A Threefold Treatise of the Sabbath, Chapter 17
CHAP. XVII. How our Church would have our Sunday kept holy.
OUr Church hath taken order for the keeping holy of the Lords day: For the better underſtanding whereof, let us look into her certaine judgement evidenced by the undeniable Records eſtabliſhed by the ſupreameſt Authority, and ſubſcribed unto by all the Clergy of England.
The firſt is the book of Common Prayer, confirmed by Act of Parliament.
1. It maketh our Sunday to bee obſerved for an holy day. 2. It appointeth our Aſſembling, and therein to performe holy duties: as Firſt Prayer: Secondly, Reading the Scriptures, Thirdly, ſinging of pſalmes. Fourthly, Sermons, Fifthly, Collections for the poore. Sixthly, The adminiſtration of the Sacraments. Seventhly, Prayers at the departure. 3. And that the day may be well obſerved, it ordereth this meeting both for the forenoone and afternoone: calling the one Morning prayer, for that it muſt begin in reaſon betime and the other Evening prayer, becauſe it muſt bring the evening with it: So the times of Service ſhould hold us (but for the intermiſſion betweene) from the morning, untill the evening. 4. It ordereth the Miniſters diſtinctly to rehearſe all the ten Commandments and the people kneeling, after every Commandment to aske God mercy for their tranſgreſſing of the ſame, and grace to have their hearts inclined to keep every one of them, and to write them in their hearts. Now the Fourth Commandment by this rehearſall of ten, and by the peoples prayer (except the Miniſter mocke the people and the people mocke God, and that by impoſed duty from authority, which God forbid we ſhould thinke) is acknowledged: Firſt, To be a Law and Commandment of God, not onelyonly heretofore, but now at this day. Secondly, To be one of the ten, which God himſelfe ſpake. Thirdly, That it is a Law and Commandment upon us, that make this prayer: Fourthly, That we are bound to keep it: Fifthly That of our ſelves we cannot be inclined in our hearts to keep it, till God incline our hearts unto it. Sixthly, That we ſhould have a joynt care together, to obſerve it from our hearts. Seventhly, That we are to acknowledge our ſelves tranſgreſſours of it, and ſtand in need to aske mercy of the Lord for the ſame. Eightly, That it is a mercy of God to encline our hearts to keepe it, and to write it in our hearts.
Now the Fourth Commandment requireth a day to be kept holy, as a Sabbath or reſt day: and therefore by this prayer are we to acknowledge it a Law to us, and all bound in heart to affect it, and to keepe it, as the Lord hath commanded us.
The ſecond is the Book of Canons or Eccleſiasticall Conſtitutions.
For the religious obſervation of this day by our Eccleſiaſticall Conſtitutions. Firſt, All people are tied to reſort to the Church. Secondly, Not to depart out of the Church during the time of ſervice or Sermon without urgent cauſe: Thirdly, That before Evening prayer, Fathers, Mothers, Canon. 59.Maſters, Miſtreſſes, ſhould ſend their children, ſervants, and apprentices to be Catechiſed, to be inſtructed, and taught by the Miniſter for halfe an houre and more. Fourthly, All Canon. 13.manner of perſons within the Church of England ſhall celebrate and keep the Lords day commonly called Sunday, and other holydayes, as followeth.
1 It muſt be kept according to Gods holy will and pleaſure: Here the Church telleth us where to begin, the principall guide muſt be Gods holy will and pleaſure, which is to be ſearched after in his Word, from which if we ſwarve, and have not it for our rule and warrant in doing any thing on this day, we break this Canon.
2 According to the preſcribed orders of the Church of England, which is there very piouſly ſet down in eight Particulars.
1 In hearing the word of God read and taught: ſo it is kept as a day of inſtruction.
2 In private and publick prayer: ſo it is an eſpeciall day of audience, and putting up our petitions to God: firſt with our Families before we enter into the holy aſſembly, to prepare us the better for a bleſſing, and then with the whole Congregation.
3 In acknowledging their offences to God: ſo it is a day of Humiliation before the Lord, and ſuing out a pardon for the ſame.
4 In an amendement of their offences: ſo it is a day of Reformation of our evil lives, and ſinfull courſes.
5 In reconciling themſelves charitably to their neighbours where diſpleaſure hath been: So it is a day of Reconciliation, laying aſide diſpleaſure, and of charitable ſeeking peace one with another.
6 In receiving the Communion of the body and bloud of Chriſt: So it is a day of Confirmation of our faith in Gods bleſſed Covenant made with us in Chriſt, and a day of great conſolation to behold viſibly with the eye the greateſt work that ever God wrought, and the greateſt mercy that ever he did ſhew to poor ſinners.
7 In viſiting the poor and ſick: ſo it is a day of mercifull viſitation, and beholding of Chriſt in his poor and ſick ſervants.
8 And laſtly in uſing all godly and ſober Converſation: So it is a day, for the expreſſion of a good behaviour towards God and man, in all godly Converſation againſt prophaneneſſe in all ſober Converſation, againſt Intemperance, Riot, and Revelling, Gluttony, and Drunkenneſſe, Lightneſſe, and looſe Carriage.
Thus we ſee how the Canon directeth us in an excellent manner to keep this day. Can there be either required, or better meanes uſed, than is here preſcribed to keep from ſinfull courſes on the Lords day?
The third is the Book of Homilies.
In the Homily of prayer we are taught: Firſt, To aſſemble together ſolemnely having our hearts ſifted and clenſed from wordly and carnall affections and deſires, ſhaking off all vaine thoughts which may hinder from Gods true ſervice. Secondly, To be carefull to keep the day holily, and to reſt from our labours at home, riding and journeying abroad. Thirdly, To give our ſelves wholly to heavenly exerciſes of Gods true religion and ſervice. Fourthly, To have in remembrance Gods wonderfull benefits, and to render him thanks for them. Fifthly, To celebrate and magnifie Gods holy name in quiet holineſſe and godly reverence. Sixthly And laſtly, beſides laying aſide the works of our callings the Homily exhorteth to ſhun ungodlineſſe, and filthineſſe, pride praunceing prancking, pricking, pointing, painting or to be gorgeous and gay: Likewiſe, to beware of gluttony, drunkeneſſe, and other fruits thereof mentioned; to avoide alſo wantonnes toyiſh talking, and filthy fleſhlines. Thus we ſee, what a ſtrict obſervation of the Lords day our Homily preſcribeth unto us. It hath been the honour of our Church hitherto to outſtrip all Chriſtian Churches in the world in the ſanctifing of the Lords day. Our Common prayer book, Canon, and Homily would hold us to it, if they had any authority over us.