Gods Holy Mind Touching Matters Moral, Tract 2 · Part 40 – Part 46
Heere some Obiections of the Anabaptists and Papists are to be answered: and first of the Anabaptists.
Obiection. The Kings of Israel might compell men to the Sacrifices and Ordinances of the Old Testament; to Circumcision, and the Passeouer; because they were carnall, and purged not the Conscience, Hebr. 9.9, 10. But no mortall man whatsoeuer he bee, can compell any man to offer the Sacrifices of the Newe Testament, which are Spirituall, and purge the Conscience, except hee can beget Faith in him, and conuert his soule.
Quest. How is this to bee answered?
Answ. Thus; the sacrifices and ordinances of the Old Testament, are not said to be carnall in respect of the sacrifices of the New Testament, but in comparison of Christ, with whom they are there compared: neither was there such difference betweene the Sacraments of the Old and New Testament, as if the Sacraments in the Old Testament had been carnal, and the Sacraments vnderunder the New, spirituall; for they are both one in substance, 1 Cor. 10.3, 4.1 Cor. 10.3.4. And so Magistrates may now as well compell men to attend on publike duties of pietie, as the Kings of Israel might.
Obiections of the Papists.
Obiection. 1 To compell some men to attend on publike duties, is to make them goe against their Conscience, which the Magistrate ought not to doe, as the Papists say.
Quest. How is this to be answered?
Answ. Thus; the conscience being mis-informed, meanes are to be vsed, that it may be rightly informed. Now attending on the publike exercises of Religion, is a meanes by which the conscience may come to be rightly informed; and so no sinne in the Magistrate to compell men to vse that meanes.
Obiection. 2 Men ought to be perswaded to performe publike duties of piety; and they are to be induced to beleeue, and not to bee compelled; for the will cannot be compelled.
Quest. How is this to be answered?
Answ. Thus; it is true indeede: men are first to be dealt withall by perswasion; but if that will not serue the turne, then by compulsion.
Againe, the Magistrate doth not take on him to compell men to beleeue, that is not in his power; but hee compells them only to come to the publike assemblies, to heare the Word of God, to learne the truth of Religion,Rom. 10.14.17 that so faith may be wrought in them; the preaching of the Word being the meanes appointed of God to that purpose.
Quest. May a Master or Magistrate command and compell those that bee vnderunder his charge, to receiue the Sacrament of the Lords Supper or no?
Answ. He is to vse all good meanes,2 King. 23.21. 2 Chron. 14.4. 1 Cor 11.29. to perswade all that be vnderunder him, being of yeares and discretion, to a desire of that Sacrament: and he may also command and compell them to receiue it, they being carelesse of it; vnlesse he find them altogether ignorant and vnwilling: for then to compell them to receiue it, is to cause them to profane the Lords holy Ordinance, and to eate and drinke their owne damnation.
Quest. How farre is a child being of yeares and discretion, or a Seruant, bound to cease from doing of such things and works as doe hinder the keeping of an holy rest on the Sabbath.
Answ. From the works of pleasure altogether, and from the works of profit also altogether; both in respect of the Child or Seruants owne profit;…od. 35.2. …ech. 20.20. or the profit of the Parents, or Masters, or Gouernours; vnlesse it bee in case of present necessitie, comming by the immediate hand and prouidence of God: for then the Child or Seruant (the cautions before named, being obserued) may worke.
Obiection. If Parents command the Child, or the Master command his Seruant to do an ordinary worldly worke on the Sabbath, being neither a worke of Christian libertie, nor a worke of present necessitie comming by the immediate hand of God; as a Taylor commanding his Child or Seruant, to carry home a piece of worke, a suite of apparell, or such like.
Question. What is the Child or Seruant to doe in such a case?
…phes. 6.5. …it. 2.9. Pet. 2.1 8.Answ. A Child or a Seruant, is not stubbornly or scornefully to refuse the doing of the worke; but hee is with meekenesse, and gentlenesse, and in all humilitie, to desire and intreat that hee may not doe it: and to vse all good meanes to perswade the Parents or the Master, that he may be forborne: hee must know his place, and carry himselfe answerable to it.
Quest: What if a Master will not forbeare his Seruant in such a case on his intreaty, but will vrge him to doe the worke; and if he doe it not, will correct him most sharply, and it may be cast him out of his seruice, which haply may bee the losse of his freedome, and to his vtter vndoing, in respect of his outward estate: what is the seruant to doe in such a case?
Exod. 1.17. 1 Sam. 22 17. 1 Pet. 2.18.19.20. Act. 5.29. Rom. 3.8.Answ. He is not to doe the thing being euill, and a sinne in it selfe; but rather patiently to vndergoe any punishment his Master shall lay on him; for the least euill of sinne is not to bee done, that the greatest good may come thereof.
So much of the Negatiue part of the Commandement, the prohibition, and extent of it. Now before we come to the reasons annexed, wee will speake a word of the length of the Sabbath, when it begins and ends.
Quest. How long is the Sabbath day, how many houres doth it containe?
Answ. It containes twenty foure houres as well as any other naturall day. Psalm: 92. being a Psalme of the Sabbath, Verse 2. Dauid saith, He will declare the louing kindnes of the Lord in the morning, and his truth in the night, making the night a part of the Sabbath.
Obiect. Christ saith, (Ioh: 11.9.) There are twelue houres in the day. How then doth the Sabbath containe foure and twentie.
Quest. How is this to be answered?
Answ. Thus; hee there speakes according to the manner of the Iewes, who deuided eueryevery artificiall day into twelue houres.
Quest. When doth the Sabbath beginne, and when doth it end?
Ans. It begins at midnight on the Saturday, and ends at midnight next following. Mat: 28.1.Mat. 28.1. Mark 16.1.2.Mark. 16.1.2 Ioh. 20.1.Ioh. 20.1. compared together, it appeares that the Iewes Sabbath ended at the dawning of the first day of the weeke, and then the Lords day our Sabbath began, Act: 20.7.Act. 20.7.
Obiect. Gen. 1. It is saide, that the euening and the morning made the first day, the second day, the third day, &c. Therefore the Sabbath is to begin in the euening, and to end at the next euening.
Quest. How is this to be answered?
Answ. Thus; Moses there speakes not of the vse of time in regard of the Sabbath, but onelyonly that the Lord in appointing of dayes, began the day at the euening, and therefore that is no good consequent, for the case is otherwise in the constitution of time, then it is in the vse of time constituted.
Obiect. Leuit: 23.32. From euen to euen shall yee celebrate your Sabbath, th…refore it must begin at the euening.
Quest. How is this to be answered?
Answ. Thus; that place is to be vnderstood, not of the Lords ordinarie Sabbath, but of the feast of reconciliation, which was to be kept from euen to euen.
Now to the reasons which the Lord vseth to moue to the obedience of this Commandement.
Quest. How many are the reasons annexed to this Commandement, perswading to the obedience of it?
Answ. They are in number foure.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Answ. The first is a reason from the Lords liberall allowance of six dayes for our workes and businesses: that in equitie we are bound to cease from our owne workes on the Sabbath,…od. 20.9. because the Lord so largely imparteth sixe dayes of seauen to vsus, and reserues but one to himselfe.
Quest. What is the second reason?
Answ. The second reason is from the Lords owne right, that the seuenth day is his day, and not ours: and that hee hath set it apart to himselfe, and to his owne seruice, in those words, Exod: 20.10.…od. 20.10. The seuenth day is the Sabbath of Iehouah thy God.
Quest. What is the third reason?
Answ. The third is a reason from the Lords owne practice and example, that hee himselfe on the seuenth day rested from his worke of creation. Exod: 20.11. In six dayes Iehouah made the Heauen, and the Earth, the Sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seuenth day.
Quest. What is the fourth reason?
Answ. The fourth reason is from the hope of blessing, that the Lord hath set apart the Sabbath, not onelyonly as a day of seruice to himselfe, but also as a time and meanes of blessing to all that carefully and conscionably obserue it in those words: Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.
Of these reasons in particular, and in order. For the first.
Quest. Are those words, sixe dayes shalt thou labour and doe all thy worke, a Commandement binding vsus to labour the whole sixe dayes without intermission, and so as we sinne if we labour not in them all?
Answ. To labour diligently in a mans Calling, is commaunded of God:Gene. 3.19. 2 Thes. 3.10.11 yet those words are not a Commandement, but a permission, giuing vsus free libertie to worke all the sixe dayes: or rather, a remission of the Lords owne right, hee hauing all the dayes of the weeke at his appoyntment.
Quest. How may it appeare, that those words, Sixe dayes shalt thou labour, and doe all thy worke, are not a Commandement, but a permission?
Answ. By this reason;Exo. 23.14. to it Leu. 23. whole. Ezra 3.10. Nehem. 12.27. Ioel. 2.15. the Lord himselfe separated some of the weeke-dayes, to such Solemnities and Feastes, as the Iewes were to obserue in time of the Olde Testament: and he also gaue libertie to his Church in all ages, on speciall occasions to set apart, one, or more of the sixe dayes, either to publike Fasting, or to solemne reioycing for some benefit receiued.
Quest. May the Church then set apart some of the sixe dayes of the weeke for holy meetings and assemblies; and being set apart, may they bee obserued?
Answ. On sp…ciall occasions the Church may appoynt such dayes; and being appointed, we may obserue them,Iohn 10.22, 23. some cautions being obserued.
Quest. What are those cautions?
Answ. They are two. First, that the appoyntment and obseruation of them, bee held a thing indifferent,Exod 35.3. Exod. 16.23. Exod. 12.16. and not of absolute necessitie, and binding the Conscience, as the Commandement of the Sabbath doth: the Iewes were not so strictly bound to obserue their Festiualls, as the Sabbath.
Secondly, that the appoyntment of them bee voyd of Superstition, not placing the wo…ship of God in them, nor greater Holinesse in those dayes, then in other dayes, but that they bee appoynted onelyonly for the Assemblie of Gods people; for the exercise of the Word, and Prayer. Galat. 4.10.Galat. 4.10.
Quest. HaueHave wee free libertie so to worke all the sixe dayes of the weeke, as that wee are bound to no duties of Gods worship on those dayes?
…o. 6.7.20.Answ. No; the Lord so giueth vsus sixe daies to worke in, as that the worship of God be not neglected in priuate prayer,… 5.17. …o. 2.24. and other holy duties in the Family; and hearing of the Word in publike also, as occasion serueth.
Quest. How farre are we bound to attend on the preaching of the Word of God on the weeke dayes?
…o. 39.10 …nd. …o. 24 33. …. 7.21. …n. 4.2.Answ. Ordinarily so farre as we hauehave opportunity, and any liberty from vsing the lawfull meanes of the preseruation of our liues, and from the necessary duties of our lawfull callings, and according to the measure of our libertie; in these respects we are more or lesse bound to attend vponupon the ministerie, and preaching of the Word; vponupon the sixe dayes of the weeke.
Quest. May not such as are enforced to worke on the Sabbath day in case of present necessitie, laid on them by the immediate hand of God, set a part one of the sixe dayes, to keepe a Sabbath dayes rest on it?
Answ. No, they may not; because the Lord no where in his Word requires it, and because they working in the case of present necessitie laid on them by the prouidence of God, they breake not the Sabbath; if so be in their labouring they obserue the cautions before laid downe.
And so much of the first reason. Now to the second. The seuenth day is the Sabbath of Iehouah thy God, it is the Lords right.
Quest. What may we further gather from these words, the seuenth day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God?
Answ. The danger of prophaning the Sabbath, either by works of profit or works of pleasure; they that so doe, they rush on their owne distruction. Pro. 20.25.…ro. 20.25. It is a destruction for a man to devoure that which is sanctified, or dedicated to the Lord?
Quest. Is the Sabbath being set a part of the Lord to his owne seruice, holier then another day?
Answ. In the nature of the day it is not, for then it could not hauehave beene changed from the last day of the weeke to the first; but in respect of the vse of it, it is as the water in Baptisme is holier then other waters; not in it selfe, or by inherent holinesse; but in respect of the vse of it in that Sacrament.
Quest. May not the Church hauing power, set a part dayes for holy meetings, dedicate and consecrate those daies to the honour of Saints or Angels?
Answ. No it may not; it is the priuiledge of God to appoint a day of holy rest, and to set it apart to his owne seruice and honour. Exod. 16.23. Too morrow is the holy rest vntounto the Lord. Exod. 35.2. Times and seasons are only in his power, therefore he only is to hauehave the honour of them.Act. 1.7.
Obiection Mat. 26.13. Christ promiseth, that the charitable act of Mary Magdalene wrought on him, should be recorded & remembred: therefore say the Papists, the good works of the Saints may be recorded, to their honour and commemoration; and holy-daies may be dedicated to them.
Quest: How is this to be answered?
Answ. The good works of the Saints may be remembred to the honour of God, without their holy daies.
Againe, Christ appointed no holy-day for Mary Magdalene, but a memorie of her in the preaching of the Gospell: therefore this makes nothing for the dedication of dayes, to the honour of Saints and Angels.
Now to the third reason from the Lords owne example: In sixe dayes the Lord made the Heauen and the Earth, the Sea, and all that is in them,Exod. 20. and rested the seuenth day.
Quest: Doth the example of the Lord, here bind vsus necessarily both to worke and to rest as the Lord did?
Answ: No; it doth not in all particulars:Gen. 24.63. Psal. 119.164. Mat. 14.23. for sixe dayes are permitted vsus to doe what wee hauehave to doe in them, so that if the works of our callings, either fall out in the order and cou…se of them to be none at all on some dayes; or may iustly be put off from one day to an other, we may then on those dayes cease from bodily labours, and bestow the time either on holy exercises; as meditation, prayer, reading, singing of Psalmes, holy conference, and such like; or on honest and lawfull recreation.
Quest. What may we further gather from these words: In sixe dayes the Lord made the heauen and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them?
Answ. Two things especially.
Quest. VVhat is the first of those?
Answ. This; the greatnesse of Gods power, that he is able to bring to passe great matters in a short time;…. 32, 17.…6. in that hee spent no longer time then sixe dayes in framing the whole world, and all things in it.
Quest. Why did the Lord take so much time as sixe dayes to make the world in; hee could hauehave made it with as much ease in a minute of an houre, as in sixe dayes?
Answ. It was his pleasure to make the world, and all things in it, in sixe distinct dayes; that wee might thereby hauehave fitter occasion distinctly and seuerally to consider of the seuerall Creatures: for if the Lord had made the world in a moment, it had not been so easie and plaine for our Meditation.
Quest. What is the second thing?
Answ. This; the Creation of the Angells, though the particular time, and day of their Creation cannot bee set downe cer…ainely: yet hence wee may gather, that they were created within the compasse of the sixe dayes: for they had a beginning, and were created of God; and being things in heauen, wee may gather, that their creation was in the compasse of sixe dayes.
Quest. Why was not the creation of the Angels spoken of particularly, in setting downe the creation of all things?
Ans. Because, if it had been particularly specified, it would hauehave been thought, that the Angels had helped God in making the world, as some hauehave thought.
Quest. How is God said to hauehave rested the seuenth day?
Answ. Not as being weary in working, but that hee ceased, and left off to worke; and that not simply, but onelyonly from his worke of Creation; for by his prouidence hee worketh still in the preseruation and gouernment of all things created, Iohn 5.17.…hn. 5.17.
So much of the third reason. Now to the fourth and last reason, the Lords blessing of the Sabbath day.
Quest. What is the blessing that is here set on the Sabbath, in that it is said, the Lord blessed it?
Answ: This; that the Lord doth make the Sabbath, being obserued and kept as it ought to bee, an effectuall meanes of good, both to the soule and to the body.
Quest. What then followes on this, that the Lord blessed the Sabbath day?
Answ. This;Isa. 56.4. to 8. Isa. 58.13.14. Iere. 17.24. to 28. that the keeping of an holy rest to God on the Sabbath, brings the speciall blessing of God, not only on the soule, but on the body and outward estate also: and the breaking of the holy rest on the Sabbath, either by works of profit, or works of pleasure; brings the curse on body, soule, and whole estate.
Quest. May we looke for a more speciall blessing from God on the Sabbath day, then on other daies of the weeke; wee performing the same holy exercises on those dayes, that wee doe on the Sabbath?
Answ. Though we may looke for a blessing from God, on those houres that wee rede…me from our outward callings, and spend in holy exercis…s on the weeke daies, yet wee may looke for a more speciall blessing from God on the whole Sabbath (wee obseruing it as it ought to bee obserued) by reason of Gods owne ordinance and promise: as wee may looke for a blessing from the Lord on priuate prayer,Psal. 84.1.2.3.4.10. Zach. 8.21. Mat. 1 8.20. reading of the Word of God, and such like; yet a greater blessing may we looke for, euen by the Lords owne promise on the holy exercises performed in publike.
Quest. How did the Lord sanctifie the Sabbath?
Answ. Two waies; by his example,1 Tim. 4.5. and by his Word and Commandement, setting it a part to a religious and holy vse, and to be spent in holy and good duties.
Quest. What may hence be gathered, that the Lord did sanctifie the Sabbath?
Answ. Thus much; That the Sabbath of the Iewes, and the Sabbath also of the new Testament, the Lords day, is of diuine institution, and not appoi…ted by tradition of the Chu…ch as the Papists teach: for it belongs only to the Lord to sanctifie the Sabbath, both of the Old and New Testament, and being sanctified and set apart by the Lord himselfe to holy vses. The obseruation and keeping of it is by diuine appointment, and not by the tradition of the Church.
Quest. Why did the Lord annexe to this Commandement so many and so strong reasons to perswade to the obedience of it; and propounded some other Commandements without any reason at all?
Answ. Both because this Commandement is more spirituall, and not so deepely imprinted in nature, as some other Commandements are; as namely those that forbid murder, adulterie, and such like.
And because also hee would hauehave men to hauehave a speciall regard of obseruing and keeping this Commandement, the keeping of the rest depending on the keeping of this.