THE SABBATHS Sanctification Herein I. The Grounds of the morality of the Sabbath II. Directions for sanctifying it III. Proofs that the Lords day is the Christians Sabbath IIII. Aberrations about the Sabbath V. Motives to sanctifie the Sabbath By W. G. LONDON Printed by G. M. for Joshua Kirton and Thomas Warren at their shop in Pauls Church-yard at the white Horse 1641. To the Reader Christian Reader THis Treatise of the Sabbaths Sanctification hath in the private family of the Author and in other families of his pious Friends beene taught and learned many yeares together They who have beene made partakers thereof and made conscience of well using it have found a singular help thereby for a comfortable and profitable passing thorow that day which unto too too many seemeth very tedious and if at least they be under the Ministery or government of such as restraine them from those sensuall workes that satisfie the flesh makes them complaine and say as the Iewes of old did Amos 8. 5. when will the Sabbath be gone But they who take notice of the variety of duties therein set downe and of their fit dependance one upon another shall rather find want of time for a due performance of them then superfluity By care and conscience in aright observing of them the Lords day will prove an holy spirituall market day wherein we may procure weeke after weeke such spirituall provision for our soules as will nourish and cherish them unto eternall life The very life of piety is preserved by a due sanctification of the Lords day They put a knife to the throat of religion that hinder the same Let such as desire and expect the blessed fruition of the eternall Sabbath to come make conscience of well sanctifying the Christian Sabbath while here they live for an help whereunto this Treatise of the Sabbaths Sanctification is published To it is added another Treatise about Apostasy which two may fitly goe together because a conscionable sanctifying of the Lords day will be an especiall meanes to keepe men from Apostasy THE SABBATHS SANCTIFICATION 1 Q. IS the Sabbath morall or ceremoniall A. Morall That is accounted morall which as a rule of life bindeth all persons in all places at all times 2 Q. How appeares it to be morall A. 1 It was sanctified in Adams innocency Gen. 2. 2 3. Adam in his innocent estate was a publick person and bore in his loynes all man-kinde and that without distinction of Jew and Gentile That therefore which was given to him in chardge appertained to all that in any age should come from him 2 It is one of the ten precepts of the morall law Ex. 20. 8. It is not an appendix to another precept but an intire precept in it selfe If it be abrogated or made ceremoniall there are but nine precepts of the morall law contrary to these expresse Scriptures Exod 34. 28. Deut. 4. 13. 10. 4. 3 Q. Of how many houres doth the Sabbath day consist A. Of foure and twenty Gen. 2. 3. The Sabbath is called the seventh day so as it is a seventh part of the weeke therefore so many houres as make up every of the other dayes which are foure and twenty must be accounted to this day 4 Q. Are all those houres to be sanctified A. Yes Exod. 20. 11. The Lord rested the whole seventh day and all the time wherein he rested he sanctified Gen. 2. 2 3. 5 Q. How can all that time be sanctified A. 1. By observing things commanded Jer. 17. 22. 2. By observing things permitted Exod. 12. 16. Duties commanded by reason of Gods supreme soveraignty must be done They are so proper to the day as in a right performing of them the sanctification of the Sabbath consisteth Matters permitted by reason of Gods tender indulgency having respect to our infirmity and necessity may be done And though the Sabbath be not properly sanctified in them yet is it the better sanctified by them 6 Q. What are the heads of Duties commanded A. 1. Duties of Piety Luk. 4. 16. 2. Duties of Mercy Mark 3. 4. Isa. 58. 13. Duties of Piery are such as immediately tend to Gods honour wherein and whereby he is worshipped and withall they are such as directly tend to our spirituall edification Wherefore the wise Lord who affordeth us six dayes for secular and temporall affaires seeth it meet that every seventh day should be set apart for divine and spirituall matters And because the workes of our calling wherein we are most employed in the six dayes tend especially to our owne profit God will have us on his day to shew mercy to others that stand in need of our helpe Many are the works of mercy which Christ did on Sabbath dayes as appeareth Mark 1. 21 25 29 34. 3. 2 5. Luk. 13. 10 11. 14. 1 c. Joh. 5. 9. 7. 23. 9. 14. 7 Q. What kindes are there of workes of Piety A. 1 Publick Act. 15. 21. 2. Private Act. 16. 13. 3. Secret Mar. 1. 35. The severall duties of piety which are comprised under these heads are very helpfull one to another and cause the Sabbath to be more comfortably passed over without any seeming tediousnesse or wearisomenesse 8 Q. Where are publick duties of piety done A. In the Church 1 Cor. 4. 17. 11. 20 22 14. 19 28. Heb. 2. 12. Churches are publick places where many of severall families meete together There use to be most frequent assemblies to worship God The doores of Churches use to stand open for any that will to enter in There the most solemne duties of piety are performed 9 Q. By Whom are they performed A. 1 By the Minister Act. 13. 16. 2 By the People Act. 20. 7. 3 By all together 1 Cor. 14. 24 25. A Minister on the one side and people on the other make up a true Church The Minister is the mouth of God in whose roome he stands to the people and by reason thereof he declares out of Gods word Gods will to the people A Minister is also the peoples mouth unto God presenting their mind to God which he doth for order sake For if all should utter their owne mind together by their own severall voices what confusion would there be Yet are there also duties to be performed by the people joyntly among themselves but distinctly from the Minister els that which the Minister doth will be in vaine Yea there are also some duties wherein the Minister joyneth with the people and the people with the Minister even in the same manner of performing them as the particulars following will shew 10 Q. What duties are done by the Minister A. 1 Reading the Word Act. 13. 27. Col. 4. 16. 2 Preaching it Luk. 4. 20 21. Act. 13. 15. 3 Praying and praising God 1 Cor. 14. 15 16. Neh. 8. 6. 9. 5. 6. 4 Administring Sacraments Mat. 28. 19. 26. 26. Act. 20. 11. 5. Blessing the people Num. 6. 23. In performing the
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
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