Opening of the Ten Commandments, Commandment 4
Remember the Sabbath to keepe it holy, &c.
IT appoints the conſecrating of a ſpeciall time, viz. one day in ſeuen (without nominating any date of time whence the computation muſt begin, for that muſt be knowne to vsus by ſome other meanes, and is a thing alterable, not vnalterably ſetled by the commandement) giuing ſix to worldly affaires, and conſecrate the ſeuenth following thoſe ſix to exerciſes of religion and pietie. The full ſumme is, After thou haſt beſtowed ſix dayes in ordinarie and common buſineſſes, thou ſhalt beſtow the ſeuenth day in exerciſes of pietie and religion.
This commandement hath alſo 2. parts, namely,
1. The affirmatiue, ſhewing what is enioyned to doe.
2. The negatiue, ſhewing what is prohibited to doe.
The things commanded in this precept are two.
1. Preparation to the Sabbath.
2. Celebration of the Sabbath.
1. Preparation to the Sabbath in the word Remember, which is done two wayes.
1. All the weeke long by
1. Diligence in the labours of our calling.
2. Foreſight in the labours of our calling.
3. Moderation in the labours of our calling.
2. On the ſixt day towards the end of it, by a ſeaſonable breaking off our labours, and betaking our ſelues to make all things ready for the Sabbath, and ſo to reſt our bodies.
2. The ſecond thing commanded is the celebration of the Sabbath two wayes.
1. By ſome things common to all.
2. By ſome things proper to gouernours.
1. By ſome things common to all.
1. For the matter.
2. For the manner.
1. For the matter two wayes.
1. By reſting.
2. By ſanctifying.
1. By reſting, of which we muſt know three things.
1. Who muſt reſt.
2. How long they muſt reſt.
3. From what they muſt reſt.
1. Who muſt reſt, euen all both
1. Men,
1. Gouernours.
2. Seruants, and thoſe that they gouerne.
2. Cattell, and Mils, and things of like nature.
2. How long they muſt reſt, viz. for the full ſpace of 24. houres, beginning the day and ending it according to the vſuall account of other dayes in ſeuerall Commonwealths, for to begin at Euen was the Iewes ordinarie computation for all dayes, and ſo meaſure out the Sabbath as well as other dayes by a peculiar conſtitution. But in the commandement is alone required that there be an whole ſeuenth day, not nominating the periods.
3. From what they muſt reſt, viz.
1. From the buſineſſes of their particular callings, as a Trades-man from ſelling, Husbandman from plowing, Lawyer from pleading, &c. In which note 2. things.
1. How farre this reſt muſt extend, and that muſt be to three things.
1. To thoughts of heart.
2. To words of the tongue.
3. To deeds of the hand.
2. The ſecond thing is with what limitations and exceptions it muſt be limited; except in caſes▪
1. Of mercy, for the releeuing of man or beaſt in diſtreſſe.
2. In caſes of neceſſitie, for the preuenting of imminent & (vnleſſe preſent reſiſtance be made) vnpreuentable danger.
3. In caſes of neceſſarie comforts for the bodie, and its conuenient ſtrengthning by food and cloathing, for a man might lead his Oxe to water, Chriſt ſaith, and need not fetch in water for him ouer night.
2. The ſecond thing from which we muſt reſt, is from all manner of profane ſports, paſtimes, and recreations, which are more contrary to pietie then labour in calling.
2. A ſecond thing in regard of the matter is ſanctifying the Sabbath, and that two wayes.
1. Publiquely.
2. Priuately.
1. Publiquely, in two things.
1. Comming to publique aſſemblies in due ſeaſon.
2. Continuing at them with carefull attention to the end.
2. Priuately, in two things.
1. In things reſpecting the publique.
2. In things without that reſpect to the publique.
1. In things reſpecting the publique.
1. For preparation.
2. For making vſe thereof.
1. In preparation thereto by three things.
1. By riſing betimes in the morning, as ſtrength will giuegive leaue.
2. Renuing our repentance and waſhing our hands in innocencie before we compaſſe the Altar.
3. Praying to God ſpecially for a bleſſing on ourſelues, the Miniſterie, and aſſembly.
2. For vſe making thereof two wayes.
1. By conferring with others (chiefly eueryevery gouernour with his familie) the word of God we hauehave heard.
2. By meditating of it eueryevery man by himſelfe, that he may ſee what he remembers, and make vſe of it to himſelfe.
2. Priuately, in things without that reſpect to the publique, viz. 3. wayes.
1. By reading of the Scripture and godly bookes, chiefly in the want of publique preaching.
2. Singing of Pſalmes of praiſe to God.
3. Meditating of Gods great workes of creation, prouidence, redemption, and of the eternall reſt which we ſhall hauehave in heauen.
2. The ſecond thing commanded in the Sabbath common to all, is the manner of doing all cheerefully, conſecrating the Sabbath vntounto the Lord as a delight.
2. Some things commanded in the celebration of the Sabbath proper to gouernours are theſe, namely, that they be diligent in looking to their inferiours, that they may at the leaſt outwardly keepe the Lords day.
Hitherto of the affirmatiue part of this commandement: the negatiue followes, forbidding ſinnes
1. Of omiſſion, in the neglecting of any of the things commanded, either in whole or in part.
2. Of commiſſion, in doing the contrary in two regards.
1. Before the Sabbath come.
2. When it is come.
1. Before the Sabbath come in 2. things.
1. In an vniuerſall careleſneſſe of it all the weeke, and ſo by careleſneſſe or immoderateneſſe, ſo ill diſpoſing of buſineſſes, that they interrupt vsus in ſanctifying the Sabbath, which fore-ſight, diligence, and moderation might hauehave preuented.
2. Immoderate toyleſomneſſe and watching the day before, to the hindring of one from doing the workes of the Sabbath through ſleepineſſe and wearineſſe.
2. When the Sabbath is come.
1. In regard of all men.
2. In regard of gouernours.
1. In regard of all men.
1. For matter.
2 For manner.
1. For matter two wayes.
1. Againſt reſting.
2. Againſt ſanctifying.
1. Againſt reſting.
1. Inward by thoughts,
2. Outward by
1. Words.
2. Deeds.
1. By words either
1. Of our ordinarie buſiſineſſes out of the forenamed exceptions.
2. Of ſports and paſtimes.
2. Againſt ſanctifying
1. Publiquely.
2. Priuately.
1. Publiquely in three things.
1. A ſlow and vndue comming to Church.
2. Sleeping, drowzing, or like misbehauiour at the Church, as talking &c.
3. Running away from the Congregation diſorderly afore all be concluded, vnleſſe vponupon ſome neceſſarie occaſion.
2. Priuately, in ſpending the time
1. Idlely, in ſlugging & ſlothfulneſſe, as ſitting at doore, or in the chimney corner, and doing iuſt nothing.
2. Prophanely, in ſurfeting, drunkenneſſe, riot, reuelling, and the like.
2. In regard of the manner, by being weary of the day, and wiſhing it ouer as a thing burdenſome.
2. When the Sabbath is come in regard of Gouernours, if they command their inferiours to worke or play, or without iuſt cauſe to be abſent from the word or ſacraments.
And yet one way there is a more generall breaking of this commandement, by denying the moralitie of this law, and caſhiering it among other Leuiticall ceremonies. Indeed the Sabbath is in part ceremoniall, figuring both our reſt of ſanctification here, and glory hereafter, but that contradicts not the perpetuitie of it. For it is not a ceremonie leading to Chriſt, and at his comming to determine, as appeares Mat. 15.17. I came not to diſſolue the Law: and verſ. 19. who ſhall breake the leaſt of theſe commandements: where each commandement of the ten commandements is ratified, and conſequently this fourth: Luk. 23.56. They reſted according to the commandement. And Luke writ that diuers yeeres after the reſurrection of Chriſt, the things were done after his death, when all Leviticall inſtitutions loſt their power of binding. Iam. 2.11. He that keeps the whole Law and breakes one commandement is guiltie of all. Therefore the whole Law and each principle thereof, doth binde vsus vnderunder the Goſpell; alſo the time of firſt inſtituting a particular date of time for the beginning of the Sabbath, of the old Law, viz. in innocencie. 2. The writing of it in Tables of ſtone. 3. Putting of it into the Arke proued morall.
So much of the commandements of the firſt Table, enioyning our dutie to God. Now follow the precepts of the ſecond Table, concerning our dutie to our ſelues and our neighbours, and firſt of the fifth commandement.