of Sabbath that is not the Lords A. The Sabbath of Epicures There was a Philosopher called Epicurus who held pleasure to be mans summum bonum his greatest happinesse Thereupon they that pursue their pleasures with all the might and maine they can and place a kind of content therein are called Epicures 65 Q. What is the Sabbath of Epicures A. Satisfying mens owne delights in it They who are given to their pleasures being on the Lords day restrained from their ordinary calling and the workes thereof take that opportunity to make pompous feasts to follow their sports and pastimes and other waies to satisfie their fleshly delights neglecting Gods service Thus the Sabbath which they keepe is not the Sabbath of the Lord but the Sabbath of Epicures 66 Q. What is the third kind of Sabbath that is not the Lords A. The Sabbath of Beasts Beasts being unreasonable creatures do not conceive any difference of daies nor the end why they rest from their accustomed labour and work Thereupon that time wherein they are not put to work they spend in sleeping grazing or otherwise feeding in standing still or going idly here and there 67 Q. What is the Sabbath of beasts A. Passing it over in idlenosse There be very many that do no more consider the end of intermitting the duties of their calling then beasts But because they may not do them they spend the Lords day in lying a bed or otherwise sleeping in attiring themselves in eating and drinking in vaine talke in sitting at doores to behold what comes to their eyes in walking up and down and such other idle courses This is not to keep the Lords Sabbath but the Sabbath of Beasts 68 Q. What is the fourth kind of Sabbath that is not the Lords A. The Sabbath of Divels Divels are spirits of wickednesse doing all the evill they can and taking all the occasions they can to doe evill 69 Q. What is the Sabbath of Divels A. Making it a day of sin Many that by their calling are all the six daies restrained from outward notorious evill acts make the Lords day a time to let loose the reines to all sin Whoremongers and whores appoint the Lords day to meet on to commit their lewdnesse Theeves set that day apart to breake into houses to rob and steale Then drunkards meet together to make one another drunk Others that have mischievous plots in their heads will then meete to advise about the execution of them and animate one another thereunto Thus they serve the Divel they doe his works they shew themselves herein like the very Divels This therfore is to keep not the Sabbath of the Lord but the Sabbath of divels 70 Q. What motives may be given for sanctifying the Sabbath A. 1. Expresse precept Deut. 5. 12. Were there no other motive this were sufficient to a pious mind that knoweth God to be the only Lord the highest Soveraigne over all who hath an absolute power to command to whose commandement obedience is expected yea shall be exacted and severe vengeance executed on such as refuse to obey 71 Q. What other motive A. The item before that precept Exod. 20. 8. The item prefixed before the Precept concerning the Sabbath is this Remember remember the Sabbath day Where among sundry precepts a memēto is set upon one without question it implieth an especiall heed to be given to it as if more largely it were said Of all that is given in charge let not this be forgotten especially remember this and give good heed thereto 74 Q. Why is a MEMENTO especially set before the fourth Commandement A. First the fourth Commandement bringeth a singular help to all the other precepts as shall be distinctly shewed on the seventh motive Secondly it intimates mans aversenesse against this precept The morality of none of the tenne Commandements written with Gods owne fingers in the two Tables of stone was ever questioned by such as professed themselves Christians but this of the Sabbath Indeed Papists in setting downe the ten Commandements whether in Catechismes or els-where do leave out the words of the second Commandement yet they do not denie the morality of it for they render this reason of leaving out the words The substance of the words left out is in the first Commandement all that is left out is but an exposition of the first Though the reason be not sound much lesse sufficient to justifie so audacious a fact as the leaving out of that which God hath so expressely with his own fingers set downe yet it sheweth that they denie not the morality of that precept The memento then intends thus much That though there may be many that deny the morality of the Sabbath yet let such as beare a due respect to whatsoever is given in charge by the Law remember this part thereof Remember the Sabbath day to sanctifie it Thus we see that this is a motive of moment 75 Q. What third motive A. Gods honour Isa. 58. 13. To have one of the seven daies weekely set apart for the worship of God and to dedicate the same wholy thereunto must needs make much to the honour of God And who would not who should not do all that he can especially all that that is appointed by God himself to the honour of God Them that honour me will I honour saith the Lord 1. Sam. 2. 30. 76 Q. What fourth motive A. Gods example Gen. 2. 2. Exod. 20. 11. The example of God in this particular is for this end expressely produced in the Law that we should the rather be induced thereby to sanctifie the Sabbath Exod. 20. 11. To imitate God in that wherein he is to be imitated must needs be acceptable to God and most honourable it is in it selfe It is a matter of good credit for a child to imitate a good Father for a subject to imitate a prudent Prince yea for any to imitate those whose example is worthy imitation How much more to imitate God This motive is much pressed in the holy Scriptures Levit. 19. 2. Luk. 6. 35 36. Eph. 5. 1. 77 Q. What fift motive A. The practise of Saints Luk. 4. 16. Act. 16. 30. 1. Cor. 16. 1 2. This though it be not equall to the former motive yet it is a motive of great moment and it is also much pressed in sacred Scripture as Ps. 99. 6. Heb. 6. 12. Jam. 9. 10. Patterns of Saints who were men subject to like passions that we be shew that what we endeavour after is no other then that which appertaineth to man Now for this duty of sanctifying to God a seventh day we have the examples of Saints before the Law Exod 16. 30. under the Law Neh. 13. 19 22. after the Law Act. 20. 7. 78 Q. What sixt motive A. The equity of the duty Exod. 20. 9. The Lord might exact of us every day to be dedicated to the honour of his name But it pleaseth him in tender respect to our need to
2. These in one respect may be accounted workes of piety namely as they are instructions directions and reprehensions gathered out of Gods word but in another respect they are workes of mercy namely as they tend to the reliefe of our brother in regard of his spirituall distresse and need of his soule The matter of them makes them workes of piety the end whereto they tend makes them workes of mercy There is therefore a double bond to tye us to a diligent performance of all these on the Lords day as we can finde any occasion of doing them one the bond of piety the other the bond of mercy Yea as the soule is more excellent then the body and the good of the soule more necessary then the good of the body so these works of mercy which so much concerne the good of the soule ought with more diligence to be done then those which concerne the good of the body which yet we must not neglect These we ought to doe and not leave the other undone 19 Q. What are the workes of mercy which concerne the body A. 1 Visiting the sick and such as are otherwayes restrained of liberty Mark 1. 29 30. Mat. 25. 36. 2 Relieving the needy with what they want Isa. 58. 7. 1 Cor. 16. 2. Mat. 25. 35 36. 3 Pulling out of danger such as are therein Mat. 12. 11. Luk. 13. 16. 4 Affording all other seasonable succour Mat. 12. 1 4. These may be so ordered as none of the forementioned duties of piety need to be omitted for them If Christians rise in any seasonable time they may performe both private and secret duties of piety before they goe to Church in the fore-noone and if they spend not too much time at dinner they may doe the like before Church-time in the afternoone And when they come from the after-noone publick service of the Church either before or after the like private duties of piety they may doe some of the fore-mentioned workes of mercy and those such as concerne the body If they prove such as hinder workes of piety they belong to workes permitted which are hereafter distinctly set downe 20 Q. Are not duties of piety and mercy to be done on other dayes also A. Yes Act. 2. 46. 2 Tim. 4. 2. 1 Thes. 5. 17 18. Prov. 3. 28. God every day continues the same God and answerably he is to be so acknowledged and in testimony thereof divine worship is every day to be performed Under the law they had their morning and evening sacrifices every day Exod. 29. 38 39. By duties of piety to God are our secular affaires sanctified and seasoned Every day therefore are they to be performed And because every day the necessities of some or other require workes of mercy we must be ready every day to doe them so farre as we are able The rules for shewing mercy are especially these three 1 Our brothers necessity 2 Our owne ability 3 Gods opportunity that is the occasion which by the divine providence is offered unto us Luk. 10. 33 34. 1 Joh. 3. 17. 21 Q. Wherein lyeth the difference betwixt doing workes of piety on the Sabbath and on other dayes A. They are on the Sabbath as meat on other dayes as sauce Numb. 28. 9 10. We use to fill our bellies with meate and to eate as much as we can I speake of such as eate for strength and not for gluttony but we take a little sauce no more then will give a rellish to the meate and sharpen appetite So on the Sabbath we ought to doe as many duties of piety thereon as conveniently we can To secret duties private must be added to secret and private publick The greater part of the Sabbath day must be spent in these But it is sufficient on other dayes to performe secret and private duties of piety morning and evening to season and sanctifie the workes of our calling thereby and that by craving pardon of sinne assistance and blessing and by giving praise to God yea and by learning directions out of Gods word For which end some part of the holy Scripture is to be read and some opportunities are to be taken where they may be had to heare Sermons on weeke dayes But the greatest part of every of the six dayes is to be spent in the workes of our calling Exod. 20. 6. 22 Q. Wherein lyeth the difference betwixt doing works of mercy on the Sabbath and on other dayes A. Opportunities for works of mercy are to be sought on the Sabbath and taken on other daies 1. Cor. 16. 2. No Sabbath ought to passe over our heads wherin some worke of mercy if at least we be able is not done The time that we spare from duties of piety and from a lawfull refreshing of our bodies ought to be spent in works of mercy For which end it is requisite that we take due notice of such as are sicke or in prison or otherwise restrained of liberty or any way troubled and perplexed and of such as are poore and in want yea if we know none such to enquire after them and to goe to visit them and comfort them and relieve them Where the Apostle enjoyneth to lay up something in store every first day in the weeke which is the Lords day he implies that that is a very fit season not only to doe workes of mercy which then are offered to us but also to prepare on that day for other times Surely if every one would every Lords day lay something aside as God hath prospered him for a stocke to give to the poore much good might be done thereby Thus will men have more to give thus will they have in a readinesse to give it being a sacred stock by their voluntary setting it apart to such an use their conscience will account it sacriledge to lay it out any other way thus will they more cheerefully give because the stock out of which they give is prepared before hand and thus will their benevolence on another day be a sabbath-Sabbath-daies work because it is out of the stock which on the Sabbath day was laid aside If poore men that live on their daies labour if servants that live on their wages would every Lords day lay up some tokens or pence for this end they might have without any sensible dammage to themselves a stock for the poore how much greater stoare would be for the poore if rich men according to Gods blessing on them would so doe 23 Q. What servil workes are permitted on the Sabbath A. 1. Such as further the proper works of the Sabbath Mat. 12. 3 4 5. 2. Such as hinder them Mat. 12. 11. Such is Gods wisedome as in all things that he requires he affords all meanes that may further the same And withall such is Gods tender respect to us as he ordaines and orders all things for our good For our good namely for the spirituall edification of our soules he first ordained the Sabbath The Sabbath
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
his day The like must be done by servants in the needfull services which they doe So in sitting at table to eate meate wee must use all convenient speed To rise the sooner from bed and table and to doe all needfull servile workes the more speedily because it is the Lords day argueth a good respect to God and his service 33 Q. What other caution is to be observed A. Such servil workes as are permitted on the Sabbath must be performed as Sabbath daies workes Such respect must be had to this sacred time as we ought to endeavour to turne all things so farre as wee can to a sanctification of that day 34 Q. How may they be so done A. 1. With due respect to the end 2. With like respect to the manner The end and manner make much to the qualifying of that we doe An evill end and manner much pervert the things we doe but a good end and manner adde much to the glory of warrantable things 35 Q. What is the end to be aimed at A. To be better enabled to workes of piety 1. King 19. 7. This end especially if indeed we doe the better what we are enabled to doe which is the right use and proper effect of the end this end maketh servile works to become Sabbath works For instance if going to bed the evening before the Sabbath we pray to have quiet rest for this end that we may more cheerefully doe the duties of the Sabbath that sleep is a Sabbath sleep so to eat and drinke for that end is a Sabbath eating and drinking So in other things 36 Q. After what manner must they be done A. With raising matter of spirituall meditation from them Luk. 14. 7. On the Lords day our mind ought to be so heavenly as thereby every thing should be done after an heavenly manner not onely workes of piety but also every other worke that we doe thereon should be so done When we first wake we should call to mind what day it is and desire God to sanctifie us to the duties thereof Rising out of bed should bring to our minde the first resurrection out of sinne and the second out of the grave In apparelling our selves we should meditate on the adorning of our soules In washing face and hands thinke on the cleansing of our soules Servants in making and blowing the fire should thence take occasion of stirring up the fire of Gods Spirit in them In preparing meate they should thinke of the food of their soules There is nothing which may lawfully be done from which a pious minde may not draw matter of heavenly meditation whereby the things from which meditation is drawne are sanctified 37 Q. May servil works be done on the Sabbath though they hinder duties of piety A. Yea. Mat. 12. 7. God doth not so strictly tie us as fall what will or can fall out we must goe to Church This phrase not sacrifice Hos. 6. 6. implieth that there may be cases wherein God doth not expect sarcrifices that is externall duties of piety to be performed by us 38 Q. What are those servil works which may be done though they hinder duties of piety A. Such as are of an absolute necessity This absolute necessity hath relation to mans need namely that it is necessary that such and such things be done or els some great dammage or prejudice will come to man 39 Q. How may that absolute necessity be knowne A. If that which must needs be done could not be done the day before nor can be put off to the day after This implies a necessity of the present performance even upon the Sabbath day This first is laid downe as a ground that it must needs be done then it is taken for grant that it could not be done the day before and also that it cannot be put off to the day after therefore it remaines that it must be done on the Lords day For instance A tile falls on a mans head and soarely wounds him on the Lords day It is necessary that succour be afforded to this man The day before nothing could be done for his cure because no man knew he would be hurt Succour must not be put off to the day after least the man perish for want of succour Such therefore as are able to helpe him must doe it though thereby the duties of piety be hindred Note for this purpose Joh. 7. 23. 40 Q. Of what sorts are those workes of absolute necessity A. 1. Ordinary 2. Extraordinary Ordinary are such as for the most part happen every Sabbath and some-where or other are performed on that day Extraordinary are such as may fall out and sometimes do fall out but very seldome and it is a lamentable accident when any of them doe fall out 41 Q. What instances may be given of ordinary servil works which hinder duties of piety A. 1. Tending young children 2. Keeping sick and impotent persons 3. Helping women in travell Most families have some young children which cannot looke to themselves nor be brought to Church without disturbance of the whole Congregation Very oft it falls out in every City and Towne that some be sicke or otherwise impotent by age or some casualty so as they cannot goe to Church but require some to tarry with them and to attend upon them And in what day of the yeare doth it not fall out that some women in one place or other fall in travell If every day then also every Lords day But it is requisite that more then one or two assist them in their travell All these therefore are ordinary servil works whereby some are kept from duties of piety and yet are blamelesse Instance Hannah who tarried from the Temple till her child was weined 1 Sam. 1. 22. and was blamelesse 42 Q. What instances may be given of extraordinary servil workes which hinder duties of piety A. 1. Quenching fire on houses 2. Making up breaches of water 3. Withstanding enemies 4. Freeing living creatures out of present danger The three first of these concerning Fire Water and Enemies are so violent that if present helpe be not afforded against them irrecoverable dammage may soone follow thereupon If therefore in any cases that rule hold mercy and not sacrifice Hos. 6. 6. Mat. 12. 7. most of all in these As for freeing living creatures out of danger we have Christs expresse warrant Mat. 13. 11. Luke 14. 5. If unreasonable creatures are instantly to be pulled out of danger much more reasonable Luk. 13. 15 16. By these particulars which are permitted we may see that a conscionable observing of the Sabbath is not so heavy a yoke as many imagine it to be 43 Q. Is our Lords day now the true Sabbath A. Yes 44 Q. What grounds are there to prove it to be so A. 1. Divine authority This is the best ground that can be even that which is sufficient to settle a mans judgement and conscience Divine authority is that which is
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
afford us six daies to doe our owne worke therein Is it not then most meet and equall that we should give a seventh to God and to the honour of his Name may not God in this case say is not my demand equall Doe not they who take this day to themselves deale worse with God then he did with his neighbour who had many sheepe of his owne yet tooke from his poore neighbour the one onely one which he had 2. Sam. 12. 4. 79 Q. What seventh motive A. The helpe it brings to keepe the other Commandements An especiall part of sanctifying the Lords day consists in reading Gods Word in hearing it preached in conferring about it in meditating on it and in calling upon God Now by those duties which are about Gods Word we are instructed in God and in our duties to him how we may take him alone for our God how we may worship him and honour his name aright yea we are instructed also in all duties which we owe to our neighbour By Gods Word also we are perswaded and enduced to endeavour after those things wherein we are instructed And prayer is an especiall meanes to get the Holy Ghost Luke 11. 13. This precept therefore is to be observed as simply in regard of it selfe so relatively in respect to all other the precepts and thereupon an especiall memento is set before it alone 80 Q. What eight motive A. The spirituall benefit thereof Jer. 17. 26. A conscionable sanctifying of the Lords day by a due observing of those divine ordinances which God hath prescribed is an especiall meanes to convert such as have formerly lived in their naturall corrupt estate and to quicken and increase the graces which have beene formerly wrought in us We by reason of the flesh in us are prone as heavy things to fall downe and as water to waxe cold But the Lords day by the ordinances thereof is an especiall meanes of renewing what is decaied As waites of a clock by oft winding up are kept continually going so grace by the foresaid duties is kept in continuall exercise The Lords day is a spirituall market day wherein we may get such spirituall provision as may feed and sustaine our soules the whole weeke following and so weeke after weeke while here we live in this world 81 Q. What ninth motive A. The temporall benefit of it Deut. 5. 14. Surely a daies rest in every weeke is very needfull and usefull for man and beast especially for such as labour all the sixe daies Experience gives good proofe thereof Howsoever such as on no day take any great paines find no such benefit thereby yet others doe And the wise God saw it to be so For which end he expresly commanded that the beast should rest Exod. 20. 10. Now the beast can reape no other then a temporall benefit There is therefore a temporall benefit thence arising Some masters are so covetous and gripulous as if there were not a seventh day for rest set apart they would never afford any daies rest to servants or cattell but so weary them as their strength would quickly be exhausted It remaines then that as the rest of every night so the rest of every seventh day is usefull and needfull and a great temporall good is thereby brought to man and beast 82 Q. What tenth motive A. Promises to observers thereof Isa. 58. 13 14. Promises great and pretious promises being made by one that is able to performe what he promiseth and withall is true and faithfull and in that kind will not faile to make good his word are a strong motive to stirre up men to doe with the uttermost of their power the things whereunto such and such promises are made But promises great and many by God himselfe of whose power and truth no question can be made are made to such as are conscionable in keeping the Sabbath as appeares Isa. 56. 2 4 6. and 58. 13 14. Jer. 17. 24 25. 83 Q. What eleventh motive A. Threats against profaners of it What promises cannot do on hard hearts threats may doe For they are of force to affright men and in a manner to force men to obedience The Lord therefore being willing every way to try how men may be wrought upon useth this remedy and the rather he useth it that judgement and the execution thereof may be prevented For this is the proper end of threatnings before hand that after-judgements may be avoided so as in regard of the end whereat they aime they appeare to be evidences of Gods favour For these reade Exod. 31. 14 15. Ier. 17. 27. Ezek. 20. 13 21. 84 Q. What twelfth motive A. Judgements executed on such as violated it Execution of judgement hath a threefold end The first aimeth at him on whom the judgement is executed by the sence and smart thereof to be drawne to repentance Thus was Manasseh wrought upon by a fearefull judgement executed on him 2. Chron. 33. 12 13. The second aimeth at others that if they on whom the judgement is executed be so hardned as it move them not yet others may be warned thereby For this end the judgements on impenitent sinners of old is set before Christians to admonish them 1. Cor. 10. 6 c. Heb. 3. 12. Jude ver. 5 6 c. The third aimeth at God that if neither they on whom judgements are executed nor others that see them or heare of them be wrought upon yet God may be justified In which respect he is said to be knowne by the iudgement which he executeth Psal. 9. 16. He thereby is knowne to be a mighty a just a wise God a God that hateth iniquity Read Dan. 9. 7. and Neh. 9. 32 33. Now judgements being terrible to such as feele and to such as see them or heare of them they must needs be a forcible motive to restraine men from profaning the Sabbath Instances of fearefull judgements executed for this sinne are in Numb. 15. 32. and 2 Chron. 36. 21. Neh. 13. 18. 85 Q. What thirteenth motive A. The safety of sanctifying it Act. 4. 19. There is great question about the Sabbath whether it ought now to be sanctified and wholy dedicated to God or no Now to one that is not perswaded one way or other I would propound this question whether may be the safer to sanctifie it or not to sanctifie it If on the one side it still remaine as a precept whereunto we are all bound then it is a palpable transgression of the Law not to sanctifie it and in this case woe to the transgressors thereof But suppose the precept doe not still absolutely bind us yet if voluntarily we set apart a seventh day to the honour of God and the spirituall edification of our owne soules provided that superstition be not placed in the keeping of the day surely there is no sinne therein nor any great inconvenience So that questionlesse it must needs be the safest course to sanctifie the day Among other motives let this also be well considered FINIS Of peoples uttering Amen See The Guide to goe to God 243 Exod. 5. 7 8. * Christ is said Mar. 8. 31. to rise againe after three daies which is to be taken inclusively the whole third day being included Againe where Mat. 17 1. Mar. 9. 2. it is said that Christ went into the Mount where he was transfigured six daies after Luke 9. 28. saith about eight daies after Matthew Mark speake exclusively leaving out the day wherin he was last with all his Disciples and the day wherein he came to the Mount and meane only the six daies betwixt Luke speakes inclusively including the foresaid two daies Catechis 1c uit Catechis Vicelij Catechis B. llarm Lege Alanum Copum cap. 21. Dialogi 4.