The Practical Sabbatarian, Chapter 43
CHAP. XLIII. There was a time when the Jews were exemplarily ſtrict in Sabbath-Obſervation.
THis Treatiſe now ſpending it ſelf, and ſo drawing nearer to a concluſion; the remaining task of it, will mainly conſiſt in preſſing conſcience upon the due and holy obſervation of the Lords day, our Chriſtian Sabbath. Now to make way for the better accompliſhment of this deſign, I ſhall give the Reader, as in a Landskip, the Jewiſh practice on Exod. 20. 2.the Sabbath, which indeed was ſometimes very commendable, when they did remember the Lord their God, who brought them out of the Land of Aegypt, and out of the houſe of bondage, Exod. 20. 2. And we may well take our riſe to this duty of keeping Gods bleſſed Sabbath from the advantage they give us. It is true, there were ſome ſeaſons when Judaei ſpiritualia officia negligentes, quae deus praecepit, in diem Sabbati peragenda, nefariè omiſerunt, & otio et luxuriae in eundem diem ſe dederunt. Gauden.they were very remiſs in the obſervation of Gods holy Sabbath, eſpecially not long before the Babyloniſh Captivity, and in the Primitive times of the Chriſtian Church; then by their bruitiſh ſenſuality on the Sabbath, they drew out the Pens of Chriſtians, and opened the mouths of Heathens: but there were other times, when their care of Gods day was written in a fair character, and might inflame a Chriſtians heart, who hath any love to the Lord of the Sabbath, Mark 2. 28. to a ſerious and a holy deportment on this ſacred day.
Now to enucleate and ſet before you their practice on the Judaei Sabbata inſumunt in crapulâ, et ebrietate, et infructuoſis delitiis et voluptatibus. Cyril.Sabbath, we ſhould begin with their preparation to it, for they were ſo exact, that the beſt and wealthieſt of them, even thoſe who kept many ſervants, did with their owne hands further the preparation, inſomuch that ſometimes the Maſters themſelves would chop herbs, ſweep the houſe, cleave wood, kindle the fire, and ſuch like, as Buxtorf obſerves; and which is very obſervable, all the four Evangeliſts Buxtorf. Synagog. Judaic. cap. 10. ex Talmud.take notice of the Jews preparation day to their Sabbath: But of this I have ſpoken largely already, and ſo I ſhall paſs it over, for ingenuity forbids coincidencies and vain repetitions.
But to come to the Jews obſervation of the Sabbath, a Mat. 27. 62. Mark 15. 42. Luke 23. 54. John 19. 42.learned man obſerves, They dreſs no meat this day, and therefore the Heathens heretofore thought they had faſted on that day. And indeed a ſerious practice it was to keep down the body, and prepare it for ſpiritual duties. When the ſenſes Aug. cap. 76. de jejun. Sab.are cloyed, the ſoul is much interrupted in heavenly converſes. Pampered bodies uſually accompany pining ſouls. The Sueton. Martial. lib. 4. Epigr.over-laying the fire with wood puts it out. The Diſciples plucked a few ears of Corn on the Sabbath, Mat. 12. 1. to be patterns of modeſty and temperance. But I ſhall not inſiſt on this practice of theirs, it being rather their cuſtome then their obedience; however, if from their dreſſing no me…t we would learn a ſpare diet on Gods holy day, much ſin would be prevented, which is the blemiſh and ſhame of Chriſtians: But their carriage on the Sabbath was very remarkable, which may be deſcried,
In the nature of their ſervices; Their ſervices on a Sabbath are not only carnal, to offer up ſacrifices, two Lambs of the firſt year, two tenth deals of floure mingled with oyle, the one for a burnt offering, and the other for a meat offering, to which was added a drink offering, Numb. 28. 9, 10. But their ſervices likewiſe were of a more ſpiritual nature;
1. They had their thanksgivings to God, that heavenly ſervice, Pſal. 26. 12. Pſal. 35. 18. They ſung Pſalms, 2 Chron. 29. 30. which are the joyfull harmony of a devout ſoul; nay, the ninety ſecond Pſalm was compoſed on purpoſe foreignfor the Sabbath, as the inſcription of it doth clearly inform us. And it was the joy of the holy among the Jewes to be thus ſpiritually and ſeraphically employed, Pſal. 84. 10.Ordinaria lectio illius Sabbati fuit locus ille Iſaiae, ſcil. 53. et in eo fuit ſingulare conſilium dei. Chemnit.
2. On their Sabbath the Scriptures were read, Acts 15. 21. (as was hinted before) A New Teſtament quotation to aſſert it, which is not omitted in the Old, Deut. 31. 11, 12, 13. And our dear Saviour in the dayes of his fleſh, took advantage of this ſervice for ſoul edification, Luke 4. 17, 18, 19, 20. and ſo did the Apoſtles, Acts 13. 14, 15, 16. This ſervice made way for glorious expoſitions, and for new revelation 2 Chron. 30. 22.velation of the Divine Will, and for apt and ſeaſonable applications.2 Chron. 35. 2.
3. Beſides the reading of the word, the Jews uſed the Preaching of it on the Sabbath: For the Prieſts office was to teach, Mat. 2. 7. Deut. 33. 10. And they looked on it as a great miſery, when they wanted a teaching Prieſt, 2 Chron. 15. 2. Or if they were unhappy in ignorant and unskilful Prieſts, whoſe lips did not preſerve knowledge, Jer. 2. 8. Or ſuch Prieſts whoſe lives contradicted their Doctrine, Mat. 23. 1, 2. And this preaching was either in the expoſition of the words as they read them, Nehem. 8. 3, 8. Or elſe in an exhortation, or as we call it, in making a Sermon upon the words, Luke 4. 17, 18, 19, &c. Acts Luke 4. 31.15. 21.Mark 6. 2.
4. They had their devout prayers on the Sabbath, reverently Luke 13. 10.kneeling in an humble and ſubmiſſive behaviour, 1 King. 8. 54.Pſal. 95. 6. 2 Chron. 6. 13. They did not only offer the Ezr. 6. 10.ſacrifice of their lambs, but the calves of their lips, Hoſ. 14. Acts 16. 12.2. They did not only pour out their oil into their deals of floure, Numb. 8. 9, 10. But they poured out their ſouls into the boſom of God, Iſa. 56. 7. Their prayers uſher'd in their ſervices, and moſt profitably wound up their duties. A…urata ſit exquiſitarum ſententiarum enarratio quae non ſummis incidit auribus, ſed per auditum penetrat in animum ibi que firmitèr inhaereat. Phil. Jud.And in the Concluſion of their holy exercices upon the Sabbath, there was a bleſſing pronounced on the people, 2 Chron. 30. 27. Levit. 9. 22, 23. as the Lord commanded, Numb. 6. 23, 27. And then the Congregation brake up, Acts 13. 43. And the people departed. Thus the ſervices of the Jews on their Sabbath were not only ceremonial, but ſpiritual. Their ear was attentive in hearing, their knee was bowed in praying, their tongue was employed in ſinging, and their heart was taken up in complying with every ſervice of the day.
The Jews carriages were remarkable on the Sabbath, in the deſign of their ſervices, which was to converſe with God. To Sabbatum datur ad conſideranda dei opera. Aben Ezra.conſider his works, ſaith Rabbi Aben Ezra, to be converſant in his ſervice and worſhip ſaith Rabbi Kimchi, to conſult with his word, and to pry into the more arduous and deep paſſages of it, ſaith Manaſſeh Conciliator. Nay the Hieruſalem Talmud, which I may call the Jews ſacred Code, a In Sabbato homo converſus à negotiis hujus mundi, & anima illius pura eſt ab occupationibus corporis, et ſeſe exercet in ſervitio dei. Rab. Kimch.ſyſtem of their Doctrines, Rites, and Laws, alloweth nothing to be the end of the Sabbath, but divine meditation in the Law of God; thus from the moſt approved of their own Authors, we have, what they aimed at in their Sabbath, viz. To walk above the world in holy contemplation, to go into the treaſury of Gods word by ſerious inquiſition, and to wait upon the Lord of glory in humble adoration. Their deſign was not the eaſe of the fleſh, Manaſſeh Conciliator calls it a notable errour to think ſo, for idleneſs, ſaith he, is Notabilis error eſt, otii ergo Sabbatum eſſe inſtitutum. Otium, enim mater eſt omnium vitiorum; Et ſic plus ſanè mali quàm boni ex Sabbato proveniret. Sed Sabbatum eſt inſtitutum ut homo expeditus, et ſepoſitis …um animi, tum corporis curis ſemet totum legis ſtudio applicet, et gravibus locis ſacrae Scripturae, de arduis quaeſtionibus interrogare. Man. Concil.the Mother of all vices, and this Learned Jew adds, ſhould we indulge our ſelves in eaſe and delight, the Sabbath would have more evil then good in it: Their deſign was not pleaſing of ſenſe, the ſame Learned Manaſſeh tells us, We muſt ſtrip our ſelves of all incumbrances both of body and mind, that with more freedom and activity we may apply our ſelves to Gods Law, Iſa. 2. 3. Nehem. 8. 13. Now ſenſe-pleaſing is the ruſt of the mind, the ſhackle upon the ſoul, and the Canker of holy worſhip. And it is the zealous expreſſion of the forementioned Author,, That the whole man muſt be given up to God on his own holy Sabbath. What more ſavoury could drop from a Chriſtians Pen, and what more ſerious could be breathed from a Chriſtian heart? And in writing after this Copy we may eaſily mend our hand.
The Jews carriage on the Sabbath was moſt remarkable in the exactneſs of their ſervices,
1. In the morning of a Sabbath, John 8. 2. They began with private preparation as they were commanded, Eccleſ. 5. 1, 2.
2. And they durſt not adventure upon holy worſhip till they had reconciled themſelves one to another, Mat. 5. 23, 24. Malice and Enmity were not to tread in Gods Courts.Sabbata Iſraelitis non niſi ad meditandum in lege data ſunt. Talmud. Hieroſolym. Iſa. 66. 3. Pſal. 50. 16.
3. And they were to look to their converſations, to ſee them clean before they took the Law of God into their mouths, Pſal. 26. 6. And their neglect of this duty in aftertimes highly provoked the Lord, Iſa. 1. 12, 13.
4. They had a high eſteem of the aſſemblies of the faithful as holy Convocations, Levit. 23. 3. And they looked on the place of their meeting as the houſe of God, 1 Chron. 9. Pſal. 27. 4.27. And thought thoſe bleſſed who dwelt there, Pſal. Pſal. 84. 1, 2.84. 4.
5. When they were going to the place of worſhip, it was Mic. 4. 2.with ſingular affection, Pſal. 26. 8. and vehement longing, Pſal. 42. 2.
6. It was cuſtomary among them to excite one another to approach to God in holy and ſolemn worſhip. The Paſtors ſtirred up the people, Jer. 31. 6. And the people ſtirred up one another, Jer. 50. 4, 5. And the parties excited were glad thereof, Pſal. 122. 1.
7. Joy and praiſe made their way to the houſe of God, Pſal. 42. 4.
8. When they entred into the Congregation, they worſhipped at the very gate, Ezek. 46. 3. They kiſſed the Datum eſt Sabbatum ad meditandum in lege dei. Aben Ezr. in. cap. 20 Exod.very portal where Gods honour dwelt: So zealous and devout (when time was) was this poor people.
9. When they departed they would carry a bleſſing with them, 2 Chron. 30. 27.
10. After the diſmiſſion, they did meditate on what they heard, Pſal. 1. 2. if at all times, much more on this bleſſed day: And they did not ſurvey what they heard in a ſecret contemplation, but in a ſerious examination, Acts 17. 11. They ſearched the Scriptures afterwards, touching thoſe things in which they were taught. The Scriptures were their golden Mine, not only to look upon in meditation, but to ſearch into by ſcrutiny and holy diſcuſſion.
11. When they were come home from publick Ordinances, Deut. 11. …9.they taught their Children: For this was a charge laid upon them daily, much more on Gods day, Deut. 6. 6, 7. Exod. 31. 14, 15.And if they were to teach their Children when they walked by the way, much more when they came from a Sermon, heated with the incenſe of holy duties.
12. O… this holy Sabbath they were to charge their meditations with their deliverance from Egypt, Deut. 5. 14, 15. And to think on the ſanctifying power of God, Ezek. 20. 20. And to contemplate on the eternal reſt, the everlaſting Sabbath which was to come; and to ſee in all things they delighted in the Lord, and accounted his day honourable, and denyed all their own thoughts, and delights, and works on this bleſſed day, Iſa. 58. 13. Let us go and do ſo likewiſe, Iſa 58. 14.as our Saviour ſpeaks in another caſe, Luke 10. 17. And when we deviate in Sabbath duties, let us take this glaſs and ſo mend our dreſs.
The Jews carriage was moſt remarkable on their Sabbath in the multiplicity of their ſervices.
1. They had preparatory work (which hath already been touched upon, and therefore no further to be purſued.)
2. They had legal ſacrifices to offer both forenoon and afternoon, and theſe ſacrifices were to be doubled on the Num. 28. 9, 10.Sabbath. They had their burnt offerings, their meat offerings, their drink offerings, beſides the incenſe which was Quod ſpectat ad uſum Altaris aurei, debuit in ſingulis diebus mane et veſpere in eo ſuffitum offerri ab Aarone et ejus ſucceſſoribus. Rivet.to be burnt on the Altar both Morning and Evening, Exod. 30. 7, 8. And this offering of incenſe is a perpetual ſervice throughout their Generations: And to this offering up of incenſe David alludes, Pſal. 141. 2.
3. They had ſpiritual duties to perform, holy prayers to pour forth, Dan. 9. 21. Luke 1. 10. Holy Scriptures to read, holy inſtructions to give to their Children and Servants, holy meditation to entertain, holy Sacraments to adminiſter; Sometimes the Paſſeover, John 19. 36. And often Nehem. 8. 5.the Circumciſion, John 7. 22. Their ſpiritual duties Luke 4. 20.like ſtars, did ſhine in the firmament of their Sabbath, to render it bright and glorious.Nehem. 8. 3.
4. They had works of charity to act: And theſe were of two ſorts.
1. Either to brute creatures, for the Lord allowed them to lead their Ox and their Aſſe to watering, Luke 13. 15. to make their lives more comfortable.
2. Or Secondly, to themſelves, they had liberty to provide for their placid and chearful performances of holy duties: But moſt principally they had Collections for …he poor on the Sabbath which the Scripture mentions, Luke 21. 1, Mark 12. 41. Deinde edicitur, nequis ſit impedimento Judaeis, caetus aut collectus facientibus, aut Hyeroſoly…a eas mittentibus more patrio. Phil. Jud. in legat. ad Ca…n Ceſarem.2. And Philo Judaeus in his Apology to the Emperour. Caius Caligula ſtands much upon this ſervice of theirs for the juſtification of the Brethren of his Religion, and recapitulates it, as a priviledge granted them by Caeſar Auguſtus. Thus we may obſerve, how buſie the Jews were in running through the ſeveral ſtages of duty, till they came to the end of their Sabbath. No wonder then, if one of their Rabbies, called idleneſs on a Sabbath, a notable errour.
The Jews carriage on the Sabbath was remarkable in the continuance of their ſervices: They began their Sabbath betimes, and ended it late. We read they came early on the Pſal. 139. 9.morning to the temple, Luke 21. 38. they did fly to holy duties upon the wings of the morning, that no Sabbath time Luke 21. 38. John 8. 2. John 18. 20.might run waſte; And this their earlineſs is taken notice of in three ſeveral places of Scripture, to ſhew how pleaſing it was. Chriſt roſe early to teach, John 8. 2. and the people Deut. 32. 2.roſe early to bath their ſouls in that morning dew which fell from heaven; And the Scripture records, this early reſort was no fit of novelty, but their conſtant and continual practice, John 18. 20. And if it be ſaid, But happily their ſervice paſſed away as the dew which is ſoon dried up; it is anſwered, it is thought moſt probably, that the Jews did Convenimus ſemper et curcti magno ſilentio utuntur, niſi ad laudem doctorum; nec aliquis verbum emittit Sacerdos unus è ſenioribus legem recitat, et exponit, et hoc fit ad totum diem uſ que ad crepuſculum: Deindo abeunt, et ſacrarum litterarum peritiores, et pietate multò munitiores. Euſeb. de Praepar. Evan, lib. 8. cap. 2. ex Philon▪hold out from the beginning to the ending without any intermiſſion; there was no breaking up of the Congregation till all was done, Acts 13. 43. Nehem. 8. 8, 9. But Philo, one of the moſt eminent among the Jews, gives us this fair relation of their behaviour on the Sabbath; We have our Conventions, ſaith he, on the Sabbath, and ſit down with great ſilence, and the people ſpeak not a word, unleſs it be in the praiſe of their Teachers: one of the moſt grave of the Prieſts, reads the Law and expounds it; and this is done all the day long till twilight, and ſo the people g… away more knowing in the Law of God. And this relation Euſebius takes notice of in his eighth book of Evangelical preparation, the ſecond Chapter. Thus then upon the credit of one of their moſt famous Authors, it was the ſhutting in of the evening put a ſtop to their publick ſervices, beſides the remains of duty to be acted at home; ſo that their whole Sabbath was a golden thread ſpun out in heavenly and devout performances; which may cover the faces of many Chriſtians with ſhame, who trifle away their precious Sabbaths in vain and flatulent impertinencies.
To add but a word; The Jews zeal for Sabbath-obſervation, ſometimes gave ſo good an heat, that miſtaking the force of the fourth Commandment, In it thou ſhalt do no manner of work, Exod. 20. 10. they would not adventure to roſt an Apple, to pluck an herb, to climb a tree, or thoſe things which are moſt harmleſs and inoffenſive, nay, not to defend themſelves, when aſſaulted by the enemy on the Sabbath day; and by this means they became a prey to their Joſeph. lib. 12. cap. 8.Adverſary Antiochus Epiphanes, whereupon Matthias made a Decree, that it ſhould be lawfull upon the Sabbath to reſiſt their Enemies, which Decree, they underſtanding Joſeph. lib 14. cap. 8.ſtrictly, as if it gave them onelyonly leave to reſiſt when they were actually aſſaulted, and not to uſe any ſtratagem on that day to prevent their enemies, by raiſing of Rams, or ſetting of Engines, undermining, &c. They became a prey a ſecond time to Pompey. But afterwards they arrived at a foreignbetter underſtanding of this Decree; and now they have a Proverbial ſpeech, Peril of life drives away the Sabbath: As the Chriſtians uſe a Proverb much to the ſame purpoſe, Neceſſity knows no holy dayes. And this ſcruple concerning ſuch ſmall things as were before mentioned, as likewiſe not Hoſpin. de Orig. Feſtor. cap. de Sab.warring on the Sabbath, Hoſpinian puts a fair conſtruction upon, and thinks it rather miſtake, then ſuperſtition. And ſo we have ſeen the fair portraicture of Sabbath-obſervation, as it was ſometimes drawn by Jewiſh practice, when they were ſerious and adviſed, and not effaſcinated with ſenſuality and idolatry; and truly it was very commendable, and deſerves imitation, and will certainly heat the furnace of eternal fire ſeven times hotter to Sabbath-breaking Dan. 3. 19.Chriſtians.