Five Questions About the Nature and Perpetuity of the Seventh-day Sabbath
Overview
Bunyan sets out to prove the placement of the Sabbath day on the first day of the week, not the seventh; and to further study the morality of the day's placement within the week, relating it to its historical precedence.
Top Highlights
“Our Lord has taught us that ‘the Sabbath was made for man,’ and therefore did not exist among the angels, prior to the creation of man, as all moral or universal obligations must have existed; for they are the same from eternity to eternity; and over this, like other ceremonial or local commands, the Creator claims dominion. ‘The Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath.’” (Volume 2, Page 359)
“The timing then of a sabbath for us lies in God, not man; in grace, not nature; nor in the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones: God always reserving to himself a power to alter and change both time and modes of worship according to his own will.” (Volume 2, Page 361)
“I therefore take little notice of what a man saith, though he flourisheth his matter with many brave words, if he bring not with him, ‘Thus saith the Lord.’ For that, and that only, ought to be my ground of faith as to how my God would be worshiped by me.” (Volume 2, Page 364)
“First, I say, as to that, the nature of that law is moral, but the ministration, and circumstances thereunto belonging, are shadowish and figurative.” (Volume 2, Page 367)
“The Christian will cherish and promote the happiness of all; he dares only to take away life to preserve life.” (Volume 2, Page 359)
Bunyan has always been one of the most popular of the Puritans—no doubt because, while possessing the Word-centeredness as well as the depth of doctrine and experience of other Puritans, he also possessed a warm simplicity of style.
—Reformation and Revival Ministries, Reformation and Revival Volume 5, 2003
Bunyan is best known for his ageless classic, The Pilgrim's Progress. His literary genius in this work [is such] that people are prone to forget that this tinker from Bedford was first and foremost a Pastor and preacher...
—Thomas K. Ascol, The Founders Journal
For over 150 years the accepted edition of The Works of John Bunyan has been that edited by George Offor... This scholarly labor has contributed much toward a better appreciation of Bunyan's gospel motivated writings...
—From Bunyan Ministries
- Title: Five Questions About the Nature and Perpetuity of the Seventh-day Sabbath
- Author: John Bunyan
- Editor: George Offor
- Publisher: John Knox Press
- Publication Date: 2006
- Pages: 26
John Bunyan (1628–1688) is one of the most prominent Puritans of all time. Bunyan was well known as a respected preacher during his lifetime and remembered through his writing to this day—namely The Pilgrim's Progress.
After joining the Bedford Baptist Church of Bedford, England, in 1654, Bunyan began preaching in nearby villages. He was prosecuted under an Elizabethan act against nonconformity and imprisoned for three months which was extended to twelve years. Bunyan became the pastor of St. John's Church the same month as his release from prison.
The author of more than 60 books, Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress, Holy War, and his autobiographical book Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners, gained a prominent and unique place in history. The Works of John Bunyan (3 vols.) includes 61 Bunyan-penned classics.
