THE
NAKED TRUTH
Standing against all Painted and Disguised
Lies, Deceit, and Falsehood
OR THE
Lord's Seventh-Day-Sabbath
Standing as a MOUNTAIN immoveable forever
Proved by Three WITNESSES which cannot Lie
___________________________
By Michael Welfare
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Printed in Philadelphia in 1729--Benjamin Franklin's Press
[Reprinted with modern spelling in 2003--www.truthontheweb.org]
The First WITNESS
THE first Witness is the Eternal God himself, who after the Creation, rested on the Seventh-Day, and also bless and sanctify that same Seventh-Day, Gen 2. ver. 2,3. and when he gave his holy Moral Law, did earnestly command it in the Fourth Commandment, Exod 20. ver. 8, to 10.
Remember the Sabbath-day [not a Sabbath-day] to keep it holy.
The Seventh-day [not a Seventh-day] is the Sabbath of the Lord, thy God. And not a Jewish, or any other Man's Sabbath, but the Sabbath of the Lord thy God.
This Witness is Truth, and changeth not neither can the Scripture be broke.
The Second WITNESS
The second Witness is our Lord Jesus Christ, who did confirm and establish the same with his holy Example, in going on the Sabbath-days in the Synagogues, teaching and preaching to the People, speaking to them the Words which he had received from his Father, telling them, that he was that Messenger from the Lord, of whom the Prophets had foretold, and especially the Prophet, Isaiah 61. That the Spirit of the Lord GOD be upon him. And this he did on the Sabbath-days, as we read Mark1.21. chap. 6.2 Luke 4.16. and other Places, where we may read, that he went into the Synagogues on the Sabbath-days; but never told the People that That was not the right Seventh-day which God had commanded to be kept, as some Witlings of our Age will argue; Nay, nor never told them of any other Day to be the Sabbath; neither then, nor the Times after. But rather showing with his own Example, that he delighted in the same Sabbath, doing right Sabbatical Works upon it, curing and making Whole the sick; for which Reason he also was counted a Sabbath-breaker by the blind Scribes and Pharisees, Mat. 12. Mark 3 Luke 6. But Jesus looking on them with Anger, being grieved for their Hardness of Heart, reproved them, showing them, that they did not judge a righteous Judgment, seeing themselves did circumcise a Man on the Sabbath, and yet the Sabbath was not prophaned by it, and they would be angry with him, that he had made a Man every whit whole on the Sabbath-day, John 7.23. And at othertimes he showed them, that they did not understand the Mind of God in the holy Law; for he himself being the Lord of the Sabbath, knew the best that it was lawful to do Good, and to save Man's Life on the Sabbath, Mat. 12.12. seeing that God granted unto Men such a blessed Day on which he should rest from his Labour (which came upon him by reason of Sin) and should hear or read the counsel and will of God, in what manner and by what Means he may come to be made whole of his Spiritual Sickness, and to be raised from the Dead unto a godly Life. Now Jesus being the right and true Physician both of soul and Body, he not only told Men what to do, but also showing with his holy Actions that he did rightly sanctify the Sabbath according to the true Mind of God, doing Good to poor Men, forgiving them thier Sins, which are the real Causes of their Sicknesses, and so removing the Cause, he could easily and without Labour cure the Sickness. Since now Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath himself has sanctified that blessed Seventh-day, keeping it according to the right and true Mind of God, giving us therewith an Example what we should do also, who then dares (I say) who then dares to be bold, and take upon him, to make void God's holy Law, and everlasting Covenant, and pretend to set up a Day for the Honour of Christ, where there is neither Command, Counsel, nor Example for, in all the Scriptures; but Men's Notions and Imaginations inspired in them by the Spirit of Eeror, to oppose God and to deceive People. Others counting every Day alike, including also the Seventh-day Sabbath, and holy Rest of the Lord, among the six working Days, quite contrary to the Law of the Most High, and against Christ's own Example, as also against the holy Apostles' and all the first Christians' Practice, Customs, and Orders, which I shall bring for a Proof, as my Third Witness.
The Third WITNESS
It being very plain set down in many Places in the Acts of the Apostles, I shall only mention some to prove that the Apostles and all the first Christians did really keep the Lord's Seventh-day Sabbath, and never knew of any other day, as we read in Acts 13.42, in plain words, thus, And when the Jews were gone out of the Synagogue, the Gentiles besought, that these Words might be preached to them the next Sabbath [mind here well] the next Sabbath, not the next Morning, or the next First Day, but the next Sabbath, and in the 44th verse, we see their Desire fulfilled, for the Text saith, The next Sabbath-day came almost the whole City together, to hear the Word of God. O blessed be the great Lord for ever, that he has preserved such plain Truth for our sakes, that we may not be shaken with any Wind of false Doctrine. We do also read of Paul in the 17th Chapter, ver. 2. that he went into the Synagogue, as his Manner was, on the Sabbath-day; again there is no Mention made of a First Day, nor of any other but of the Sabbath : Nay the Word First-Day is not so much as mentioned in the Greek, to that Purpose, in all the New Testament. We read in the 20th Chapter, ver. 7. that the Disciples came together on a Sabbath, or in one of the Sabbaths, to break Bread, and not on a First-day, which the Learned know well enough. I shall not search for more Proof, seeing I have God and the whole Scriptures on my side; and whereas Jesus himslef saith, Mat. 18. In the Mouth of two or three Witnesses every Word is established, especially such three ones as I have brought to prove the Seventh-day to be the Sabbath of the Lord, and so the Sabbath of all his true Children.
Wherefore, seeing these three Witnesses cannot lie, but do stand unchangeable for ever, yea even the Rock of our Salvation hath established it, I stand on sure Ground, and do not value all the World to fear them, or to bend under their human Inventions, or Customs, of Fashions; but I stand in Awe unto that great God, and Judge of all Men, not to sin against him; for that beloved Apostle of Jesus, John, tells me, that Sin is the Transgression of the Law, I John 3 v.4.
Many indeed have tried to show their Wit, for rejecting the Lord's Seventh-day Sabbath, but they never could bring it to bear; nor could they ever with all their School-Learning or fine Philosophy move or shake any true Child of God, that is well builded up in the Love towards God, and in the faith of Jesus Christ. I rather say, that they therewith declare, that they are Enemies to God, in rejecting his holy, and so well established Law, and perpetual Covenant and undertake to prove the repealing of the Lord's Seventh-day Sabbath by Apostolical Authority, when they can never show either Command, Counsel, nor Example for it. Others would fain have the First Day to have been set up by the Apostles; but all in vain; for we have proved the contrary. Neither is it in any Servant's power to change the Will and Command of his Master, without a plain Command so to do, which neither I nor they ever shall find; but if they will allow the Popes of Rome to be right and true Apostles of Jesus Christ, then they may prove the repealing of the Sabbath, and the Institution of the First Day; for by them that First-Day was erected, and was called by several Names; but yet the Name from the idolatrous Heathen, beareth the Sway to this very Day amongst msot People, and is called Sunday. And so this was all done, that the Scripture might be fulfilled in Daniel, Chap. 7. ver. 25. He shall blaspheme the Most High, and take upon him to alter and change Times and Laws.
It is wonderful, that such a World of People, yea, of so many Ages, have not, nor do yet see the Mystery of Wickedness, Iniquity, and Lawlessness, whereof we read in Daniel the Prophet about the Golden Image of Nebuchadnezzar, unto which all the People, Tongues, and Nations, was to bow and to worship, and that at such Times, when they heard the Sound of the Cornet, Trumpet, Sackbut, and the Noise of the Dulcimer, Lute, Harp, and other fine Musical Instruments, they were to fall down and worship that Image; I say, since they do not see, or rather will not see, I shall not be fearful nor slack to tell them, that their First Day of the Week, instituted without God and Scripture, by the Pope of Rome, is that same Image, whom all People, Tongues, and Nations in all Christendom (so called) do worship, for it is a part of the Number of the Beast, having 60 Cubits in Height, and 6 in Breadth, which is 66, the last two Sixes in the Number of the Beast; for the whole Number of the Beast is 666, six Hundred sixty six, under which 600, as the first 6, are included the many sorts of vain Worship and Men's Doctrines, viz. Infant-sprinkling, worshipping the bRead and wine, adoring and worshipping the Saints, and so forth; of which it is not my Task now to meddle with, but only to show the last Number of the Beast as 66. For indeed as it is the last Number in the Number of the Beast, so it was the last and hardest work the Pope had to do, to bring People to the worship of that Image (for many Churches would not yield to it so soon) and so it will be the last Image for all the Dissenters to forsake again, seeing how hard People are set to it, and how customary it is become to them : And no wonder at all indeed, for it is made of fine Gold, having so many brave and great learned Men of all Sects to prove the worshipping of this First-day, by their School-babbies, called Men's Reason and Philosophy, and all the World admiring them and their Learning, in explaining or rather perverting the plain will and Counsel of God. It has farther so many noble Kings and Princes for Protection, which defend his Worshippers with the Sword, and by their Authority. Who now would not worship such a fine Image, especially when it is erected in such a fair Plain, or Place, viz, instead of God's holy Sabbath, and is also with great Authority, by great Fines, and Loss of People's Goods commanded, that, as soon as they hear the Noise of the fine Music, viz. Bells, Organs, and many other sorts of Musical Instruments; yea, of Drums and Pipes, and the like, to fall down, that is, to come to worship to their great Steeple-houses, to lay by all Manner of Work (which yet God hath commanded to be done at that Day) and help to worship that Image. Now this Noise having filled their Ears, encourageth them to be more fierce in bowing unto it, adoring and admiring the Finery of it. Other little Sects now that are descended from the Whore, fearing yet the Power and the Claws of the Beast, do still bow unto that Image, altho' not with such Pomp and Vain Glory, yet at the same Time, when the Noise of the Proclamation is heard, they not having Light enough to see the Mystery of Lawlessness, and the vain Worship People are serving in their pretended Love towards God (whereas they are Lovers of the World, and Fleshly and carnally minded) not yet having Faith enough to trusteth that great God of Heaven and Earth, and holy Lawgiver, they must bend, and fear them that kill the Body, but afterwards can do no more, not regarding him, who after he hath killed, can cast both Soul and Body into Hell-fire. This now I would fain have People to consider.
O therefore! All ye People, Tongues, and Nations, that hear these Words, turn to the true God; worship no longer Gods which are the Works of Man's Hands, and or human Invention; be not longer deceived; the Light of God shineth very clear in these latter Days wherein God maketh know his Truth again, which has been many years hidden, viz. the low, mean, and despised Doctrine of Jesus, and of his holy, and of the World rejected Life, which has been hitherto desolate, having very few Followers, it being a very narrow Path towalk in, and a strait Gate to enter at; therefore all the World doth despise it, as a poor widow that hath no Husband, and id desolate, nor no body to defend and protect it, but the Children of this World have Protection enough, and are well fed and maintained, and defended in their vain Worship. But let me tell you, the Time is very near at Hand, that God will destroy the Worshippers of Images, and break in Pieces the Strength of the Aemarims, and black Money-Priests, and send out true Labourers into his Harvest. O happy are they that take Notice of the Signs of these Times, and dres back their Ears from lying, and turn to the low and despised truth; for it begins to shine forth very bright and claer, and I hope will be enflamed more and more by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, then all Gentiles and Nominal Christians shall clearly see it, and give Glory to the Lord. Therefore repent truly, with all your Hearts; come to the right Fear of God; begin to love him, and keep his Commands with all your Souls, Mind, and Strength; enter into the holy Doctrine and Life of Jesus Christ; follow him, and learn of him to obey God, and to do his Will; forsake the World; deny your selves; take the Cross of Jesus upon you, and learn from him to become meek and lowly of Heart; strive and labour hard in the Grace of God, to overcome your old Nature, and become new Men, spiritually minded, and Partakers of the divine Nature; for except being thus renewed, it is vain for you to imagine that you be Christians. This I tell you as a Word of Truth; then you shall find Rest for your Souls. Now I with every one of you taht is willing to forsake the Vanity of this World, both spiritual and natural, and to serve God in Purity of Heart, Grace, Love, and Peace, from the only God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, remaining a Lover of all Mankind, desiring your Welfare and Happiness.
Michael Welfare,
A mean Servant of Jesus Christ,
and Pilgrim walking to Eternity
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