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by Tho. Tillam
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Contents:
Introduction and pages 1-6 |
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1. Typical
2. Spiritual
3. Evangelical
4. Moral
5. Eternal
I shall therefore through grace lay open this five-fold rest, as it appears to be the mind of the Spirit, by the Apostle; whose scope is to warn and admonish Christians (by Israel's woes) of falling short of the true Rest, (Heb. 3) and having shown the difference between Christ, and Moses, with their two houses, he takes his Text (as it were) from David’s Psalm 45:7 exhorting Christ's house by faith to walk in God's ways, (Ps. 45:10,12-14), from which Israel swerved, and so fell short of that Rest (termed another day) whereof Joshua's Canaan was only a Type. This being the Apostles scope by that Typical rest to shadow forth that other day, (viz.) Gospel grace and Glory by Christ.
The entrance into which grace is the Saints spiritual rest, For (saith the Apostle) We which have believed do enter into rest (Hebr. 4:3). This is that promised rest to heavy-laden souls, (Matt. 11:28) the delightful fold of believing Lambs.
The very same resting place (saith Christ) my Father makes for me, have I prepared for you, even mine own bosom, and all I look for from you in lieu of this great love, is as thus as I rest in my Fathers bosom, and you in mine, so I may rest in yours. (John 1:18; 13:23)
Page 138 Spiritual Rest and Evangelical Rest
Wherefore let each spiritual Virgin Spouse, conclude, "My beloved shall lie as a bundle of myrrh all night between my breasts." (Song of Solomon 1:13).
And having thus attained their Spiritual rest by Faith, the Saints third repose, I term, a Church estate called by the Apostle “The house of Christ, the Zion of God“ (Heb.3:1,6; Is. 2:3), built up of Spiritual stones, ( 1 Peter 2:5) the rest which God himself has chosen, and all should choose that have entered by faith into that Spiritual rest; For the Lord has chosen Zion, he has desired it for his habitation, this is my rest for ever, here will I dwell, for I have desired it. (Ps. 132:13,14; Hebr. 3:11,18). Here Christ has promised his precious presence to the worlds end, and this should be that one thing in believers’ desires; while pretenders to Spirituality are passing from mountain, to hill, forgetting their resting Place, (Jer. 50:6).
5. As Christ's Church is his resting place where we may find him, and rest in him. So he has a solemn resting time, or Gospel-Season, which is the noon time rest, after which the Spouse inquires (not only where, but when) Tell me, o thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flocks to rest at noon? (Song of Solomon 1:7).
Page 139 Moral Rest
At this Season Christ sits in his meridian glory, amidst his flocks, in his weekly return to his beloved; this I call his Moral rest, or the mannerly attendance which the Church owes unto Christ entering his Royal palace decked in robes of righteousness, when the Royal Scepter is graciously extended to every trembling Rester.
The neglect of this moral rest was woeful Israel's sin: for which the Lord destroyed them in the Wilderness, as is plain Ezek. 20:13, and this being compared with the Apostles admonition to the Christians, plainly points out the Sabbath that remained to the people of God, (Hebr. 4:9). He sets forth Israel's sin and Israel's sorrow, on this wise. Although God finished his works from the foundation of the world, and thereupon speaks (Gen. 2) “And God rested the seventh day from all his works”, yet neither the glory of his wonderful Creation, authority of his institution, or observation of his holy Sabbath (to keep up the Creator’s honor) could engage them to follow his example, but so highly did they provoke him in the wilderness by refusing his Statutes, and despising his judgments (in general) but especially in polluting his Sabbaths, that he swear in his wrath, they should not enter into his rest, (Heb. 3:10-11; Ez. 20:12-13) but for their sins, (and particularly sabbath-breaking) he consumed them in the Wilderness.
Page 140 Evangelical Rest
Wherefore the Apostle concludes in applying all unto believers exhorting them to labour (in the use of that means which Israel neglected) To enter into the eternal rest after the true Jesus, lest any man fall by the same example of unbelief (or disobedience; as the Greek signifies) (Heb. 4:11). Christians I believe it, this is the sum of the Apostles admonition, so to press after our eternal rest, that we fall not after Israel's example of disobedience, in reflecting God's statutes, despising his judgments (Eze. 20:13), and (in particular) polluting his seventh day Sabbath which he made, and wherein he rested for a pattern to all that enjoy the benefit of his works of creation. But especially for Christians who by entering into his spiritual rest through faith are become the people of God; "There remaineth therefore the celebration of the Sabbath to the people of God, for he that is entered into his rest, he also has ceased from his works, as God did from his own works." (Hebr. 4:9,10).
And there we have considerable, first, the continued duty, that is The celebration of the Sabbath.
Second, the persons exhorted to the duty, and they are such as by entering into the spiritual rest through faith are the people of God,
Page 141 Israel’s Sin
Here’s the ground and reason of the duty, and this is two fold.
2. Christ's rest from Redemption.
First as to the remaining duty, the celebrating of the Sabbath, I need say little having already showed that the seventh day Sabbath is one of those lively Oracles that Israel received from Sinai to give unto us. And that our God has especially commanded us (to whom these Oracles are given) to REMEMBER his seventh day Sabbath to sanctify it, and tis our mercy that his holy spirit does here record (what the translators were loath to reveal in English), That there remaineth the keeping of the Sabbath to the people of God. I know tis set down in the margin of our Bibles the keeping of A Sabbath, whence they would evade the seventh day Sabbath, and set up a Sabbath of their own (although the Dictionaries and Lexicons render it plainly the keeping of the Sabbath. But let the people of God celebrate the seventh day Sabbath until they can find the Holy Spirit calling any other day a Sabbath, and then let them change.
Page 142 For the People of God
The second thing is, the persons exhorted to this duty, and they are believers entered into their spiritual rest, and therefore tis most irrational to affirm this remaining Sabbath to be nothing but a spiritual rest into which believers enter, verse 3, and so become the people of God; and as God's people they are to celebrate the Sabbath; There remaineth therefore the celebration of the Sabbath to (those that are already) the people of God. And I hope such as are the people of God will remember to observe it as being under a double obligation.
1. God's institution, and observation, making himself our precedent of which I have already spoken.
2. Christ's cessation from his great works, and entering thereupon into his rest, and this is laid down as the Gospel reason why the Sabbath remains to the people of God.” For he that is entered into his rest, he also has ceased from his works, as God did from his own works.” (Heb. 4:10)
Some conceive that believers are here said to enter into rest; but then it would be needless to excite them to enter in the verse following, It is Christ only (Hebr. 4:12) whose entrance into rest is here intended, who ceased from his works as God did from his, and therefore there remaineth the celebration of the Sabbath to the people of God,
Page 143 Cessation From Work
Here then the mysterious payment of man's Ransom is matter of high admiration, (Christ’s death upon the cross) being the same day that man was made, and that very day, and time of the day whereon God finished the glorious work of creation: and so ceasing from his labours, our Saviour exactly entered into his rest (in the tomb) that very day and time as God began his rest; providentially ordering his body to be taken down, and laid to rest in his Sepulcher in the close of the sixth day, that no part of his Sabbath should be violated, and thus ceasing from his works as God did, and entering into his Rest exactly as God did; it lays believers under a double engagement to sanctify the seventh day Sabbath.
“That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father,” (John. 5:23) i.e. As the Father engages us to honor him in celebrating the Sabbath because he rested on it from the works of Creation. So (kados) even so the Son engages us to sanctify the same holy Sabbath), because he rested in it from the works of our redemption; There remaineth therefore the keeping of the Sabbath to the people of God.
Page 144 Christ’s rest in the Tomb (Israel’s Woes)
Mr. Aspinwall, and others would persuade us (without one word from God) that Christ entered into his rest upon the day of his Resurrection, whereas he journeyed fifteen miles that very day, which was no fair precedent for celebrating a Sabbath (Luke. 24:13-31).
But that he entered into rest the true seventh day Sabbath when he had finished his great work of Redemption, the Scripture gives full evidence.
Our dear Redeemer’s spirit was no sooner separated from his body, and immediately entered into glory, by his own resignation of it into God's custody, saying; “Father into thy hands I commend my Spirit”. (Luke. 23:46), And the converted thief reaped his promised fruits; for “Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” (Matt. 23:43) . And soon after our Saviour's spirit had taken possession for us of glory, his blessed body was laid to rest in the grave, the quiet cell of a weary soul, There the wicked cease from troubling, and there the weary be at rest. (Job 3:17) There are some that deny Christ's rest in the grave, mistaking that text of God's loosing The pains of death. (Acts 2:24)
Page 145 A Perfect Pattern (Paging jumps back to 115)
As if God had not then loosed the pains of death, when Christ resigned his spirit into his protection; and for his body, that also was far from pains, for having finished his work, and by one offering for ever perfected them that are sanctified, he enjoyed that rest from his labours which is the lot of those that die in the Lord: yea, the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the grave, his heart rejoiced, his tongue was glad, and his flesh did Rest in hope. (Luke 24:25,26; John 19:30; Heb. 1:14; Acts 2:26).
Whiles the Deity held Christ's body and soul asunder, like a man with a drawn sword in one hand, and a Scabbard in the other, which the third day he again put into his sheath. Since then it is so fully manifest that Christ ceased from his works, as God did from his own works, and so entering into his rest exactly, celebrated the seventh-day Sabbath quietly (and out of the reach of desperate enemies) his soul in glory, his body in the grave; we must conclude that there remains therefore the celebration of the Sabbath to the people of God. And so according to our precious Saviour's example, let us resolve through grace, with the close of the sixth day, to recall our better part, and resign it to God's service, saying, Return unto thy Rest O my soul, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with thee, (Ps. 116:7,8).
Page 145/116 The Joyful Jubilee
and likewise with the burial of Christ's body, burying all our earthly business in the grave of oblivion. Let us at last begin to consecrate the true seventh-day Sabbath, as a day of delights to the Lord, and so obtain mercy for the Sabbath pollution of our days of ignorance, and Christ will not fail to pour oil and wine into those wounds our souls have received amongst Thieves, who have stolen and taught us to steal holy time from God. And thus grace by weekly returns from Sabbath to Sabbath, shall so strengthen our hearts, that at last we shall arrive at our expected home, our joyful jubilee, a Sabbath whose Sun shall never set, which is that true eternal rest whereunto the Apostle presses. “Let us therefore labour to enter into that Rest lest any man fall after Israel's example of Disobedience. (Heb. 4:11)
And thus in opening the fivefold rest contained (though promiscuously) in the third and fourth to the Hebrews, I hope it is convincingly manifested, that the seventh day Sabbath (by a double obligation) remains to the people of God.
Page 147/117 No Change
And indeed it is impossible to change it, without violation to the confessed morality of the commandment; for whereas our adversaries assert a just seventh part of time, yea, and a seventh day, as truly Moral, they know the seventh day from the Creation was instituted in Paradise, and the same day commanded from Mount Sinai; and certain it is that if the Jews had observed any other day, they had destroyed the morality, neither can the wisest Christian in the World contrive a change, but he destroys the morality; for let him change the Sabbath to the sixth day, and that cannot be a seventh day, or seventh part of time. Let him translate it to the eighth day, and then seven days pass without any one Sabbath. Let him keep the seventh day, and the eighth (or first day) at his change of the Sabbath, and then he keeps two sabbaths within the circuit of seven days.
So that do what he can, the morality is subverted, either he must deny the morality of a seventh day, or seventh part of time; or else he must stick to the good old seventh-day-Sabbath.
Page 148/118 The Seventh Day Secured
I would not smother any objection that might carry the least show for any other Sabbath then this lively oracle of the Seventh day, knowing therefore that some endeavours have been used (by such my soul honours, for the image of God upon them) I shall weigh their apprehensions as they are declared, and first from Mark 16:1.
“And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.”
Objection 1. Tis supposed that the word `diagenomios' may signify [being dissolved] and so it may be rendered when the Sabbath was dissolved.
Answer: (1) Tis strange that any tender conscience should take liberty from a strained participle to live in the weekly pollution of the Royal Sabbath, but the word is fairly translated when the Sabbath was past, or the sabbath being passed over or completely finished.
(2) It only intends the passing over and complete finishing `tou sabbatou', of that one individual sabbath, there is not the least appearance of abolishing that lively oracle which enjoins the seventh day sabbath.
Behold the Wisdom of the spirit (overturning this device) while he secures what the objectors strike at,.
Page 149/119 Duty and Day distinct
for it is not the Sabbath they contend against but the seventh day; now if they will strain at the word, let them stick to the word, which mentions not the seventh day at all, but the sabbath, St. Mark does not say the seventh day was finished, but when the sabbath was ended, so that they cannot hence reject the seventh day, and retain the sabbath
4. The scope of the Evangelist is to hold forth the passing over of that rest which prevented the women's applications of their spices, and that was the sabbath day (or the duty) not one syllable expressed of the time (or seventh day) and though I am abundantly satisfied that the sabbath, and the seventh day, are inseparable never to be divided, yet the objectors can distinguish as clearly, as myself between the seventh day, which is the time, and the sabbath, which is the duty, so that if they'll dissolve anything from a squeezed participle, it must not be the seventh day, which lies unmentioned, but the sabbath duty, which is expressed. And doubtless many great professors, had rather cashier the sabbath duty, morality of the fourth commandment yea and the morality of all the commandments (as no way concerning Christians,) then set to the celebration of the seventh day.
page 150/120 The Sabbath Evening
Objection 2: The Lord pity them; whiles I return to another, (precious to the Lord, and faithful amongst the Saints,) who yet object that Saint Matthew's `Opse de sabbaton' (Matt. 28:1) may signify the ultimate end of the sabbath, never to be celebrated more amongst Christians.
“In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week,” Matt. 28:1
Answer: This may receive the same answer, with the former, for it to destroy any thing it must be the duty, which is expressly in the word sabbaths, and not the day and time of the rest, which is not mentioned. If persons will strain at expressions they must keep to these expressions.
This adverb `Opse' does not primarily or properly signify the end, but the genuine signification of it is `espera' (`vespera'), the evening and so it should be rendered, viz. the evening, of the Sabbaths.
Let the scriptures be consulted where this adverb is used which is but twice that I can find in the new testament, in both which places it signifies the evening (for the sense would be marred to render it otherwise,
page 151/121 Rocks and Sands
and so here the evening of the Sabbaths (termed Sabbath in the plural, as being not only the seventh day Sabbath, but the Jew’s Passover Sabbath, as is evident) well I hope it is not possible for Satan to delude tender consciences long with such sorry slights, as to neglect a royal statute of Jehovah upon such slender terms. But since the seventh day sabbath is undoubtedly one of those lively oracles which Israel received from Sinai to give unto us, O Christian embrace it, love it, lay it in your bosoms: it invites and will conduct you weekly into the Princes presence, where it will open unto you all the rest of those lively oracles and divine mysteries that are coupled with it, while such as slight and reject this heavenly law and still assert a change without book, shall run themselves upon many dangerous rocks and sands which tender hearts should tremble at.
As first they must affront the holy spirit, who was most punctual in sundry scriptures, for the solemn repeal and abrogation of circumcision, and all those typical Sabbaths which were against us and contrary to us, shadowing good things to come with the visible burial of the whole body of the ceremonial law, and yet this blessed spirit (purposely appointed to lead us into all truth) was so far from repealing the seventh day Sabbath, that he constantly calls that (and none other) the Sabbath day, that is, the Lord's holy rest-day, and pours down his graces in most abundant measure that day.
page 152/122 Paul Reproached
So that if the Sabbath day be altered, God's holy Spirit cannot escape an affront for concealing the change from us. Certainly there is need of a clear word for the change, or repeal of such a royal Law, and lively oracle.
Next to their traducing of God's spirit; The Sabbath changers must needs bring a high charge against the Apostle, for calling God to record that he had not shunned to declare all the counsel of God, (Acts 20:27) and yet never opened his mouth about the change of the royal seventh day Sabbath.
He manifestly declared the nullity of all ceremonial Laws, but as for this lively Oracle (with the rest) he termed it a holy, just, spiritual, good Law, (Romans 7:12) and so (without the least exception) established the whole Law, yea, and the Sabbath in particular, declaring in express terms that there remains the celebration of the Sabbath to the people of God, (Heb. 4:9) and not only so, but having laid such a high charge upon all Christian Ministers (2Tim. 4:1,2; 2:2) to be instant in preaching, in season, out of season, he plainly shows by his constant practice in preaching every sabbath day both among Jews & Gentiles this which is the very Gospel season of Preaching, wherein he follows Christ & binds believers to follow him.
Page 153/123 Christ accused
So that if it be true as Sabbath changers say, where we can find a more dissembling person then the Apostle Paul?
Neither do they rest here, but even accuse Christ himself who is said to be faithful in all his house, even as Moses was faithful in his house ( Heb. 3:1-5). Now we know that Moses has most expressly set down from time to time the very solemn season wherein his house should assemble and worship God. But of the Sabbath’s change, Christ never spake one word to his house, nay on the contrary he declared, that as long as Heaven and earth lasted his Disciples must not break one jot or tittle (Matt. 5:18-19) of those lively oracles that Israel received from Sinai to give unto us, yea in particular he owned the seventh day Sabbath, as his Sabbath, (Mark 2:28) and so left it under his hand, and sealed it by his marvelous miracles, and with tender fatherly care required his house to pray that they might not be forced to flee upon it forty years after his death. (Matt. 24:20)
Page 154/114 The Whore's Mark
And as for the day which Sabbath changers accept, and assert for their Sabbath, he never gave them one syllable of a precept, and for his precedent it has plainly appeared, that he journeyed freely fifteen miles upon it. So that if the Sabbath be changed, Christ is far enough from Moses faithfulness in all his house; But further how dreadful is it to father that change of the Sabbath upon the precious Son of God, which is the detestable design of the little horn. The changer of times and Laws, what (Dan.7:25) charge that upon Christ which is the proper presumption of Antichrist ! Is not this the whore’s mark, to change the Saints times, the Saint’s Sabbath time, and the Saints supper time? Me thinks Sabbath changers should be heartily alarmed, whiles the opening of the seventh seal shows so clearly the Strumpet’s Blasphemy, that they may run and read her mark as it were in the heart of her detestable Decalogue. Whore she has most impudently changed the fourth lively oracle into this damnable dialect. Remember to sanctify the holy festivals. Sabbath changers! 'tis high time to spit in the whores face, strip her naked, hate her, burn her flesh with fire? (Rev. 17:16)
Page 155/115 The Whore’s Misery
If you will not detest and loath and leave her now that she is so manifestly marked out to you, I shall even leave you in her lustful embraces to share in what she must shortly suffer.
And turn me to my dear companions who have obtained grace at last, to see and sanctify the true Sabbath of Father, Son and Spirit, with whom I shall go on with weekly expectation of the day of our full release, when vengeance pure and unmixed shall be poured upon the head of the Sabbath changing (whore) (Rev. 18:8), whiles joys unspeakable shall possess our hearts as our promised portion (Rev. 19:1,2).
Rejoice over her thou Heaven and ye holy Apostles and Prophets for God has avenged you on her: (Rev. 18:20)
There are, that think the difference of a day is no such great matter, so long as one day in seven is honestly observed. And truly no wonder they can so easily dispense with the change of a day
Page 156/116 The Jewish Antichrist
who can so freely change the subject in Baptism.
Christ calls for believers and they bring him infants, Christ calls for made disciples and they bring him sucking children, Christ commands to teach them first and baptize them after, and they sprinkle them first and promise to teach them to be disciples after whether they will learn or not! So Christ calls for the seventh day Sabbath to be celebrated by the people of God, and they weekly pollute the seventh day and put him off to the eighth, as some have eagerly endeavoured to prove by the gross abuse of God's precept, for the Ceremonial sabbaths of the feast of Tabernacles, which they would fain have to be typical of the eighth or first day, which they call the Christian sabbath. (See Lev. 23) But that persons may for ever dread such indifferency and impiety in putting off the Almighty from a seventh to an eighth, I shall present you with the horrible presumption of that unparalleled Jewish Antichrist, Jeroboam, whose ten revolted Tribes did as notably resemble the ten horns of the Romish Antichrist as his change of the seventh month of God's appointment (Lev. 23:33,34) to the eighth of his own invention (1 Kings 12:32) did shadow forth the impudence of the Man of sin in changing the seventh day Sabbath into an eighth day of his consecration.
Page 157/117 Human Devices
This wicked Jeroboam had not only changed God's Ceremonial Laws but he further presumed to change the Ceremonial time of the feast of Tabernacles; for whereas God commanded Israel to keep the fifteenth day of the seventh month, Jeroboam ordained the fifteenth day of the eight month, and see how God records this in his book of remembrance,
“And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month on the fifteenth day of the month like unto the feast that is in Judah -- so he offered upon -- the fifteenth day of the eighth month even in the month which he had devised of his own heart.” (1.Kings 12:32,33).
Take notice sabbath changers! who plead for altering a moral Law of God from the seventh to the eighth, behold the Idolatrous Jeroboam but changing a ceremonial Law from the seventh to the eighth and he is for ever stigmatized for devising this of his own heart, (1.Kings 12:32).
Page 158/128 High Displeasure
And if you will not be warned but go on in polluting God's seventh day and put him off Jeroboam-like to your invented eighth or first day sabbath, you will shortly find that God will be as exact in reckoning with you for your Antichristian device of changing his moral seventh day as with the Jewish Antichrist for changing his Ceremonial seventh month.
You say your eighth or first day sabbath is like the seventh day sabbath, there is but a day difference, and you perform the like services on your sabbath as God enjoined on his. And just so did Jeroboam, his feast was like the feast of Judah and the sacrifices likely the same, but when all is done he is branded for a time-changer, who devised the time of his own heart? Surely he that sees not this Jewish Antichrist (in his change of the seventh month to the eighth month) shadowing forth the Romish Antichrist (in his change of God's seventh day to his eighth day) has little spiritual eyesight.
But that God's children may forever beware of changing his appointments, let his displeasure that brake forth against holy David be our admonition.
Page 159/129 The Danger of Disorder
David had a pious purpose to fetch the Ark of God to Jerusalem, he goes with 30,000 chosen men, set the Ark upon a new cart, the oxen they shake it, Uzzah endeavours to support, God smites him dead, and spoils all their mirth. (2Sam.6)
But what is the cause of all this? Why, it is their invention of setting the Ark upon a new cart, which should only have been carried on the Levites shoulders, of which error holy David being made sensible humbly repents before the Lord saying,” None ought to carry the Ark of God but the Levites” (1 Chron, 15:2)—“for because ye did it not at the first, the Lord our God made a breach upon us for that we sought him not after the due order.”(1 Chron. 15:13)
I solemnly profess unto you my flesh trembles in writing this sad example, and dare any continue by weakly disorder to provoke this jealous God? believe it Christians it is not all your doing that will avail, it must be so doing that God will accept; Let all things be done decently and in order.(1Cor. 14:40) Now all these things were written for our admonition. (Rom. 15:4) Therefore think not (after admonition) that any sabbath will be accepted but that alone which God has ordained. God will at last make a breach upon you if you do not repent in time, and seek him after the due Order.
Page 160/130 Cords and Stakes
I have now through grace fully proved the unchangeable perpetuity of God's seventh day Sabbath.
That it is God's special command to remember it, First, from God's rest at the Creation. Second, from Christ's rest at our Redemption. There remains therefore the celebration of the sabbath to the people of God. (Heb. 4:9)
Undoubtedly Sinai's lively oracles given to Christians, are some of Sions cords or stakes to fasten us in obedience to our God; and it is his faithful promise, that they shall be perpetuated.
Not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken, (Isa. 33:20).
Let Antichrist conspire with earthly powers to break these bands in sunder, and cast away these cords from them, (Ps. 2:3).
Page 161/131 The Seventh Day Opened
'Tis but for a time, times, and half a time, The saints shall recover their changed Laws, and changed times too (Dan. 7:25), and in keeping the royal Law, (those lively oracles) according to the scriptures, they shall do well, and be blessed in their deed: whiles such as content themselves with partial obedience shall know (when calling out Lord, Lord, (Matt. 7:21-23) it will be to late) that whosoever shall keep the whole Law, and yet offend in one point (willfully after warning) he is guilty of all, (Jam. 1:15; 2:8,10).
Now, that sincere souls may sweetly conform themselves to this Royal Law, this lively Oracle, this perpetual remaining seventh day Sabbath, I shall in the power of the Highest assist them in the next part of my Position.
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