unto the Sabbath day, with a resting from all servile labors, & with preaching, and prayers, and the like. 3. they keep it in conscience of the 4th come. like as the Sabbath day was. 4. They apply all those texts of Scripture unto the Lord's day, which were wont to be applied to the Sabbath day, and which indeed are proper to the Sabbath day, as Neh. 13.15. Isa. 58.13. Math. 12.1.2.3, &c. with others, behold then, if they have not made the Lord's day, as like, as like may be, to the Sabbath day; an image or picture, cannot be more like a man, then they have framed this Lord's day, unto the Sabbath day; nay the images & similitudes, which Papists make of God, of Christ, or of Saints, are not so like unto God, & Christ, & Saints, as this Lord's day, is made & fashoned, like the Lord's Sabbath day: like as idolatrouse Jeroboam made a feast unto his calves, like unto the feast that was in Judah, 1. King 12.32. so have these made a new Sabbath, like unto the Lord's Sabbath in the Moral Law.

2. Touching that other acception of the word, where it is taken for an imagination, or fiction of the mind or brain: And in this sense an Idol is Nothing as the Apostle speaketh, 1. Cor. 8.4. An Jdoll is nothing in the world: that is, it is no such thing, as it is imagined, & fancied to be, & in this sense also the Lord's day is an Idol, & the observers of it are Idolaters, & their sanctification of it Idolatry: for 1. whereas they call the Lord's day, Sabbath day, it is a mere fiction; for they never found it so named, in the Holy Scriptures, 2. That the Lord's day, should be kept like the Sabbath day, with a rest from labors all day long, is an imaginary conceit; for they find no such observation of it by Christ, nor by his Apostles. 3. That the Lord's day should be observed by virtue of the 4th come. is not only a fiction, but an absurd foolery. 4. That Christ instituted the Lord's day, is a mere forgery and fancy of men's brain, as hath been formerly shown: and thus you see, that the Lord's day; is a mere Idol, or a very Nothing, that is, nothing but a fancy & fiction of men's brain: of this day therefore, we may say, as the Lord said of Ieroboames (Moneth) which he had consecrated unto his Idols, that it was the month which he had forged of his own heart, 1 King. 12, 33. so this Lord's day, is the Sabbath day, which men have forged of their own hearts. And thus we have cleared and made apparent, the two first things in this Idolatry, to wit, that the Lord's day, is an Image and liknesse: and that the Lord's day, is an imagination and fiction; or an Idol and Nothing.

I come now to the third thing, which maketh complete Idolatry; and that is, Honor and Reverence: for that is properly Idolatry, when religious honor and reverence, is attributed unto Images and similitudes; or unto Imaginations and fictions of the brain; or unto Idols and Nothing as when men reverence these as Divine things, and as ordinances of God. Now I shall easily demonstrate unto you, that men give Honor & Reverence unto this Lord's day, yea no civil honor, but divine & religious Honor.

For, 1. The patrons of the Lord's day, they do esteem one day above another, the Lord's day above and before any other day in the week, and that in a religious manner; & thus they honor it, by advancing it above all other days: yea by holding the cause of the institutiō of the Lord's day, to be greater, then the cause of the institution of the Sabbath day, they must hold, that the Lord's day is an higher & more honorable day, then was the Sabbath day: for they say, that the work of the Redemption, was the cause of the institution of the Lord's day; now the work of Redemption they hold to be a greater work then was the work of the Creation, which was the cause of the institution of the Sabbath day; and thus you see they must have the Lord's day in more honor, then the Sabbath day was in.

2. They make a conscience of observing & of sanctifying the Lord's day; & do reprove such as profane it, & make a common day of it by working; and hereby they do Reverence it.

3. They observe the Lord's day, as instituted by Christ, and as commanded by God, in his 4th come. and in so doing, they do Honor it and Reverence it; for they honor it as a commanded day, and as a day set apart by Christ to be Holy.

4. Many Divines do in their public prayers, and sermons, bless God for vowchsafing us his holy ordinances, as his Sabbaths and Sacraments &c. by Sabbath, they mean our Lord's days; whereby you see, they honor the Lord's day, together with the Sacraments; and so they must do: for the Sacraments and the Lord's day, have both one use in the Church: for as the Sacraments do mind us of Christ's death and resurrection; so the Lord's day is sanctified in memory of Christ's death and resurrection: thus the Lord's day is honored as the Sacraments are: now all men confess that the Sacraments are honored with divine & religious honor, and so then is the Lord's day also: yea, who feareth not to profane the Lord's day, as he feareth to eat the Lord's Supper unworthily?

5. They honor the Lord's day with that kind of honor wherewith they honor the sacred Name of God, enjoined in the third come. for they are careful to sanctify the Lord's day, as they are careful to sanctify the Name of God: and their consciences are in awe of the Lord's day, as well as of the Name of God; for they fear to profane the Lord's day, as well as they fear to blaspheme & abuse the Holy Name of God: they respect this day as an Holy day, like as God's Name is an Holy Name.

6. By setting the Lord's day into the place and room of the Sabbath day, they must and do give unto it the like religious honor which was due unto the Sabbath day, & that was a religious honor: Call the Sabbath a delight, the Holy of the Lord, honorable, Isai. 58.13. Now this very text is applied to our Lord's day; wherefore it is honored with divine and religious honor: and thus is their Idolatry complete.

Note, that if this Honor and religious reverence and respect, be given but unto any one of the two former senses, it maketh Idolatry: for example, if the Lord's day be considered of as an Image or liknesse, to the Sabbath day; & thereunto men add honor, this is Idolatry: or, if the Lord's day, be but considered of, as an imagination, a fiction, or a devise of man's brain, which indeed is an Idol and Nothing, and then hereunto mē add a religious and cōscionable honor, reverence, & respect, be it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 forthwith the Lord's day becomes an Idol, they Idolaters; & their devotion honor & conscience of it, Idolatry: for it is to set up an Idol in God's worship, when men set up their fictions, conceits, & devises, to be reverenced & religiously honored; when they place their own devices, & set them in the first Table of the Decalogue; as now a days men do this Lord's day.

In a word, it is the common and received opinion, that all Human inventions, thrust into divine Service, or worship of God, are plain Idolatry: now the Lord's day, is an Human Invention, as hath been shown; and it is thrust into Divine Service, and worship of God: for it is believed and taught to be an ordinance of God's, commanded in the first Table, among the parts of God's worship; and it is honored, with that religious reverence, which is proper unto God and the partes of his worship: and therefore the Lord's day, is an Idol, & the religious sanctification of it Idolatry.

The Lord would not endure it, that his meat &c. should be given unto, and bestowed upon Idols, My meat which I gave thee, as fine flower, oil, and honey, wherewith J fedd thee, thou hast even set it before them for a sweet savor &c. Ezek. 16.19. And can we think, that that God, who would not have his meat, oil, and honey, bestowed upon Idols; will endure it, that we shall bestow his glory, honor, love, conscience, & religious reverence, upon this Idol of the Lord's day Sabbath? for all those Holy and religious affections, which we bestow upon the Lord's day Sabbath, they are God's affections, & proper unto his Majesty: Now my glory saith God, I will not give to another, Isa. 42.8. & God is a Ielouse God, as we read in the second cō. Ex. 20.5. and therefore, he will never endure it, that this his glory and service, shall be bestowed upon an Idol of man's making & devising: the Lord upbraided the Jews, because they did Idolatrously worship the work of their own hands, which their own fingers had made, Isa. 2.8. so ridiculouse they were: for who would worship a thing, which himself hath made with his own hands? but with us, the conscience is made to stand in awc of the work of men's brains; and religious honor & Holy affections, and worship, are bestowed upon that which we have made our selves, if not by our own fingers, yet by our own wits: Now who would be so ridiculouse, as to fear the pollution, of what himself hath made Holy? or religiously to honor a mere nothing, a very fancy?

For men to give unto the Lord's day divine honor, that is, to reverence it as an ordinance of God's, upon pain of damnation, this is to advance a fiction of man's brain, and place it in equal Throne with God's ordinances, & to exact of men's consciences, like religious reverence, as is due unto God's ordinances: for this fiction shall have power to command and constreine the Conscience, like as God's ordinances have, and that upon pain of damnation too; what an heinouse thing is this? Is it not as great a sin, to give Divine worship, unto men's fantasies, as unto Images! to the devices of protestants, as to the Trinkets of Papists? My glory (saith God) I will not give to another, Isa. 42.8. What an heinouse and horrible sin then is it, for any to give religious worship, which is proper unto God & to his ordinances, to a mere device of man's making! God is a Ielouse God, & most zealouse of his glory, woe therefore unto him that robbeth God of his glory, to give it unto men's devices.

Three euiles there are combined in this one, which make it a Capitall evil. 1. That the people of the Land who are most tractable unto goodness, have their consciences brought into slavery, bondage, & thralldom, for they are made afraid of the shadow of a man, of the shaking of the leaves of the trees, that is, that upon pain of damnation, they work not on the Lord's day. 2. By the supposed necessary consequences, men have advanced this Idol of the Lord's day, and ranked it among the Stars of the Heaven, that is, they have placed it among the Ordinances of God, & given it like power over the conscience which they have; now how God will take this at their hands, it behooveth the Authors hereof to be think themselves. 3. The Authors hereof do bewray most audaciouse presumption, in that they dare approach so near the Majesty of God, that Ielouse God, with their own inventions; that they dare rank them with the Ordinances of God: now what would they more, unless they take the Crown? that is, to Deify themselves? for who but A God, can exercise power over the conscience, and make ordinances tying conscience? and of equal authority, & power with Divine ordinances? Since this deformity is in the visage of a Protestant, happilly it will be winked at, or overly looked upon, or minced and extenuated, if not defended, but were it, in the face of a Papist, suer I am it should find no mercy, but according to the just desert thereof, it should be aggravated to the full: but what should I say? love is blind, I mean self love: we can spy a blemish in another, but cannot or will not see it in our selves.

I cannot see but that these men may as well set up a new Sacrament of Baptism, instead of the old one, as to set up a new Sabbath in room of the old one: or another Lord's Supper instead of that instituted by Christ, as another Sabbath in room of that instituted by God: and since none but a God can set up Sacraments and Sabbaths in the Church, what else do they but usurp the room and Authority of God, who set up new Sabbaths in the Church? By the way, as touching God's ancient Sabbaths; have not Papists by their reasons and consequences out of Scripture (which these men call their neceessary consequences; but how unnecessary you have seen) abolished God's Sabbaths, expressly commanded in the Moral Law? and have they not hereby advanced their Syllogisticall reason, to be of equal authority with never erring Scriptures? and their consequences to be of equal authority with God's 4th commandment? nay to take the upper hand, and to showlder out of place God's commandment? Now since a law enacted in Parliament, cannot be revoked but by the same authority that first enacted it, doth it not follow that Papists make Idols of themselves, whē their reason shall be a Countermand to God's commandment? were Papists only guilty of this sin, a man might with applause manage this argument against them: but since Protestants also have a hand therein, I dare not pass my censure.

Thus you see, the Lord's day is an Idol, the preachers for it Idolaters, and their observation of it Idolatry, (let none envy & malice me, for discovering unto them this their sin; but rather, let them turn their envy against themselves, for being such sinners, and their malice against their sin; nor let any study to wrest my words; but let their study be how to work a reformation). To conclude this point, seeing that as the case standeth, there is Idolatry committed by many thousands in the Land, and that by most puritans, is it not high time to seek out for a reformation?

Now lay all these forementioned things together, and be stirred up to endeavor for a reformation: for so, as S. James speaketh, Thou shalt hide a multitude of sins I am. 5.20. And endeavor for a speedy reformation: for reformation is Repenance; & Repentance is by no means, to be delayed and procrastinated, as we are daily taught.

I read in the prophecy of the Prophet Haggay, an excellent exhortation, to incourag all sortes of people, to the reedifying of the Temple; it is this, Yet now be strong, o Zerubbabel, saith the Lord, and be strong, o Joshua, sone of Jehozadak the High Priest: and be strong all ye people of the Land, saith the Lord, and work: for J am with you, saith the Lord of Hosts. Hagg. 2.4. I verily think that I may apply this Exhortation, unto all sortes of people now; to incourag them to the reedifying of the Lord's Sabbaths, saying, be strong, o Prince, be strong, o Priest, & be strong, all ye people of the Land, and work; for the Lord of Hosts is with you: God was with his Church in the days of Luther, he prospered thē, so as gloriously they reformed the corruptions in his worship, and the Idolatry daily committed against the second commandment; why should we doubt but that the same God favorably alloweth this our work? or fear to expect a like blessing, when the Cases are so like?

Lord have mercy upon thy universal Church, and incline their hearts, to keep this law: & speedily, to reform the weekly transgressions of it. Amen, Amen.

My reward with men for times past, hath been evil; my expectations for time to come, are worse; but Lord, wipe not thou out the kindness that J have shown to thy Law, and to thy Holy Sabbaths: Remember me, o my God, concerning this; and pardon me, according to thy great mercy. Nehem. 13.14.22. 1. Cor. 4.4.