Against the reason of those which dispute against the obseruation or keeping of the first day of the weeke, commonlye called the Sunday.

Obiectiō. But against this kéeping also of the first day among the christians some haue disputed, saying that Paule Colos. 2. Gal. 4. Rom. 14. forbiddeth in the Church of Christ difference of dayes, and therefore that the kéeping of the first day or Sunne day is no lesse to be disallowed then the obseruing of the seuenth day.

Ansvvere. Our ob­seruation of the Lord his daie diffe­reth from the Ievv­ish Sab­both.Vnto these we must answere by the dif­ference of the Iewish and Christian ob­seruation. The kéeping of the Lorde his day doth differ frō the Iewish Sabboth: first, for that the Sabboth of the seuenth day, as a ceremonial part of the worship of God, might not be omitted of y^e Iewes or chaunged, because of the expresse com­mandement of God: but the Church of Christ,1 In respect of vvor­ship and necessitie. whether it appoint the first day or anie other day for the ministerie, doth it without the breach of her libertie to do o­therwise, if there be iust cause, that is to [Page] say, without the opinion of necessitie or worship. Secondly,2 In respect of the figure. y^e old Sabboth was a figure or shadow of things in the new te­stament to be fulfilled by Christ: but in y^e new testament y^e signification hath cea­sed, & regard is onely had of order & come­linesse, without the which there can be ei­ther no ministerie of the Church at all, or els not ordered wel, and as it ought to be.

As concerning the words of the com­mandement,Fiue significations of y^e vvord Sabboth. this name Sabboth is first of all peculiarly attributed vnto the sea­uenth daye, because of God his resting frō 1 the creation of the world, & because of the rest of the people of God that day to bee obserued. Secondly, it signifieth also o­ther feasts, in which y^e people were to rest 2 as well as on the 7. day, as for y^e first day of Easter, Leui. 23. The next day after the Sabboth the Priest shall offer a Gomer. For the feast of trumpets, in the same place. In the seauenth moneth, on the first daie of the same, you shal haue a Sabboth, a token of sounding with trumpets, an holy conuocation or assembly.

Also for the feast of Tabernacles: The fiftéenth day of the fifth moneth ye shall kéepe a feast vnto the Lorde, seuen dayes: [Page] on the first daie shall be a Sabboth, and on the eight daie also shall be a Sabboth. In this sense and signification the name Sabboth agréeth also vnto the daies, in which in the new Testament the Church doth exercise the publike worship of God.

3 Thirdlie, by a figure called Synechdo­che, they also call a weeke of daies a Sab­both, as Leuit. 23. From the daie in which ye offer a Gomer of lifting vp, there shall be seuen full weekes, Math. 28. On the last Sabboth, when as it dawned into the first daie of the Sabboths, that is to saie, of the wéeke. Marke. 16. Verie earlie the first daie of the Sabboths, that is, of the wéeke, they came vnto the Sepulchre. And from hence, by a figure called Cathacresis, it is takē al­so for a wéeke of yeares. Leuit. 25. Thou shalt number vnto thee seauen Sabboths of yeares, that is to saie, s [...]uen times seuen yeares, the which daies of seuen Sabbothes of yeares will make 49 yeares.

4 Fourthlie, it is taken for euerie seuenth yeare, in which the people of the Iewes was commaunded to leaue off the tilling of their ground. Leuit. 25. When as yee shall enter into the land, the which I giue vnto you, then the land shall keepe a Sab­both [Page] vnto the Lord. Sixe yeares thou shalt sowe thy ground, &c. but in the seauenth yeare there shall be a Sabboth of rest vnto the land, a Sabboth vnto the Lorde: thou shalt not sowe thy field, nor cut thy vine­yard. And Chap. 26. Then the land shall finish her Sabbothes, all the daies in which she hath bene desolate and wast, because she rested not in your Sabboths, whilest ye dwelled in her.

Fifthlie, by this word Sabboth is vn­derstoode 5 spirituall rest, that is to say,A Spiri­tual Sab­both. cea­sing from sinne, or the leauing off of our owne workes, and the execution or dooing of the workes of God, that is, of such as are by him commaunded vnto vs, and doo appertaine vnto his worship and glorie. This spirituall Sabboth is begun in this life in them that are conuerted, and is fi­nished in the life euerlasting: and is ter­med a Sabboth or rest, both because this is indeede a true rest from labours and miseries, and our hallowing and dedica­ting vnto the worshippe of God, and also because y^t in times past it was signified by the ceremonial Sabboth. Heb. 4. There is therfore lefte some rest vnto the people of GOD. For hee that is entered into [Page] his rest, rested also himself from his works, as God rested from his. Let vs studie ther­fore to enter into that rest, &c. Ies. 66. And it shall come to passe, that from moneth to moneth, and from Sabboth vnto Sabboth all flesh shall come, & worship before me, sayth the Lord.

With this comman­dement agreeth the 1.2. & [...]. signification of the vvorde Sabboth.Out of these significations of the word, the first and the second haue place in this cōmandement as cōcerning the wordes, & the fifth by an allegorie: This also doth the manner of the figures shew, in the or­deining of the which God will alwayes haue their signification to bée vnderstoode and obserued. And Esayas, chapter 28. If thou tourne awaie thy foote from the Sabboth, that thou doe not thine owne will on mine holie daie, and call the Sab­both thy delight, that it be holie, honoura­ble vnto the Lord, and shalt honour it, that thou doo not thine owne wayes, that thine own will be not found and that thou finde not a word. And therefore with a vehemencie he saith, as of a thing most straightlie commaunded: Remember that thou keepe holie the Sabboth daie, that is, that with greate care and religi­on thou hallowe it. And Exod. 31. Hée [Page] commaundeth him to be put to death, which shall breake the Sabboth. Also E­zech 20. and 22. When as he complaineth of the corruption of the whole worshippe of God: he sayth that the Sabboth is bro­ken: of which straightnesse in requiring of the kéeping of the Sabboth, there are euidentlie apparant two causes especial­lie: The one, for that the neglecting of the 1 ministerie of the Church doeth verie easilie corrupt and blot out the doctrine and worshippe of GOD: The other, 2 for that by the straight requiring of the figuratiue Sabboth, GOD woulde declare the greatnesse and necessitie of the thing signified, to wit, of the spiritu­all Sabboth. The same may bée vnder­stoode by the ende of the ceremoniall and morall commandement touching the Sabboth. For GOD will haue the externall or outwarde Sabboth to serue vnto the beginning and finishing in vs of the spirituall Sabboth. Hée will not therefore haue that obserued and kepte without this. Finallie, héere­by this same is manifest, in that he com­maundeth the Sabboth to bée hallow­ed, that is, not to bée spent in lasie [Page] idlenes, but to haue sinne to be auoyded, and holy workes to be done therein.VVhat it is to keep holy the Sabboth. For God is sayd to halow the Sabboth, be­cause he appoynteth it vnto the worship of God: men also are commanded to ha­low it, that is to say, to apply it vnto that ende wherevnto it is ordeined by God, or to doo those things the which God hath cōmanded in the same to be done. Héere­vnto apperteyneth that he saith that it is a Sabboth vnto the Lord, that is, dedica­ted vnto his worship.

Sixe daies of vvorkeAnd therefore appointing sixe dayes for other labours, and the seuenth vnto the worship of God, his meaning is not that the other dayes the worship of God, and thinking vppon the workes of God should be omitted or lefte off. For it is said Deut. 6. and 11. Thou shalt rehearse them vnto thy sonnes, and shalt speake of them, whē as thou shalt sit in thine house, and when as thou shalt walke by the way, and when as thou shalt lye in thy bed, and when thou shalt arise. And Psalme. 1. His pleasure is in the lawe of the Lord,Tvvo things re­quired. 1and hee meditateth and studieth thereon daye and night. But he requireth these two things, the first, that on the Sabboth daye, not [Page] onelie the priuate, as at other times,2 On the Sabboth the works of our or­dinarie calling ought to cease. but also the publike worship of God be exer­cised in the Church: the other, that at that time other labours, which on other daies euerie man doth exercise according vnto his vocation & calling, should giue place as well vnto the priuate, as publike wor­ship of God.

Yet Iewish superstition is to bée ta­ken héede off,It is lavv­ful on the Sabboth to doo vvorks the vvhich do not hin­der the exercise of the mini­sterie. the which also Christ in the Gospell doth often confute, namelie, that it was vnlawfull on the Sabboth daye to doe anie workes appertaining vnto the necessitie of their owne lyfe, or the life of others, for it appeareth by the end of the commaundement, that onelie ser­uile workes, or such as hinder the exer­cise of the ministerie, are forbidden by God, and not such as doe not hinder the publike worshippe of God, or else doe fur­ther, nourish and set forth the same. So Math. 12. Christ defendeth his Disciples plucking the e [...]res of corne on the Sab­both daie to driue awaie hunger, healeth him that had a withered hand. Luke. 13. Healeth a woman that had béene sicke 18. yeares. And Chapter 14. Healeth one sicke of the dropsie. Iohn. 5. Healeth [Page] one that had an infirmitie 38. yeares, and biddeth him carrie awaie his bed. And Mathew. 12. Luke. 14. sayth, That with­out anie sinne on the Sabboth daie cat­tell or beastes falling into a ditch, are thence drawen out, and Luke 13. That cattell are loosed and driuen to water. And Iudas Machabeus fought on the Sabboth, that there might be some to kéepe the Sabboth. 2. Machab. 15.

And of this and such like acts two reasons are giuen. 1. Machab. 2. If we so do, as our brethren haue done, that wee fight not a­gainst the Gentiles for our life & religion, they will now on a sodaine driue vs out of the land. Therefore they appointed within thēselues within with these words: what mē so euer shall by battaile set vpon vs on the Sabboth daie, we wil fight with them, least we all die, as our brethren are dead. For the defence of their life and religion, they saie well, that they may sight euen on the Sab­both daie. With the same reasons Christ defendeth himselfe and his Disciples. Math. 12. rehearsing a saying out of the 6. Chapter of Oseas: But if yee had knowen, what this is, I will haue mercie [Page] and not sacrifice, yee woulde not haue condemned the innocents and guiltlesse. And Marke. 2. The Sabboth was made for man, and not man for the Sabboth, that is, the ceremoniall workes ought to giue place vnto the morall, that rather the ceremonies bée omitted, then the workes of loue, the which either our owne necessitie, or of our neighbour doth require. And Math. 12. Haue yee not read in the lawe, that on the Sabboth the Priestes in the Temple prophane the Sabboth, and are without faulte? And I saie vnto you, that one greater then the Temple is heere. Also Iohn. 7. On the Sabboth yee circumcise a man. If a man receiue circumcision on the Sab­both, and yet the lawe of Moses is not broken, are yee offended with mee, that I haue cured an whole man on the Sab­both? In which wordes hee teacheth that such workes, as hinder not the exercise of the Sabboth, but rather set foorth and confirme the same, such as are [...]he workes pertaining vnto the worship [...]f God, or vnto holie ceremonies, or vnto [...]he loue of our neighbour, in such sorte, [Page] that necessitie will not suffer them to bée put off vntill another time, doe not break the Sabboth, but are especiallie required to the right obseruation and kéeping of the same.

Families.He will haue our families also and our children to cease from labours, for 1 two causes: first and principallie, that these also by their parents and masters maye bee brought vp and instructed in the worship of God, and to be admitted [...] accustomed vnto the exercise of the mini­sterie of the church: for he wil haue these also reckoned among the members of his Church, and doth exhort them by the ex­ample of his rest vnto the [...] of the 2 Sabboth Secondlie, because he wil haue loue and bountifulnesse towardes our neighbours, to bée exercised and seene in his Church, bo [...]h in our whole life, and also especiallie on the Sabboth. There­fore hee reciteth this cause also of the out­ward rest, or sabboth, albeit it be acci­dentall and a second came, [...] rest from labours might be g [...]aunted vnto seruant and our familie, & by calling to remembraunce the bondage in Aeg [...]pt, hée exho [...] teth the Iew [...] to vse c [...] rtesie toward [Page] their seruants, the which they in bondage wished to be shewed vnto themselues. Deut. 5. That thy man-seruaunt and thy maide-seruant may rest as well as thou: & remember that thou wast a seruaunt in the land of Aegypt, and that the Lord thy God brought thee thence by a strong hād, and a stretched out arme. Therefore the Lord thy God hath commaunded thee to keepe the Sabboth daie.

Hée commaundeth also straungers to leaue off their labours,Strangers. such as were con­uerted vnto true religion, like as Israe­lites and of the householde of the Church: and such as were still Infidels he also cō ­maundeth to cease from labour, not in re­gard of themselues, but in respect of the Israelites, and that for two causes: first, 1 least by their example they should giue offence vnto the Church: secondlie, least 2 their libertie might bee an occasion vnto the Iewes by them to doe workes on the Sabboth, which by themselues it was not lawfull for them to doe, and so iniurie should bée done vnto the lawe of GOD,Note this vvell. the which forbiddeth, not onelie by our selues, but also by others to do such works and businesse on the Sabboth as call [Page] men awaie from the worshippe of God, and studying vpon the workes and will of God.

Three questionsAnd héere out appeareth an answere vnto thrée questions or obiections.

1 Whether other nations also were bound vnto the Iewish ceremonies, if they dwelled amongst the Iewes?

2 Whether straungers from the Church, may or ought to bee compelled vnto reli­gion?

3 And, whether the Sacraments, amongst the which also the Sabboth was, ought to be common vnto the Infidels with the Church?

Ansvvere vnto the first and second question.For as concerning binding and con­straint, the straungers which dwelled a­mong the Iewes were not constrayned either vnto al ceremonies, or religion, but vnto the outward discipline, the which was necessarie for the auoiding of offen­ces of the Church, in which they liued: for the magistrate ought to be the kéeper of discipline, according vnto both tables of y^e Decalogue, or ten cōmandements, amōgst his subiects, both to forbid manifest idola­trie and blasphemies: and also concerning [Page] forrainers & strangers, so far as he may, to take héed y^t open offences be not giuē vnto his subiectes. Furthermore, as touching binding ther was an especial consideratiō of the Sabboth, y^e which was not at length by Moses, but euen from the beginning of the world, commaunded vnto all men by God, and therfore bound all men vnto the comming of the Messias, albeit that this commandement was so farre growen out of vse among them, that it was reckoned among the chiefe reproches, wherewithall they mocked and taunted the Iewes.3 Vnto the third. The Sab­both was no Sacra­ment vn­to the In­fidells. But this ceremonie was no Sacrament vnto the Infidels, because that neither this pro­mise appertained vnto them, that y^e Lord would be the sanctifier of them, neither were they constrained to cease from their ordinarie workes for the testifying or pro­fessing of this promise, but onelie to auoid offence and occasion of sinning, which by them might bee giuen vnto the people of GOD: for so Nehem. 10. The people promise by oath, that on the Sabboth and holie daies, they woulde not receiue a­nie thing of the people of the lande, the which brought merchaundise or victu­all to sell on the Sabboth daie.

And Chap. 13. Nehemias by shutting the gates and garrison of souldiours, kéepeth the Tyrians dwelling at Ierusalem, and bringing in wares to be solde on y^e Sab­both, from comming that day into the Ci­tie, least occasion might be giuen vnto the Iewes to breake the Sabboth.

Cattell.These things are better vnderstood by this, that the Cattell also are commanded to rest, whose rest had no signification ey­ther of the worship of God or any sacra­ment, but was commanded in regarde of the men, first that occasion of working might be cut off from them, the labour or vse of their cattell being forbidden: and secondly, that sparing their brute beasts, they might learn, how great a regard god would haue of gentlenesse and equitie to be vsed towards men: the which cause al­so Paule alledgeth of the commandemēt of not mus [...]ing the mouth of the Oxe that treadeth out the corne. 1. Cor. 9 Hath the Lord a care of Oxen? or doth he not al­together say this for vs? For, for vs is this written, that he which ploweth ought to plow in hope: and he that treadeth out the corne in hope, ought to be partaker of his hope, &c.

The reason which is added,The reson of the cō ­mande­ment, the rest of God. taken from God his resting, apperteineth vnto the circumstance or ceremoniall precept con­cerning the seuenth day: God rested on that day: that is to say, he ceased to make new parts of the world, as which was al­readie perfected and finished, and such as God would haue it for to be. This daye therefore he dedicated or appoynted vn­to the worship of God: first,VVhy the seauenth day vvas appoyn­ted vnto the vvor­ship of God. that by the 1 example of his rest, as by a most effectu­all and strong argument, he might exhort men vnto the following of him, in lea­uing off of the ordinarie works of the 6. dayes, as God on the seuenth daye rested from the workes of the sixe dayes, that is from the creating of newe partes of the world.

Secondly, that this rest of the seuenth 2 day might be a monument and token of the perfecting and fi [...] ishing of the creati­on by God, and of the continuing on that day of the perpetual preseruation and go­uerning of his workes, vnto his glorie & benefit of his elect and chosen, and there­fore might be a spur vnto the considera­tion and setting forth of these works and benefites towardes mankinde, for whose [Page] sake all other things are made and pre­serued by God, that out of the same man­kinde, made and formed after his owne image, he might gather and preserue a Church vnto himselfe, the which in this life and for euer might praise him.

The rest­ing of mē tvvo-foldNow the imitation and following of his rest, vnto the which by his owne ex­ample he doth exhort vs, is of two sorts: ceremoniall, and signifying: and morall or spirituall, or signified. For the workes, the which are called the workes 1 of men, are of two sorts: for some are by God commanded vnto euerie particular person, but yet hindering the publike worship of God, if they be cōtinued with­out intermission or ceasing, namelye the workes of euerie man his proper vocati­on and calling, the ministerie of y^e church, and such things as appertaine vnto the exercise and preseruation of the same ex­cepted. 2 Some are forbiddē by God, name­ly sinnes, the which are in such sort y^e pro­per workes of the diuell and of men, that in this respect that they are sinnes, they can in no wise be referred vnto God.

Both these kindes of workes of men are forbidden, but in a three-fold difference of [Page] forbidding.

The first is, workes are forbidden in a 1 certaine respect,Three differēces in vvorkes forbiddē. namely so farre foorth as they hinder the ministerie of the church, or giue offence: but sinnes are forbidden simply.

The second, for that workes are one­ly 2 forbidden on the Sabboth daye: but sinnes are commanded to be lefte at all times.

The thirde, for that the ceasing from 3 workes, is a figure, but the ceasing from sinnes is the thing signified by the fi­gure, and therefore ordeined by the ap­poynting of this figure, according vnto the exposition of the figure set down Heb. 4. He that is entered into his rest, rested also himselfe from his workes, as God did from his.

The summe therefore of the comman­ment is,The sum of the 4. comman­dement. that it establisheth the publike worship of god, or ministery of the church, and the exercise and honour of the same. For this is y^e halowing, or holy of vse the Sabboth, that is to saye, of the time appoynted vnto the ministerie, when as on that day, holy workes, the which God [Page] hath commanded at that time to be done, are exercised.The vvorks of the Sab­both. Now the partes of this ha­lowing, or the workes of the Sabboth, the which on the Sabboth ought to bee done partly by the Ministers and partly by the Church, are these especially.

1 To teach y^e church.Truly to teach the Church concerning God, and his will. For in this place is spoken of the dutie of the Ministers of the Church, vnto whom it appertaineth not onely in the publike assemblyes of the Church, faithfully to deliuer & teach true doctrine, but as necessitie & occasion shall be offered, to instruct and admonish euen particular persons, and to employ them­selues vnto the amendment and saluati­on of all them that are committed to their charge.Proues for publike doctrine. Concerning doctrine in the mee­tings of the Church there is spoken Ex­od. 12. The first and seuenth day of Easter, there shall be vnto you an holy conuocati­on or assembling together. Leuit. 10. That ye teach the children of Israel all the Sta­tutes which the Lord hath spokē vnto thē, by the hand of Moses. Act. 13. They fulfil­led the wordes of the Prophets, the which are read euery Sabboth. And chap. 15. For Moses of olde hath them in euerie Citie, [Page] which preach him, when as hee is read in the Sinagogues euerie Sabboth. And cap. 17. And Paule, as his custome was, went in vnto them, and three Sabboth daies dispu­ted with them, out of the scripture, &c. proues for priuate instruction & admo­nition. As touching y^e office of ministers in priuate instruction and admonition, we read. Act. 17. He reasoned in the Sinagogue with the Iewes, and religious persons, & in the mar­ket daily with all that he met. And cap. 20. Take heed therefore vnto your selues, and vnto the whole flocke in the which the holye Ghost hath made you ouer­seers to feede the church of God, &c. A­gaine: Watch therfore, remembring, that I, by the space of three yeares ceased not day and night with teares to admonish e­uerie one. 2. Tim. 4. Preach the word, bee earnest in season, out of season: rebuke, reprooue, exhort with all mildenesse and doctrine. But watch thou in all thinges, suffer, do the worke of an Euangelist,2 To mini­ster the sacraments.giue full proofe of thy ministerie.

To minister the Sacramentes accor­ding vnto the ordinance of God. And as doctrine, so also the administration of the Sacraments is not tied vnto those daies, in which the méetings of the Church are [Page] made, but it is sufficient concerning the publike ministration, if it be done by the ministers of the church, as those which do represent a publike person, and roome of God in y^e ministerie speaking vnto men, and that those things be done in the as­semblyes of the Church, the which God hath tied vnto the ministers. So circum­cision was ministred at anye daye which was the eight day after the birth of the childe: so baptisme may be ministred on any day. Act 8. &. 10. Yet the ministring of the Sacrament ought especially to bee vsed on the Sabboth daye. And therefore Numb 28. and. 29. besides the daily sacri­fices, there are also set forth certaine sacri­fices which ought to be vsed on the Sab­both, and other holy dayes And Christ in such sort ordained his supper, as y^e which among other endes, ought also to be the si­nowe of the Congregation of the church, that it might be ministred either in a small or great assembly of the Church.

Matth. 26. Drinke ye all of this. 1. Cor. 10. The bread which wee breake, is it not the communion of the bodie of Christ? Be­cause we being manie are one bread, one [Page] bodie. For all wee are partakers of one bread. And chap. 11. Therefore when yee come together into one place, this is not to eate the Lords supper. For euery one eateth his own supper before. In the same place, Therfore (my bretherē) when ye come to­gether to eate, tarrie one for another.

And vnto the lawfull administration of the Sacraments appertaineth also the shutting out of those,Shutting out of the vnvvor­thie. whome God hath commanded to be shut out from them.

Like as it was not lawfull for strangers from the nation and religion of y^e Iewes, nor for the vncircumcised to eate the Paschall Lambe. Exod. 12. so the Church of God ought not to admit or receiue vn­to the Supper of the Lorde, such as are not baptized, or such as being baptized, yet in doctrine or manners are strangers from Christianitie.

To learne the doctrine of the Church,3 To learn the doct­rine of y^e Church. that is, to come often vnto the assemblies of the Church, to heare and learne the heauenly doctrine, and diligentlye to meditate and examine the doctrine being heard, and especiallye to bestowe the dayes appoynted for the ministerie, in [Page] reading, studying, and handling of diuine matters: for inasmuch as God will haue ministers of the Church to be, he will al­so that there bée hearers of the doctrine, and the same also diligent. And the desire to learne is not without priuate medita­tion. Therfore they of Bercea are praised, Acts. 17. for that they receiued the worde with all ioyfulnesse, dailie searching the Scriptures, whether the thinges were so or no: and especiall to such as serue alrea­die, or meane in time to come to serue the Church a diligent studie to know the do­ctrine is inioyned. 1. Tim. 4. Take heede vnto reading, exhortatiō, doctrine: foreslow not the gifte which is in thee, the which was giuen th [...]e to prophesie, with the lay­ing on of the hands of the oldership. Exer­cise these things: in these be thou, that thy profiting m [...]y be manifest vnto all. Take heed vnto thy selfe, and vnto doctrine: in these continue. For if thou doe this, thou shalt saue thy s [...]lfe, and those that [...]eare thee. And 1. Tim. [...]. and 2. Tim. 2. P [...]ule will haue a min [...]ster of the Church to bee fit to teach, and to confute and ouerthrow t [...] aduersaries [...].

To vse the Sacraments according vn­to [Page] the ordinance of God.To vse the sacramēts So God com­manded the Passeouer to be kept in the assembly of the people, and appoynted certaine sacrifices vnto other feast dayes and Sabboths. Also Act. 20. The first day of the weeke, when as the Disciples were come together to breake bread, Paul prea­ched, &c. For as God will haue true doc­trine to be heard, so he will also haue the lawfull vse of the sacraments to be séene in the publike assemblyes of the Church: because that he will haue both these to be a note, whereby the Church may be kno­wen and discerned from other nations & sectes. The sacraments also, like as the word, are an instrument, or exercise to stirre vp and maintaine faith and godly­nesse in vs. They are also a publike pro­fession of our faith and thankfulnesse vn­to God, and a part of the publike worship of God in the church. And therfore the vse of thē is most especialy agreeable vnto the Sabboth.

Publike calling vpon God, wherby we do ioyne our confession, thanks-giuing,5 Publike calling on God. and prayers with the church. For God wil be called vpon not onely priuately of euerye man, but also publikely by the [Page] Church, for his glorie, and our comfort, to wit, that we should not doubt, that we are heard of God, when as he hath pro­mised hearing not onely vnto vs, but al­so vnto others, and vnto y^e whole church, praying for vs together with vs. For to this ende he hath added a peculiar pro­mise vnto common praiers, Matth. 18. A­gaine I say vnto you, if two of you shal a­gree together vpon earth, whatsoeuer they shall aske, it shall be graunted vnto them of my father which is in heauē. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the middest of them. And thankes-giuing and the praysing of God, is promised vnto God as an especi­all worship. Psal. 22. In the middest of the Congregation I will praise thee. Of thee shall bee my praise in a Congregation of much people, I will pay my vowes before them that feare him. And it is commanded 1. Cor 14. Forasmuch as if thou blesse in spirit, he which occupieth the roome of an vnlearned person, how shall he say Amen vnto thy thankes-giuing? For he knoweth not what thou saiest. And. 1. Tim. 2. I ex­hort therefore before all things, that there be made supplications, prayers, requests, & [Page] thankes-giuing, for all men, for Kings, and for al that are set in authoritie, that we may lead a quiet & a peaceable life in all god­linesse and chastitie, &c.

Neither doth Christ in the 6. of Matth. condemne and forbid publike prayers,Matth. 6. Not pub­like prai­ers, but hypocrisie is forbid­den. but boasting & hypocrisie, saying: When thou prayest, enter into thy chamber, and shutting thy doore pray vnto thy Father which is in secret, and thy father which seeth thee in secret, shal reward thee open­ly. The wordes going before do witnesse this: When thou prayest, be not as the hypocrites. For they loue to pray standing in their assemblies and corners of the streetes, that they maye be seene of men. Verely I say vnto you, they haue their re­ward. And hypocrisie is a counterfaiting & boasting and vaine shewing of godly­nesse Taring therefore this,Hypocri­sie. he speaketh not of the desire to please god, and of pray­sing him as well publikely as priuately, but he will haue those also which praye publikely, to haue regarde not vnto the iudgement and eyes of men but of God concerning vs, and not to looke vnto our glorie, but vnto the glorie of God.

6 The ho­nour of the mini­stery conteining The honour of the ministerie of the Church, which containeth many things: first, reuerence, that is an acknowledging of the order and wil of God in y^e appoin­ting and preseruation of the ministerie, and the gathering together of the church by the same,1 Reuerēce. and the declaration & shew­ing forth of this our iudgement of the ministerie both in wordes and déedes.

1. Cor. 4. Let a man so esteeme of vs as of the Ministers of Christ, and disposers of the secrets of God. 2. Cor. 5. Therefore we are Embassadours in the name of Christ, as if God intre [...]ted you by vs: wee praye you in the name of Christ, that ye be re­conciled vnto God.

2 Loue.Secondly, Loue, by the which we wil­lingly both resort vnto the assemblies of the church, and do heare and learne the doctrine of the church, and do wish well vnto the faithful ministers of the church, not onely in respect of the dutie of loue, but also in regard of y^e ministerie which they execute. Psal. 84. How amiable are thy Tabernacles O Lord of hostes. My soule longeth, yea, and fainteth for the Courtes of the Lord, my heart & my flesh reioyce in the liuing God.

Psal. 122. I reioyced with them that sayd vnto me, we will goe into the house of the Lord. Also, For my bretheren sake I will now speake peace of thee, because of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek thy good.

Thirdly, obedience in those thinges,3 Obediēce which appertaine vnto the ministerie. Hebr. 4. Obey your Rulers. Hethertoo ap­pertaine the workes of loue towardes God, and towards our neighbor, that is, the whole life of a Christian, which is the spirituall Sabboth For it is nothing els to kéepe a spirituall Sabboth,To keepe a spiritual Sabboth. then in the ordering of our life to obey the voyce of God sounding by the ministerie of the Church. For God will haue the doctrine learned to this ende, that it may be obey­ed. Iam. 1. Performe ye the word in deed, and be not hearers onely, deceiuing your selues: because if a man be a hearer of the word and not a doer, he shall be compared vnto a man beholding the countenance of his birth in a glasse, for hee hath behelde himselfe, and went his waye, and by and by forgetteth what manner one he was.

And, for as much as he will haue this [Page] Sabboth to be kepte all our life time, hée will haue the examples and testimonies of the same especially to be shewed forth on the outward or ceremoniall Sabboth day, that is, at those times which are ap­poynted for the teaching and learning of the word of God.He that hath no care to serue the Lord on the Sab­both day, vvill not serue him at other times. For if a man al y^e time doo not shewe foorth a desire to obey God, when as the doctrine ringeth in his eares, and when as other cares being laid aside, God will haue vs to thinke vpon godly­nesse and repentance, he sufficiently de­clareth that he will not doo it at another time.

There it hath alwayes bene the manner in the Church, on the Sabboth day to giue almes, & to exercise y^e workes of loue towardes the néedie. Nehem. 8. Send parts vnto him for whom nothing is prepared, because it is an holy daye vnto our Lord. God himselfe also doth wit­nesse Deut. 5. that he will haue the Sab­both kept, that rest maye be giuen to ser­uaunts and to our familie: least that with the continuaunce of laboures they should be too much brought downe. And 1. Corinth 16. Furthermore as con­cerning [Page] the gathering for the Saintes, as I haue appoynted vnto the Churches of Galatia, so doo yee also. Euerie first daye of the weeke, let euerie one of you laye a side with himselfe, laying vp that, which thorough the gentlenesse of GOD he maye. And Actes 2. all these works of the Sabboth are ioyntly expres­sed together: The Disciples were abiding in the doctrine of the Apostles, and in fel­lowshippe, and breaking of bread, and prayers.

Fourthlye,4 Thankfulnesse. honour comprehen­deth also Thankfulnesse, that is, du­ties concerning the preseruation of the Ministerie and Ministers. For if GOD will haue a Ministerie to be in the Church, hée will also that eue­rye one, according to their abilitie, doo further the maintenaunce of the same, that is, that they bestowe theyr money and trauayle vpon the nourishing and defending of godly Ministers and tea­chers.

Hethertoo appertaine the lawes of Mo­ses, concerning the first borne, first fruits, tenthes, and very many offerings, the [Page] which were appointed vnto the Priestes & Leuites in steade of a stipend, where­withall to maintaine the life of them and theirs, that they might attend vppon the ministerie. Albeit the circumstaunces of these lawes be abolished & taken awaie, yet the generall remaineth for euer, be­cause God will haue the ministerie pre­serued euen vntill the end of the worlde. Deu. 12. Take heed vnto thy selfe that thou forsake not the Leuite all thy daies vppon thy land. 1. Cor. 9. Who goeth on warfare at anie time vpon his owne charges? Who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? Or who feedeth a flocke, and eateth not of the milke of the flocke? Doth not the lawe also saie these things? For it is written in the lawe of Moses, Thou shalt not musle the mouth of the Oxe, that trea­deth out the corne. Also, If we haue sowen vnto you spirituall things, is it a great mat­ter, if we reap your fleshlie things? Again, Are ye ignorant, that they which serue a­bout holie thinges, doe eate of the thinges which are of the altar? And they that serue at the altar, doe take parte of the altar? So the Lord hath ordeined, that they which preach the Gospell, should liue of the Go­spell. [Page] 1. Tim. 5. The elders which doe rule well, let them be counted worthie of dou­ble honour, especiallie those that do labour in the word and in doctrine. For the Scrip­ture saith, Thou shalt not musle vp the mouth of the Oxe, that treadeth out the corne. And the worke-man is worthie of his hire. Math. 10. He that receiueth a Pro­phet in the name of a Prophet, shall re­ceiue the reward of a Prophet. Héerevnto also pertaineth the examples of the wi­dowe of Sarepta, nourishing the Prophet Elias. 1. King. 17. Of Obadiah sauing the Prophets, whome Iezabel did persecute. 1. King. 18. Of the Church of Damascus, letting downe Paule by the wall Acts. 9.

In this part of the honour towardes the ministerie is also conteined the main­tenaunce of schooles:Schooles. inasmuch as with­out the studies of learning and arts men are neither fit to teach, neither can the pu­ritie of doctrine be preserued and defended against Heretikes. Therefore Christ Math. 11. promiseth a reward vnto those, the which for the furtherance and impar­ting of doctrine do well vnto those which doe either alreadie teach, or which are in time to come to teach, or whose trauaile [Page] doth serue, or shall héereafter serue for the preseruation of doctrine.

5 Gentle­nesse to­vvardes the infir­mities of ministersFiftlie and lastlie, vnto this honour of the ministerie is also required vprightnes or gentlenesse in bearing with the infir­mities of the ministers, the which doe not notoriouslie or manifestlie corrupt or for­slow their office, & hurt the Church with offence. 1. Tim. 5. Receiue not an accusation against an Elder, but vnder two or three witnesses.

Cōtraries & repug­nant vn­to the vvorkes of the Sabboth.Forasmuch then as this is the sanctifi­ing or hallowing of the Sabboth, it fol­loweth that the thinges wherewith the Sabboth is prophaned or broken, are con­trarie vnto these workes.

Against the teaching of doctrine is set the leauing or forslowing of the duetie of teaching,1 Vnto do­ctrine. either priuatelie or publiklie. Esa. 56. All her watch-men are dumbe dogges, which are not able to barke, slee­ping, taking their ease, verie diligent to sleepe. And they are rauenous dogges, which knowe not when they are full, and the Shepheardes themselues vnderstande nothing, they haue all gone aside after their owne waie, euerie one vnto his coue­tousnesse in his place. Ezech. 34. Woe vn­to [Page] the Shepheardes that haue fedde them­selues: Doe not shepheardes feede their flocke? Yee haue eaten the fat, and doo cloath your selues with the wooll: ye haue killed the fat, but haue not fed the sheepe: the weake haue ye not comforted, and the sicke haue yee not healed, and the bro­ken haue ye not bound vp, that that was cast downe yee haue not brought againe, & that which was lost ye haue not sought, but ye haue reigned ouer them cruellie and tyrannouslie.

Also corrupting and mangling of do­ctrine, or bowing of the same vnto the 2 opinions, affections, desires, or profite of the ministers, or magistrates, or others. 2. Corinth. 2. For wee doe not, as ma­nie, make merchaundise of the woorde of GOD, but wee speake of Christ, as of sinceritie, as of GOD, in the sight of God.

Against the administration of the Sa­cramentes is either the leauing or fore­slowing of the exhortation of the Church to vse the Sacramentes,2 Vnto the admini­stration of the Sacramēts or an vnlawfull admistration, when as some thing is either taken from the ceremonies ordei­ned 1 [Page] by God, or when some thing is chan­ged in them, or when as such are shut out frō the Sacraments, as ought to be recei­ued, or such receiued which by the ordi­nance of God ought to be kept frō them, or when as the people are not instructed concerning the right vse of them.3 Against y^e desire to learne doctrine.

Against the desire to learne doctrine, is the contempt & neglecting of doctrine, that is, either not to be present at holie Ser­mons, when there is no lawfull cause to let vs, and on the Sabboth to doe workes that might be put off vntill another time, or to giue no eares vnto holie Sermons, or not to meditate and search the doctrine of the Church, but especiallie negligence to knowe the doctrine in the ministers, or in those, which by God are called vnto the studie of doctrine, and either ought one daie to serue vnto the setting forth of doc­trine, or haue greater occasion and oppor­tunitie to learne the same, then others. Numb. 16.He that gathereth stickes. Death appointed for the Sabboth breakers. He that gathered sticks on the Sabboth daie, is stoned to death. And Ex­od. 31. Paine of death is set down against them that on the Sabboth doe works hin­dering the ministerie. Nehem, 13. They that doe such workes on the Sabboth are [Page] verie sharplie chidden. Math. 13. As often as a man heareth the word of that king­dome, and vnderstandeth it not, then com­meth that wicked one, and taketh awaie that which was sowen in his heart. This is he which receiueth the séede by the way side, &c. Math. 15. Let them alone, they are blinde, guides of the blinde: if the blinde leade the blinde, they both fall into the ditch. Luke 12. Vnto whome so euer much hath bene giuen, much shall be required of him againe, and with whom they haue laid downe much, the more they will aske a­gaine at his hands.

Also curiositie, the which is a desire to 2 know or to heare things not reuealed by God, not necessarie, or new things Pro. 25 As to eate much honie, is not good: so the se [...]rching out of the glorie of the diuine things is no glorie. Sonne of Sirach. 3. Search not vnconsideratlie after thinges that are more hard then thou art able to at­taine vnto: and concerning things that are aboue thy power, foolishlie seeke not after them. The thinges that are commaunded thee of God, the same studie thou holilie vpon. For it is not needfull for thee, to be­holde with thine eyes the thinges that are [Page] secret: the things that are not necessarie, but superfluous vnto thy talke, meddle not curiouslie with them. For mo thinges are opened vnto thee, then the wit of man is able to comprehend. 1. Tim. 4. Giue no eare vnto fables, and endlesse genealogies, the which doe rather breed questions, then edifying of God, which is by faith. And Chapter 4. Prophane and olde wiues fa­bles reiect. 2. Tim. 2. Reiect or cast awaie foolish and vnlearned questions, knowing that they doe breede strifes. Tit. 3. Refrain foolish questions and genealogies, and con­tention [...], and strifes about the lawe: for they are vnprofitable and vaine. 2. Tim. 3. There will be a time when as they shal not abide sound doctrine, but itching in their eares, they according vnto their owne lustes, shall heape vp vnto themselues teachers, and shall turne awaie their eares from the truth, and bee turned vnto fa­bles.

4 [...].Vnto the lawfull vse and receiuing of the Sacraments is repugnāt the leauing off and contempt of the same. Also y^e pro­phaning of them, when as they are vsed and receiued, not after that sorte which [Page] God hath commaunded, or not of those, for whome they were ordained. Also superstitious receiuing, when as salua­tion and the grace of GOD are tied vnto the obseruation of the ceremonies, or else are vsed vnto other endes wherevn­to they are not ordained by GOD. Gen. 17. Hee that is vncircumcised shall be rooted out from among his people. Ex­od. 4. GOD threatneth death vnto Moses because of his sonne which was not circumcised. Malach. 1. The Lord of hoasts sayth vnto you. O Priests, which contemne my name, and haue sayd, Wherein haue wee contemned thy name? Which doe of­fer vppon mine altar, polluted bread, and yee haue sayd, wherein haue wee polluted the same? &c. Es [...]e. 66. Hee that sa­crificeth an Oxe, dooth sinne as much as hee that slayeth a man, &c. 1. Corinth. 11. Hee that eateth and drinketh vnworthilie, eateth and drinketh vnto himselfe damna­tion.

Vnto the publike praiers,5 Vnto publike pray­ers. the neg­lecting of them, and the hypocriticall béeing present at them without eare-giuing [Page] or affection. Also the rehearsing of them not seruing vnto the edifying of the Church. 1. Cor. 14. If thou blesse in spi­rite, he, which occupieth the roome of an ignorant person, how shall hee say Amen vnto thy giuing of thankes? For he know­eth not what thou saist. For thou giuest thankes well, but another is not edi­fied.

In like manner also is against the vse and exercise of the whole ministerie, not onely the particular leauing of duetie in euerie priuate person, but by his exam­ple, or any manner of hinderance, by his commaundement or perswasion, the cal­ling away of his children, familie, or o­thers, from the vse and exercise of the same.

6 Vnto the honor of the mini­sterie.Vnto the honour of the Ministerie, the contempt and despising of the same is cō ­trarie, whereby either the ministerie of of the Church is abolished and taken a­way, or is committed vnto vnworthye persons, or is denied to be y^e instrument y^e which God will vse for the gathering to­gether of his Church: or when as the mi­nisters are reproched. 1. Tim. 5. Laye not thy handes quickly vnto any man, neither [Page] be thou partaker of other mens sinnes. Luke. 10. Hee that despiseth you, de­spiseth mee. Or when as they are hated, Matth. 10. and 24. Ye shall be hated of all men for my names sake. Or when as doctrine is not obeyed in the leading of our life: but especially when as on the Sabboth daye, the workes of loue & god­linesse are neglected, and the time im­ployed vnto vaine and wicked things, or spent in lewdnesse: or when as necessa­rie maintenance is not giuen vnto the Ministers, defence and other dueties of thankefulnesse and courtesie are not per­formed vnto them: that I saye nothing, when as the Ministers are wronged and hurte: when as the maintenance of schooles and learning is not cared for: or els when as the infirmities and wants in the ministers that may be borne with­all, are bitterly taunted, or when as be­cause of them the ministerie is despised or neglected.