HOLY Scripture-Work Is Better than the WORK of The Corrupt REASONING OF FALLEN MAN.  
Secret things belong unto the Lord our God; but those things which are revealed, belong unto us and to our Children for ever,  Deut. 29.29. 
For after that, in the Wisdom of God, the World by Wisdom knew not God; it pleased God by the Foolishness of Preaching, to save them that believe,  1 Cor. 1.21. 
Woe to the Rebellious Children, saith the Lord, that take Counsel, but not of me; and that Cover with a Covering, but not of my Spirit,  Isa. 30.1. 
The Lord frustrateth the Tokens of the Liars, and maketh Diviners mad; turneth Wise Men backward, and maketh their Knowledge foolish,  Isa. 44.24, 25. 
By JOS. NOTT.  
LONDON, Printed in the Year 1693.   

PREFACE.  
REader, by this thou may'st know, That I have seen a Book with G. T. for George Troses Name to it, a Preacher amongst the Presbyterians in Exon, Dated 1692. Now this Book of G. 't's. was written in Answer to a Book set forth by Thomas Bampfield, Counsellor at Law in Exon, by way of Enquiry, Whether the Lord Jesus Christ made the World? And also, By way of Vindication of the Observation of the seventh Day as a Sabbath. I would have the Reader observe, That I am not concerned to Vindicate T. B's. Book; but to the latter I say, I am sensible, that Christ the Substance is come, and the Shadows flies away: But I am concerned to return a Reply to several things in G. 't's. Book, for I have perused it, and have seen the great Error of the Writer, which drew a concern upon my Mind to write: For, I do admire, that ever a Man, professing Christianity, should appear in Print in such manifest Opposition to the Holy Scriptures; and yet of that number that profess the Scripture to be the only Rule of Faith, etc. But in this we may see the great Confusion of Babel's Builders. I desire the Reader to consider what thou Reads; and if any one publish any Doctrine contrary to the Holy Scriptures, believe them not; for Christ bids us, Beware of false Prophets which come in Sheep's Clothing; who saith, Ye shall know them by their Fruits, Matth. 7.15, 16. And the Apostle Paul adviseth us to turn away from such as have a form of Godliness, but denies the Power, 2 Tim. 3.5. For indeed, another Foundation can no Man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ, 1 Cor. 3.11. And therefore I desire the Reader to keep thy Mind near to the Light of Jesus Christ, in thy own Heart and Conscience, that so thou mayst understand what thou readest: For the great Mystery which hath been hid from Ages, and from Generations, is Christ within, the hope of Glory, Col. 1.26, 27. Therefore, to the Spirit of God in thy own Heart, I do recommend thee as unto that which will give a true Discerning and right Understanding of the things of God, as it is harkened unto, and obeyed.  
J. N.   

WE generally profess, that we do believe, That the Holy Scriptures were written for our Learning; that is, Episcopation, Presbyterian, Independent, Anabaptist, and Quakers, etc. And that we ought to prove our Doctrine and Principles by them: And we also do say, That if any Man do hold or endeavour to prove any Doctrine or Principle that is contrary to the Holy Scriptures, that we ought not to believe them, altho' they 〈◊〉 never so Orthodoxly, called, or subtle Endeavours to prove their Assertion. Now such a one as the latter is G. T. For he greatly endeavours to prove, That Jesus Christ was not in the Beginning; and that the World was not made by him, which is contrary to the Holy Scripture; and he also endeavours to prove the first Day of the Week to be the Christian Sabbath; the which he hath no Scripture to prove, as he himself doth acknowledge. I shall set down some of his own words in his Book: First, concerning Christ Jesus; in p. 4. he saith, We say that it may be Orthodoxly denied and asserted, That Jesus Christ did not make the World, for the World was 4000 Years before ever Jesus Christ was: And in p. 5. he saith, In the Old Testament Christ is Prophesied of to come; how could he then create the World: And in p. 12. he saith, We have sufficiently Answered that it was not the Lord Christ that created the World: And in p. 19 he speaking of before the Fall of Man, saith, In which time there could not be so much as any need or use of a Jesus or a Christ; nor was there so much as the least hint of him given, by either Prophecy or Promise: (And then he saith) much less was he himself in Being: And in p. 130. he saith, I think I have shown that the Lord Christ did not make the World.  
Now here, all that can see with a single Eye, may see the darkness and blindness of this Man; yea, the gross● darkness that may be felt; yea, the blindness, the born blindness. Oh! Erroneous Doctrine; who will believe or receive such Doctrine, as is so contrary to the Holy Scriptures of Truth? Now that this is contrary to the Holy Scriptures, is easily proved: And by the Assitance of the Holy Spirit of God, I shall undertake to prove, That Jesus Christ was in the Beginning, and that the World was made by him: For Christ Jesus said to the Jews, Before Abraham was, I am, John 8.58. And the Apostle Paul, speaking of the Jews, said, They drank of that Spiritual Rock that followed them; and that Rock was Christ, 1 Cor. 10.4. And Christ in Prayer said, And now, O Father, Glorify thou me with thine own self, with the Glory which I had with thee before the World was: And he farther said, Thou lovedst me before the foundation of the World, John 17.5, 24. And in Chap. 1. ver. 10. It is written, He was in the World, and the World was made by him; and the Apostle Paul positively saith, That God created all things by Jesus Christ, Eph. 3.9. And he speaking again of Christ Jesus, saith, By him were all things created that are in Heaven, and that are in Earth, visible and invisible; whether they be Thrones, or Dominions, or Principalities, or Powers; all things were created by him and for him, Coll. 1.16. And the Apostle writing to the Hebrews, further saith, God who at sundry times, and in divers manners spoke in times passed unto the Fathers by the Prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed Heir of all things, by whom also he made the Worlds, Heb. 1.1, 2. Now here it is evident, from the words of Christ and his Apostles, That Jesus Christ was in the Beginning, with the Father; and that all things were created by him. More might be said to prove that Jesus Christ was in the Beginning, and that all things were created by him: But this being sufficient, I shall proceed to reply to the other part of his Book; but first I shall set down some of his own words in his Book, that the Reader may see what it is that I do return an Answer unto: The first words in his Book are as follows, The Lord's Day Vindicated, or the first Day of the Week the Christian Sabbath: And in p. 33. he speaking of the seventh Day, and of Christ, saith, He designed (to wit Christ) its speedy Absolution as the seventh Day, and its Conversion into the first Day. Now this wants a Proof from G. T. And in p. 44. he speaks of the Change of the seventh Day into the first Day Sabbath, as he calls it; and in p. 59 and 60. he saith, And we say the seventh Day being cashiered, the first Day ought to be its successor. I wonder from whence he will prove this: And in p. 85. he mentions Christ's words, where it's said, The Son of Man is Lord, even of the Sabbath Day: And then he saith a Proof which we make use of to prove our Doctrine of the first Day Sabbath; but I say this is no Proof at all: And in p. 114. he saith, The Seventh Day Sabbath was observed in Commemoration of the Works of Creation, until a more admirable Work of God should be Accomplished; so the first day ever after should be the Holy Rest. It will be very hard for G. T. to prove this; and it doth also manifest his great Ignorance, of the Resting Place that the Servants of the Lord have in Christ Jesus. Now here the Reader may see, that his endeavours are to prove the first Day of the Week to be the Christian Sabbath; and yet in p. 56. he saith, We grant that the Holy Scripture do call no other Day of the Week a Sabbath, but the seventh: And in p. 94. he saith, The first Day is never called Sabbath in Scripture; and I say so too, and therefore he might very well have been silent: But here, all whose Understanding is open, may see how this Man labours like a Man beating the Air, or that builds without a Foundation; for himself doth acknowledge, that he hath no Scripture for a Foundation: But if we, who in scorn are called Quakers, should bring such Doctrine as we had no Scripture to prove, how would People cry out against us? And indeed, Reason enough too: But we bring no such Doctrine, God forbidden we should; for we are a People that have an honourable Esteem for the Holy Scriptures. Well, but I would not have any to think that I am going about to plead for the Observance of the seventh Day as a Sabbath; I say, Nay; altho' it was a Day that was once commanded to be observed as a Sabbath or Rest, which is all one: And this was an high Day with the Jews, for they blamed Christ Jesus, because his Disciples plucked the Ears of Corn, and because he did Cures on that Day; but the Apostle Paul tells us, That the Sabbath Days, with other Observations, are shadows of things to come; for he writing to the Collosians, Chap. 2.16.17. saith, Let no Man therefore judge you in Meat or in Drink, or in respect of an holy Day, or of the new Moon, or of the Sabbath Days, which are a shadow of things to come, but the Body is of Christ. Now here we may see that the Sabbath Day was a shadow; of what, may some say, why the Body is of Christ: He that can understand, let him: Christ is the Substance; for the Apostle Paul saith, The Law was our Schoolmaster, to bring us unto Christ, Gal. 3.24. And again, Christ is the end of the Law, Rom. 10.4. So we may see that Christ is the Substance, shadowed forth in the Time of the Law; therefore Christ is the Christian Sabbath: For as I said before, Sabbath signifieth Rest; and Christ Jesus is the Rest of his People; and he invites People to come unto him, that so they may Rest in him; for he saith, Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you Rest: And again, Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you shall find Rest unto your Souls, Matth. 11.28, 29. And Christ farther said unto his Followers, These things have I spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace, John 16.33. Here we may see that Rest and Peace is in Christ Jesus: And this is the Rest spoken of in Hebrews 4.9; 10. where the Apostle saith, There remaineth therefore a Rest to the People of God; for he that is entered into his Rest, he hath also ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Now here we may see, that they that are entered into the true Rest, have ceased from their own works: They that can understand, let them understand: They that are entered into the true Rest, cease from their own working, willing, and running, and are subject to the will of God their Creator, and so are not their own, but the Lord's, and are not doing their own works, but the work of God; neither are they following of their own corrupt wills and desires; but they are lead by the Spirit of God in their own Hearts; for they that are lead by the Spirit of God, they are Sons of God; see Rom. 8.14. And they that are Sons of God, do know this truest; but G. T. doth manifest his Ignorance of it, in applauding of an outward Day, and putting of it in its room: And in p. 90. G. T. saith, That St. John calls the first Day of the Week the Lord's Day: And in p. 132. he saith, That the Holy Ghost does call the first Day of the Week the Lord's Day. Here G. T. hath made a bold venture, and he will find a very hard task to prove what he hath said; and he doth also manifest his ignorance of the Everlasting Day of God's Power, that the Saints in Light are enjoyers of: For the path of the Just is as the shining Light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect Day, Prov. 4.18. And the Apostle Paul writing to the Believers, saith, Ye are all the Children of the Light, and the Children of the Day; we are not of the Night, nor of Darkness: Therefore let us not sleep, as do others, but let us watch and be sober; for they that sleep, sleep in the Night, and they that be drunken, are drunken in the Night; but let us who are of the Day, be sober, Thess. 5.5, 6, 7, 8. Now where is an invisible Day spoken of, that the Sanctified Ones are made living Witnesses of; and the Apostle Peter, he also speaks of this invisible Day; for he saith, We have also a more sure word of Prophecy, whereunto you do well, that you take heed, as unto a Light that shineth in a dark place, until the Day dawn, and the Daystar arise in your Hearts, 2 Pet. 1.19. (Mark;) here the Apostle speaks of the dawning of the Day, and of the arising of the Daystar in the Heart: Blessed are they that are Witnesses of it, for it expelleth the darkness, and causeth it to fly away; and it giveth a true discerning, and a right understanding of the things of God: But G. T. manifests himself to be ignorant of this invisible Day of the Lord; and so appears not to be an Inhabitant of the Holy City, new Jerusalem; for they that are Citizens of this Holy City, are living Witnesses of the Everlasting Day of God's Power, dawned and broken forth. An Everlasting Day indeed, For there shall be no Night there, Rev. 21.25. and 22.5. He that can hear, let him hear, and understand. Now as for the Days of the Week, they are called as follows; the first Day, the second Day, the third Day, the fourth Day, the fifth Day, the sixth Day, the seventh Day, Gen. 1.5.8.13.19.23.31. and 2.2. The Lord's Day is an Everlasting Day, and the true Communicants are living Witnesses of it; for in this Everlasting Day, the true Fellowship stands; see the 1 John 1.7. Gen. 1.5. The Light is called Day, and in the Light, the true Fellowship stands: But as for the Days of the Week, they have their Names, altho' they may properly be said to be the Lord's Days, because he ordained them; but he hath given them Names, and we ought to call them by the Names that he hath given unto them, and the Names are as is before showed: And as for the seventh Day, being called a Sabbath, I have spoken to that already: But as for the first Day of the Week, the Apostles did not call it a Sabbath, nor yet, as I find, the Lord's Day; but they called it as it was called in the Beginning, The first Day of the Week; for it's written, That Mary Magdalen, and the other Marry, came to the Sepulchre, as it began to dawn, towards the first Day of the Week; see Matth. 28.1. and Mark 16.2. and Luke 24.1. and John 20.1. and in Cor. 16.1.2. the Apostle Paul saith, Now concerning the Collection for the Saints, as I have given order to the Churches of Galatia, even so do ye upon the first Day of the Week. (Mark;) here the Apostles did not call the first Day of the Week, the Christian Sabbath; neither did they call it the Lord's-Day, but the first Day of the Week; therefore, it is good for all People, professing Christianity, to take Example by the holy Men of God, and call the Days by their Names, and not put new Names, that they have no command, nor yet Example for: Well, but some may query or say, Ought we not to set apart one Day in seven? Answer, I say it is nessary, yea, needful, that one day in seven should be set apart, for several Reasons. First, It is needful that Man and Beast should Rest some time from their Labour. Secondly, Men and Women, being free from their outward Labour and Concern, they may be the more freely given up in their Hearts and Minds to wait upon God and Worship him; a Duty that is incumbent upon us all; a Duty that we all own unto Almighty God; therefore blessed are all they that do perform it aright; the which is rightly performed in Spirit and in Truth; see John 4.23, 24. Thirdly, That Servants that else might not have liberty, that they may have liberty to wait upon God, and Worship him. Now it is well known, through several Nations, that we who in scorn are called Quakers, do cease from our outward Labour, and Assemble ourselves together, to wait upon God, and Worship him on the first Day of the Week; and yet we cannot therefore call it the Christian Sabbath, for we have no such Example from the Holy Apostles, but as they did, so do we, call it the first Day of the Week. Now as for the Names of the Days, which are commonly used amongst many People, they sprang from the old Pagan Saxons; see Verstigans Antiquities, and Cambden's Brit. For on the first Day of the Week, they worshipped the Idol of the Sun, which was placed in a Temple, from whence they called it Sunday. The second Day of the Week they Dedicated to the Idol of the Moon, from whence they called it Monday. The next was the Idol of Planets, which was the Idol of Tuisco, who was the first and chiefest Man of that Name among the Germans unto whom the Name of Tuesday was especially Dedicated. The next was the Idol Wooden, whom the Saxons Honoured for their God of Battle, from whence they called the fourth Day Wednesday. The next was the Idol Thor, from whence the Name Thursday is retained instead of the fifth Day of the Week. The next Idol was the Goddess Friga, to which Idol they Dedicated the sixth Day of the Week, and called it Friday, which is retained unto this Day. The last was the Idol Seater, from whence the seventh Day is called Saturday.  
Now it is good for all People to leave these old Pagan, Saxon, Heather Names, and call the Days as they are called in Scripture, as is before showed. The Lord prosper his Great Work, and cause his Truth to spread more and more, is the Prayer and Desire of my Soul; even so. Amen.  
EXON, 9th Month, 1692. Written by a Lover of the Lord Jesus Christ, JOSEPH NOTT  
THE END.