The Lords Day, Half title – To the reader
DIES DOMINICA, OR THE Lords Day.
Ignat. Epist. ad Magnes.
After the Sabbath, let all that love Chriſt, celebrate the Lords Day, as being conſecrated to the Lords Reſurrection, the Queen, and Princeſs of all dayes.
THE Lords-Day. OR, A SUCCINCT NARRATION Compiled Out of the Teſtimonies of H. SCRIPTURE, and the Reverend Ancient FATHERS: and Divided into Two Books.
In the former whereof is declared; That the obſervation of the Lords Day was from the Apoſtles: and by the Chriſtian Church ſolemnized in a continual ſeries: that its Inſtitution was Divine; and what things do hinder its ſolemnity.
In the Later is ſhewn, In what things its Sanctification doth conſiſt.
In both which alſo Several Eccleſiaſtical Antiquities, not unworthy to be known, are explained.
Lately Tranſlated out of the Latine.
Aug. de verb. Apoſt. Serm. 15.
The Lords Reſurrection hath promiſed us an eternal day, and conſecrated for us the Lords Day: which is called the Lords Day, becauſe it ſeemeth to belong properly to the Lord.
Acta Martyrum, apud Baronium, an. 303. n. 37, &c.
The Martyrs being called into judgment, and ask'd of the Proconſul, Whether they had done their Collect, or celebrated the Lords day? anſwered, with the ſame words often repeated, that they were Chriſtians, that they had done thes Lords Collect, and celebrated the Lords Day, with a congruou devotion of Religion, becauſe it could not be intermitted.
London, Printed by E Leach, and are to be ſold by Nevil Symmons, at the Princes Arms in St. Pauls Church-yard. 1672.
TO THE READER.
Reader,
IN the midſt of our diſtractions, confuſions, and deſolations, our declinings, and the increaſe of wickedneſs in the land, it would be no ſmall reviving to our hopes, if we could but procure a more general and conſcientious obſervation of the Lords day; I mean not [a Judaizing, Touch not, Taſte not, Handle not, Go but a Sabbath dayes journey, Heal not on the Sabbath day, Rub not the Ears of Corn to eat, &c.] but a holy diligence all the day, in learning the Will of God, in reading and hearing his Word, in ſinging and ſpeaking out his praiſes; in calling upon his name in the Communion of Saints, in the Sacramental Commemoration of the Death and Reſurrection of our Saviour till he come: Nor do I mean the preferring of the Name of the Sabbath, before the naming of it The Lords Day: But the real ſeparation of it for theſe Holy works, from all works that are common and unclean; not calling that unclean, which God hath cleanſed; but avoiding all unneceſſary things, which are a true impediment to the duties of the day, and to the edification and comfort of our Souls.
Could we but procure a general Conſcience of this Holy day and work, Oh, what a bleſſed means would it prove to the increaſe of knowledge, and holineſs among us! How could men ſpend one day of ſeven in the ſerious reading and hearing of Gods Word, and not grow in the underſtanding of it? How could they ſpend each week a day in hearing heavenly diſcourſes, and in holy prayers, praiſes, and thanksgivings, and not become themſelves more holy, if they did this in good earnest, and not with hypocritical formality! Where there is a profitable publick Miniſtry, what a furtherance would this be to its ſucceſs? Where there is not, O what a ſupply would this be in Families. If Parents and Maſters did but ſpend the day in Catechiſing their Children and Servants, and reading to them the Word of God, and holy, profitable Books, and in praying, ſinging of Pſalms, and fruitful Conferences, how much would it make up the loſs of a profitable Miniſtry, where there is none? But, I confeſs, for thoſe many thouſand families where none is able thus to Read or Pray, the caſe is hard, in theſe times when they dare not come to their neighbours families that can help them! But O, that the love of our ſouls were as ſtrong, as natural ſelf-love is in the preſervation of our lives! If prohibited perſons did put the caſe to me, Whether it were lawful for them, againſt their Rector's wills, to go beg bread at their neighbours houſes, rather than famiſh, or feed on graſs, I think their reſolutions would anticipate my anſwer. And if he have not the love of God in him, who ſeeth his brother in need, and ſhutteth up the bowels of compaſſion from him; I may inferr, that he neither rightly loveth God, nor himſelf, who will ſuffer his Soul and Family to famiſh, and deny God his Worſhip, and ſpend the Lords own Day unprofitably, and think it a ſufficient excuſe to ſay, I was forbidden, and man muſt be obeyed.
Nor will it excuſe Neighbours from helping one another, who live out of the reach of publick helps (as alas, too many do, eſpecially in the remote parts of the Kingdome) to caſt the blame on negligent Miniſters, or to cry out, It is the Prelates that famiſh ſo many ſouls, nor to complain of the ſilencing of Faithful Teachers; For every man hath his own part to do in building up the City of God: And if you do not your own work, you do but condemn your ſelves while you complain of others.
Was that your Covenant with Chriſt, that you would ſerve him, if others did, or if none forbad you, or elſe not? If others perform not their duty, will you ſin for company, and yet condemn them? If you think they do ill, why will you imitate them? If well, why do you blame them? Do you cry out of ſilent or unprofitable Miniſters? and do you think that ſilence and unprofitableneſs in the Governour of a Family is no crime? What if all the reſt of the Town denied food or cloathing to the poor? Would your obligation to feed and cloath them, think you, be the leſs or the greater?
As ever you would have your families to be under the bleſſing and protection of God, and not expoſed to the miſeries of ſuch as he forſaketh, ſee that you dedicate them as holy Societies to God, and ſet up his Government over them, and his worſhip among them; eſpecially in the Holy Improvement of the Lords Dayes.
And I take it to be a merciful and comfortable prognostick, that God hath ſuddenly ſtirred ſo many, to write on this ſubject, and to confute all that is ſaid againſt this duty. And ſome more are ready (if not hindred) ſhortly to come forth.
Among them all, I take this Book to be of ſingular weight and worth; which having declared in my own, lately publiſhed, on this ſubject, it hath occaſioned many to enquire after it; and a worthy Knight, who had this Tranſlation by him, to be willing to publiſh it. I confeſs, I intended no more, than to provoke the Learned to take more notice of the Book as it is in the Latin Tongue; For being ſtrong in the testimonies of Antiquity, and the opening of Church-cuſtomes, (on which, as an historical evidence of fact, I laid in this controverſie no ſmall streſs) I thought it fitteſt for the peruſal of the Learned. But, ſeeing it is now tranſlated, I hope it will alſo be profitable to many, eſpecially of the more judicious ſort of Readers, who have no more than the Engliſh tongue. The Author was a man eminent in his time, for great Learning, Judgment, Piety, Humility; but eſpecially for his acquaintance with the Writings of the Antient Teachers of the Churches, and the Doctrine and Practiſe of former ages. The Lord bleſs this, and all other Labours of his Faithful Servants, for the preſervation of Knowledge, Holineſs, and Concord, which Satan and his forces are ſo fiercely, and alas! ſo ſucceſsfully aſſaulting throughout all the world.
Thy fellow Servant in the Faith, Labour, and Patience of Believers, Richard Baxter. Sept. 2. (the anniverſary day of Londons flames) 1671.