A Guide to Godliness, Book 3 · Chapter 39
CHAP. XXXIX.
That the whole Lords Day muſt be conſecrated vntounto him, firſt, by reſting on it from all labour and from ſinne.
§. Sect. 1 That we muſt ſpend the whole Day in religious exerciſes.
ANd theſe are the duties which are to bee performed in our preparation. In the Day it ſelfe the maine duty is, that wee conſecrate it as an holy Reſt vntounto Gods worſhip and ſeruice; and not in a part onelyonly, as it is the practice of many, who thinke that they hauehave done all required of them, if they hauehave ſpent ſome few houres in the publike ſeruice of God, conſuming all the reſt of the Day about their owne affaires which reſpect their pleaſure or profit; but we muſt ſpend the whole Day in holy and religious exerciſes. For the Lord requireth at our hands, that we remember to keepe holy, not ſome few houres only, but the whole ſeuenth Day; and as he alloweth vntounto vsus for our owne affaires; not ſome houres onelyonly of eueryevery day in the weeke, but the whole ſixe dayes: ſo hee reſerueth vntounto himſelfe for his ſeruice ſuch a Day as he granteth vntounto vsus. In which regard we ſhall deale deceitfully and vngratefully with God, if we vſe a double meaſure in ſharing out the time, a ſhorter in allotting a Day to his ſeruice, and a longer for our owne worldly imployments. But as he alloweth vntounto vsus ſix dayes, conſiſting of 24. houres, ſo wee are not to curtall his Day, and to ſhorten him of his due, but to allow vntounto his ſeruice a Day of like length and continuance, ſeeing God hath made a plaine bargaine with vsus, that he will hauehave a whole Day for his ſeruice, as well as wee ſix for our owne imployments. And therefore as we would thinke that our hired labourer ſhould deale deceitfully with vsus, if being hired for a weeke to doe our worke, he ſhould labour in our buſineſſe ſome few houres eueryevery day, and ſpend all the reſt of his time in his owne affaires: ſo will God thinke of vsus, if we deale with him after the ſame manner; neither is it a leſſe odious crime in his eyes to clip his precious time, when we come to pay vntounto him his due tribute, which he hath giuen vntounto vsus in full waight and meaſure; then it is vntounto our Prince, if wee offer vntounto him for payment clipt coyne, when we hauehave receiued it good and currant out of his Mint. And if ſuch a ſubiect deſerueth to be hanged and quartered though hee payeth his tribute, becauſe hee hath payed it in clipped coyne; how ſhall they eſcape vnpuniſhed, who deale no leſſe deceitfully with God himſelfe? Beſides, as God requireth, ſo we profeſſe, that wee ſanctifie a day vntounto him; and therefore if hauing conſecrated the whole, wee doe with Ananias Act. 5.keepe backe a part for our owne vſe, and iuſtifie our action, that wee hauehave done all we promiſed, we ſhall both rob God of his right, and by lying vntounto the holy Ghoſt, make our ſelues liable to the like puniſhment. Againe, ſuch a Day as God obſerued for his Reſt, we muſt according to his example keepe for ours; but he reſted from all his labours a whole ſeuenth Day, after he had finiſhed his workes, and created nothing anew; and therefore we muſt reſt from our workes a whole day, and not a part onelyonly. Moreouer, as God reſted the ſeuenth Day, ſo he is ſaid to hauehave ſanctified it, that is, to hauehave dedicated and conſecrated it as holy vntounto his ſeruice. Now as things conſecrated to holy vſes may not be recalled and Leuit. 27. 28. Act. 5. 4.reuerſed in whole or in part, without ſacrilegious profanation, becauſe they are no longer in our power, but Gods right; ſo cannot wee without theft and ſacriledge, take from God, voluntarily and wilfully, any part of that time which is conſecrated to his ſeruice. Finally, the duties of the Sabbath are ſo manifold and important, as the hearing and reading of the Word, prayer both publike and priuate, meditation on that which we hauehave heard, and vponupon the workes of creation, holy conference, and ſuch like; that the whole day were too ſhort, though it were altogether ſpent in theſe religious exerciſes; and if they bee rightly performed as they ſhould be, they will leaue vsus little time for any other imployments. Yea, ſo farre ought we to be from imagining that any part of the Day may lawfully be ſpent about our owne buſineſſe, that wee muſt not thinke the night it ſelfe exempted from diuine ſeruice and religious duties; for as the ſix dayes which God hath allowed vsus for our owne workes are naturall, conſiſting of a night as well as of a day, and containe in them full 24. houres, according to that in Geneſis, The euening and the morning were Gen. 1.the firſt day; ſo the Lords Day containeth in it the like proportion of time, and therefore ought to be wholy ſpent in the duties of Gods ſeruice, as farrre foorth as will ſtand with charity and neceſſity of nature. As we ſee in the example of Dauid, who in the Pſalme appointed for the Sabbath, profeſſeth, that it is a good thing to ſhew foorth Gods louing kindneſſe Pſal. 92. 1, 2.in the morning, and his faithfulneſſe in the night; and in Paul, who continued Act. 20. 7, 12.the exerciſes of Religion, as the preaching and hearing of the Word, and adminiſtration of the Sacrament when he was at Troas, euen vntill the breake of day which though it were extraordinarie in reſpect of thoſe times of perſecution, yet it teacheth vsus, that the night following the Lords Day is a part of it, and as it may in like caſes be allotted to the publike duties of Gods ſeruice, ſo ordinarily wee ſhould performe in ſome part of it pious duties of like nature, and in the reſt, compoſe our ſelues to ſleepe in ſuch a Chriſtian and holy manner by prayer and meditation, that euen as much as may be, our imaginations and dreames may retaine ſome relliſh and ſauour of our former religious exerciſes. Where, by the way wee may note, that as the Chriſtian Sabbath is to begin at the dawning of the day, becauſe it was inſtituted in remembrance of Chriſts Reſurrection, who was that Sunne of righteouſnes, who brought light and life vntounto vsus, by performing and finiſhing that great worke of our Redemption, and not ouer-night like the Iewes Sabbath, which was ordained to put them in mind of the worke of Creation; and the rather, becauſe it was fit that there ſhould, vponupon theſe diuers reaſons, be a difference betweene their Sabbath and ours; ſo alſo it is to continue to the dawning of the next day, as wee hauehave formerly ſhewed by Pauls example.
§. Sect. 2 That we muſt reſt from our owne workes on the Lords Day.
And thus we ſee the time of the Lords Day how long it is to continue: now we are to ſpeake of the duties which ought to be performed in it. And theſe are all comprized in theſe two things; firſt, in obſeruing a Reſt, and ſecondly, in keeping it holy, or in ſanctifying this Reſt vntounto Gods ſeruice. The Reſt conſiſteth in the forbearing, or not doing of our owne workes, but onelyonly in caſes of neceſſity, and when the ſanctification of the Lords Day requireth them, as duties tending to the aduancing of Gods ſeruice, or ſuch workes of mercy and Chriſtian charity, as belong to this Day; as the ſtudy and paines of the Miniſter, the trauell of the people to places of diuine worſhip, viſiting and helping of the ſicke and diſtreſſed, confounding of contentions, and making peace betweene neighbours, feeding and tending of cattell, and ſuch like. Where, by our owne workes I vnderſtand all our thoughts, words and actions, which ſimply or chiefly tend to our owne profit or pleaſure. As firſt, the workes of our callings, Exod. 31. 15.of all kinds whatſoeuer, as all workes of husbandry, euen in the time of harueſt, buying and ſelling, carrying of burthens, trauelling, and ſuch like. Secondly, all kinds of recreations which are not neceſſary for the preſeruing of health and life, and tend not to the better fitting and inabling of vsus for religious duties, but to ſenſuall and carnall delight. Of which ſort are walking abroad that we may take the ayre, or that wee may conferre one with another, or meditate on the creatures, ſome bodily exerciſe in courſe of phyſicke to refreſh the body, and in ſome caſes muſicke, not onelyonly vocall by ſinging of Pſalmes, which is a duty of the Sabbath, but alſo on inſtruments, when as it is vſed, not for carnall and ſenſuall delight, but to refreſh our ſpirits, and quicken our dull and drowzie hearts and minds, that they may with more cheerefulneſſe returne vntounto the performance of religious and holy duties; in which caſes there may at ſome times be the ſame vſe of theſe recreations, (ſo they be in moderation, in an holy manner, and to theſe ends) which is of phyſicke, meates and drinkes. But from all other recreations which tend onelyonly to carnall and ſenſuall delight, we muſt wholly abſtaine; firſt, becauſe the Lord expreſſely forbiddeth vsus to doe our owne pleaſure on his holy Day, and contrariwiſe commandeth vsus to call his Sabbath our delight, Eſa▪ 58. 13.the holy of the Lord, honourable, and that we ſhould honour him, nor doing our owne wayes, nor finding our owne pleaſures, nor ſpeaking our owne words. Secondly, becauſe they are our owne workes, from all kindes whereof Gods Commandement reſtraineth vsus, that wee may bee wholly deuoted to the ſeruice of God, and the meanes which inable vsus thereunto: yea, they may in ſome ſort be called more our owne workes, then the workes of our callings, becauſe theſe are more expreſſely commanded, and are ordinarily more neceſſary, and more directly tend to Gods ſeruice then the other; for it is poſſible to liue and ſerue God without theſe recreations, but not vnleſſe we walke in the duties of our callings. And therefore if theſe bee forbidden on the Lords Day, then much more the other which are of leſſe vſe and neceſſity. Finally, becauſe theſe worldly recreations doe more dangerouſly and cunningly winde into our hearts, ſteale them away from holy duties, and diſtract vsus in Gods ſeruice, then the duties of our callings, the workes and labours whereof we doe not louelove for themſelues, but onelyonly as they are meanes of deriuing pleaſure or profit vntounto vsus, whereas we louelove theſe ſenſuall pleaſures for themſelues, and oftentimes ſo dote vponupon them, that we neglect our worldly profit; yea the ſeruice of God it ſelfe, and the eternall ſaluation of our ſoules, that we may inioy them.
§. Sect. 3 That on the Lords Day we muſt abſtaine from carnall recreations.
Now if any obiect, that to depriue vsus of theſe recreations, is to take away all the ioy and comfort of our liues; to this I anſwere, that it is an obiection which altogether misbeſeemeth a Chriſtian. For howſoeuer Infidels and carnall worldlings may reioyce chiefly in them, as hauing no greater cauſe of ioy and comfort; yet it ought not to bee ſo with the faithfull, who ſhould chiefly reioyce in the Lord, and in the pledges and teſtimonies of his louelove and fauour, in their Communion with him, who is their Phil. 4. 4.ſummum bonum, and chiefe happineſſe, and the viſible ſignes of his gracious preſence; vntounto which ſpirituall ioy Dauid exhorteth; Delight thy Pſal. 37. 4.ſelfe in the Lord, and he ſhall giuegive the deſires of thine heart. Of which, he in many places propoundeth himſelfe as an example for our imitation. Secondly, if we be ſpiritually, and not carnally and worldly-minded, we may make the Lords Day it ſelfe our delight, as he requireth, which if we Eſa. 58. 13, 14.doe, then we ſhall indeed finde ſweete delight in the Lord. For what greater delight can there bee to a Chriſtian, then to praiſe God by ſinging of Pſalmes, who hath beene ſo good and gracious vntounto vsus? then to heare the Word, whereby God aſſureth vsus of his fauour, and of the pardon of our ſinnes, and receiue the Sacrament, whereby it is ſealed and aſſured vntounto vsus? then to feaſt our ſoules at this ſpirituall banket, and afterwards meditate on, and peruſe our ſpirituall euidences, whereby the aſſurance of heauenly happineſſe is conuayed vntounto vsus? then to be aſſured that wee are redeemed out of the hands of all our ſpirituall enemies, and reſtored to the glorious liberty of the Sonnes of God? then to ſolace our ſelues in the ſweete ſociety of Chriſt our Bridegroome in his Banketing-houſe, and to be ſtayed and comforted with his flagons of wine, apples, and kinde imbracements? Cant. 2. 4, 5, 6.which ſpirituall ioyes if we relliſh not, what doth it but argue a carnall taſte and appetite, which we ought to bewaile and mortifie, and not feede and cheriſh it with vaine ſports and worldly recreations, which is to ſtrengthen the fleſh againſt the Spirit, and to put weapons into it hands, Rom. 8. 13. 1. Pet. 2. 11.whereby it will mortally ſtab and wound vsus? But what then, ſhall our ſeruants hauehave no time of recreation, who hauehave wrought hard all the weeke? I anſwer, To them that are wearied with labour, the reſt of the Lords Day is the beſt and fitteſt recreation for the refreſhing of their bodies; and if they be ſpiritually-minded, the exerciſes of the Sabbath before ſpoken of, are the beſt recreations for the cheering of the heart and minde. For who can reaſonably thinke when a man is tyred with the weekes labour, that violent exerciſes which are required to many recreations, and bodily labour to the moſt, ſhould recreate a man more, then an holy and religious reſt, hearing the Word, ſinging of Pſalmes, holy conferences, and ſuch like, if carnall louelove did not take away all appetite from theſe, and ſupply ſpirits and ſtrength for the atchieuing of the other? yea, but we muſt take our ſeruants as they are, and hauehave ſome reſpect to humane frailty and infirmity; and though we may perſwade them to delight in ſpirituall exerciſes, yet in the meane time, till they be alike ſpiritually-minded with vsus, we muſt giuegive them liberty to vſe thoſe recreations wherein they take pleaſure. Well, let it be ſo, yet is it neceſſary that the Lords Day muſt be the time allotted to theſe ſports? will we lay ſacrilegious hands vponupon this Day which he hath appropriated vntounto his ſeruice, and conuert it to our owne vſe and pleaſure? and whereas being chiefe Lord of perſons and times, he might hauehave reſerued ſixe dayes for himſelfe, and allowed but one vntounto vsus, now that he hath dealt thus graciouſly and bountifully with vsus, as to appropriate but one for his owne worſhip, and leaue ſixe for our buſineſſe, ſhall we thinke that one too much, and vngratefully incroach vponupon it? and holding all in Kings ſeruice ſauing a ſeuenth part which is reſerued as an acknowledgement of our Soueraignes bounty, who gaue vsus freely all the reſt, ſhall we grudge and repine to pay this due tribute, and greedily ſeaze all into our hands by a falſe tenure? Finally, ſhall we thinke ſixe dayes too little for thoſe buſineſſes which tend to the good of our bodies, and our momentany eſtates, and ſhall wee thinke one too much to be imployed for the good of our owne, and our ſeruants ſoules, and for the furthering and aſſuring of our owne and their euerlaſting ſaluation? Rather therefore if recreations bee neceſſary for our ſeruants, let vsus allot ſome of our owne time in the ſixe dayes for this vſe, then rob the Lord of any part of his Day, vntounto which we hauehave no right; and not conclude with this childiſh, yet deuiliſh ſophiſtry, That ſeeing of neceſſitie they muſt hauehave ſome time for their ſports, therefore it muſt be on the Lords Day, rather then any of our owne. As if we would ſay, They muſt needs hauehave ſome mony to ſpend on their pleaſures, and therefore to get it, they muſt rob by the high-way, or picke other mens purſes, but not hauehave a penny of our allowance. Now if thoſe recreations, which at other times are lawfull, or of indifferent nature, be on the Lords Day forbidden as vnlawfull; then what ſhall we ſay of ſuch as are at no time lawfull, but ſimply euill and wicked? In which notwithſtanding many that profeſſe Chriſtianity, ſpend a great part of the Lords Day, as if they would conſecrate a feaſt to Bacchus or Venus, yea the Deuill himſelfe, whoſe workes they are, rather then vntounto God, who being pure and holy, condemneth and abhorreth theſe fruits of the fleſh, and workes of darkeneſſe as odious and abominable.
§. Sect. 4 That we muſt reſt from ſinne of all kinds on the Lords Day.
Thirdly, our care muſt principally bee on the Lords Day to abſtaine from all ſinne, which aboue all others is to be eſteemed the moſt ſeruile worke, ſeeing the committing thereof is the baſe ſeruice of the deuill, and our owne carnall luſts. In which regard, as wee muſt at all times auoyd it, ſo eſpecially on the Lords Day, which is an holy reſt, conſecrated to his worſhip and ſeruice, ſeeing we cannot offer vntounto him a greater indignity, then to ſerue the deuill in the workes of darkeneſſe, when we ſhould ſerue him in the exerciſes of piety and Religion. And as wee are carefully and conſcionably to auoyd all kinds of ſinne, ſo thoſe principally wherewith the Lords Day is moſt ordinarily profaned, which being the ſinnes of the times and Countrey, will by the contagion of euill example, moſt eaſily poyſon and infect vsus, if we doe not warily auoyd them. Among theſe, we may number proud and laborious curioſity in decking and adorning of the body, which doth ſo wholly take vp the time of ſome, eſpecially of the weaker ſexe, that they hauehave ſcarce any leaſure for any ſpirituall exerciſes, whereby they ſhould priuately ſerue God, and prepare themſelues for his publike worſhip in the Congregation. Secondly, exceſſiue and vnneceſſary feaſting, eſpecially of our equals, by which, ſeruants ordinarily are more toyled, then on any other day in the weeke, and ſo wholly taken vp with theſe buſineſſes, that they can ſeldome come to the Houſe of God to doe him ſeruice. So that as Dauid ſometime ſeemed to enuie the happineſſe Pſal. 84. 3.of the Sparrowes and Swallowes, which had that liberty of comming into the Tabernacle which he wanted: ſo hauehave theſe poore Cookes and ſeruants cauſe, not only to enuy them, but euen their Maſters Hawkes and Dogs, which accompany them to the Houſe of God, when as they, whoſe ſoules are no leſſe precious then their Gouernours, and purchaſed at as high a rate, euen the ineſtimable price of Chriſts Blood, are conſtrained to ſtay at home with hungry and ſtarued ſoules, for want of ſpirituall food, that they may prouide ſuperfluity and abundance of corporall meat for the pampring of the fleſh. And with this exceſſiue cheare we may alſo reckon immoderate eating and drinking of ordinary meates and drinkes; for as ſurfetting and drunkenneſſe are neuer ſeaſonable, but are alwayes vnlawfull, and to be ſhunned as workes of the fleſh; ſo aboue all other times vponupon the Lords Day, as being not onelyonly in themſelues ſinfull, and workes of darkeneſſe, but alſo notable impediments, which diſable vsus vntounto all holy duties, whilſt oppreſſing the heart, ſurcharging the ſtomake, and filling the head with drowzie fumes, they make vsus more fit to ſleepe, then either to pray, or heare, or meditate, or to performe any other duty of Gods ſeruice. And vntounto theſe we may adde diſpatching of ſlight buſineſſes, which are thought ſcarce worth the while vponupon the weeke dayes, as vnneceſſary iourneys, and idle viſitations, caſting vp our accounts, and ſetting our reckonings ſtraight, carrying home of worke done the weeke before, giuing directions and inſtructions to our ſeruants for the diſpatching of their buſineſſe the weeke following, and ſuch like.
§. Sect. 5 That we muſt not thinke our own thoughts on the Lords Day.
Fourthly, we muſt refraine (as much as in vsus lieth) from thinking our owne thoughts on the Lords Day, that is, not onelyonly ſuch as are ſinfull and Pro. 23. 26. Mat. 22. 39.wicked, vaine and good for nothing at any time, but thoſe alſo which are worldly and about our earthly affaires, which may bee lawfull on other dayes. For the Lord requireth not the outward man, and externall actions alone to be conſecrated to his ſeruice, but chiefly and principally the mind and the heart, in which, aboue all other parts he delighteth. And he forbiddeth vsus to walke in our owne wayes and pleaſures on his Holy-day, Eſa. 58. 13.which is to be referred to our thoughts as well as to our outward actions, ſeeing we delight in the one as well as the other. In which regard we muſt vſe our beſt indeuour, to ſequeſter our mindes and hearts from all worldly and earthly things, that they may be wholly exerciſed in ſpirituall and heauenly Meditations. And as it is vnlawfull to thinke and meditate on earthly things on the Lords Day; ſo alſo to ſpend any part of this time allotted vntounto holy and religious duties, in the reading and ſtudying of prophane Bookes, and ſuch writings as are meerely ciuill and humane, as the Story of the times, and Hiſtories of the Common-wealth, liberall Arts and Sciences, and ſuch like, which may make vsus more wiſe to the world, but not to God; fit vsus for earthly imployments, but neither furniſh vsus with ſpirituall grace, nor yet further our heauenly happineſſe. Finally, as wee muſt abſtaine from thinking our owne thoughts, and doing our owne workes on the Lords Day, ſo alſo from ſpeaking of our own words, as the Lord requireth. Eſa. 58. 13.By which wee are to vnderſtand all diſcourſes which are meerely worldly and about earthly things, more then charity and neceſſity requireth; all idle Mat. 12. 33.and friuolous talke, of which, if we muſt giuegive account, though it hauehave been vttered at ordinary times, how much more vponupon the Lords Day, when as our tongues, (which as Dauid calleth them, ſhould be our glory, to glorifie God by vttering his praiſes) are imployed in ſounding out our owne froth and fooleries? All ſpeeches about our worldly pleaſures and profits, or about things impertinent, as other mens affaires, newes and nouelties which doe not concerne vsus, eſpecially in reſpect of our ſpirituall eſtate and condition, which we ought chiefly and ſoly to reſpect on this Day.
§. Sect. 6 That we muſt not doe the Lords workes after our owne manner.
And theſe are the workes which wee muſt leaue vndone on the Lords Day; from which as we muſt abſtaine, as the matter of our imployments, ſo alſo from doing the Lords workes after our owne manner. Neither is it enough that we refraine from all ſinfull and worldly actions, and doe the duties which God requireth of vsus, ſeeing if wee doe them not in that ſort and manner as he requireth; that is, ſpiritually, holily, zealouſly, and religiouſly, with vpright hearts and good conſciences, we make them no better then prophane and ſeruile workes, which God will reiect as odious and abominable. For if we worſhip the Lord only with the outward man, and not with our hearts and ſoules, with the lips alone, and not in Spirit and Truth, in ſhew and hypocriſie after a formall, cold, and careleſſe manner, and not with vpright hearts, ſubſtantially and zealouſly, he will demand of vsus as of the Iewes, Who hath required theſe things at your hands? Hee will Eſa. 1. 12.complaine of vsus as of them; This people draw neere vntounto me with their lips, but their hearts are farre from me. He will cenſure our ſeruice, as he did their ſacrifices; Chap. 29. 13.Hee that killeth an Oxe, is as if he ſlew a man: hee that ſacrificeth a Lambe, as if he cut off a Dogs necke: he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered Eſa. 66. 3.Swines blood: and he that burneth incenſe, as if he bleſſed an Idoll. And though we pray, and preach, and heare, yea euen worke miracles in Chriſts Name, yet if we doe them not in a right manner, he will reiect vsus at the day of Iudgement, and exclude vsus from his heauenly ioyes, as being no better then workers of iniquity.Mat. 7. 22, 23.