_Ans._ That is no proof that they did not keep it. But it is clear
that the church of Jerusalem kept it, though it is not plainly
expressed, for they were so zealous for the very customs, that Paul is
counseled to purify himself, lest they should be offended at him. Acts
21:21, 24. Now, if they were for the observation of those things that
were but shadows, there is no doubt but they were very strict for the
observation of the Sabbath. And there was such offence taken against
Paul for preaching against circumcision and the customs, that we need
not question, if the Sabbath had been preached against, but we should
have heard a great noise of it in the Scriptures, and seen strong
convincing reasons why it was abolished. And it is as clear that the
apostles kept the Sabbath after the resurrection of Christ as before.
_Paul went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and sat down, and
after the reading of the law preached the gospel, and told them of the
ignorance of those that dwelt at Jerusalem of the voice of the
prophets which were read every Sabbath day. And the Gentiles besought
him that these words might be spoken to them the next Sabbath. And the
next Sabbath came almost the whole city together to hear the word of
God._ Acts 13:14, 15, 42, 44. So that it is clear, that the Sabbath
was Paul's resting-day and preaching-day, both to the Jews and
Gentiles, that being the day that the Gentiles used to hear; and
though they had a desire to hear the same words again, yet it must be
next Sabbath; and Paul fulfills their desire, and preaches to them the
next Sabbath, and almost the whole city came to hear. Can we think, if
there had been no Sabbath, that Paul would have countenanced them so
in their ignorance? Or, if the first day had been a day that was
observed, would he not have told them so, that they might have heard
the word before the next Sabbath. And when Paul came to Philippi, a
Gentile city, mind what is said in Acts 16:12, 13, _We were in that
city abiding certain days, and on the Sabbath day we went out of the
city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made, and we sat
down and spake unto the women that resorted thither._ The seventh day
hath its title still, as is said by the Spirit in Acts; speaking of
certain days, this is singled out and called the Sabbath day, with an
account how they spent it, and the blessing they received upon it;
they resorted to the place of prayer, and there they preached, and the
Lord opened Lydia's heart to attend to the words of Paul. And in Acts
17:2, it is said, _That Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them,
and three Sabbath days reasoned with them out of the Scriptures._ And
when Paul came to Corinth, which was a Gentile city, and found Aquila,
a Jew, and his wife Priscilla, and because they were of the same
craft, he abode with them, and wrought, for by occupation they were
tent-makers, _he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath day, and
persuaded the Jews and Greeks_. Acts 18:2-4.
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