The Substance of Christian Religion, Lecture 38
The thirty eighth Lords day.
On Exod. 20. 8, 9, 10, 11.
Verse 8. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy:
9. Six dayes shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
10. But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD thy Gods in it thou shalt not do any work: thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattel, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
11 For in six dayes the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day, Wherefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.
THis fourth command, which is about the time of more solemn worship, is, explicated 1. generally, vers. 8. Remember, &c. 2. speciall, vers. 9, 10. that this is the seventh, or one of seven; whereunto is adjoyned the duty about keeping this day. This duty consists of two parts, to wit, of rest, and of the Sanctification of that rest: the rest is a ceasing from all our workes; and is illustrated from its causes, by a distribuition; neither thou, nor thy son, &c. The sanctifying of this rest is consecrating, or holy application of it to Gods worship. And this sentence is not onelyonly proposed, but also confirmed, and that with a double reason; whereof 1. Is taken from a tacit comparison of the greater. God hath promised us six dayes for our works; and therefore by very good right and reason, he may challenge the seventh to himself, to be consecrated to his worship. …. Reason is taken from the exemplar cause, because God by his own example of resting on the seventh day, went before us, as it were to give us a coppy to follow. 3, Reason is from the efficient, that is, Gods institution or appointment which consisteth of two parts; sanctifying of it, and blessing it. The sanctifying of it, was the separating of this day from a worldly use to an holy. The blessing of it, was the promise to blesse them, that rightly blesse this day.
Doct. 1. Certaine times are both privately and publickly to be appointed and set apart for more solemn worship.
This is understood in the command by that Synecdoche, that names the special for the general. Those times in general are due unto publick worship which are most agreeable to the societies, in which we live. And to the private exercises of godliness, by night order; some part of the morning, and of the evening time is due; and this is alwayes the practice of the Prophets and Apostles approved in Scripture, and proposed unto us, as an example to be followed.
Reas. 1. Because we ought to have this care, that we orderly and decently worship God; which cannot be without setting apart such a certaine time.
2. Because our vanities, and straglingnes of mind and forgetfulness about spirituall duties requires of us the help of such an ordinance, as this.
3. Because these appointed times keep us from many sins, while in our thoughts we are either preparing our selves for these exercises, or else keep still the fresh remembrance and power of them in our memories.
Use, is of Reproofe, against their negligence, who though they professe themselves to be worshippers of God, yet can scarce finde any time, to give God the worship that is due to him
Doct. 2. That one day of seven be holily observed, is of morall and perpetuall duty; as with us, the Lords Day.
Reas. 1. Because this is expresly commanded in this morall law, as spoken immediatly by God himself, together with the other commands, and written by his own finger on tables of stone, as they were; which things were onelyonly proper to the morall law.
Reas. 2. Because it was thus ordain'd from the beginning of the Creation.
Reas. 3. Because it is never lesse necessary, that some seventh day be observed, than it was at the first institution. And that the Lords day, or first of the week, or seventh is now by Divine authority appointed to us, that it be holily kept, appeareth:
1. From the ground and reason of the change, because as God from the beginning, appointed the seventh day of the week, or septenary circuit of dayes for his rest from Creating of things: So Christ appointed the first of the week, or of the seventh days of ordinary recourse, because on that day he rested from his penall and afflictious labours of his humiliation, or emptying himself, whereby he restored and created the world, as it were new again, unto a better condition than it had lost.
2. By the frequent apparitions of Christ in the convention of his Disciples on this day.
3. From the sending and shedding abroad of the Holy-ghost, on this day.
4. By the practise of the Apostles.
5. By Apostolike constitution, 1 Cor 16.
6 From the very title and name of the Lords day, that it hath in the New Testament
7. From the rigorous observation of this day in the Primitive Church, by occasion whereof they were accounted worshippers of the sun; because this first day of the week was by Heathens attributed to the Planet of the Sun, as the rest were to the rest of the Planets.
Use Is of Exhortation▪ that out of conscience towards God, and obedience to this command, we have a care of observing the Lords day.
Doct. 3. One part of our duty is that on the Lords day, we cease from all our own works.
It is gathered from the Text; In six dayes shalt thou doe all thy work; but on the seventh day thou shal… doe no work. &c. That is, no work that is thme. Now that work is said to be our work, which neither directly belongs to the worship of God, nor yet is otherways imposed upon us by any necessity from God; but is chosen by our selves for some humane, or worldly end. Now such are 1. All our common and mer…enary works. 2 All things, that call away our mind from that intention that is required unto the worship of God on that day, though otherwaies they be not servile. Yet such things are not forbidden, as either belong unto common honesty, or are of a very urgent and not of a made necessity of our own. The reason of this rest is, that we may be at convenient leisure for divine worship: For worldly businesses do in divers wayes withstand this more solemn worship of God.
Reas. 1. Because the very external acts of both are for the most part such, as that they cannot consist or stand together at one time.
Reas. 2. Because the minde being distracted with such worldly businesse, cannot compose or settle it self in good order to perform solemn worship to God, as it ought.
Reas. 3. Because the taste, and savour, and power of holy exercises is impaired, and dulled at least, or blunted by mixture of such things with them, which in comparison should be but vile to them.
Use Is of Reproof, of such as easily break the rest of this day, either by their ordinary and vulgar occupations; or with merchandizes, or with sports or plays, or with troublesome and long feastings on it, &c.
Doct. 4. The other part of our duty on the Lords day, is to sanctifie this our rest; that is, to apply the leisure that we have, to Gods worship, as well publikely as privately.
Duties of this kinde are first, a preparing of our minds to Gods solemn worship. Secondly, Hearing of his Word. Thirdly, Solemn prayers. Fourthly, Partaking of the Sacraments. Fifthly, Works of Charity. Sixthly, Meditation and conference about holy things. Seventhly, A religious considering of the works of God, of Creation and Providence, and even of such as occasionally we then hear or see, though they be otherwayes worldly.
Reas. 1. Because in such duties, we make profession of Religion, and of that honour, that is due unto God; which therefore is to him honourable, and accepted.
Reas. 2. Because by this means, we build up our selves, and advance our communion that we have with God: For seeing that by worldly occupations through the six days of the week, our mind is somewhat pressed towards the earth, it was by a most wise purpose and counsel of God ordain'd, that every seventh day at least again they should be lifted up to heaven, and sent up thitherwards by all such means, that they might be restored to their former step or degree, from which they had been declining: And seeing we contract also some filthynesse from such worldly businesses, on the Lords day they should be wiped off, and we cleansed from them by the exercises of sanctification. And seeing many occasions fall on the other days, which bring their own difficulties and tentations with them; on this day we ought to be well furnished and armed, so that it ought to be our day of spirituall mustering or weapon showing; and a day of lustration. A cleansing our selves from all filthinesses before contracted; and a day of our ascending into heaven, in as far as our Faith and Charity, with other heavenly gifts, on this day should be singularly kindled in our hearts.
Reas. 3. Because by this means also we build up one another in the practise of our Religion, so that he who hears the preaching of the word, though he learn nothing himself, yet he teaches others some good thing, even in this, that he hears, and thereby presses that he both should do so and other too: So hereby he teaches others, that God is to be solemnly worshipped, and his word with reverence to be heard.
Use 1. Is of Admonition, that we beware of the neglect of these duties, which can not consist with any vigour either of religion to God, or of love and care of our own salvation: Or lastly, of love and christian affection towards the Church, and our neighbours.
Use 2. Is of Direction, that according to this rule we judge of the duties, which on this day we perform about Gods worship: For all of them in common should rise up so high as to a sanctifying of this day; and this sanctifying again of the day, depends on our sanctifying of the name of God, and our advancing of our own salvation: Unlesse therefore we seek such fruits in our consciences, we have therein just cause of great humiliation; but if we feel them in any degree, we have as great reason to give the Lord as great thanks for it.
Doct. 5. It is the duty of every Christian, that not onelyonly themselves sanctifie that day, but also that they make all such to do it, as far as in them lies, that are under their power.
This is hence collected, because this commandement is in a singular manner directed to such as are over others, Magistrates, Parents, Masters, &c. Neither thou, nor thy son.
Reas. 1. Because such servile works, as are forbidden on that day, are for the most part made to be done by command of Fathers to Children, Masters to Servants, Magistrates to Subjects: So that though they be performed by others, yet the works are theirs, at whose command they are done.
Reas. 2. Because the sanctifying of this day was ordained as well for the cause and use of Sons and Servants, as of Parents and Masters.
Reas. 3. Because it is the duty of all Superiours, to further the salvation, as much as they can, of all that are under them; and to procure by them and from them that honour to God, that is due to him from them.
Use, 1. Is of Reproof, against that most unworthy carelesness of men, who as they are not diligent enough themselves in doing their own duty on this behalf, so they think that they are free from all charge of children and servants about this matter.
Use 2. Is of Direction, to Inferiors, that are under others power. 1. That herein they willingly obey their Superiours, when they call them to serve God. 2. Yea, that they be thankfull towards them for this cause. 3. That such as have the liberty should chuse out such Superiours to be under, as from whom they may look for this help.
Doct. 6. For keeping of this duty, we must have a special remembrancer, Remember that ye keep holy. &c.
Reas. 1. Because this command is not written naturally on our hearts, as the other; but it was a command of institution rather than of natural light.
Reas. 2. Because the command concernes not all dayes and houres; but one special time, therefore we may the more easily forget.
Reas. 3. Because the many businesses of this life, do easily turne away our mindes from this duty, unless with care and some diligence we set our selves to the contrary.
Reas. 4. Because that we may rightly and conveniently sanctify this day, we had need beforehand to think of the same, and set our worldly business in such order, that they be no hinderance to us in that day, to sanctify it arightly; and so also on other dayes be busied about them, that when that day comes we may be disposed and ready with freedome of minde and chearfulnesse to lay them aside, and betake our selves to, and go about the solemne worship of God, with our whole mindes.
Use, Is of Reproof, against the lazinesse and carelesnesse of many, who are so farre from an holy remembering of this day, that they remember it rather to this end, that they may bestow it on their private pleasures, or other businesses of their owne; on which they cannot have the leisure to bestow any other day. For if they must run abroad a little, or some sport and easy journey must be made, or some trouble-feast to be held, before any day else, they chuse the Lords-day for these; as if otherwayes that day should be lost to them, as an idle day, if it were onelyonly bestowed on Gods solemne worship. Others there be, that do not so much as remember the day of the week, unless by the Bell they be put in rememberance of it.