Gods Holy Mind Touching Matters Moral, Tract 2 · Part 39
Now to the extent of the Prohibition, in these wordes: Thou nor thy sonne, nor thy daughter, thy manseruant, nor thy mayd, nor thy beast, not thy stranger. The meaning of the words we heard before: now to stand a little to shew how farre that Prohibition is extended.
Quest. How farre is that Prohibition, (In it thou shalt not doe any worke; thou, nor thy sonne, nor thy daughter, thy manseruant, nor thy mayd, nor thy beast, nor thy stranger) which forbids the doing of ony thing or worke that may hinder the keeping of an holy rest on the Sabbath, extended?
Answ. To all men and women of yeares of discretion, of what place, calling, or condition soeuer in the world, and to all other things that may bee set a worke by them; and especially the charge is heere layd on such as bee Superiours and Gouernours, whether in priuate, or in publike.
Quest. Why is heere mention made of the Manseruant, and of the Maidseruant?
Answ For two reasons. First,Deut. 5.14. that they might hauehave some ease and rest from their labours.
Secondly, that they might also hauehave libertie to attend on holy duties, both in publike and in priuate; and so might care for, and looke to their owne saluation, as well as their Masters, and Gouernors.
Quest. Why is mention made of the Beast in this extent?
Answ. Not because any dumbe creature can sanctifie the Sabbath, but for three other reasons.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Answ. This; because mercy and compassion is to bee extended to the dumbe creature, that it may sometimes bee spared, and hauehave some rest from labour.Deut. 22.4. We find a law made for the neighbours beast fainting vnderunder the burthen.
Quest. What is the second?
Answ. This; because the beast cannot bee employed, but man also must be busied in attending it, and looking to it.
Quest. VVhat is the third reason?
Answ. This; that by the sight of cattell resting from their labours, men might be put in minde of their dutie, to keepe an holy rest on the Sabbath:Ionah 3.7. as in publike Fasts the beasts were enioyned Abstinence, that men seeing them to mourne in their kinde, might bee stirred vp to griefe and sorrow for their sinnes.
Quest. Doth this Prohibition reach onelyonly to such things as hauehave life, as to the Oxe, the Asse, and the like?
Answ. No, but to liuelesse things also, as a Mill, or a Boat, or the like; because such things cannot be set aworke, but by the helpe of mans hand.
Quest. What is meant by the word (stranger?)
Answ. As it had respect to the Iewes: any one that was an Alien to the Common-wealth of Israel,Exod. 22.21. an Ethnicke, an Heathen, or such like: but more generally, thereby is meant any one, that is not of that place or charge, whether priuate or publike, whereof wee hauehave the rule and gouernment.
Quest. Why is heere mention made of the stranger?
Answ. Lest harme might come to Gods people, in beholding the example of strangers, they being suffered to breake the Sabbath, by doing either works of profit, or of pleasure. Nehemiah would not suffer Heathen men, who knew not God, nor cared for the Sabbath, to come with wares vntounto Ierusalem vponupon the Sabbath.Nehem. 13.21.
Quest. How farre is the Master, or Gouernour of a Family bound to cease from doing of such things, and workes, as doe hinder the keeping of a holy rest on the Sabbath?
Answ. Not onelyonly in his owne person, but in all that be vnderunder him; hee is to looke to all others that bee vnderunder his roofe and charge: yea, euen to Strangers, and Guests, that on the Sabbath bee within his libertie and power; that they also cease from all workes of profit and pleasure, as well as himselfe; as the Inne-holder, Vintner, Victualler, and others that keepe Houses of common receit,Ioshua 24.15. Gen. 18.19. must looke vntounto it: I, and my House will serue the Lord.
Quest. How farre is a Gouernour in publike, a Magistrate, bound to cease from doing of such things and workes, as doe hinder the keeping of an ho…y rest vntounto God on the Sabbath?
Answ. Not only in his owne person, but in all that be vnderunder his gouernment; he must looke to all others, yea,Exod. 31.15. & Numb. 15.33. compared together. euen to strangers that bee within his libertie, and iurisdiction on the Sabbath: that they also cease from all workes of profit and pleasure, as well as himselfe.
Quest. How may it further appeare, that Masters and gouernours, whether in priuate or publike, are bound not onelyonly in their owne persons to cease from all works, profit and pleasure; but to look also to all that be vnderunder them, that they doe so likewise?
Answ. By three reasons.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Answ. This; a good Gouernour, whether in priuate, or publike,Rom. 13.4. 1 Pet. 2.14. is bound to gouerne for the good of those that bee vnderunder him; and greater good hee cannot doe to them, then to restraine them from so foule a sinne, as the breach of the Sabbath is; and to cause them on that day to attend on holy duties, both in publike and priuate.
Quest. What is the second?
Answ. This; eueryevery Gouernour, whether in publike or priuate, that hath lawfull authority, hee hath it from the Lord, and he stands in his stead, & to him he must giuegive an account, not only how ciuilly,Rom. 13.1. Psalm. 82.1. but also how religiously he hath gouerned those that be any way vnderunder his gouernment.
Quest. What is the third?
Answ. This; though the Lord will punish inferiours that breake the Sabbath, by doing workes of profit and pleasure, yet more seu…rely will he punish Gouernors and Superiours, if they vse not their authority to restrain them as they ought; as Inne-holders, Vintners, Victuallers, and such like; that restraine not such as are in their houses, but suffer men to bee drunke in their houses on the Sabbath: they pull downe the heauy hand of God on themselues, and they shall be more seuerely punished. Because Elies sonnes ran into a slander,1 Sam. 3.13. 1 Sam 4.11.18. Numb. 25.3, 4. and hee stayed them not, they were slaine; but Elie himselfe was more grieuously punished.
Quest. How are Masters and Magistrates to restraine such as bee vnderunder them, or strangers being within their libertie, on the Sabbath, from workes of profit, or from workes of pleasure?
Nehem. 13.21.Answ. By Commandement, by admonition or reproofe, if these will serue the turne: if not, by correction and punishment, as Nehem. 13 21.
Quest. May a Master or Magistrate command and compell those that be vnderunder his charge, his seruants and such like, to attend on the duties of pietie in publike, on the Sabbath, or no?
Answ. He may; because therein he commands that which God himselfe hath commanded,2 Chron. 34.32.33. Luk. 14.23. as that men on the Sabbath assemble together to heare the word of God, and to performe publike holy duties; and if such as be vnderunder his charge, yeeld not to his commandement, he may compell them to doe it.