The Light of Faith, Part 2 · Section 18
§. XVIII. Of keeping the Lords day.
IN this point Sathan hath filledOn the Lords day. the hearts of many with poyſonfull opinions, gaineſaving the Authority and ſo reiecting the Dutie of this day: wee muſt therefore briefly ſee to the eſtabliſhment of the firſt, that ſo none may be able to ſpeake of the charge of the latter.
The Authority of the Lords day is fully cleared, if two things be prooued.
That the fourth commandement is morall,
That the charge of the day from the ſeuenth, to the firſt day of the weeke, is Diuine:
1 The Morality of the Commandement is proued thus. It was inſtituted in Paradiſe, before there was ſinne or neede of a Sauiour or Ceremony and figure of a Sauiour Gen. 2. 1. it was giuen to Adam and his poſterity, not to Abraham & therefore bindeth Iewes and Gentiles: the vſe of it is morall and hath nothing of Ceremony in it, Pſal. 92 Such it, the ſinging of Gods mercies morning and Euening, the meditation of his righteous iudgements in rewarding the godly though afflicted, in cutting off the vngodly in their greene floriſhing aduancement, in viewing the riches of his houſe the floriſhing of his ſeruants vnderunder the meanes of grace and in learning to know God in his word and workes. It is giuen as a ſigne or document that the Lord doth ſanctifie his people, if they would try their eſtates, this is a note wherby they may know the truth of their Sanctification, the conſcionable obſeruance of this Commandement, Exod. 31. 13. It is put for the whole worſhip of God and entireneſſe in religion Eſa, 56. 2. 6. and the vtter euerſion of piety is called the polluting of the Sabbath. Ezek. 22. 26. Eſa 58. but what neede wee goe further then the commandement it ſelfe. It is one of the lawes giuen immediatly, from God, not mediately by Moſes as the Ceremonies were, Deut. 4. 13. 14. it was written with Gods owne finger, in Tables of ſtone, Exod. 31. 18. Put into the Arke, Couered with the mercy ſeate, as containing part of the ſinnes nayled to Chriſts Croſſe, and therefore not any that ſerued to the expiation of ſinne in the ſhadow: one of the ten words or precepts, which if you teare out, you can make of the reſt but nine, and ſo giuegive God the lye Deut 4. 13. Let the words of the precept ſpeake for its authority. The word Zacor is indefinite, & is in Engliſh, to remember, becauſe we are bound for euer to remember this matter, as ſaith R. Elias, Remember, ſhewes alſo that this as the other commandements was ingrauen in the hearts of the fathers, and that it was inioyned before and obſerued, though eaſily neglected by corruption Exod. 16. Remember to keepe it holy, the end of the commandements is moral. Sixe dayes ſhalt thou labor & if the permiſſion of the ſixe dayes labor appertaine to vsus, do not the ſanctifying of a ſeuenth. We are no leſſe charged on the Sabbath to worſhip, then permitted on the ſixe dayes to follow our ordinary calling: if the Commandement be Ceremoniall, Idleneſſe is the beſt Chriſtianity in the ſixe dayes, It is the day bleſſed & ſanctified: now ſo long as wee need the meanes with the bleſſing of God on them for our recouery out of ſinne, and our continuance in grace, ſo long we neede ſome ſpeciall day to which God hath promiſed a bleſſing in ſpeciall. But you will ſay the Iewes Sabbath was bleſſed, but where find ye our Sabbath bleſſed, I Anſwer, in the Commandement which ſaith not, the Lord bleſſed the ſeuenth day, but the Lord bleſſed the Sabbath day (be it the ſeuenth or the firſt day of the weeke which hee ſhall giuegive in charge) and hallowed it: in a word, this commandement was giuen and charged vponupon the ſtrangers, and I doe remember that a ſtranger was bound to obſerue the Ceremoniall law. If any ſay can you ſhew where this is Commanded or confirmed in the New Teſtament. I Anſwer I can, Mat. 5. 18. One iot or one title of the law ſhall not periſh and verſe 19. Whoſoeuer ſhall breake one of the leaſt Commandements and ſhall teach men ſo, ſhall be called the leaſt in the kingdome of heauen, I will cloſe this with the ſaying, or Irenaeus in his 4 booke agai…ſt hereſies, the 31 Chapter: God needed not the louelove of man, but man was deſtitute of the glory of God, of which by no meanes he could partake, but by that obſeruance which is owing towards God, for this cauſe M…ſes ſaith chooſe life &c: vntounto which life prepa…ing man, the Lord himſelf by himſelfe ſpak the words of the De…alogue to all like: & therfore they remain with vsus in like maner, receiuing extent and increaſe, but not diſſolution, by his comming in the fleſh. But the precept of bondage he commanded the people by Moſes apart, fit for their diſciplining. Theſe precepts which were giuen to them for bondage and a ſigne, he hath girt about with the New Testament of liberty, but whatſo are naturall and common to all, he hath increaſed: our knowledge of God as father, our adoption, our louelove, our obedience to his word without turning away the face, abſtaining euen from the luſts of euill workes, our feare child-like. So our liberty is not giuen as a cloke of maliciouſneſſe but to the propitiation and manifeſtation of faith. To plead Chriſts comming to this and to blot out one of the ten commandements is to vſe Chriſtian liberty, for a cloke of wickedneſſe, according to this man of God.
2 For the change of the day,The firſt day of eueryevery weeke is the Chriſtans Sabbath. it is eaſily prooued to be diuine: it is called in Scripture The Lords day Rev. 1. 10. as the Holy Supper of the Euchariſt is called the Lords Supper. 1 Cor. 11. 20. Firſt inſtitu…ed by the Lord, and in its vſe r…ferred to the Lord: for who could change the day of the Sabbath but hee that is Lord of the Sabbath, that is, Chriſt. Mark. 2. 28. the practiſe of our Sauiour and the Apoſtles who app…ared on this day, & h…ld their aſſemblies on this day, conuinceth it ſufficiently to bee commanded by our Lord and Sauiour. Ioh. 20. 19. 26. Act. 2. 1. and 20. 7. 1 Cor. 16. 1. 2. and reaſons ſtrong and many may bee giuen: the Commandement that a ſeuenth part of our time be conſecrated to God is morall, as we hauehave before prooued, therefore the Inſtitution of the Lords day could not be deferr…d one whol weeke, for the Iewes Sabbath in reſpect of the determination thereof to the ſeuenth day was abrogated de iure in Chriſts death: if it were deferred to the Apoſtles ordination, (though then alſo it were diuine, for they had the ſpirit of Chriſt, yet) the Church muſt hauehave beene …eft deſtitute of a Sabbath for a time, and on…ly nine precepts hauehave ſtood in force for that ſpace. Againe it is not …aſie to caſt off what ſome Ancients hauehave vrged from that place Pſal. 118, 24. This is the day which the Lord hath made, for Chriſt himſelfe tells vsus that his reſurrection is handled in that place Matth. 21. 42. and who ſhould appoint the day of worſhip in the New Teſtament but he that inſtituted the ordinances of the N…w Teſtament and from whom all bleſ…ing vponupon all worſhip is to be expect…d? We will therefore in obedience to our Sauiours inſtitution with the Ancient Church call this day, the Lords day, the day of bread, the Dies dominicus, dies panis, dies Lucis.day of light, and wiſh that neuer any ſhould reckon of the fourth Commandement as otherwiſe then morall.
Thus of the Authority, I pray you hide not your eyes from ſeeing it, that ſo you may receiue the Duties of this day.
The duties of the Lords day, are the duties of the Sabbath both for the matter and manner of performing. Take then your duty thus, it is referred to theſe two Conſiderations,
1 What is charged on vsus.
2 On whom it is charged.
For the firſt wee are charged to
Prepare for the Lords day, or the Sabbath.
Keepe it.
For preparation we are bound,
1 To R…member it before it come and to ob…erue it, as the word is vſed in the repetition of the Law, Deut 5. that is both to informe our iudg…ments of the Authority of the day, and to be mindfull in eueryevery reſpect to keepe the precept, aſwell as any of the other, watching againſt our naturall corruption, which nor cares to vnderſtand, nor minds to obſ…rue this Holy reſt.
2 To fi…iſh our workes on the ſixe dayes as God did his: doing all we hauehave to doe, Gen. 2, 2. For if through our negligence a neceſſity be contracted of doing ſome worke on that day, then, though the worke muſt be d…ne, yet thou offendedſt in thy neglig…nt preparation. Thou m…ſt ſo contriue thy worldly affaires, that they trouble thee not with cares, nor call thee to labour, but on the other ſide remember ſo to la…our that the day before the Sabbath may hauehave leſſe imploym…nt then any other, ſo thy worldly aff…yres ſhall no way incroach vponupon the bounds of that day which the Lord hath …t a…art for himſelfe, nor breake into the Lords incloſure.
3 To examine our ſelues for our ſinnes, eſpecially thoſe of the weeke, & repent, waſhing euen our garments and drawing neare with the beſt holineſſe we can get, Gen. 35. 2, 3. Pſal. 26. 6. Neh. 13. 22.
We finde a fiue ſold triall layed vponupon the Chriſtian.
He that would obſerue this duety muſt keepe his Chriſtian watch.
1 Daily, Pſal. 4.
2 Before the Communion, 1 Cor. 11. 28. 31.
3 In time of humiliation publike or priuate, when any heauie iudgement is ſought to be remooued Lam 3. Zeph, 2.
4 In the time of ſickneſſe when wee are ſummoned to leaue this world Eſa. 38.
5 Weekely before the Sabbath, this here.
4 To reforme all houſehold iarres, betweene huſband and wife, Parents and children, Maſter and ſeruant, for theſe hinder our prayers and Leauen our hearts and our Sacrifices Lev. 19. 3. 1. Pet. 3. 7. 1 Cor. 5. 8. Can God bee worſhipped aright in his houſe when people liue not quietly, dutifully and louingly in their houſes. Domeſticall grieuances extend their infection to the pollution of Gods Sabbath.
Doe this & thou doſt prepare.
For the obſeruation of the day, when the Sabboth is come, it muſt bee kept: to this end, there are charged vponupon vsus, three duties; firſt, reſt; ſecondly, the ſanctification of the day; thirdly, the meanes of ſanctifying the day.
1 The firſt duty is, that wee reſt that day; and ſo there is required a three-fold reſt: the reſt of the body from workes of labour, and worldly buſineſſe in our particular callings, and from workes of pleaſures and recreations, Eſa. 58. 13. the Lord ſaith, that the Sabboth is then conſecrated as holy, when we neither doe our owne waies, nor finde our owne pleaſure, nor ſpeake our owne words: vnderunder thoſe words, the finding our owne pleaſure, is condemned, all recreations, though they be honeſt and lawfull at other times: vnleſſe you call thoſe onelyonly recreations, of which the Apoſtle Iames ſpeaketh, chap. 5. verſe 13. If any be merry, let him ſing Pſalmes.
To carry burdens, and buy and ſell on the Sabbath, is to keepe the Sabbath of the men of Sabbathum Tyriorum.Aſhdod and Tyrus, Neh. 13. 16. 20. & 10. 31. God forbid it ſhould bee heard of in Iſrael: it would kindle an vnquenchable fire in our gates, and deuoure our pallaces, Ier. 17. 27.
To riſe vp to play, and ſitSabbathum aureivituli. downe to eate and drinke on that day, were to keepe the Sabbath of the golden Calfe, Exod. 32. 6. Obſerua diem Sabbathi, non carnaliter, non iudaicis delicijs, qui otio abutuntur ad nequitiam: melius enim vti que tota die foderent, quam tota die ſaltarent: obſerue the Sabbath day, not carnally, not with Iewiſh delights, who abuſe their leiſure to naughtineſſe: for better it were, no doubt, they would digge the whole day, then dance the whole day. If you hold it vnfit to digge, this holy Father S. Auguſtine holds it worſe to dance that day.
The reſt of the ſoule is required,Sabbathum ſatan…. from the workes of ſinne, which are eueryevery way our owne workes, Heb. 4. 10. and eueryevery way ſeruile, Eſa. 56. 2. Euill actions on this day are double iniquities; ſuch a Sabbath kept, is a Sabbath for the Deuill.
The reſt of cattell is required,Sabbathum Boûm & Aſinorum. that mercy may be ſhewed to the Beaſt, and all occaſions of mans labour may bee cut off for that day.
2 The ſecond duty, is the keeping of the reſt, to ſanctifie the day in workes of holineſſe: otherwiſe as bodily exerciſe profiteth little, ſo bodily reſt will profit as little. What, is reſt enough? is this a Sabbath or acceptable day to the Lord, to goe fine, and doe nothing? Thine Oxe and Aſſe may keepe a Sabbath then as well as thou. Diues himſelfe could affoord that this precept ſhould be morall. Adde holineſſe then to thy reſt, and reſt that thou maieſt be bound for the workes of ſanctity; but what are they?
They are the duties of piety, and the workes of mercy.
The duties of piety, are either publique or priuate: the publique duties are theſe, to heare and preach the Word with application, to ſing Pſalmes, to pray with the congregation, catechiſing, receiuing and adminiſtring of the Communion, to be preſent at the adminiſtration of Baptiſme and diſcipline; this latter is a worke for the Sabboth, though not for eueryevery Sabboth. The priuate duties, hauehave either reference to the publique, or are ſeuerally required: thoſe that hauehave reference to the publique, are duties to be done before we come to the congregation, or after. Before wee come, 1. wee ought to reade, or heare the word read, or to meditate on ſome part of it. Bleſſed is the man in whoſe heart are thy wayes, they goe from ſtrength to ſtrength, eueryevery one of them in Syon appeareth before God: in thy walke to Gods houſe, if thou wouldeſt be bleſſed, Gods waies muſt be in thy heart. 2. Wee muſt pray both for our ſelues, and for the Miniſter, for our ſelues, our requeſts ſhould be chiefly for theſe three things, 1. for pardon of ſinnes, confeſſing and bewailing, and laying aſide malice, guiles, hypocriſies, enuyings, euill ſpeakings, and all ſuperfluity of naughtineſſe, 1 Pet. 2. 1. 2. Iam. 1. 21. Theſe ſinnes will diſ-ſauour and diſ-reliſh the milke of Gods word, and keepe vsus for feeling the ſauing power and ability that is therein. 2. For increaſe of grace. 3. For Gods bleſſing on the meanes. For our Miniſter, our prayer ſhould bee, that hee may come to vsus in the fulneſſe of the bleſſing of the Goſpell of Chriſt. Epheſ. 6. 19. Rom. 15. 29. theſe duties before. After the publique aſſemblies, is required, 1. examination of our ſelues, and our charge: for our ſelues, that practiſe of Dauid muſt bee ours; I thought on my waies, and turned my feet vntounto thy teſtimonies, Pſal. 119. 59. For our charge, we ſhould whet the doctrine vponupon their hearts, and ſet an edge on the word deliuered by familiar conference, Deut. 6. 7. True it is, conference with others may be betweene teachers and hearers, Mat. 15. 16. and betweene hearers, whether equals, as in Mal. 3. 16. or ſuperiours and inferiours, as the King and the Subiect, 2 King. 3. 11. and maſter and ſeruant. 2. The ſearching of the Scripture vponupon that wee hauehave heard, not receiuing the doctrine of a Paul vponupon truſt. Act. 17. 11. 1 Ioh. 4. 1. 1 Theſ. 5. 21▪ But prouing all thi…gs, and holding …aſt that which is good, eſpecially good for vsus 3. Pondring it in our hearts, as did the bleſſed Virgin, and hiding it there for practiſe, as did Dauid, Pſal. 119. 11. 4. Prayer alone, or with others, Neh. 13. 22. Theſe duties h…ue reference to the publique. The duties ſeuerally required, are foure: firſt, familiar conference of things pertaining to the kingdome of God, not ſpeaking our owne words that day, Eſa. 58. 12. ſecondly, the catechiſing of our families; thirdly, the ſinging of Pſalmes, Pſal. 92. 2. fourthly, meditation on the word, and the workes of God; as vponupon the workes of Creation, of Redemption, of Prouidence for his Church, & againſt the enemies therof, Pſ. 92. & of the riches of his houſe, and the flouriſhing in righteouſneſſe of all that are planted in his coures, Pſal. 92. the latter end, this for piety.
The workes of mercy, are eyther for the publique, or the priuate. In the publique, are collections for the poore, 1 Cor. 16. 1. In priuate, mercy reſpecteth the temporall life, as the workes ab…ut ſicke perſons, almes, the meating of cattell, the preſeruation of things, that otherwiſe would periſh: or it reſpecteth the ſpirituall life, as to teach the ignorant, reclaime the erronious, admoniſh the backward, exhort and perſwade the delinquent, rebuke the offender, comfort the diſtreſſed, giuegive counſell to them that need and ſeeke it, and to reconcile them them that are at variance. Theſe are the workes of ſanctity: but when are they done in a Sabboth like manner?
I anſwere, when they are done,
1 With readineſſe and delight, louing to be his ſeruant…, and to doe his worke vponupon his day, Eſa. 56. 6. & 58. 13. calling the Sabboth, a delight, the holy of the Lord honourably; without which God takes himſelfe not honoured: this delight is to bee expreſſed in the publique duties; 1. by being there with the firſt, Eſa. 2. 3. Ezek. 46. 10. 2. by auoyding all vnſeemely geſture, ſleepineſſe, drowſineſſe, and all wandring thoughts: 3. by waiting for the bleſſing to be put vponupon vsus by the Miniſter, Numb. 6. 23. 27. But chiefly ſee thou ſolace thy heart in the inward reſt, which is the Sabboth Sabbathum ſecretum.of the true Iſraelite, who worſhips God in ſpirit. Theſe call this day, deſiderium dierum, the deſire of dayes.
2 With ſpeciall obſeruance, not onelyonly to the reſt, but alſo to the ſanctification of the day; that no duty be omitted, nor the day any way prophaned, tending our hearts and words.
3 With ſincerity, obſeruing it in our dwellings, as well as in Gods houſe; within our gates, as well as within his doores, Leu. 23. 3. ſpending the whole day, morning and euening, on Gods worke, Pſal. 92. 2. Doing all with as much diligence and earneſt labour, for the meat which periſheth not; as we doe on the weeke day for the meat which periſheth: and as we looke our ſeruants ſhould not ſerue vsus an houre or two in the day, or ſlightly.
4 With beliefe, that God will bleſſe that day, and the duties thereof to the increaſe of grace, Gen. 2. 2. Ezek. 20. 20. & 46. 2. 5. reſting on the promiſes he hath made in Eſa. 56. 5. 7. & 58. 14.
The third thing reſpects the meanes of ſanctifying the Sabboth, and ſo there is required,
1 A place to aſſemble together, Leuit. 19. 30. Pſalm. 132. 1. 2. 5.
2 Perſons fit for the duties, ſuch as are able and apt to teach, 1 Tim. 3. 2. For where viſion faileth, the people periſh, Pro. 29. 18. And prophecying or preaching, that is, giuing the ſenſe, and applying the word for inſtruction, correction, comfort, and reproofe, is the gift of the ſpirit, that ſhould be vſed in chriſtian aſſemblies, 1 Cor. 14. 3. 4. 5. 24. 28. What alterations hauehave beene for want of prophecying? ſee in theſe places, Iudg. 17. 7. 1 Sam. 14. 2 Chro. 15. 3. 2 King. 17. 15. Therefore let vsus be ſo farre from enuying the increaſe of their number and gifts, that rather Moſes wiſh be ours: Would God all the Lords people could propheſie, Numb. 11. 19.
3 The maintenance of both the places and perſons.
Thus we ſee what is charged; on whom it is charged followeth.
2 Theſe duties are chargedThou, thy ſonne, and thy daughter. on all, but chiefly on the Magiſtrates, and Maſters of families, who muſt nor onelyonly doe the duties of the Sabboth themſelues, but cauſe others to obſerue them, in reſpect of all outward conformity; that none within their gates, that is, within their precincts, iuriſdiction, power, habitation, or charge, be ſuffered to violate the reſt, or prophane the day. The example of Nehemiah, is worthy imitation of all in authority, of which you reade Neh. 13. 16. 19. where wee may ſee eſpecially theſe two thi…g…, that it belongs to all Gouernours of Families, Townes, Cities, and Countries, to prouide that the whole day be kept▪ and all occaſions as neere as may be, of the prophaning of the day he cut off, and that the preparation for the Sabbath bee not neglected: much leſſe then may any in place impoſe ſuch har… labor, and ſo extreame on the day before, or the euening of the Sabboth, as diſableth for the duties of that day. Againe, that he offendeth exceedingly, that hauing power, reformeth not the abuſes of this day.
Hitherto of our duty to God: our duty to other men followeth.