The Marrow of the Oracles of God, Chapter 18 – Chapter 19
CHAP. XVIII.
Rules about the Sabbath.
HItherto of the Rules that concerne the parts of Gods worship: The rules that concerne the time of Gods worship, follow: and this time especially is the Sabbath Day.
Now the rules that binde vsus Rules about the Sabbath.to the good behauiour concerning the Sabbath, concerne either the preparation of the Sabbath, or the manner of performing holy duties on the Sabbath.
The preparation to the Sabbath, 1. The preparation to it.containes in it these things.
First, the ending of all our works on the sixe dayes, as God did his, Gen. 2. 2.
This example of God is set downe, not onelyonly to shew what he did, but to prescribe vntounto vsus, what we should doe, as is manifest by vrging this example in the reason of the commandement. We must then take order to finish the works of the weeke dayes with such discretion, that neither our heads bee troubled with the cares of them, nor our hands tempted to worke about them on the Sabbath Day.
Secondly, the preuenting of domesticall grieuances, and perturbations, Leuit. 19. 3. Ye shall feare eueryevery man his mother and his father, and keepe my Sabbath. Discords and contentions, and heartburnings in the members of the family, extend their infection and hurt, euen to the prophaning of Gods Sabbath. The Lord lookes not to be serued aright in his house, if people liue not quietly, and louingly, and dutifully in their owne houses.
Thirdly, we must cleanse our selues, that wee keepe the Sabbath, Nehemiah 13. 22. Which place, though it speake of Legall cleansing, yet it shadowes out that Morall and perpetuall care of cleasing our selues, that ought euen to be found in vsus. And thus we do cleanse our selues, when we humble our selues, that we may walke with God, confessing our sinnes, euen the sinnes of the weeke past, and making our peace with God, through the name of Iesus Christ.
Thus of the duties of preparation: 2. Of the celebration of the Sabbath.Now for the manner of keeping the Sabbath, the rules prescribe vntounto vsus these things:
1. Rest from all your works, whether they be works of labour, or workes of pleasure. Works of labour the Scripture instanceth in such, as are selling of victuals. Nehemiah 13. 15. Carrying of burthens, Ier. 17. Iourneying from our places, Exod. 16. 29. the businesse of our callings done by our selues, our children, seruants; or cattell, which the words of the Commandement forbid? And as workes of labour, so also workes of pleasure are forbidden, Esay 58. 13.
2. Readinesse and delight. We should louelove to be Gods seruants on this day, Esay 56. and consecrate it with ioy, as a glorious priuiledge to vsus, Esay 58. 13. abhorring wearinesse, or a desire to hauehave the Sabbath gone, and ended, Amos 8.
3. Care and watchfulnesse. We must obserue to keepe it, Exod. 31. 16. wee must take heed to our selues, that no duty bee omitted, and that wee no way prophane it, attending our hearts, and our words, Ier. 17. 21.
4. Sinceritie: and this sinceritie wee should shew diuers wayes.
First, by doing Gods worke with as much care as we would do our owne; or rather shewing more care for the seruice of God. They had their double sacrifices on the Sabbath, in the time of the Law; and we should studie, how wee might please God in especiall manner on that day, choosing out the things that might delight him. God hath taken but one day of seuen for his worke; and shall wee not doe it willingly? Further, if we respect our selues, shall wee not bee as carefull to prouide for our soules on the Sabbath, as for our bodies on the weeke dayes?
2. By obseruing the whole day, as well as a part, and keepe the Sabbath in our dwellings, as well as in Gods house: God requires the whole day, and not a part. As wee would be contented our seruants should worke for vsus onelyonly an houre or two in the sixe daies: so neither should we yeeld lesse vntounto God, then we require for our selues. Nor will it suffice to serue God by publike duties in his House, vnlesse we serue him also by priuate duties in our owne dwellings, Commandement 4. Leuit. 23. 3.
3. By auoiding the lesser violations of the Sabbath, as well as the greater, especially not transgressing of contempt, or wilfulnesse in the least things we know to bee forbidden. The Prophet instanceth, Esay 58. 13. We must not speake our owne words. Thus of sincerity.
5. The fifth thing required of vsus, is Faith: wee must glorifie God by beleeuing, that he will make it a day of blessing vntounto vsus, and performe that blessing he hath promised, accepting our desire to walke before him in the vprightnesse of our hearts, and passing by our infirmities, and frailties. Wee many times disturbe the rest and Sabbath of our soules by vnbeleefe, Commandement 4. Gen. 2. 2. Exo. 31. 13. Ezech. 20. 20. & 46. 2, 5.
6. The last thing is Deprecation: we must beseech God, when we hauehave done our best, to shew vsus merciemercy, and spare vsus for our defects and weakenesses. Thus we must end the day and reconcise our selues to God, that the Rest of Iesus Christ may bee established in our hearts, Nehe. 13. 22. And thus of the rules that bind vsus to the good behauiour in respect of the time of Gods worship.
CHAP. XIX.
Rules that shew vsus how to carrie our selues, when we come into companie, in respect of Religion.
HItherto of the Rules that concerne our carriage towards God.
Now it followes, that I breake open those directions, that Rules that direct our carriage towards men.should bring our liues into order in respect of men: And these rules are of two sorts, for either they are such as binde vsus to the good behauiour towards all men, or such as order our conuersation towards some men onelyonly, as they are considered to be either wicked or godly.
The rules that concerne all Towards all men.men, may be cast into 2. heads, as they belong either to righteousnesse or to mercy.
The rules that belong to righteousnesse, order vsus either in company, or out of company.
The rules which wee are to And so 1 in company.obserue in company, concerne either,
1 Religion, or
2. The sinnes, and faults of others: or
3. Our owne inoffensiue behauiour towards all men.
For the first; when wee come W…th due r…spect of Religion.in company, we must be carefull to bee that which may become the glory of Gods truth, and the Religion wee professe, that weetake not vp the name of God in vaine: and thus wee shall rightly order our selues, if wee obserue these rules:
First, to be soundly aduised, before we fall into discourse of Religion, not doing it till God may be glorified by it. A wise man concealeth knowledge; but the heart of fooles will publish foolishnesse: It is a great discretion to know how to conceale knowledge, as it is to know how to vse knowledge.
Secondly, auoide vaine ianglings Auoiding vaine ianglings in three thing…and contradictions of words, such as are,
1. Doubtfull disputations about Ceremonies, and things indifferent, which may entangle the weake, and keepe them from more necessary cares and knowledge, Rom. 14. 1.
2. Curious Questions, about things that are not reuealed in the Word, Rom. 12. …. Bee wise to sobriety.
3. Vnprofitable reasonings, such as were those about Genealogies, in the Apostles time, 1 Tim. 1.
Thirdly, if thou be asked a reason of the hope that is in thee by such as hauehave authority to require it, or need to seeke it, then answer: But be sure to remember two things; namely, that thou answer with all reuerence, as may shew how much thou art affected with the maiestie of Gods truth, and withall with meekenesse, that is, without passion or frowardnesse: and without affectation, or conceitednesse, or wilfulnesse in our owne opinions, 1. Pet. 3. 15.
Fourthly, let thy communication be yea, yea, and nay, nay: otherwise customary and vain swearing, is a most damned sinne, and such as God will surely plague.