The Doctrine and Law of the Holy Sabbath, Half title – To the reader
Mr. Colman's SERMONS ON THE Holy Sabbath.
The Doctrine and Law OF THE Holy Sabbath: In the Order wherein it lies through the Scriptures of the Old and New Teſtament. IN TWO SERMONS, Preached at the Lecture in Boſton, October 15. and December 10. 1724.
By Benjamin Colman.
Sint oculi, manuſ que veſtrae toto illo die ad Deum expanſae.
BOSTON: Printed by T. Fleet, for Thomas Hancock, and Sold at his Shop in Ann-Street, near the Draw-Bridge. 1725.
TO THE READER
IT is only the Scriptural way of treating this Noble Subject, that hath inclined me to make public the following Diſcourſes. It ſeems to me the Method moſt eaſie and perſpicuous, moſt natural and juſt, moſt profitable and acceptable to them that value the Subject; which all ſerious Chriſtians will do. You have here almoſt the whole voice of Scripture concerning the Holy Sabbath of the Lord in a very ſmall compaſs, and the ſeveral Texts almoſt in the ſame Order wherein they lie in the Holy Bible. I would hope by this means, as thro' a Burning glaſs (under the Bleſſing of the ſanctifying Spirit) to collect the rayes of the Divine light, and bear them down with heavenly heat upon the Reader's mind and heart.— Not that by any Art of mine the Glaſs of the Word can be thus form'd and faſhion'd; but I have found it thus form'd and faſhion'd to my hand by the Bleſſed Inſpirer of it, and bring it a ſacred Mite to the Treaſurie of the Sanctuary from whence I received it. May the Lord of the Sabbath pleaſe to accept the Offering, and effectually own it by bleſſing it to its deſired End; which is to enlighten us more in, and animate us more unto, this great and ſingular Duty of Man thro' out all Generations, the keeping holy the Sabbath Day.— I have not gone formally into Directions and Motives on this Head, which are abundant in many Treatiſes already in your hands; but I hope the Reader will find theſe every where ſuggeſted to him thro' the Diſcourſes before him; and in a particular manner be led and excited to conſider and improve his Sabbaths as a Sign and Memorial of the Covenant of Grace, and the bleſſed Seaſons and Means of Sanctification.— So our Fathers, like wiſe and good Men, began with God in the planting of theſe Churches: They covenanted with God to be his People and to keep his Sabbaths, and they found Him to be the Lord their Sanctifier. The reverend Obſervation of the Lords-day was their diſtinguiſhing honour and glory, and the fruits of holineſs to the praiſe and glory of God abounded among them.— As the World grows upon us in its numbers and trade, we are growing out of this our primitive purity and beauty; but it is viſible that the decay of Sanctity bears proportion to our declenſion in Sabbath Sanctification. We had need therefore to remember how we have received and heard, and hold faſt and repent; let no man take our Crown. I know no one Rule more compendious, comprehenſive and effectual for the revival and perpetuity of Religion among us than this, that we keep the LORD's Sabbaths, as a Sign between Him and us thro' out our Generations, that HE is the Lord that doth ſanctify us.