set downe in the holy Scriptures either by expresse precept or by approved practice This later is it which is most apparent in Scripture For it is noted that Christs Disciples were assembled together the first day of the weeke which is our Lords day and so againe eight daies after John 20. 19 6. which * inclusively was the first day of the next weeke It was also the first day of the weeke when after Christs Ascention they were with one accord in one place Acts 2. 1. and the Holy Ghost descended upon them in cloven tongues Many yeares after that it is noted of Christians that on the first day of the weeke they came together to breake bread meaning Sacramentall bread and that Paul tooke that occasion to preach unto them Acts 20. 7. The manner of setting downe their assembling together implieth their custome therein which is yet more manifest 1. Cor. 16. 2. where the Apostle adviseth them to take that opportunity of their assembling together for laying up a stock to relieve such as were in distresse It is not set downe as an act of one time once onely to be observed but as a weekely act to be observed every first day of the weeke And why that day Surely because of their great assembly whereby they might whet on one another and their contribution be the more liberall yea also because then was the time of observing Gods Ordinances whereby their soules must needs be incited to more bountifullnesse and cheerefullnesse therein The title of the Lords day Rev. 1. 10. can be applied to no other day so well as to this For by LORD without all question is ment the Lord Christ 1. Cor. 8. 6. It is an usuall title given to him in the New Testament Now what day can so fitly be applied to Christ to have a denomination from him and to be dedicated to the honour of his name as the day of his Resurrection whereon the Church so accustomed to meet together as we heard before On this ground the first day of the weeke is stiled the Lords day to this very day Now this day being by the Church dedicated to the honour of the Lord Christ John gave himselfe to holy devotion and the Spirit took that opportunity on that holy day to shew him the divine revelations mentioned in that book 45 Q. What other ground is there for our Lords day A. The constant custome of Christs Church From the Apostles time hitherto hath the Church celebrated as holy the Lords day and that under this title The Lords day Now the constant custome of the Church is not to be sleighted This Apostolicall phrase 1. Cor. 11. 16. If any man seeme to be contentious we have no such custome neither the Churches of God sheweth that the custome of the Church is a matter to be regarded 46 Q. What third ground is there A. Christs Resurrection which made all things new 2. Cor. 5. 17. This as it gives a ground for celebrating the day so it shewes the reason of altering it Christs resurrection gave evidence of his full conquest over death the punishment of sinne and over him that had the power of death the Divell yea it gave evidence of a full satisfaction to the justice of God and of a cleare pacification of the wrath of God In these respects Christ is said to be raised againe for our iustification Rom. 4. 25. For Gods justice being satisfied and wrath pacified death and Divell being over-come what can hinder our full redemption and justification This then is a worke that farre surpasseth the Creation and much more deserveth a weekely memoriall Yea this greater work hath swallowed up the former as the Temple did the Tabernacle 1. King 8. 4. And we that live after Christs Resurrection are as much bound to the celebration of the first of the weeke as they that lived before to the last 47 Q. What fourth ground is there A. The substance of the Law which requireth a seventh day The words of the Law are these The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord I denie not but that the Law hath a speciall relation to the first seventh day but so as it was a memoriall of that great worke of Creation When that was swallowed up with a greater then the substance of the Law is to be observed in a sevenths day memoriall of that greater worke And it is observable that the seventh which we celebrate is so ordered as in the change no weeke had two Sabbaths nor any weeke as part of a weeke was without a Sabbath Their Sabbath concluded their last weeke and our Sabbath began our first weeke The change could not have beene so fit to any other day 48 Q. When begins the Lords day A. In the morning Act. 20. 7. When Paul came to the Church at Troas he had a mind to spend a Lords day with them though he was in great haste to depart so soone as he could He came therefore to their assembly at the time that they came together according to their custome but he kept them till the end of that day for he would not travell on the Lords day and having dismissed the assembly he departed Now it is said that he continued his speech till midnight Acts 20. 7 even till breake of day ver. 11. and then departed which departure of his is said to be on the morrow By this punctuall expression of the time it appeares that the first day of the weeke the Lords day ended at midnight and that then the morrow beganne Now to make a naturall day which consisteth of twenty foure houres it must begin and end at the same time for the end of one day is the beginning of another There is not a minute betwixt them As therfore the Lords day ended at midnight so it must begin at midnight when we count the morning to begin Which is yet more evident by this phrase Mat. 28. 1. In the end of the Sabbath namely of the weeke before which was the former Sabbath as it began to dawne namely on the next day which was the Lords day or as Joh. 20. 1. when it was yet darke there came divers to annoint the body of Jesus but they found him not in the grave he was risen before so as Christ rose before the Sunne 49 Q. What reasons may be given of the Lords daies beginning in the morning A. Other daies then begin That they doe so with us is evident by the account of our houres For midnight ended we begin with one a clock then the first houre of the day beginneth And it appeares to be so among the Jewes for when Aaron proclaimed Exod. 32. 5 6. To morrow shall be a feast to the Lord They rose up early on the morrow I denie not but that sundry of the Jewish feasts began in the evening as the Passeover Exod. 12. 6. But it cannot be proved that their weekly Sabbaths so began There were speciall reasons for
the many evidences which he giveth of the Jewes superstition herein are a sufficient refutation of this erroneous opinon For this purpose reade Mat. 12. 1 2 c. Luke 13. 15 16. 14. 4 5. Joh. 7. 23. These five are errours in opinion Aberrations in practise follow whereof two concerne others 56 Q. What is the sixt aberration A. Keeping others from sanctifying the Lords day The Law layeth the charge of sanctifying the Sabbath on men not onely for themselves but also for others especially for such as are under their charge For the Law thus expresseth the prohibition of servile workes In it thou shalt not doe any Worke thou nor thy Sonne nor thy Daughter nor thy man-servant nor thy maid-servant nor thy cattell nor thy stranger Which is Within thy gates Yet there be many so farre from procuring others and those under their charge to sanctifie the Lords day as they hinder them and suffer them not to doe it Such are they that use to make great feasts on the Lords day rather for pomp then necessity or to relieve the poore or set out enterludes or such kinde of solemnities for meere pleasure and they who having others to attend upon them spend all the fore-noone in attiring and adorning themselves and all they who imploy servants or others upon secular affaires contrary to the commandement These and other like to these pull their owne and others blood upon their owne soules They have cause to feare the doome denounced Jer. 34. 16 17. 57 Q. What is the seventh aberration A. Scossing at such as make conscience of sanctifying the Lords day There are many not onely deceived in their understanding but also so perverted in their will and so impious in their heart as they cannot endure such as are better enformed then themselves or that beare and shew a better respect to God and his worship then they doe Therefore to discourage men from their pious courses they brand them with ignominious titles as Precisians Puritanes Sabbatarians and Jewes Herein they doe exceedingly aggravate their sinne and shew themselves like him that was borne after the flesh whose doome was to be cast out Gen. 25. 9 10. Gal. 4. 29 30. David was troubled with such in his daies for thus he complaines Psal. 119. 51. The proud have had me greatly in derision But yet marke his resolution in this that follows yet have I not declined from thy Law To which purpose note also 2. Sam. 6. 16 20 21 22. These two last aberrations in practise have respect to others The soure last that follow have respect to men themselves 58 What is the eight aberration A. Doing servile Workes openly on the Lords day Many that are convinced in their judgements concerning the equity of sanctifying the Lords day yet have their hearts so possessed with covetousnesse and their minds so filled with the affaires of this world as they are loath to spare a day from their worldly employments to the honour of God and the spirituall edification of their owne soules They are like those who being invited to a great supper made their excuses from their secular affaires Luke 14. 16 18. Great was the zeale of Nehemiah against such Neh. 13. 15 16 17. The faires that in many places are kept and open selling of commodities are too publicke and open profanations of the Lords day 59 Q. What is the ninth aberration A. Deviding the Lords day betwixt God and themselves Some thinke they doe sufficiently sanctifie the Lords day if they goe to Church and serve God some part of the day though they spend the other part thereof in their owne affaires Herein they shew themselves like to those who set their threshold by Gods thresholds and their posts by Gods posts whereby they defile Gods holy name Ezek. 43. 8. 60 Q. What is the tenth aberration A. Wearisomenesse in the duties of the Lords day Many that live in Countries Cities Townes Parishes and Families where good orders for sanctifying the Lords day are strictly observed are thereby brought to performe the duties tending thereto but because they have no delight therein they are exceeding weary thereof and thinke it the longest and most tedious day in the weeke saying When Will the Sabbath be gone Amos 8. 5. This wearisomnesse takes away all the glory and comfort of what they doe it is neither acceptable to God nor profitable to their owne owne soules Therefore let us not be weary in well-doing Gal. 6. 9. 61 Q. What is the eleventh aberration A. Profaning the Lords day under a pretence of keeping it The Government under which men live and the lawes of their Governours which they dare not transgresse make many to forbeare the ordinary workes of their calling the doing whereof is in all mens opinions an apparent profanation of the Lords day therefore Lawyers will forbeare to pleade at the barre Tradesmen will shut up their shops Husbandmen will forbeare the ordinary tillage of their ground work-men their usuall labour and others that which in the sixe daies they busie themselves about But yet under pretence of that externall keeping the Lords day they will take advantage of doing sundry other things which are plaine prophanations of the day wherein they doe not celebrate the Sabbath of the Lord but the Sabbath of sundry other things all which may be brought to foure heads and under them all profanations of the Sabbath may be comprised as the particulars following will shew 62 Q. What is the first kinde of Sabbath that is not the Lords A. The Sabbath of worldlings Worldlings are such as have their minds so set upon the things of this world as they take all the advantages that possibly they can to get and heape up the things of this world and to that end they will turne those things that are ordained to another end even the meanes which are afforded to attaine to eternall life to their worldly advantages 63 Q. What is the Sabbath of worldlings A. Doing his works on it In that ordinary works of a calling are forborne there is a shew of keeping a Sabbath but that forbearing of such works giveth occasion to worldlings to do other things that prove as advantageable to them and which must be done at other times if they were not then done For instance the Lawyer will on the Lords day when he pleads not at the barre because the Law suffers it not appoint his Clients to come to him to informe him in their causes The Trades-man that shuts up his shop will then cast up his books and send his servants to his Creditors to require his debts The Farmer will then take his time to meet with his neighbours to make bargaines to buy and sell their commodities So in other cases advantages being taken for the things of this world from a shew of keeping the Lords Sabbath makes it to be not the Sabbath of the Lord but the Sabbath of worldlings 64 Q. What is a second kind
was made for man Mar. 2. 27. Therefore those ordinances wherein and whereby he is worshipped and honoured are the meanes of edifying and saving our soules But God did so aime at our spirituall good as he would not on his day have the temporall good of our bodies neglected If therefore our bodies stand in need of present succour for the affording whereof duties of piety must be omitted he suffers us to forbeare the externall works of piety and thereby verifies that which the Prophet of old testified Hos. 6. 6. and Christ once and againe confirmed Mat. 9. 13 and 12. 7. I will have mercy and not sacrifice 24 Q. What servil things may further the proper works of the Sabbath A. First externall rites about the performing of them Levit. 24. 8. Num. 18. 9 10. Vnder the Law there were sundry rites which required much bodily labour that tended to that worship which God then required as slaying sacrifices fleaing and cutting them in peeces laying wood on the altar and the sacrifices thereon renewing the lamps setting the shew-bread on the table and many other the like concerning which Christ thus saith of the performers thereof The Priests in the Temple prophane the Sabbath and are blamelesse Mat. 12. 5. that is they do such things as in other cases not concerning the Worship of God would be a profanation of the Sabbath If a butcher in his slaughter-house should so slay slea and cut beasts in peeces on the Sabbath he would therein prophane the Sabbath But in the case of Gods worship they are no profanation and therefore the performers thereof may justly be acquitted of all blame therein Thus Church-Wardens and Clearkes may provide good Bread and Wine for the Communion and Water for Baptisme and bring them to Church Thus Collectors may receive tell out and distribute money to the poore Thus Ministers may studie for their Sermons And other like works may be done that tend to the principall duties of the Sabbath 25 Q. What other servil things may further the proper workes of the Sabbath A. Such as our weake bodies doe stand in need of Exod. 12. 16. Mat. 12. 1. Man by sinne hath brought many infirmities upon his body By them is he much disabled and hindered from performing good duties The Lord therefore every way endeavouring with his goodnesse to overcome mans wretchednesse hath by his providence afforded him sufficient meanes to support and redresse his infirmities These meanes God is willing that man should use at all times on all accasions so farre forth as may be needfull and usefull for him The Lord is not like that cruell Tyrant who laid upon the Israelites whom he held in hard bondage as much as they could doe if not more and yet would not afford them ordinary meanes to doe it He rather will have his work intermitted then man oppressed thereby 26. Q. What are those particulars which our weake bodies doe most need A. 1. Sleepe Eccles. 5. 12. 2. Foode Luke 14. 1. 3. Apparell 2. Sam. 12. 20. 4. All other occasionall helps Mar. 2. 3 4. 27. Q. Why is sleepe requisite A. If we have not seasonable sleepe the night immediately before the Sabbath the latter part whereof namely from midnight to the time we rise is part of the Sabbath the duties of the day will be so drousily performed if at all they be performed as they cannot be acceptable to God nor advantageable to our spirituall edification Sleep doth much refresh our drowsie bodies and cheere our dull spirits and so make us much better performe the duties of the Sabbath Therefore sleep is said to be sweet Eccles. 5. 12. 28 Q. Why is food needfull A. Food is of speciall use to refresh the body and quicken the spirit if it be seasonably and moderately taken Many mens spirits will be ready to faint if they be not in due season refreshed with convenient food Christ therefore on the Sabbath tooke his ordinary repast Luke 14. 1. and made an apology for his Disciples refreshing themselves on that day Luke 6. 1 c. yea he sheweth that such mercy ought to be afforded to Beasts Luke 13. 15. 29 Q. To what use is apparell A. Apparell also is needfull and usefull for refreshing the body and for comelinesse It keepeth the body warme it covereth our uncomely parts Then especially are wee to make our selves comely when we go into great assemblies and greatest assemblies use to be in Churches on the Lords day Of old they were wont to put on their best apparell when they went to the House of God 2. Sam. 12. 20 unlesse it were a time of humiliation Exod. 33. 4 5. 30 Q. What other helps are there A. There are sundry other helps which occasionally arise from sundry accidents As in case of lamenesse or weakenesse of limmes by gout spraining or any other meanes it is a great helpe to be carried to Church and that carrying may prove to the bearers a laborious worke So where the Church is remote the help of horse and coach by land and boate by water is needfull It appeares that many brought such friends to Christ as could not come of themselves on the Sabbath Mar. 1. 32. 2. 3. 31 Q. How doe the fore-mentioned meanes further duties of piety A. By enabling us the better to doe them Psal. 104. 14 15. We heard how they refresh our bodies cheere our spirits and support yea and redresse our manifold infirmities thereby they enable us to doe the things which we take in hand the more cheerefully and steddily and thereby further the same A man that hath a long journey to ride by resting some-time in an Inne by taking repast himselfe and giving his horse provinder enableth himselfe and horse to goe further then other-wise they could and so doth further his journey Though in baiting he doth not travell or goe any whit of his way but abide in his Inne yet hee helpeth forward his journey and shall by that meanes better come to the end thereof Even so though in doing those servill things which are needfull for our bodies the Sabbath be not properly sanctified yet by them the sanctification thereof is furthered in that the services tending thereto are thereby better performed 32 Q. What cautions are to be observed for well using these on the Sabbath day A. First no more time then needs must be spent on them Exod. 34. 4. The Lord testifieth his respect to us in offording us liberty to use the things whereof we stand in need and time convenient therein to use them It becommeth us therefore to testifie our respect to God by giving to him and his service as much time as we can and not to abuse his indulgency by spending on our selves more time then is needfull Wherefore having had quiet rest in the night we ought to rise betimes in the morning and to be quick and speedy in attiring our selves that we may have the more time to serve God on
the beginning of those feasts in the evening which did then begin As for the supposed beginnings of the first daies gathered out of this phrase the evening and the morning were the first day they cannot be necessarily concluded to be at evening For the evening and the morning there importeth the moment of the evening and morning parting one from another and the returne to the same period which moment is rather at the beginning of the morning then of the evening The evening useth to be referred to the end of the day and the morning to the beginning as Exod. 29. 38 39. 1. Sam. 17. 16. and 30. 17. Joh. 20. 19. 50 Q. What other reason is there of the Lords daies beginning in the morning A. Christ then rose Mar. 16. 2 9. Of Christs rising in the morning no question can be made all the Evangelists agree in the narration thereof Now the Lords day being a memoriall of Christs Resurrection if it should begin in the evening the memoriall would be before the thing it selfe which is absurd to imagine As all Gods workes were finished before the first Sabbath so all Christs sufferings before the Lords day His lying dead in the grave was a part of his suffering therefore by his Resurrection was all ended With his Resurrection therfore must the Lords day begin To make the evening before the Lords day a time of preparation thereunto is a point of piety and prudence but to make it a part of the Lords day is erroneous and in many respects very inconvenient Hitherto of Directions Aberrations follow Aberrations concerne Mens Opinion Practise Some mens opinion is erroneous in too much loosenesse others in too much strictnesse Errors in too much loosenesse are foure 1. Denying the morality of the Sabbath 2. Accounting the Lords day a matter arbitrary 3. Judging externall rest and rites sufficient 4. Supposing servil works in case of hazard to be lawfull The error in too much strictnesse is this Thinking needfull works to be unlawfull Aberrations in practise respect others or themselves Two respect others viz. Keeping others from sanctifying the day Scoffing at such as make conscience thereof Foure respect men themselves Doing servil works openly Deviding the Lords day betwixt God and themselves Waxing weary of holy duties Profaning the Lords day under a pretence of keeping it 51 Q. What aberrations are contrary to the Law of the Sabbath 1. Deniall of the morality and equity thereof There be many that account it no morall precept but reckon it among the ceremonies which were appropriated to the Jewes Herein they may justly be reckoned in the number of those who make void the law of God Psal. 119. 126. Much more they who account it too heavy a yoke for Christians to beare Indeed the sacrifices and other legall rites which were enjoyned to the Jewes for the manner of solemnizing the Sabbath are too heavy a burden now to be laid on Christians But none of those are mentioned in the Morall Law That which we account Morall and to have a perpetuall equity is the substance of the Law Yet against this doe many also except as a wrong done to Christians in that thereby as they alleadge they are deprived of a seventh part of their time Is man deprived of that time which is best spent which is spent in serving God edifying his soule and promoting the eternall salvation thereof Fie on such sensuall and unreasonable conceits who complaines of being deprived of that time which is spent or rather mispent in idlenesse and wickednesse 52 Q. What is a second aberration A. Making it a matter arbitrary There be that grant it to be a very meet and equall thing that a day should be set apart to Gods honour and our spirituall edification but they hold it too strait a bond to be tied to a set and certaine day they would have it left to the liberty if not of particular men yet of the Church to set apart what time they thinke fit What is this but to suppose tâ—at men may be wiser then God or at least that men who live in after ages when the Spirit hath withheld his extraordinary assistance and immediate inspiration may better know how to order times then they who were in speciall manner inspired and assisted by the Holy Ghost yea what is this but to give liberty to man to breake the Lords bonds and to cast away his cords from them This is a ready way to bring man to teach for doctrines the commandements of men and so to worship God in vaine Mat. 15. 9. 53 Q. What is the third aberration A Judging externall rest and rites sufficient This was one of the reasons and that an especiall one which moved the Prophets to cry out against the Jewes for observing those ordinances which God himselfe had enjoyned namely that they rested onely in doing the outward workes In this respect saith the Lord Isa. 1. 13. The Sabbath and calling of assemblies I cannot away with Yet herewith doe most content themselves The externall rites are onely meanes and helpes for sanctifying the day the sanctification thereof doth not simply consist in them much lesse in sneere rest and cessation from labour for then a beast might sanctifie the Sabbath 54 Q. What is the fourth aberration A. Supposing servil workes in case of Hazzard to be lawfull Thus they pretend unwarrantable workes of necessity that is such workes to be of necessity which are not so What are to be accounted workes of necessity we heard before namely such as require a present performance in that they could not be done the day before nor put off to the day after To them many add such things as are in hazard or whereof there is feare that they may be spoiled as in harvest if the weather have beene foule a day or two before the Lords day they thinke they may on the Lords day if it be faire make hay reape corne gather fruit and do other like servile workes But these are not of an absolute necessity For the weather may be faire after the Lords day as well as upon it The Law therefore hath expressely forbidden this Exod. 34. 21. In earing time and in harvest thou shalt rest on the seventh day To worke on the Lords day on feare that the next day will be foule is to distrust the divine providence These foure are errors in overmuch loosenesse 55 Q. What is the fift aberration A. Thinking needfull workes to be unlawfull on the Lords day This is an error in over-much strictnesse For some are so over-strict as they will not suffer a fire to be kindled on that day nor any hot meate to be drest nor sundry workes of mercy to be done like the Jewes who blamed Christ for the manifold cures he did on the Sabbath and his Disciples for plucking and rubbing eares of corne and eating the graine The many proofes which Christ alleadgeth in defence of himselfe and of his Disciples and