A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 171 (Question 60)
SERMON CLXXI.
QUESTION LX.
HOW is the Sabbath to be Sanctifyed?
ANSWER.
THE Sabbath is to the Sanctifyed by an … Reſting all that Day, even from ſuch …dly Employments and Recreations as … …ful on other Days, and ſpending the … time in the Publick and Private Ex… of GOD's Worſhip, except ſo much … to be taken up in the works of Neceſſity and Mercy.
WE have already taken an account of the Morality of the Fourth Command, and …petual Obligation of it; as alſo of the … of the Week, which is appointed by the Anthority of Chriſt, to be obſerved as a Sabbath, … the Days of the Goſpel. That which now … to be conſidered, is the Improvemens that … to make of, and the Employment we ſhould … our ſelves in upon this Day of Reſt; … that is by Sanctifying or Keeping of it Holy which is ſuppoſed in the Queſtion, to in… the ſepcial duties enjoyned us on this …. Now the Sanctification of any thing …, in the ſeparating of it from Common, & …ting of it to Sacred uſes. And becauſe … is properly nothing elſe but an Adjunct of … beings and the Meaſure of the Creatures …, therefore the Holineſs of Time muſt reſervered to the things which are either to … or omitted, with reſpect to the Con…tion of it: Or the Time is Holy, becauſe … hath ſeparated it for holy Services, and ſe… it from thoſe that are Common. For … the Duties that are incumbent on us, … Affirmative or Negative, what is to be …, and what is to be avoided. And in order to … taking of this up aright, let me premiſe Th… things,
1. THAT there were ſome things Commanded … of God, under the Law, to obſerve, … not Obliging on the Chriſtian Sabbath. … the Duties of this Command wholly … Moſaical Pedagogy, is to return to that … from which Chriſt hath made us free. Thou were many Rituals of Ceremonial Wordly, which were appointed for the Sabbath, and … therefore made Appendices to it, during that Conſtitution, and were therefore to ceaſe, them all theſe were put to an end. There were … ſevere Judicial appointments reſerring …, though ſtrained higher than ever was in…ded, by the Phariſees, in the days when Chriſt … here in the Fleſh. They were not to kin… fire, E…d. 35.3. Now this was given for … ſevere Diſpenſation, and is not ſo in Goſpel ti…, as we ſhall further obſerve afterwards.
2. THAT we are not to Meaſure the Duties of the Day by the remaining …ies leſt in …ol… Men, nor by the Powers reſl… to renewed Men in Regeneration. It is one Notorious deſign … the pretended Moraliſts of the Age we live in to level all Moral duties to Man's Power, where by, they not only debauch the Chriſtian Religion, but even Morality it ſelf, and make it: Pander to Men is Luſts. But we muſt remember, that the Law of God, is the Rule of Mo… Duty, and is therefore juſt in it ſelf and require nothing but what is equal, That the Reaſonable Creature ſhould pay entire Obedience to; the becauſe it was given to be Man's Rule, and under Sanctions, it was meer that Man ſhould be made with Concreated Powers in him, to pay entire conformity to it; which he was, when he came out of God's hand, tho' he hath loſt then by his unhappy Fall. Nor doth the Equity of Obligation of the Law ceaſe, becauſe Man hath loſt his Strength by his own default; for then of what uſe had the threatening been? And tho this Image is renewed but in part in the Regenerate, ſo that they cannot come up to the breadth of the Law in its demands, yet the Law it ſelf remains Unchangable: And tho God accepte of the ſincere tho' imperfect Obedience of Believers, having accepted of the perfect Righteouſneſs of Chriſt for their Juſtification, yet all their ſhort comings are Moral defects, and on that account ſinful; for the pardon whereof, they are daily to apply to that One Sacrifice; and they themſelves are not to reſt in their preſent Meaſures, but be evermore preſſing on towards perfection. Met. 5. … Pſal. 3.13, 14.
3. THAT many Chriſtians do ever Superſtitiouſly Do ſome things, and Abſtain from other things, through …erring Conſcience. As there are ſome that are over-lax, ſo others are too rigid in their Principles on this account. There are ſome things which they Scrupula…ſly avoid on that Day, which are not only lawful, but may be a great Duty for them to do on the Day, and others thines they zealouſly proſecute, which they ought at leaſt to abate in: And this unadviſed Zeal of theirs, not only hurts them themſelves; but alſo is not a little prejudicial to others, partly by their unjuſt Cenſuring of them, and partly by occaſioning prejudice in them againſt the Day it ſelf; which what they be, will be manifeſt, in the laying open of this Anſwer and that which follows. Only it may here ſerve to Admoniſh us that we ought to uſe great care, in getting our ſelves rightly informed in this point.
WE may … proceed to enquire into the Anſwer it ſelf, and therein take an account of the Duties that …e incumbent on us, if we would arighs Sanctify the Sabbath, to the proper End and Uſefulneſs of it. And here.
1. IN General, it is to be done by an holy reſting all that Day. And here obſerve,
1. THAT it is to be kept, as a Day of Reſt. The Hebrew word uſed for the Sabbath ſignifies, a Quiet, a Reſt, a Ceſſations it therefore implies that there muſt be a Ceſſation from ſomething, or an Abſtaining from ſome work, or excerciſe, which there is liberty at other times to be imployed in; which, what it is, will afterwards he conſidered. And doubtleſs, one deſign of the Sabbath is to put as in mind, and give us ſome Prelibations of that Eternal Reſt which we hope to enjoy in Heaven, where we ſhall partake in a never ending Sabbatiſm: for which reaſon the future Glory is ſo often called a Reſt in the Scriptures; where we ſhall be called off from all other Diverſions, to Lord Immediate Communion with God in Chriſt for ever: the repreſentation whereof is no where more manifeſt, than in the right Obſervation of the Sabbath.
2. IT is to be kept as an Holy Reſt. We are therefore Commanded to keep this Day holy: And the word for Keeping, is uſed alſo for Obſerving, and uſing of greateſt care & vigilence, and the word it ſelf carries ſo much in it as intimates, that there is ſomething to be done by us, in the right ſanctifying of the Sabbath. Nor can it be obſerved acceptably to God, or profitably to our ſelves, by a ſitting ſtill and doing nothing. And indeed, there is no one Command in the Moral Law, that can be duly kept, meetly by Negatives: yea indeed, tho' it be a Day of Reſt in ſome reſpects, yet in others it requires us to be as fully employed, as in any other day of the Week; as will be manifeſt when we come to conſider what Occupation God hath laid out for His People to employ themſelves in, upon this holy Day. Nor indeed would it ſerve to help us to the promoving of our great End, if there were not ſuch Buſineſs laid out for us in it.
3. THIS holy Reſt is to be kept through the Whole Day. The meaning of this is, that ſo much Time as God hath ſet apart & Sanctify'd to be a Sabbath, is to be ſpent and applied to this holy Reſting. And this alſo is very apparent by the Letter of the Command from that, in it, indefinitely, not in this or that part of it, but from the beginning to the end of it, even All that Time which God hath ſeparated from Common to Sacred Uſe. There is nothing common or nuclean to be admitted on it, nor any thing to be done, but what is ſerviceable to help forward the holy Duties of it.
AND here there is a weighty Queſtion controverted. viz. What Time is to be employed in this holy Reſt? whether it intend a Natural Day of Twenty four Hours, or Artificial of Twelve? And there are Judicious Divines, who plead for the Morality of the Sabbath, who argue on either hand and offer a proof of their Opinion; but I am not engaged in Diſputes, but only to lay down the Doctrine of Principles and confirm it.
HERE therefore give me leave to preſent this Aſſertion. viz. That the whole Natural Day of Twenty Four Hours, is to be kept or obſerved by the People of God, as an holy Reſt to God. The evidence of this will be ſufficiently gathered, from what hath already been offerd, and proved about the Nature of the Sabbath. In ſum, That the whole Time that is by God's Order conſecrated to be Holy, is thus to be accounted, and accordingly kept, is unqueſtionable. For, the Holineſs of the Time, it … reſpect to the Subjects of it; for we … … red that the Sabbath was made for Men. … the Time ſet a part for a Sabbath is a … Day of Twenty four Hours, hath alſo … conſidered, and Scripture-Evidence for it … duced; and for that reaſon, ſo much Time … to be Sanctify'd by us as a Sabbath; … thoſe Foundation are True, all the Arg… produced to invalidate them, will fall … them; all whereof I ſuppoſe are … falſe Principle, viz. That the whole Time … Holy, for the ſake of Religious Duties to … formed in it, and is therefore to laſt no longer than Men have ſtrength to attendon thoſe Ser… of Worſhip: And thus there is no other … neſs given to the Sabbath, than to D… … ſolemn Worſhip appointed by Men: And … the Sabbath muſt be longer to one than, … ther, becauſe ſome have more ſtrength to … out in theſe Duties than others: Whe… tho' the reaſon of a Sabbath is for our ſ… tration to the Attendance on the Worſhip of God, yet the Holineſs of this Time depends upon a Word of Inſtitution, and muſt be reſolved into it; and unto that we ought to have a ſpecial reſpect, in all that we do on it, … the ſame Duties that are done on that Day, may be performed occaſionally on other Days, for all Worſhipping of God is not reſ… to the Sabbath. And there are other … alſo to be done on that Day, either Conſ… or Occaſionally, (as will be conſidered is … time) And this may ſuffice for the … Conſideration.
II. THE more Particular reſolution of the Enquiry, is contained in the reſidue of the Anſwer; and may be comprehended … two heads.
(1) The things that are … Reſted from on this day.
(2) The things that we are to exerciſe our ſelves about in the Sanctification of it.
I. THE things that we are to …ſt from on that Day, are ſuch worldly Employments … Recreations, as are lawful on other days, and this is contained in theſe words, In is thou … not do any work, Hebr. Every work: Not, that all works of all ſorts are here, forbidden, for there were and are the things to be done on that day, which are the work of it: It is therefore to be limited, and it is uſual in that Language to expreſs Particulars, is general terms; which muſt be interpreted according to the Analogy of faith, and ſo as may … with other Scriptures. Our Catechiſm therefore well expounds it, of Worldly Employment and Recreations; and others, of Servile Labour: And the word uſed, is ſuppoſed moſt properly to intend ſuch. However, it is to be underſtood of that which is before called, Thy Work, which is allowed to be done on the … Six Days; and the Prophet is a good and …ible Commentator on it, Iſa. 58.13. Not … thine own ways, nor finding thine own plea…irt, …r ſpeaking thine own words.
AND here let us obſerve, … THAT there are ſome things …ful … at any Time, being themſelves ſot… … by the Law of God; and we are to …ſe that theſe things are not allowed on the …: for doubtleſs that which is in it ſelf a … be Sanctifyed by being done on Ho…, but the Sin of it is aggravated by the … of a Profanation of the Sabbath, which … the Audaciouſneſs of it.
THAT there are other things that are Law… …er Days, which God doth not allow as … this Day: Nay they may be Duties then, … would be our Sin to neglect them, whereas … now would be a great Tranſgreſſion. … by the way. ſhews us the vanity of … pretend to keep a Sabbath every Day, … alſo in the Secular Employments they …pial in; which is here contradicted by …ſech…ding of ſuch works theſe from His …th: It therefore cannot be ſuch a Sabbath … hath appointed, which theſe Men talk of. … theſe Works are of Two ſorts,
1. THEIR Worldly Employments: By theſe are intended, the works of their particular Cal…, and theſe are called their own Works, … for the Supply and Support of the out… Man. God hath appointed to every Man ap…ticular Calling, for the providing himſelf … the things that are neceſſary and conveni… for this Life, and hath required of him Dili…ce in it: But he hath Commanded him to … from theſe on the Sabbath: God hath given … Days to do theſe things upon, but He will …ve us to do them on His Day, having …ed another manner of Buſineſs for us to … that Day; which their following of their …r Employments would impede and inter… them in. There are indeed ſome outward …, or Second Table Duties which are to …e on this Day, which are pointed to in … Clauſe of the Anſwer, which will be …red under the opening of it: But here in …al, there is nothing to be done on that … for worldly Gain, or the advancement of … Eſtate in the World; for that is our own …k, which we may not now do.
2. THEIR Recreations: i. e. Thoſe that are …lly; for the Epethet is to be applied to both. I Recreation is properly a Diverſion from the …ed Labour we have been engaged in, to ſome …rciſe wherewith we may refreſh our tired … or Spirits, to fit us to return to them, with … Vigour and Alacrity. The Lawful… of which Recreations, we have ſufficient …rant for, in the Word of God; and they are …eed Neceſſary, nor could we without them ſ…ve God cheerfully in our Callings: Now there the Three ſorts of Recreations uſed by Men, Na…al, Spiritual and Sinful; the laſt of theſe are a… no time to be uſed: Unlawful Games and Paſtime ar… never in Seaſon whatſoever they may afford to our Carnal Part: Gods Law is never to be broken by us to make ourſelves Sport, and thoſe that adventure on it, will procure Soever to themſelves by it: As to Spor…al Recreation, or ſuch in which we divert …n the i…brances of the World, to ſolace …d r…reſh our ſelves, in Meditation on the Word of God, and Co…ſion with Godly Men in Religious Conſere…, theſe are proper to the Sabbath, and ſuch Recreations the Pſalmiſt i… red himſelf to, Pſal, 119.24. But there are Natural and Giver Recreation, which are in themſelves lawful, and provided they are … to a right end, and in due ſenſ…, and meaſures, are allowed to …; but theſe muſt be avaided on God's Day, as being alien from the proper Buſineſs of it, and very Moreſ… th…en…. … there is a threefold Reſting from thoſe, which in here required; … In own Thoughes, Words and Actions: for it is a great Truth, that the Law of God, is a Rule not only to govern but out word Converſer in a among Men, bet our … Man, and our Hearts and Tongues, as well a… our Hands crible under the Command of it, and God, who is the great Judge, knows the one as intimately as the other. Here then,
1. WE muſt Reſt from theſe in our Thongben It is the Pſalmiſts Petition, Pſal. 19.14. last the words of my mouth, and the meditation of …y heart be accepted is in thy ſight, O Lord my ſtrength and my Redeemer. And let us uſe never ſo much Circumſpection in our Words and Behaviour before Men, yet if we ſuffer our Minds to rove upon theſe things, and nouriſh inward muſings on them, all the other is meer Hypocriſy, and God who ſees in ſecret, will Judge us to be … bath-Breakers. That therefore is one thing required on this account, Iſa. 58.13. Not ſinding thine own pleaſure. And indeed, if we nouriſh ſuch muſings within us, we ſhall hardly prevent their breaking forth into Words and Deeds: For all ſinful Actions have their Conceptions within; and their firſt Embrio is conceived in a Thought, Jam. 1.15. And we are told, Mat. 12.34. Out of the abundance of the hourt the mouth ſpeaketh. If therefore any Thought offers it ſelf to us, which would draw us to meditate upon our Worldly Buſineſs, to contrive and lay out the Affairs of the Week following, to meditate this Journey, that Bargain, the other Affair that is on our hands, we ought immediately to withſtand it, and turn away from it, as that which is impertinent, and crowds in unſeaſonably, to hinder us in the Duties of the Day. We ſhould keep theſe things out, or thruſt them out, and not ſuffer ſuch Vain Th…s to lodge within us; otherwiſe we ſhall not give to God our whole Hearts in His Worſhip, and thereby loſe our Happy communion with Him on His own Day: And this we ſhould do by calling in, and ſolacing our ſelves with other Thoughts which are Spiritual and Heavenly? And we muſt take a great deal of Pains with our ſelves in this regard, elſe the Fleſh that is within us, will eaſify betray us.
2. WE muſt Reſt from theſe in our Words: Words are a Medium by which we impart our Minds to, and ſo hold Communion with others; and by the Art of Speaking, we are advantaged to maintain a Rational Society, with thoſe of …ur own Kind, which is of it ſelf a great Privilege to Man, who is natunally a Sociable Creature. But as there is a Good, ſo there is on Evil Communication, which we are told Corrupts good manners, 1 Cor. 15.33, Now though there is a Liberty to Diſcourſe, at other times, of our Affairs of the Would, and entertain one another with Civil M…rth, in our Conferences together; yet theſe are to be avoided, and a Ceſſation from them obſerved on the Sabbath. No doubt there are ſuch Diſcourſes between Chriſtians, which do very po…perly belong to, and greatly help forward the Sers…o… of the Day, and is therefore one of the Dution to be performed on it, as there is occaſion; but the… we …uſt not talk of the Aſſes, but of the Kingdoms, not of Carnal, but Spiritual things. Vain and frothy Language is to be avoided at all times, for it diſcovers a vein Heart, and a Mind alienated from the F… … God, but to offer Diſcourſe on the Lords Day, which is needful at other times for the managing of the mutual Commence between Men, by which the Affairs of this Life muſt be carried on, is that which ought not to be; and therefore ſuch things are to be Adjourned, as ſorn as Holy Time begins, till it be over. And to neglect, or not be careful in this reſpect, will not only b…t our ſelves, and being us under der Guilt, but will alſo undanger others; by d…awing them off from the better, and more ſeaſonable Exe…ciſes, which the Time calls for, whereas the other would tend to Edification: And by this we ſhall grieve the Hearts of thoſe that Fear God, and make Conſcience of Duty in this regard, when they ſee God's Day in this manner violated.
3. WE muſt Reſt from theſe in our Actions. And this is expreſly intended in the Procept; Thou ſhalt do no Work: and this extends both to the works of Labour and Recreation, both being included in that, Iſa. 58.13. Thine own ways. We ought to ceaſe and withhold our hand from every thing that is Servile, and whatſoever Wordly Buſineſs we are engaged in before, as ſoon as ever this time comes, we muſt forthwith knock off from it, and not make the Sabbath to give way to our Convenience, but Subordinate that entirely to this. We may not go into our Shops to buy and ſell, nor engage in our Days Labour, though never ſo ſecretly: nor may we write Letters of Ordinary Buſineſs or Complement, during Holy Time, for that alſo is our own Work.
AND here alſo let it be obſerved, that it is not enough that we do thus ourſelves, but it is incumbent on us to ſee, as far as we can, that all ſuch as are under our Care and Charge, be thus Obſervant of the Lord's Day. The Command therefore ſaith. Thou, nor thy Son. &c. And this belongs, not only to the Governors of Families, but alſo to the Civil Magiſtrate, who is to be Cuſtor utriuſ que Tabula: And therefore it is added, Nor the Stranger that is within thy Gates: God hath made it their Duty to ſee, that there be an External Reſt on that Day, and that, not only in the Time of Publick Woſhip, but in every Part of Holy Time, frow… Civil Labour, and from all manner of … Sports and Paſtimes, elſe they will being a … upon themſelves, and the Places they live in. And it ought to be a prevailing Motive, … that have any Authority in their hands, … it carefully, that ſo they may not incur … Diſpleaſure for their neglect. Let us than … heed to ourſelves and to ours in this regard … peculiarly beware of Two things, viz. That we do not by our Example, in neglecting … watchfulneſs over ourſelves, encourage … take the Liberty, and allow themſelves … tionſneſs in their Words and A…tions …. Day, which will procure for us His H… … pleaſure. And hence alſo, That we do not by our Command, put any of our Children or … vants, upon things unneceſſary on that …, by which this Command will be vind…, … they taken off from thoſe Duties wherein they ought to ſeek Communion with God th…; as knowing, that we ſhall be partakers in … Sin, and bring Guilt on our own Souls; … bring that we muſt give an Account … e…re long, of the Souls that He hath c…d to our Charge.
[DECEMBER 15. 1702.]