A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 173 (Question 61)
SERMON CLXXIII.
QUESTION LXI.
WHAT is forbidden in the Fourth Commandment?
ANSWER.
THE Fourth Commandment forbiddeth the Omiſſion or careleſs Performance of the Duties required, and the Proſaning the Day by …eneſs, or doing that which is in it ſelf Sinful, or by unneceſſary Thoughts, Words or Works, about worldly Employment or Recreations.
HAVING taken an Account of the Duties which belong to the right Sanctifying of the Sabbath, the way lies the more eaſy to de…e what are the Sins which are proper … of it: And we have all along obſerved, that becauſe in every Moral Precept, there is …ing Commanded to be done, and ſomething …hibited; there are therefore Sins both of …ſſion & Commiſſion to be conſidered under this Enquiry: and accordingly both of theſe … …ed in the Anſwer that is before us. We … under the former head, that as the … is a Day of Reſt, and therefore there are the things to be Reſted from; ſo it is an holy …, and therefore there are the Sacred Works … …e to be done upon it; and from the Conſ…tion of theſe we are to take our meaſures, in the laying open of the matter lying before us: … this may be done by reducing the Particu…, to the general heads of Omiſſion and Comi…ion, under which thoſe that are more Noto… may be conſidered. Here then,
1. TO the bead of Omiſſion, Three things may …rred.
[1] THE Omiſſion of the Duties required: is wilfully, careleſsly to neglect any Sabbath Duty. For the Sabbath was appointed for the … Performance of thoſe Duties, which are …dated to it, elſe it were not made for the … Service of Man. Not that every Duty which belongs to the Sabbath, is neceſſarily to be …ded every Sabbath Day, thô ſome are more …ed, and others Occaſional; but that the not …ding them in their Seaſon, or the total neg… of them, is here charged for a Sin. Which what they are, was conſidered under the former, … under this head, may theſe things be ranked,
(1.) TO Forget the Sabbath all the Week long. … Precept is brought in with a Memento, which intimates, that we ſhould often in the Week entertain our Minds with the fore-thoughts of it, ſo as to rejoyce in the expectation of the …n of it, as an honourable & delightful Day; and maintain an habitual diſpoſition to entertain it when it comes; to let our Thoughts be all the Week ſwallowed up with Worldly buſineſs, is to diſhonour the Sabbath, contrary to the Precept, Iſai. 58.13.
(2.) TO ruſh upon the Sabbath without any Preparation for it. And this is uſually the fruit of the former: for if Men h…e ſo gotten it out of their Thoughts, it will or…arily come upon them at unawares; and they will have their hearts in a very unſuitable poſture to entertain it as becomes them; and many times they are ready to forget it wholly.
(3.) SCRUPULOUSLY to Omit the works of Neceſſty & M… on it. That ſuch works are frequently, and ſome always called for on the Sabbath, is certain, and that when they are ſo, it is our duty to do them, we have already obſerved. Hence, as to avoid them on pretence of the holineſs of the Time is Superſtitious, ſo it is a breach of the Sabbath. Chriſt himſelf hath taught us, that to heal on the Sabbath, is not lawful only, but a duty of the Day, when need calls for it, which is alſo true of the reſt.
(4.) TO neglect Reading of the Word of God, Meditation and Prayer. Theſe we obſerved are Conſtant Duties for the Sabbath, being Natural Worſhip: And thô Emergent neceſſity may ſometimes divert us, yet ordinarily thus to omit theſe, is a breach of the Sabbath.
(5.) TO abſent needleſly from the Publick Worſhip of the Houſe of God. This therefore is cautioned againſt, and the practice of it condemn'd, Heb. 10.25. When God denies Men the liberty & opportunity of Aſſemblies, either by ſhutting them up in times of Perſecution, or by taking Men off by Sickneſs, or any other inevitable reſtraint, it is then their Miſery; but when they may and will not, or frame trifling excuſes to keep them away, or every little Cold or Dirty Weather keeps them at home, this is their Sin. And if they had a real love for theſe things it would not be ſo.
(6.) FOR Men ſlightily to turn their backs upon any Goſpel Ordinance. There is no Inſtitution of Chriſt, but is one of his Royal Gifts beſtowed on his Church: and thô Men ought to be afraid of coming Unworthily to the Table of the Lord, yet for any to pretend Unworthineſs for an excuſe, and ſo live contentedly in abſenting of themſelves, never uſing the means to get evangelically prepared for it: and preſume that by their ſo doing they pay Reverence to it, is not only a real contempt caſt upon it but a living in the neglect of a duty which belongs to the Sabbath in the ſeaſons of it.
(7.) THE neglecting of looking after their Families on the Sabbath. The Precept requires, that not we only ſhould be careful to Sanctify the day, but that all under our watch do ſo too, and that we ſee to it, that they do ſo: if therefore through our ſufference or negligence, any of them be guilty in this regard, it will be ſo far charged upon us. If therefore we neglect our Family-duties, which are to be done with our Children or Servants; or if we do not …ll upon them, ſo to do theſe du…ies which perſonally belong to them, we are guilty: for we are told what belongs to heads of Families in reſpect of the Worſhip of God, Gen. 18.19. That they command their Children & Houſh…ld, that they keep th… way of the Lord.
(8.) FOR Civil Authority to ſuffer the open Profanations of the Sabbath, & not prevent or ſuppreſs them. This Sin is charged on a whole People, that there are ſuch among them, and is given as a Reaſon why God brings his Judgments on ſuch Places, Ezck. 22.8. And this manifeſtly declares, that there is guilt lying upon thoſe under whoſe watch this Affair comes. For tho' they cannot prevent all the ſecret wickedneſs that is among a People, yet if open Breaches of God's Law be tolerated or connived at, theſe cannot be innocent: Hence that Charge upon them, 1 Sam. 3.13 I will judge his houſe for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth: becauſe his ſons made themſelves vile, and be reſtrained them not.
[2.] THE careleſs performance of th…ſe Duties, alſo …longs to this Head. They may not poſſibly altogether omit them, but they do them perfunctorily, and this is little better than if they did them not at all; and indeed, there is a ſpirit of Indifferency, which Men diſcover in doing D…ty, whereby they caſt as much of Reproach upon it, as if they did it not at all; for God requireth us in our Obedience to Love Him with all our beart, ſoul, ſtrength and mind, Matth. 22.37. And under this Head may theſe things be ranked,
1. THE heartleſs Performance of theſe Duties. When Men attend on them meerly for Cuſtom ſake, and becauſe it is the practice of the Place they live in, and they ſhould loſe their Credit if they did not as others do; but their Hearts are not in them, either they do not bring them to the work, or ſend them away when their Bodi…s are engaged, and ſo they offer no more but a Carcaſs to God. God requires the Heart in all that Men do; this therefore is a complaint that is made againſt them, and their Hypocriſy is diſcovered and cenſured therein, Matth. 15.7, 8. Ye hypocrites, well did Eſaias propheſy of you, ſaying, This people …aw…th nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips: but their heart is far from me. And Ezek. …. 31. …nd they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they ſit befors thee as my people, and they he…r thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they ſhew much love, but their heart gooth after their covetouſneſs.
2. THE indulging of a drowſy or ſleepy Poſture in the Worſhip of God. Inſtead of giving a diligent Attention to the Service which they are called to, they grow dead, lifeleſs, and fall into ſlumber, whereby their Senſes are obſeructed, and poſſibly they fall aſleep: For tho' the beſt may, thro' infirmity, be overtaken with this, which they allow not, and Chriſt can pity them; yet when they find it, and favour it, and willingly put themſelves into a Poſture that invites it, they ſhew a low eſteem of the Worſhip of God; for if they were Zealous for it, they would take pains againſt ſuch a thing; and it is not for nothing that the Story of Euttchus is recorded in the Goſpel, Acts 20.9, 10.
3. All cari…eſs of the Day, and Duties of it. I do not here underſtand the wearineſs of the Body, for this may be a Man's Affliction, and yet not his Sin, it being one of the Infirmities which are befallen Humane Nature, and ſome are ſooner Tired than, others, by reaſon of their Conſtitution or Bodily Indiſpoſitions that they Labour of; but a wearineſs in their Minds, which ariſeth from a Carnal Heart, and as inward Contempt which they entertain of the Day it ſelf, and the Services appointed for it, and the prevalency of a worldly diſpoſition: This is Charged on them, Amos 8.5. Mal. 1.13. They think the Time which God hath ſet apart from other, to be devoted R…ligion Worſhip, is loſt time, and finding no reliſh in the Holy Duties, which are to be their Employment on it, they think an Hour a Day, and a Day a Year, till they can get in over, and no matter how it be ſpent, ſo it may be done, and they may get again to the World, where their Hearts are: Their Care is not how they may improve it well, but how the …y get it off their Backs, and be diſcharged of it.
[3.] THE Pr…f…ning the Day by Idleneſs. I reckon this among the Negatives, tho' oth… rank it with the Affirmarives, becauſe tho' ſome reckon to it in it's latitude, the doing of the things which are no way profitable yet i… nex… and more probably intends the … of Buſineſs, or doing of nothing: We obſerved, that tho' it be called a Day of Reſt, and the… be the things that are to be Reſted from on i…, yet it is alſo a Day for Buſineſs; and there are the Works which belong to it, which … enough to keep us buſy: And here theſe things come under the Breach of this Command,
1. THE ſpending more of the Day th… i… needſul un our Beds. We obſerved, that … dily Reſt is allowed, and neceſſary to be taken on this, as well as on any other Day, without which our outward Man would be very unfit to a lively Performanace of the Religons Worſhip, which is mainly to be attended o… it; but for Men to take more Allowance for this on the Sabbath, than they do ordinarily on their own Days, and ſo loſe more of their Time from the Holy Duties of it, on pretence that they may better indulge themſelves on this Day than another, is ſlothfulneſs, and caſts diſhonour on it; and Men do, by ſo doing, practically ſay, that the Concerns of the ourward Man are of more worth, and greater moment than thoſe of the Soul.
2. THE loytring away of the Time, without regarding or engaging diligently in the Duties of the Day: Many, that will not employ themſelves in any Secular Buſineſs on that Day; pretending Conſcience of it's being forbidden them, will yet Profance it, by doing nothing at all, of the proper Work of it: either they come not at all to the Publick Worſhip, tho' there is nothing neceſſarily to hinder them, but ſit ſtill at Home, and neither Read the Word, nor Pray, nor Meditate on Spiritual things; or walk abroad into the Fields, and ſo wholly loſe the Time: or it they give a bodily Attendance upon the Means, yet they …i…d not what they come for, nor ſeek Acquaintance and Communion with God, but ſuffer their Eyes and Thoughts to wander upon things …ment: This is contrary to the Pſalmiſts …ry, Pſal. 27.4.5. And every Hour ſo …, is a Profanation of the Day: And let … think what they pleaſe, they break the …, and provoke God as really by S…ns of …on, an by thoſe of Commiſſion: and the …ity of God is as much diſregarded by …, as by thoſe.
… THE Sins againſt this Command, which … to the Hook of Commiſſion, are by out Ca… … put under a double Conſideration, to which …ly, ſeveral particulars may be reduced;
[1.] THE doing of things which are in the… …es ſinful. By which we are to underſtand, of thoſe things which are directly and incon…ly forbidden under any of the Com… of God. It is to be remembred, that it … given by Divines, that Negatives do … bind the Conſcience, whereas Affirmation … ſometimes, on occaſion be intermit… … Sin in us; ſo that every ſuch inter…ion cannot tr…ely be called a Sin of Omiſſion, … in have to be remarked, that whatſoever … be a Sin at another time, becauſe it is a …ſion of a Negative Precept, becomes an …ted Sin, by being committed on the Sub… becauſe beſides the breach of the p…tion Command, which the Sin it ſelf milit… on …inſt, there is ſuperadded, a violation of …; a… alſo becauſe it argues greater …ſineſs in ſ…ting, when we have no re… the Holines;s of the Time in which it is …ted: For this reaſon the Spirit of God …phaſis on the Change laid upon that Peo… the conſideration of the Time when … ſuch things, Ezek. 23.38, 39. More… this they have done unto me: they have … my ſanctuary in the ſame day, and have … my ſabbaths. For when they had ſlain … children to their idols, then they came the … into my ſanctuary to profane it; and to …e they done in the midſt of mine houſe. … hither may be referred the Breaches of … other Precept ſo far as they are made on … Lord's Day: Thus vain Swearing Curſing …ing of vain Company, wicked Diſcourſes, … E…e…live Drinking lacivious Lan… Whoredom, Stealing, Lying, &c. are … them horrid Breaches of this Day, when … part of the Time is taken up with any of …
[2.] THE allowing of themſelves in unneceſ… Thoughts, Words and Deeds, about worldly …nts or Recreations. We are here to … to mind, what hath formerly been touched to six.
1. THAT there are the things which are … on …ther Days, which are forbidden on the …. They who think the Sabbath to be … a Spiritual Reſt from Sin, i. v. Things former by the other Precepts, do hereby take a… the difference between the Sabbath, and … other Days of the Week, for it is not lawfull to Sin on any Day; whereas by this Precept, there are the things which become Sin on the Sabbath, which are not ſo at other Times.
2. THAT thoſe Lawful things come under theſe two Heads of worldly Employments & Recreations. The Former of theſe are not barely lawfull, but in themſelves Duties, for they belong to thoſe particular Callings, which God hath appointed Men, to ſeek the honeſt ſupport of the Concerns of Life and Time, by a diligent Attendance upon; which diligence is therefore often commended in the Word of God, and the neglect of in charged to be Sin. The Latter is an indulgence allowed to Man, to …itig… the Fatigues of his Labour, and refreſh his Body or Mind withal; and theſe alſo may become Duties upon ſeveral occaſion offered in the Providence of God.
3. THAT ſome of theſe things may be Morally Neceſſary to be done on the Sabbath. By being Morally neceſſary I intend, they may be our Duty to do them; either the Nature of M…n requires them, or the Circumſtances of Providence may call for them: What theſe are we have formerly taken the Account, and m…ked them under the Works of Neceſſity and Mercy; where we have alſo taken Account of the reaſon why they are to be done, either as ſta…ed Duties on that Day, or … ſuch an eve… …ca… onally and unavoidably.
4. THAT the doing of theſe things, where … ſuch Neceſſity calls for it, becomes a Sin againſt this Command. … will the Lawfulneſs of the things themſelves take away from the ſinfulneſs of thus doing them. Nor will it excuſe Men from the Guilt of him on this Account, that they have by their forgetfulneſs of the Sabbath, and their own inadvertency, brought ſuch a Neceſſity on themſelves, which by … Precaution, they might have as well prevented: And tho' by reaſon of this Neceſſity, they cannot avoid doing that thing, yet it ought to humble them to think, that it was becauſe they did not remember the Sabbath Day.
5. THAT Sin may be committed, either in Thoughts, Words or Actions For, becauſe the whole Man is obliged to be engaged in the Sanctification of the Sabbath; and therefore the Heart, the Tongue, and the whole Body, is to be devoted to it; this Command may be violated by any one of them; and therefore all theſe are comprehended in that Prohibition, Iſa 58.13. And under theſe Three, many particulars are contained.
(1.) THE Day is broken by allowing or nouriſhing Thoughts about theſe things: And theſe whether deliberative, or ſpeculative; not only when they allow their roving Minds to run upon things that are vile, either in pleaſing Contemplation of former Villanies, or in the projecting of wickedneſs to be done, as ſoon as they have Opportunity; but to Recreate the Mind, with thinking of this Bargain, that Succeſs, and how the other ſecular Buſineſs hath been managed; or in plotting and laying out Buſineſs or Sport for the Week following, in order to the being more prepared to purſue it. Theſe things may be matters of Prudence on other Days, but are Sin on this Day, and a Profanation of it. Theſe are Mens own Thoughts, which are not allowed them upon God's Day, and the Iniquity of them is the greater, becauſe by allowing of ſuch wandrings of the Heart, the Man is much indiſpoſed and unfitted for all the Duties of the Day, and his Communion with God in theſe Duties is hindred: This is called the wandring of the heart after Covetouſneſs, Ezek. 33.31.
(2.) THE Day is horribly profaned, by Mens giving Liberty to their Tongues, on ſuch Words and Diſcourſes. And indeed, the Tongue is but the Index of the Mind, and where that hath a Liberty allowed to it, this will hardly be kept … and the Tongue being the Inſtrument of Humane Society, by the allowance that Men give to this, they not only Profane the Day themſelves, but draw others into fellowſhip with them, who either joyn with them in maintaining ſuch Conferences, or contentedly lend an E… to ſuch unſeaſonable Diſcourſes; and hitherto belongs, not only P…aldry talk, but all common language; all Conference about the Aſſes; telling of this Buſineſs, and that Succeſs; asking Advice about the management of any outward Affair of this Life; telling Stories of this or that Concern; telling merry Tales; and making Bargains; and that not only in the Time of Publick Worſhip, by whiſpering together, as the manner of ſome is, whereby they unavoidably hinder their Profiting by the Ordinance; but alſo in the times of Intermiſſion, when they are Eating and Drinking for their comfortable Relief, by …ing out to theſe things at their Tables. Theſe things ſhew, that Men forget the Time is Holy; and inſtead of fitting themſelves for the better Performance of the Religious Duties incumbent on them, they more indiſpoſe themſelves for them.
(3.) THIS Command is alſo thus broken, by Men's Actions; and that in many reſpects: Some of the more notorious whereof, may here come into Conſideration;
1. WHEN Men ſpend more Time than is convenient, about their outward and bodily Concerns. That ſomething is to be done, and that both for Neceſſity and Comfort or Convenience, hath been obſerved: But when Men cut out too large Tho…gs of Time for this, and ſo overmuch Curtail the ſpiritual Services incumbent on them, they herein Tranſgreſs. Thus, when too much Time is occupied in Dreſſing up the Body, ſo that other more weighty Duties are crowded out, or done in a hurry; this is to be blamed for an abuſe: Or, when there is more ado than needs in making Proviſion for the Body, and Perſons are needleſly hindred thereby from attending either Publick or Private Services of the Day: This is to neglect the great things of the Law on this Account. Thus alſo, When Perſons take up the Time which ſhould be for more private Devotion, by themſelves, or with their Families, in meer civil and unneceſſary Viſits, and common Talk, it is not to Sanctify the whole Day, according to the Precept.
2. WHEN Perſons think it ſufficient, That they have attended on the Publick Worſhip of G… Houſe, and allow themſelves in any Secular …ſhneſs, after that is over. They think that ei… before the Meeting begins, or after the Aſ… bly in broke up, they may employ themſelves in any common Things, without danger. Th… forget that the Time it ſelf is made Sac… the appointment of God; and becauſe … it is common Time, it ought not to be made by the Employments that Men occupy a… ſelves in. Thus for Men to do any of the … that belongs to their particular Callings on … Day, which is called, doing their own Word, … a Profanation of the Time. Thus for M… write Letters of civil Buſineſs or Complement is chargeable for a breach upon God's Authority. Thus for Men to begin Journeys on … Sabbath, or purſue them; or not Rest on the Day, when Neceſſity doth not call for it, into be condemned. Thus for Men to P…ſt … Books, or draw out their Accomp…, or upon their Shops to buy and ſell, and ſo to get … or for Labourers to work for Wages, everythings neceſſary to be done, comes within … verge of the Negative part of this Precept, … there are many other things of like Nature … come under this Head, being our own … and ſo not to be done on God's Day.
3. WHEN Men ſpend any part of the … in Civil Sports or Paſtimes. Many that … a Crime to Work on the Sabbath, yet cou… … and Recreations to be proper to it, and … them to belong to the Reſt of the Du… … therefore when they are tired with the… … Duties of it, they muſt refreſh themſelves … their Diverſions, which poſſibly are … themſelves, and would deſerve no Rep… on at another time, yet are Aliene from … ſineſs of the Sabbath, and cannot be … on without Sin, however pleaded for by … and too much practiſed by many. How … more vile then, and wicked, is it, to … the very Place and Time of Publick Wa… when they ought with greateſt Reverence … Diligence, to attend upon the Ordinances … hear what God hath to ſay to them: And … leſs Plays and Sports on the Sabbath, are … leſs Criminal than Labour upon it, if not … more; Iſa. 58.13.
4. WHEN Men do not improve their … rity in bearing due Witneſs againſt theſe … in others; and giving Check to every thing … tends to the growth of ſuch Profaneneſs. … was touched at under the Head of Omiſſion, … there is often alſo a Commiſſion in this regards and that is when they practically give Alliances to ſuch things; when they employd … under their Charge in ſuch things as theſe, … there is no need of it: And when by not to … heed to themſelves, they ſet an evil Ex… before their Inferiours; and by their … Connivance at ſuch things, encourage vai… Perſons in their licentious Courſes on the Sabbath.
THESE are ſome of the things which … forbidden in this Command, and many … of the like import might have been named, … theſe may ſuffice now to be mentioned.
USE. AND may we not; by a due Reſ…tion upon theſe things, be convinced of one … Reaſon of the Judgments of God that are …ght upon this ſinful Land. How often do … find this to be one Article, which God puts … the Indictment, when He gives the Reaſons … his Controverſy with a Profeſſing People, … …h…geth Apoſtacy upon them? Jer. 17.20, … …ek. 22.8, 20, 23, 24. And he gives a … for it. Ver. 12. Time was, when God's …ly Sabbaths were had in Reverence; and …y which he hath Sanctified was accounted …ly and Honourable: When Holy Time … ſpout in Holy Duties, and all the open Profanations of it, were ſtrictly teſtified againſt: How far otherwiſe it is at this Day, let all Judge, who have any Thoughtfulneſs in them: And let it awaken us to Repentance, as we would be atoned to God, and obtain His reconciled Favour. And mean while, Let all true Mourners in Zion, bewail this Apoſtacy, and tremble before this Holy God, who will not bear to have His Name diſhonoured, and Sabbaths polluted: Let ſuch be more watchful over themſelves and theirs, that they may at leaſt ſave their own Souls.
[FEBRUARY 9. 1702.]