as an angry Judge he makes others to reject Yea God for sinnes against his Sabbath gives men up to follow their own fancies and eagerly to pursue their own seducements Ezek. 20.24 25. Because they despised my statutes and polluted my Sabbaths I gave them statutes that were not good and I polluted them in their own gifts c. Under such punishments poor people perish and perceive it not We see mens Sabbath-sins against God and Gods judgments are upon men for those sins though we see them not 3. Though God does not appear presently to punish such men yet he will ere long God is fitted himself to be sure and God has fixed his day which is neer 1. God himself is fitted to inflict punishment upon such as defile his holy day for as he is the Lord of the Sabbath so he is the Lord of hosts The same that in the Hebrew term is the Lord of the hosts in the Greek Septugint is the Lord of the Sabbath and so does the New Testament expresse it Except the Lord of hosts sayes the Prophet had left us a remnant we had been like Sodom Isay 1.9 Except the Lord of the Sabbath sayes the Apostle Rom. 9.27 repeating the words of the Prophet It appears he that is the Lord of this day hath many hosts at his command wherewith he is ready to give Battel to all the breakers of his blessed Sabbath Josephus lib. 5. Ant. Judaâ—car cap. 6. Josephus speaking of the Battel Judg. 5. wherein God fought against Sisera with an host of Men an host of Stars an host of Stormes an host of Rain Haile and Winds for sayes he there fell such a sudden and terrible tempest beating full in the faces of the Canaanites as took away their sight and benummed their hands that they could not hold their shields not fling their darts but beat so on the backs of the Israelites as emboldened them the more God indeed does not immediately make war with men that misuse his Sabbath but he hath his forces ready to fight them his Armies are mustered and ready to march all his weapons of war are prepared Psal 7.12 13. 2. God hath such dayes drawing neer when he will certainly proceed against Sabbath-sinners and pursue them to death As a day of National Judgment And a day of general Judgement Indeed a dismal day of calamity may our Land look for wherein the polluters of the Lords day shall be drawn out to suffer Gods severe vengence There be some offenders and Malefactors which the Magistrate does not immediately punish but they are bound over to the next Assizes Though Sabbath-breakers by Gods immediate blowes be not beaten down yet they be bound over to such an Assizes as we never yet saw in England God may not aforehand inflict exemplary punishments upon particular transgressing persons because he means to come with common calamities upon the whole body of a Nation when transgressors shall be destroyed together Psal 37.38 if a National repentance prevents not Such a day of National distresse drawes neer wherein Sabbath-breakers with other sorts of sinners shall assuredly suffer The Lord will either lay the Land in blood or in water If waters of sorrows do not flow from men fires of fury will flame from God and then wo to such as sinned down the day of the Sabbath 2. The great day of Gods general Judgement is now apace approaching when such as sin against Gods sacred Sabbath The Lord will disown them and The Lord will condemn them Disown them so that they who regarded not the Lords day shall not be regarded in the day of the Lord nor of the Lord in his day Condemn them down to endure pains perpetual and torments eternal O how sweet would one Sabbath of rest be from Hell-torments in ten thousand years But they who would not keep the Lords day of rest shall never have a day of rest to keep The day when Sabbath-slighters shall be certainly adjudged so to suffer now draws on God in some former ages might more exemplarily punish Sabbath-abusers because then this Judgment-day was at a further distance this day now drawing nearer the Lord may more let men alone and they may escape present penalties But they that neglect the Lords day shall not escape the dreadful day of the Lord. We may observe a double day that men for the most part mind not The present day of the Lords Sabbath and The approaching day of the last Judgment Men live as if there were no Sabbath day to be religiously imployed in and as if there were no Judgement-day to be diligently prepared for I eat I drink I play Bernard de interna Domo cap. 33. sayes Bernard as if I were gone beyond the day of Judgement Thus may many a man say I eat I sport I sleep I leap and laugh as if I had passed over and got above Gods blessed day Men are as if they were now exempted from attendance on the Lords day and as if they should hereafter be excused from appearance at the day of the Lord. But the day drawes neer when all men must appear before the Judgement-seat of Jesus Christ and answer for non-attending upon his holy day Hieron Epist de scient legis Tom. 4. Oh what shall we do sayes Jerom in that day when the Lord shall come with Trumphet sounding fire flaming sinners fainting stars falling mountains melting poor creatures crying to graves to hold them and hills to hide them Let none that abuse the Lords day suppose this day of the Lord to be far off for Beâ—old sayes the Apostle The Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones to execute judgment c. Jude 14 15. The comming of the Lord draws nigh Jam. 5 8. Tâ—e Lord is at hand Phil. 4.5 Heare this all ye who with the Lords good day put off the evil day of the Lord. Lastly though the Lord does not evidently punish all such men yet he hath openly of late laid hold upon some Yea herein the Lord hath spoken so loud from heaven against Sabbath-sinners that I cannot be silent We hereabout have had in a short time terrible tokens of Gods severe vengeance upon men not minding the service of his day Among our selves a sad example a Townsman going into the Parish and gathering Cherries on the Lords day fell from the tree and in the fall was so battered and bruised that he never spake more but lay groaning in his blood untill the next day and then he dyed Another man not far off this Cherry-time fell from a Cherry-tree and lay in dreadful dolour all the week and the very next Lords day dyed A grown youth upon the Lords day not long ago in a Neighbour-Town scrambling with others for Pears thrown out of some pockets in the Church-yard broke his main thigh-bone and the bone of his leg on the same side in such a miserable manner as a precious man who set those bones assured me though
their mad merriments when they are most Jovial vain and voluptuous And were it not for Gods wonderful Patience while they are thus polluting the holy seasons of God it should be to them as to Belshazzar when he was abusing the holy vessels of God In the same hour came forth fingers of a mans hand and wrote upon the plaister of the wall MENE MENE TEKEL c. Then the Kings countenance was changed and his thoughts troubled him so that the joynts of his loyns were loosed and his knees smote one against another Danniel 5.3 4 5 6. To be sinful upon the Sabbath-day Hieron in Isaiam cap. 5. August Tract 4. in Joan. 'T is an aggravation of sin And 'T is an assimilation of Satan Thus a man greatens his sin by sinning upon the Sabbath a man not only offends against the fourth Commandement but other Commandements by such sins are also violated which makes the offence more deep and double As to be good in evill dayes is that which heightens a mans praise and declares the eminency of his grace so to be evill on good dayes sinfull upon the sacred Sabbaths of the Lord is that which makes a mans case more culpable and his sin the more abominable Thus a man likens himself to Satan who is ever bad but worst upon the best dayes The wickedest act that ever the Divell did was when he met man in the holy place of Paradise and O what sinfull designs hath Satan upon the sons of men when he meets them upon the holy time of Sabbaths Of all sins such Satan is most prone to promote that will most provoke God and such are the sins of the Sabbath 1. Cor. 6.15 Shall I sayes the Apostle take the members of Christ and make them the members of an Harlot God forbid so should a man say Shall I take the dayes of Christ and make them the dayes of sin and vanity of gluttony and drunkennesse God forbid Unto God sin is ever offensive but to sin upon the Sabbath does most incense God Ezra 9.13 Seeing O Lord thou hast given us such a deliverance as this should we break thy commandements and joyn affinity with the people of these abominations wouldest not thou be angry till thou hadst consumed us and so as there should be no escape Thus ought men to argue O Lord seeing thou hast given us such A DAY as this should we transgresse thy commands and practise abominations thereupon would'st not thou be very angry c. Chrysost de Lazar. con c. 1. Chrysostome well observes that the Sabbath is the Day God appoints to purge and cleanse men from sin and therefore on that day for men to mix themselves in sin is exceeding sinful Secondly in earthly actings there are those that spend out the Sabbath-Day ravelling and running out this rich and precious time of the Lords Day Some upon their worldly businesse Others about their businesse in the world In Sabbath-time are some set upon their ordinary affaires As Sea-water it will not abide in its own banks but beats and eates upon the Land and drownes the dry ground so many mens worldly callings will not keep within their weeks compasse but eate upon the Lords Day and drown up Sabbath-time God in the creation went on through all the works of the World till he had made man and then he took his Seventh Dayes rest and sanctified it how sad is it to see man stay in worldly works and never care to come at God in a Sanctified-Seventh-Days-rest True there are some who though they will not be in the open Sabbath upon their ordinary week-day-work yet they will be about such things as have tendency thereunto We find in the 14. of Luke of some that when they were sent to at Super-time they made their excuse One said I have bought a piece of ground and I must needs go and see and another said I have bought five yoke of Oxen and I go to prove them The one sort did not at that very time purchase their Farme but went then to see it nor the other did not then buy their Oxen but went then to prove them Thus some in Sabbath-time though they are not upon the common work of their Trades yet then they go to see and are busie about the disposing of their week-day-works As God in the Creation wrought out the works of the World in six several dayes but the very first day he fitted and ordered the matter for the whole frame Thus men upon the first day of the week OUR LORDS DAY are busie about the ordering of matters for their earthly affairs in the following dayes All this proceeds from Satan that evil one and from covetousnesse the root of all evil 1. The Divel upon the Lords day when he cannot draw to that which is wicked he will to what is worldly Thereby To augment the sin of man and To prevent the service of God 1. Hereby Satan encreases the sin of man he well knowes those works which are upon the week dayes lawful are upon the Sabbath sinful and so sets men thereupon 2. Hereby Satan opposes and suppresses the Service of God God upon this account requires as Austin excellently notes men upon the Sabbath to forbear their worldly businesse August de civit Dei lib. 6. cap. 11. Idem de tempore Serm. 25â— that they may then be the more free and full prompt and ready for religious service and fot this cause thâ— Divel puts people then upon their earthly businesse that he may beat them off from Gods blessed service upon his holy Sabbath day The Divel does not like diligence in a lawfull calling but upon sinful designs he unseasonably sets men thereupon I could report of a poor woman oft under strong temptations whom I have heard sometimes sadly say she was not able all the week to go about the necessary works of her calling but when the Lords day was she knew not how to keep from her worldly work being violently provoked thereunto True the more common case is for Satan upon the Sabbath to hold men on in their earthly affairs who are eagerly bent thereabout all the week besides As the subtile Serpent said to Eve Gen. 3. Yea hath God said ye must not eat of every tree so Satan subtilly sayes to men Hath God said Ye shall not work upon every day ye may work 't will be for your benefit Yea should Satan be silent to survile work on the Sabbath 2. A principle of covetousnesse puts men hereupon What made Eve to eat of the tree thâ—â— was forbidden of God And what caused Achan to take the wedge of gold that was otherwise disposed and set apart of God but covetousnesse And whence is it that men upon the Sabbath day which God hath separated for himself are so carried about their own common business but from covetousnesse Covetousness Colos 1.5 is called Idolatry This Idol the world it takes up that time of service
a great variety yet there is no contrariety In the soule of a Saint there be contrary principles flesh and spirit one opposing another but there are not in the Sabbath contrary practices each to other repugnant one duty does not thwart another but Sabbath-services are to each other helpfull Prayer fits for hearing and hearing prepares for prayer 5. The diversity and change of Sabbath-work shewes the Lords wisdome yea and the love of the Lord to make exercises the more easie that holy labour may not be heavy labour nor men tyred all Sabbath-time with one continued work the Lord lets them passe from one imployment to another for refreshment 6. On the Sabbath we have several works yet in all we serve but one Master Indeed had we divers Masters it might discourage but to us there is but one Lord. Upon the Sabbath in religious services we change our place and we change our businesse but we do not change our Master All is to Christ to Christ men should say upon a Sabbath-morning Though other Lords in the week-time have had too much dominion over us yet now we will make mention of thy Name onely 7. If multitude of services be tedious what will multitude of sufferings be Jam. 1.2 sayes the Apostle My brethren count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations How will they rejoyce in divers daily distresses that shrink back because exercises are divers upon the Lords day Object The Sabbath ceases when publike exercises end no longer holy day then while holy duty Answ If so sure then with some Sabbaths are very short But shall we think that men can begin and end a Sabbath when they list The Churches of Christ in ages past have determined of an entire day due to the Lord. The Sabbaths Iren. cont Valent. lib. 4. cap. 31. August de temp Serm 251. sayes Irenaeus do require a compleat day and the perseverance of that whole day in the Lords service Austin declares his judgement touching the time of the Sabbath from that text Levit. 23.32 From even to even shall ye celebrate your Sabbath 'T is evident from that place of the Apostle Jam. 2.10 that whosoever carelessely casts by any part of Gods precept transgresses the whole law of God and thus whosoever wilfully neglects any part of Gods Sabbath is guilty of breaking this whole holy day men must not suite the day to their duties but their duties to the day while the day endures their duty remains Object But so to keep the whole day is terribly tyring a hard service who can do it Answ God because of our infirmities does afford what may refresh the better to bear up our bodies the Lord allowes moderate sleep in the night and temperate food in the day True it was in Tertullians time a dispute Tertul. de coron milit cap. 3. Tom. 1. pag 747. whether it be not a duty on the Lords day to fast but our Saviours Apologie for his Disciples in plucking and eating the ears of Corn upon the Sabbath day may easily quiet that question Mark 2.25 And blessed be the Lord for the allowances of his love 2. Men do not complain of whole dayes for the world They rise early and go to bed late and eat the bread of carefulnesse Psal 127.2 They do not say all the week when the morning is Would God it were evening but rather in the evening they wish would it were morning again to go after the world afresh yet we find some even in sinful wayes so unwearied that when one day is past they pitch upon the very next day with inlarged resolutions Come ye say they I will fetch wine and we will fill our selves with strong drink and to morrow shall be as this dâ—y and much more abundant Isai 56.12 3. We may see what some of Gods servants have desired instance David that dear servant of God Psal 27.4 One thing have I desired of the Lord sayes he and that will I seek after that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the dayes of my life As if he should wish it were alway Sabbath day with him Psal 84.4 10. O blessed are they that dwell in thy house c. For a day in thy Courts is better then a thousand I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God then to dwell in the tents of wickednesse Were men of Davids mind a day in seven for the service of the Lord would not be too long 4. There have been them that have spent divers dayes and nights also in the service of God see a considerable instance Luk. 2.37 A widow of about fourscore and four years which departed not from the Temple but served God with fastings and prayers night and day For her sexe A woman For her case A widow not having the company or comfort of a husband For her age About fourscore and four years yet night and day with fasting and prayer serving God in the Temple 5. For such as are tyred out with the time of a Sabbath would they go to heaven There 't is ever Sabbath alway singing serving and setting up of God Bernard urges the observation of the Sabbath and holding out in holy exercises thereon upon this account that by present rest men may learn to live in rest eternal Bern. super Saluz Regina Serm. 4. Col. 1744. and by persevering service men may be prompt to perpetuate the Lords everlasting praise But how would men do to endure heaven and a never ending Sabbath there who know not here how to bear out the durance of a Sabbath day Object I cannot so tend duties on the day for I have other works of necessity to do Ans 1. There are works of necessity which we grant may be done upon the Lords day Vid. Lyra. in Exod. 20. in Jonna 5.8 Beda in Marc. 2.23 Zanch in 4. praece as by food to refresh our bodies to resist the invasion of enemies to stop the irruption of waters to quench the rage of fire to preserve the life of our Cattel and the like 2. Those that say on the Sabbath such things they must necessarily do ought yet carefully to see it be not A fained necessity or A made necessity To pretend a things necessity when yet indeed no necessity of such a thing to be done is to commit a double sin To do what is not good and To say what is not true Men must also beware they bring not a necessity upon themselves upon the Sabbath to do such things as they might prevent through a prudent foresight this is to make a sin with a necessity Isay 58.13 Thou shalt call the Sabbath a delight not doing thine own wayes nor finding thine own necessities so some Paraphrasing expound the Hebrew word men have many necessities which yet are of their own causing and not of Gods appointing 3. There are things necessary in their season that yet are not necessary upon the
darknesse might be over all the Land for some few years Those strange astonishing turnings which we have seen in our times whether they tend to the overturning of the holy times and things of God God knows Should we have our deserts and some their desires there would soone be seen a sad sinking of Sabbaths Should some succeed in their designs yet the Day of God might say as the Church of God Mieh 7.8 Rejoyce not against me O mine enemy when I fall I shall arise c. Yea and 't is hopeful it would not be long after its falling before it is rising We are in the last times wherein God as he hath great works to do so great works he may permit men to do yet in all he will have quick dispatches Should the Gospel-Sabbath and the Gospell with the Sabbath be beaten down in England yet mangre the might and malice of all their enemies we have some grounds to hope it would not be long before the Lord lifts them up again The time for the conversion of the Ancient Jews and the subversion of the Antichristian Rome now draws nigh for the batteries of whose external part God will make use of Externall Powers And it appears by consulting Revel 17. that these Nations of Europe who have taken part with the beast and born her up shall beat her down The most Orthodox that I meet make England one of those ten hornes which shall hate the whore and make her desolate and naked and shall eat her flesh and burn her with fire Now sure it will be England beset with Sabbaths that shall send out and be assistant in this Service When Joshuas shall be forth abroad with their armies in the valleys many Moses's shall be at home in the mount especially on the Lords Day preaching and praying with hands lifted up unto the most High God then shall be the ruine of this Romish Amalek this day drawes near I think indeed it is impossible punctually to determine the time of Romes finall fall except we could be exact in the time of Antichrists first originalls but certain that time does apace approach Therefore should any party acted by the Spirit of Antichrist for a time interrupt the Lords Day and oppresse the precious priviledges thereof yet they shall not long prevail they shall prove but as Athanasius said of Julians power A cloud that will presently passe Indeed should Sabbaths fail and fall in respect of sinfull men as I have said before there would be grounds of great fear that it might be a long time before God returns them but in respect of good men there is and will be good grounds of hope God will shorten that sad time For the Elects sake those daies shall be shortened Matth. 24.22 Our Saviour there speaks of such a sad time as even upon Sabbath-days there might be such dangers that men instead of resting and serving God they should then be running to preserve themselves verse 20. Ai but such a time should not be long For the Elects sake God would cut it short Indeed as the least time of the Lord of the Sabbaths absence So the least time of the Sabbath of the Lords hinderance to gracious hearts will be grievous long Bernard upon that saying of our Saviour John 16. Yet a little while and ye shall see me and a little while and ye shall not see me A little while Lord says he A little while Thou canst not be gone the least while but it will be a long time So the Sabbath cannot cease the smallest season but the time to Gods Saints will seeme exceeding long and therefore that time which in it self and to others would indeed be long God for their sake makes it short 2. There is a possibility notwithstanding the projects of men and perils we are in to preserve with us the present liberties of the Lords Day But then let us observe Some things towards the Sabbath of the Lord And some things towards the Lord of the Sabbath Towards the Sabbath of the Lord let us labour To advance Sabbath-esteemes and To revive Sabbath-decays The Sabbath we ought all to consider in respect Of its worth And its work In its worth let us rise to higher opinions and In its work let us strive to quicker affections 1. Let our opinions rise higher in the worth of the day Indeed with the best Gods holy times are of too low esteemes but with the most Gods glorious Day is covered with great contempt buried in the minds of men under the Tombestone of deep forgetfulnesse or under heapes of base and unbeseeming thoughts Lamentations 4.2 The precious stones of Zion comparable to fine gold how sayes the Prophet are they esteemed as earthen Pitchers the work of the hands of the Potter So may I say the precious Sabbaths of God better then the finest gold how are they esteemed as ordinary week-dayes fit onely for the common work of mens labouring hands But let us estimate this above all other times and things Let God and his holy Sabbath have the highest roome in our hearts and the chief place in the prime of our thoughts The Jewes were wont to call the whole week by the name of the Sabbath and to say Chrysost in 1. Cor. 16. Hom. 43. Hieron ad Hedibi Quaest 4. Theophyl in Luc. 18. Lyra. in eundem Beza in 1. C. 16. 1. Tremel in Syriac Paraphras Matth. 28.1 c. the first second third c. Day of or after the Sabbath and so the Greek in some texts of the New Testament reads it as Luk. 18.12 Mark 16.2 c. This they did as learned Writers observe 1. For to discriminate themselves in calling the dayes of the week otherwise then the Gentils who called them by the names of their Idols 2. For to demonstrate the dignity of the Sabbath-day and that above all the dayes of the week it was with them of the greatest account they had that reverend esteem thereof as to denominate the whole week thereby And ought not Christians much rather to hold up an high and honourable esteem of the Gospell-Sabbath as a more glorious day 2. Let our affections become quicker in the work of the day O how of late hath the Lords day layen a dying through the dulnesse yea deadnesse of Christians in the duties thereof The way to revive the Sabbaths of God is to revive the service of God and the way to revive the service of God is to revive Gods Saints in the service And if that we would have such Sabbath-revivings Therein Let our visions of God be clearer And our approaches to God be closer 1. The clearer upon the Sabbath we can see God the better will our revivings be It is said Gen. 45. that when Jacob saw the waggons that Joseph his Son had sent his spirit within him revived Did his spirit revive when he saw the waggons his Son had sent O what were his revivings of spirit when he saw
on the Sabbath a gracious soul sighs up into heaven Lord I would better break out but my sins beset me I would faster run on but my own heart hampers me Lord I would otherwise serve thee but my thoughs hinder me fears and cares encompasse me help Lord. Unite Not onely the will but the whole soul yâ—â— the whole man and the whole might is knit and bound up for God in every good work body and soul must not lie severed nor any heart in it self scattered 'T was a sad sin in him who upon the Sabbath-day gathered up sticks that lay scattered on the ground Num. 15.32 But it is our duty on the day of the Sabbath to gather up together our hearts and thoughts that are scattered upon the earth and wandring about in the world We should say as the Prophet Blesse the Lord O my soul and all that is within me O my soul and all that is within me pray O my soul and all that is within me hearken c. Vnite my heart sayes David that I may fear thy Name So let each soul say Lord unite my heart that I may hear thy Word Unite my heart that I may hold fast thy truth keep holy thy day Fervent The zeal of Gods house and zeal of the Lords day should even eat us up Our hearts should burn within us like fire See what God by Moses sayes to the Jewes Exod. 35.3 Ye shall kindle no fire throughout your houses upon the sabbath-Sabbath-day But upon the day of the Sabbath our duty is to kindle a fire throughout all our hearts The fire of zeal fits the service of God On the Sabbath we should go up to God in a Chariot of this fire The force of this fire would carry us into the highest heaven from the lowest earth And from earth to heaven is a good Sabbath-dayes-journey Yea such a burning fire of zeal on the Sabbath would bring heaven as it were down to the earth God into our hearts Exod. 3. we read how the presence of God appeared in a burning Bush In burning hearts in burning prayers appears much of the presence of God 'T was the praise of holy Hezekiah he appointed burnt-offerings for the Sabbath dayes 2 Chron. 31.3 Burning sacrifices for blessed Sabbaths Cheerfull Several of the Ancients much insist upon that care and course which becomes Christians in carrying on the Sabbath more strictly then the Jewes were wont August Enar. in Psal 32. Tom. 8. part Pag. 242. Aug. Tract 3. in Joan. 1. Tom. 9. Ignat. Epist ad Magnes Pag. 57. Hilar. prolog in Psal oper p. 335. Whereas they kept the Sabbath carnally in feasting dancing and sensual delights We Christians must Sabbatize or keep the Sabbath spiritually in holy joyes heavenly contents and religious delights we must feast and dance too but our feasting must be conversing with God our meat and drink to do the will of God Our dancing must be the leaping of soul to see the face of the Lord in the glasse of the Gospel And though on the Lords day we be not drunk with wine wherein is excesse yet we must be filled with the Spirit The comforts of the Spirit are sweeter and better then all the wine in the world and of this we should take our Lords day draughts Cant. 5.3 On this day we should drink wine with our milk eat our hony-comb with our hony be in the Garden and gather Myrrhe with our Spice This is the day that the Lord hath made we will rejoyce and be glad therein Psal 118.24 Psal 42. sayes David Why art thou cast down O my soul why art thou disquieted within me Himself gives the cause His banishment that he could not now go with the multitude to the house of God with the voyce of joy and praise among them that keep holy day Such as can come to God's house upon his holy day should not come with dejected souls but with the voyce of joy and praise triumphing in God Watchful For our Sabbath day watch observe What we are to watch against and What we are to watch for 1. Against the incursions of the Divel we are to watch all the Lords day long That God who will Revel 20. bind up Satan for a thousand years can easily bind him for Sabbath-dayes But yet even upon such dayes Satan is much let loose Job 1.6 There was a day when the Sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord and Satan came also among them The Sons of God on that day came before God for good but Satan had ill designs to hinder them that would honour God VVhen Joshua the high Priest stood before the Angel of the Lord Satan stood at his right hand to resist him Zech. 3.2 'T was the policy of Pompey Vespasian Titus and other enemies of the Jewes soreliest to assault the City Jerusalem on the Sabbath dayes when they refused to defend themselves Upon Sabbath dayes are the Divels most desperate designs He is ever bad but worst upon the best dayes O watch watch A harming Divel on a helping day 2. For the incommings of the Spirit of Christ let us watch upon the Lords day As when the Dove sate upon the Ark Noah put forth his hand took her in When the Spirit of the Lord begins to light upon our hearts we should presently hand it in Embrace his first motions open and give him entrance otherwise Ordinances will do us little good Gen. 1. We find a dark lump of earth and water but if the Spirit of the Lord had not moved upon the face of the water the world had never been made nor living creatures brought forth 'T is the Spirit upon the Word that causes a new creation living Christians O then when we are under the Word and in the midst of the waters of Ordinances waite and watch for the good Spirit of God Other birds drive away but bid the Dove welcome 3. At the end of the Lords day let us see to our duty lest we begin in the Spitit and end in the flesh Nebuchadnezzars Image the head and upper part was gold but the feet and lower part Iron and Clay In the morning and beginning of the Lords day our hearts have heavenly heat and at evening the end of the Sabbath all is Iron and Clay Hearts hard and cold 't is ill when a Christians affections are as the grasse the Prophet speaks of Psal 90.6 In the morning it flourisheth and in the evening it is cut down dryed up and withered Plutarch reports of a River that runneth sweet in the morning but bitter in the evening 'T is the property of some sinful men if they have done somewhat on the Sabbath in the service of God they are the more bold to sin even before the day is gone like the Harlot Prov. 7.14 18. I have peace-offerings with me this day I have payed my vowes come let us take our fill of love till the morning That very day
Popish the Apostle plainly prohibits this Rom. 14.6 Gal. 4.10 Colos 2.16 Yet by these places the Apostle doth not forbid a distinct observance of the Christian Sabbath for then should he contradict himself as Zanchius well observes and others before him clear those Scriptures from any relation to the Lords day Let him blesse the Lord sayes Luther that knowes how to distinguish between the Law and the Gospel Likewise let him thank God who hath learned to distinguish between several Sabbaths under the Law and this Lords day under the Gospel they being abolished weare not bound to observe them or to make any difference between those dayes and others of equal concernment But for the Christian Sabbath it abides and a difference of that day from others we ought to observe This is that day set apart By the holiest Person and For the holiest purpose Psal 4.3 Know ye that the Lord hath set apart the man that is godly for himself So know ye that the Lord hath set apart the day that is holy for himself Here not to distinguish is to abolish As God will have his Servants to be separated from other men So he will have his Sabbath to be differenced from other dayes As men must not divide what God hath joyned so men must not mingle what God hath separated or debase what God hath elevated 4. Object Every day ought to be a Sabbath Answ True the whole term of our life should be a continued Sabbath in two respects Viz. Cessation from the service of sin and Disposition to the service of God 1. To serve sin we should be ever averse and O how glad would God's Saints be to keep such a perpetual Sabbath as alwayes to rest from sin and O how sad have some of Gods Saints been because such a Sabbath comes so seldome How does the Apostle complain Rom. 7. That though with his mind he served the Law of God yet with his flesh he served the Law of sin Thus Austin condoles his own condition Alas sin follows I fly and yet I fall I fight and yet I am captive I run from it and yet I am drawn to it I would rest but I cannot be quiet one day one hour c. To have such an uninterrupted rest as to be every day at a distance from sin is a very desirable Sabbath 2. To serve God we should be ever prepared Though we are not alwayes in Sabbath-day-time yet our hearts should be alwayes in a Sabbath-day-frame in such a blessed bent as is fit for all holy businesse Some expound that precept of the Apostle Paul Pray continually Have a continual frame of heart sit for holy prayer And that of St. James Be swift to heare Have alway an open ear ready to hearken to the holy Word of God We find Ezek. 1. Angels described under the form of Beasts Having four faces and four wings vers 6. Faces Ready to mind Wings Ready to move into any part of the World about any portion of work God pleases to appoint them Thus Gods people should be in a prepared posture at all seasons for Sabbath-service Yet if we respect the performance of the solemn works of Gods worship or the forbearance of the lawful works of mens callings we are not required to keep an every day Sabbath Exod. 20.9 Six dayes shalt thou labour and do all thy work vers 10. But the seventh day is the Sabbath of tht Lord thy God in it thou shalt not do any work God could in the Creation as Austin observes have made an immediate dispatch of all with a word but he took six dayes about the works of the World that he might allot men six dayes time for worldly works Yea before the Law this was laid upon man In the sweat of thy brows thou shalt eat thy Bread * Cumlegatur Adam in Paradiso positus ut operaretur quis sanum sapiens filios ejus in hoc mundo positos ad sudendum arbitraretur Bern. Serm. And after the Law under the Gospel We command saith the Apostle men to work with quietnesse and to eat their own bread So that if men should not be in their worldy businesse upon the week-dayes they would sin in a defect falling short of what is commanded And if they should be every day in the set service of a Sabbath they would sin in an excesse going beyond what is required which would be but will-worship unwarranted by the Word and unpleasing to God But with men this is but a meer pretence to evade and avoyd all Sabbath-observance As Polytheisme is the way to Atheisme an omni-Religion to no-Religion so a pretended every-day-Sabbath and then really no Sabbath at all Next we come to consider such as sin against the Lords day in point of practice Such are of two sorts Some doing upon this day what they should not and Some upon this day not doing what they should The works that men should not do on the Sabbath day are double Servile and Sinnefull or Worldly and Wicked works And accordingly those that do upon the Lords day what they be bound to forbear are of two sorts Those that then be about Est triplex servitus unde opus dicitur servile c. Thom. Aqui. 22. qu. 122. art 4. either The evil works of sin or The servile works of the world In evil actings there are those that sin out the Sabbath day passing away this precious time Some in sinful pleasures and Some in the pleasures of sin Pleasures that are in themselves lawful yet are sinfull upon the Lords Day 'T were better Sayes Austin for a man to dig and plow August in tit Psal 91. then to dance and play upon the Sabbath day that to the Common-wealth may be a benefit but of this there is no advantage yet this is one of Satans stratagems to make men mindlesse of Sabbath duties he pleases them with sinful delights Justin lib. 1. As Cyrus dealt with the Lydians when he had conquered them in battel he allowed them liberty for all sports and pastimes and so more fully subdued them that they became his servants for ever Thus Satan in policy puts men upon sinful pleasures even upon Sabbath daies that for ever he may make them his assured and setled Servants How contrary is this to what God in the Prophet expresses Isay 8.13 Thou shalt not find thine own pleasure upon my holy day But there are some who do exceed these passing Sabbath-daies in the down right pleasures of sin in lasciviousness wantonness surfeiting drunkennesse and such like sinfull actions that 't is rather the Divells day then the Lords Day Plutarch thought that the Sabbath of the Jews was from Sabbos a name of Bacchus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jovialiter vivere that signifies to live riotously jocundly merrily and the like And indeed the Sabbath of Christians as some keep it may seeme to have such a derivation for they make it the day of
us on the Lords Day to loose his children and Servants from our businesses and houses and lead them away with us to be instructed should not every one of us publikely present our selves on the Sabbath before the Lord as it were saying Behold here am I and the children and servaants that thou hast given me And if we go before God alone leaving our families to their liberties what will the Lord say As Eliah said to David when he came to the Camp of the Israelites 1. Sam. 17.28 How comest thou down hither where is the flock and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wildernesse And may not God thus question some when they come and on the Sabbath day appear in publike How comest thou hither where is thy family with whom hast thou left thy Children and servants * Euseb de vita Const li 4. Ca. 18. et 19 Eusebius reports of Constantine what good laws he made for the bringing forth of families all sorts of servants yea souldiets and men of war to Gods publike worship upon the Sabbath day And other pious Princes in times past have thought it no lesse a part of their duty 2. God keeps his propriety in them he is the great housholder and all our families are his as Laban said to Jacob Gen. 31.43 These daughters are my daughters and these children are my children and these cattel are my cattel and all that thou seest is mine Thus sayes God to a Governour Thy sons are my sons and thy servants are my servants and all that thou hast is mine Now as by virtue of our interest in them and authority over them they work for us on the week So by virtue of Gods interest in them and sovereignty above them they are bound to serve God upon his holy Sabbath they have a Father in heaven and a Master in heaven whose commands especially on this day they ought to obey which we must further not hinder As the Lord said by Moses to Pharaoh Let my people go that they may serve me so he sayes to us Let my children go and my servants go that they may worship me upon my holy Sabbath Pharaoh against this was froward but think what befell him and let us fear We should be in this case towards all under our charge as the Master of the Colt as soon as he had heard the Lord had sent for him he streight way unloosed him and let him go Luk. 19. Let them be loath herein if we do not put them on the utmost we can our selves fall under sin Thus having seen the several sorts of men sinning against the Lords day and examined the arguments which on each side they urge answering among objections the principal they presse that they may passe without blame Multitudo peccantium auget peccatum I proceed from the multitude of the sinners to discover The Magnitude of the sin Sin that lies against the Lords day is Great Both in judgement And in practice To erre in opinion upon this point as the error Is very senslesse So very sinfull 'T is a senslesse error For such as own the Lord of the day yet to deny the day of the Lord for men to acknowledge themselves under the command of Christ and yet to be above the Sabbath of Christians c. 'T is a sinful error 'T is an error full of sin in judgement to be against the Christian Sabbath for it is A Mother-error A Master-error And therefore a monsterous error men may easily imagine many other errors are under the beck and bred in the belly of this Hence people cry down Sanctification Mortification Repentance practical holinesse publick Ordinances Prayer Preaching Scriptures and all the means of grace c. Yea hence ready to plead for Popery to imbrace Images and advance all Idol-worship At this one door this triple crown will easily come in with all Antichristian yea Heathenish vanities 'T is a fundamental error O what Babels may be built upon this yea by this such batteries may be made as may shake and shatterdown the whole Fabrick of Christian Religion This makes many so miserably misuse Scripture some texts they muzzle their mouthes and will not suffer them to speak other texts they set upon the rack making them speak what God never meant and all to make the Sabbath nothing Satan having not a greater design then to down this day And indeed the Divel well knowes there is not a readier way to rout out all the truthes of God all the world over and to introduce all errors into all parts of the Christian world then to corrupt the judgements of people with an Antisabbatarian principle Therfore to erre herein is a very great sin 2. To erre in point of practice and to transgresse against the Lords day in respect of the duties thereof is a sin exceeding sinful Both for its gradation And for its dilation If we observe How high it riseth and How far it reacheth The sin is great Great is the sinne of Sabbath neglects If we consider How it ascends in height How it extends in breadth 1. For height This sin goes up to God and is a sin of such degrees against him as that therein are not onely many sins enwrapped but each sin rising higher then the other so that the latter is much worse then the former As Austin once aggravated Adams sin in eating the fruit God had forbidden August Enchi ad Laur. cap. 45. so may I aggravate this sin in not keeping the day God hath commanded For therein is Ingratitude Forgetfulness Perfidiousness Theft Robbery Sacriledge Ingratitude God at the beginning gave man a Sabbath but man by sin soon lost his Sabbath-right yet God after gives men a new Charter for Sabbath-priviledges Christ confirmes it the day is sure Consule Ambros Orat. de obitu Satyri the mercy is sweet Lord what is man even a monster in nature sayes one herein to be ungrateful For him that is unworthy of a minute to be unthankful for a day and such a DAY as this a monstrous sin indeed Forgetfulnesse As for God to forsake man is among the sorest judgements So for man to forget God is among the greatest sins When the Scripture would set out the worst of wicked persons and Nations it sayes they are such as forget God Now sure he that does not remember the Sabbath of God he does forget the God of the Sabbath Yea it argues God forgotten all the week when men do not remember the Sabbath day and duty Perfidiousnesse This blessed day is one of those precious things God hath commited to mans trust to keep now to be untrusty and treacherous herein is a most abominable sin Constantine was wont to say Such men I am sure wil never be faithfull to me that are unfaithful to their God No marvel men betray so many trusts in the world when they deal falsely with God in his holy times
it not to heart Beware then I beseech you how you spend the Lords day lest the Lord make this blessed day to become a curse But I proceed from these Motives that are more driving Generosus animus facilior ducitur quam trahitur to insist upon such Motives as are more drawing for upon Generous and Ingenuous minds such Arguments work most And here I beseech you consider The carefull keeping of the Lords day and the Lords day carefully kept It is Equitable It is Honourble It is Profitable It is Delectable And O that God from heaven would set to the help of his own hand that unto diligence in the Lords-day-duties you might be drawn by this fourfold Cord. 1. For the equity That 't is just and fit we all do the utmost of our endeavours in the duties of this day divers reasons may be drawn Some from God Some from other men and From our selves some 1. If we consider God in his gracious dealings there is much may draw to a diligent observance of his holy Sabbath As his general dealing towards us with others And above many others his special dealing with us Let us mark how well God hath herein dealt with man-kind in common as for instance His mercy in appointing this day out of other time and His bounty in affording so much time beside this day First if we consider Both our souls And Bodies There 's much mercy The common rest of the day is mercy to our bodies And the holy work of the day is Gods mercy to our souls For the saving of our souls God injoynes the work And for the casing of our Bodies God Ordains the rest That neither our souls fall into hell-torments Nor our bodies faint under earthy toylings God is pleased in pitty to set apart a Sabbath Hence 't is said Mark 2.27 That the Sabbath was made for man That is for mans use in order to mans advantage Gualter in Marc. 2. Homil. 22. A learned Expositour upon the place does excellently open this Even as had it not been for man a Saviour had never been born So had it not been for man a Sabbath had never been made For their sakes sayes Christ do I sanctifie my self And for their sakes sayes God do I sanctifie my day Now it cannot but be manifest to as many as mark this mercy how meet it is for each man to make much of the day of God 2. Let us see how liberal the Lord hath been in allowing man so much other time viz. six dayes with a reserve to himself This ONE As Joseph Gen. 39. said to Potiphars Wife My Master hath not kept back any thing from me but thee because thou art his Wife So may each man say to the Sabbath God the great Master hath kept back no time from me but thee because thou art his DAY We read how under a Parable Nathan the Prophet aggravated Davids sin 2 Sam. 12. A rich man that had many flocks of sheep yet when a traveller came to his house he spared to take of his own but took and killed the one ewe-Lamb that this poor neighbour had nourished up for himself This aggravates the sin of many a man when a temptation comes to his heart and businesse he is to go about he spares to take of his own time though he hath several dayes but takes of this ONE DAY which God hath set out for himself Luk. 13. There are six dayes wherein men ought to work in them therefore come and be bealed but not on the Sabbath day So say I There are six dayes for lawfull labour in them men may go and trade and travel but not on the Sabbath day What sayes the Apostle 1 Cor. 11.21 Have ye not houses to eat and drink in or despise ye the Church of God So I say What have ye not nights to sleep in and have ye not dayes to buy and sell in and have ye not time to recreate and take any lawfull delights in but pollute ye the day of God Seeing 't is but one day in seven how unwearied in holy workings ought we to be As Christ said to his Disciples when he found them asleep Could ye not not watch with me one hour So will the Lord say to some at the last and great account Could ye not work for me one day Seeing the Lord hath been so bountiful as to give us six daies for our necessary concernments in the World he may well claim our close attendance upon this one day God might as one well observes have required all dayes to be spent in the works of his worship See Pet. Martyr Gen. 2.3 Read Cal. upon Deut. 5. Ser. 35. and set us by night to get our necessary living Had all time been ours then if God had taken out one whole day for himself and his service and left us six we might have made some exception But when all time was Gods so that for men to have a minute is a mercy yet to have such a plentifull portion as six-days-time of God every week with so small a reserve to himself is well worthy of wonder But O how much more to be admired is God in his goodnesse towards us of this Nation and especially in these parts thereof in settling amongst us for so many years such Sabbath-Helpers and Helps for Sabbaths Should we go into many parts of the Christian world yea into divers parts of this Land we might see poore people sitting of Sabbaths destitute Matth. 20.6 7. 't is said to some Is it not the eleventh hour Why stand ye here all the day idle they said Because no man hath hired us Thus might it be said to severall Is it not the Sabbath why walk you about or sit you at home all the day idle They may answer Because we have no Minister to preach to us For want of the Ministery of the Word in many Churches of this Land the Lords Day lies dead and buried the generality of people running into Atheisme ready for Popery and all Soul-poysoning opinions yet God is good to us and gives us Sabbath-supplies Sermons in season and out of season Week-day-lectures as preparatives to Sabbath-day-labour and preservatives of Sabbath-Day-life to keep up quickenings in Christians that what they gain on the Lords Day they may not lose in the week Behold what manner of love is this And is it not meet that this Day should be duly observed 2. Let us consider some men and we shall see the observance of this day more meet viz. Adam before Moses The Jewes before Christ 1. For Adam Peter Martyr upon Genesis the second observes that man immediately after his creation was to enter upon this Holy-day-duties God having made him a woman for his wife soone made them a Sabbath for their work And Chrysostome notes Chrysost Gene. 2. Homil. 18. how God in setling the very first week of the world sanctified a Sabbath thereby says he insinuating