[5.] They could not be said now to meet together for fear of the Jews, as was before objected to their observing the first Sabbath; for it was at Troas, where the Jews had nothing to do, nor could they persecute them; for it was a church of converted Gentiles.
Obj. 1. It is objected, that the word which we render the first day of the week[[217]], might be rendered one day of the week, or on a certain day.
Answ. Our translation of the Greek word, is by far the most proper, as all know, who understand that language. Besides, the same words are used in John xx. 1. and Luke xxiv. 1. in both which scriptures Christ’s resurrection is said to be on the first day of the week; how preposterous would it be, to render them, on a certain day of the week? and if they are, in those scriptures, and others that might be referred to, to be rendered, the first day of the week, as all allow they must, why should they be rendered otherwise in the text under our present consideration?
Obj. 2. It is farther objected, that their meeting together, on the first day of the week, to break bread, does not argue it to be a Sabbath; because formerly the Lord’s supper used to be administered whenever the word was preached, and that was on other days, besides the first day of the week; yea, we read, that in some ages of the church, the word was preached, and the Lord’s supper administered, every day.
Answ. To this it may be replied, That though the Lord’s supper may be administered on another day, yet this is said to be the day more especially appointed for this solemn ordinance, or for public worship, as has been already observed. Besides, though the Lord’s supper was administered on other days after this: yet it will be hard to prove that it was administered on any other day but the Lord’s day, in the apostles time.
(3.) The change of the Sabbath, from the seventh to the first day of the week, may be farther argued from 1 Cor. xvi. 1, 2. in which the apostle says, As I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week, let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him; that there be no gatherings when I come. In which words we may observe,
[1.] That there is a work of charity recommended; a duty most proper for the Sabbath, as a testimony of our thankfulness to God for spiritual blessings, held forth to, or received by us, on that day; and it is a day in which our hearts are most like to be enlarged to others, when most affected with the love of God to us. Those duties which the prophet recommends as suitable to a fast, which God had chosen, are very suitable to all public ordinances, and in particular to Sabbaths, namely, to loose the bands of wickedness, and to undo the heavy burdens, and to deal forth bread to the hungry, Isa. lviii. 6, 7. If the poor of the church were to be provided for, this was to be done, not by a private, but a public collection, whereby more might be raised, and no burden laid on particular persons. It is moreover said, that they were to lay by as God had prospered them; that is, not only in proportion to the increase of their worldly substance, or the success that attended their secular employments on other days; but their compassion to the poor ought to be enlarged, in proportion to the spiritual advantage they received from Christ, under his ordinances.
[2.] This was not to be done on one single first day of the week, but on the return of every first day; as all who read this scripture impartially must understand it[[218]]. Therefore it follows, that the first day of the week was a day in which the church met together for solemn, public, and stated worship.
[3.] It was not commanded only to this church at Corinth, but is agreeable to what had been commanded to all the churches of Galatia; therefore it follows, that the churches of Galatia were obliged to observe the first day of the week, as well as that at Corinth. And inasmuch as this epistle is directed to all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ, 1 Cor. i. 2. it may by a parity of reason, be applied to them; and accordingly it may be argued, that it was a universal practice of the church, at that time, to meet together for religious worship, on the first day of the week, which argument cannot but have some weight in it, to prove the doctrine that we are maintaining, relating to the change of the Sabbath, from the seventh to the first day of the week.
(4.) The change of the Sabbath, from the seventh to the first day of the week, farther appears, in that there is a day, mentioned in the New Testament, which is styled the Lord’s day. Thus it is said, I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, Rev. i. 10. Where it may be observed,