added by Him who was Prince of the world to come, we are bound to account the sanctification of one day in seven a duty which God's immutable law doth exact for ever.

Duties of all sorts must have their several successions and seasons. Feasts, whether God Himself hath ordained them, or the Church by that authority which God hath given, they are of religion such public services as neither can nor ought to be continued otherwise than only by iteration; which iteration is a most effectual mean to bring unto full maturity and growth those seeds of godliness, that be sown in the hearts of many thousands, during the while that such feasts are present. The constant habit of welldoing is not gotten without the custom of doing well, neither can virtue be made perfect but by the manifold works of virtue often practised. Before the powers of our minds be brought unto some perfection, our first essays and offers towards virtue must needs be raw ; yet commendable, because they tend unto ripeness. For which cause, the wisdom of

God hath commended, especially this circumstance amongst others in solemn feasts, that to children, and novices in religion, they minister the first occasion to ask and inquire of God. Whereupon, if there follow but so much piety as hath been mentioned, let the Church learn to further further imbecility, with prayer; "Preserve Lord, these good and gracious beginnings, that they suddenly dry not up like the morning dew, but may prosper and grow as the trees, which rivers of waters keep always flourishing."

Let all men's acclamations be, 66 grace, grace unto it;" as to that first laid corner stone in Zerubbabel's buildings.h "For who hath despised the day of those things which are small." Or, how dare we take upon us to condemn that very thing which voluntarily we grant maketh us of nothing somewhat, seeing all we pretend against it, is only that as yet this somewhat is not much? The days of solemnity which are but few, cannot choose but soon finish that outward exercise of godh Zechariah iv. 7.

i Ver. 10.

liness which properly appertaineth to such times; howbeit, men's inward disposition to virtue they both augment for the present, and by their often returns bring also the same at the length unto that perfection which we most desire. So that although by their necessary short continuance, they abridge the present exercise of piety in some kind, yet because by repetition they enlarge, strengthen, and confirm, the habits of all virtue, it remaineth, that we honour, observe, and keep them, as ordinances many ways singularly profitable in God's Church.

Let it suffice men of sober minds to know, that the law both of God and nature alloweth generally days of rest and festival solemnity to be observed by way of thankful and joyful remembrance, if such miraculous favours be shewed towards mankind as require the same; that such graces God hath bestowed upon His Church, as well in latter as in former times; that in some particulars, when they have fallen out, Himself hath demanded His own honour, and in the rest hath left it to the wisdom of

the Church, directed by those precedents, and enlightened by other means, always to judge when the like is requisite.j

Touching those festival days therefore which we now observe, what remaineth but to keep them throughout all generations holy, severed by manifest notes of difference from other times, adorned with that which most may betoken true, virtuous, and celestial joy.

SECTION LVII.

OF STRICTNESS IN RESTING ON FESTIVAL DAYS.

To which intent because surcease from labour is necessary, yet not so necessary, no, not on the Sabbath or seventh day itself, but that rarer occasions in men's particular affairs, subject to manifest detriment unless they be presently followed, may with very good conscience draw them sometimes aside from the ordinary rule, considering the favourable dispensation which our

ji Macc. iv. 55-59.

O

Lord and Saviour groundeth on this axiom; “Man was not made for the Sabbath, but the Sabbath ordained for man; "a so far forth as concerneth ceremonies annexed to the principal sanctification thereof; howsoever the rigour of the law of Moses may be thought to import the contrary, if we regard with what severity the violation of Sabbaths hath been sometime punished,b a thing perhaps the more requisite at that instant, both because the Jews, by reason of their long abode in a place of continual servile toil, could not suddenly be weaned and drawn unto contrary offices, without some strong impression of terror; and also for that there is nothing more needful than to punish with extremity the first transgressions of those laws that require a more exact observation for many ages to come : therefore, as the Jews superstitiously addicted to their Sabbath's rest for a long time, not without danger to themselves and obloquy to their very law, did afterwards perceive and amend wisely their former error, not doubting a St. Mark ii. 27. b Numb. xv. 32.