the day of his Birth but I never read of any that cursed the day of his New Birth This is the day of rescuing the prey from the mighty the day of opening the Prison-dores and setting the captive free Exod. 12.42 It is a night much to be observed to the Lord for bringing them out from the Land of Egypt This is that night of the Lord to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations So may we say of the Sabbath 'T is a day much to be observed to the Lord for bringing souls from the bondage of sin This is the day much to be observed to the Lord of all the children of God throughout all generations This hath been the day of many a spiritual Marriage or the day of Gods espousing many souls to Christ Thus hath God honoured this his holy day highly And as for this holy day it doth highly honour God exalting all that appertains to God It beautifies the service of God It dignifies the servants of God 1. Hereby the service of God is beautified Eccles 3.11 Every work sayes the Wise man is beautiful in its season Holy duties are best in season upon holy dayes Preach the Word sayes the Apostle 2 Tim. 42. Be instant in season and out of season rebuke exhort c. In season That is upon the Sabbath day Out of season That is in the week-time So several sound Expositors upon the place Prov. 25.11 Words spoken in season are like apples of gold in pictures of silver Thus Prayers made and Sermons preached in season are as golden apples in silver pictures one helping to honour the other The golden apples grace the silver pictures and the silver pictures set out the golden apples Thus the Sabbath-service advances the Sabbath-season and the Sabbath-season exalts the Sabbath-service and all lifts up the honour of God who hath prepared silver dishes for golden apples and put golden apples into silver dishes Appointing blessed dayes for sacred duties and sacred duties for blessed dayes 2. Hereby the servants of God are dignified God in giving the whole Law and so in proclaiming the Command for the sanctifying of the Sabbath made use of the Ministery of Angels not for necessity to him but dignity to them 'T was an honour to the Angels to be present and assistant when the Sabbath was set forth Gala. 3.19 .. Thus God in the continued management of the Sabbath and carrying on the sanctification thereof in the world makes use of the Ministery of men as a dignity to them Among other respects there are two most remarkable things that do dignifie the office of Ministers above all other Functions The subject they are imployed for viz. The Souls of men And the Season they are imployed in viz. The Sabhaths of God Other callings their work lies upon the week-daies but the Minister in his businesse lies bound for the Sabbath O let not any earthly discouragements sink the soules of my dear brethren but let 's honour that God who hath so honoured us as to bend and bind our businesse to this blessed Day Hath God magnify'd our office to labour on this day Let us magnifie our office by this days-labour Steadfast immoveable abounding in the Lords work upon the Lords day That God who hath blessed the day for our work will blesse our work in the day 2. The Sabbath consider'd as Christian hath honour Christianity brings on dignity Theodosius accounted himself more noble as he was a Christian then as he was an Emperour Hence Luther professed He had rather be a Christian beggar then Heathen Alexander Our Sabbath is Christian and therefore excellent The excellencie of our Christian Sabbath may be seen by two sorts of things Some more Principal Some lesse Principal The principall things that put a price upon the Sabbath lie In the appointing of it and In the abyding of it This day may appear precious if we ponder The person by whom and The reason for why 't was appointed 1. The person through whom this appointment came was Christ and his Institution August de temp Serm. 36. To this Austin applies that prediction of the Prophet Psal 118.24 This is the day which the Lord hath made we will rejoyce and be glad therein Jesus Christ himself set out this Sabbath-time Christ in person Christ in the Apostles THE LORD CHRIST Coelum eâ— Christus non patiantur hyperbolen O how excellent is he Christ and Heaven says Luther in their praise can be no excesse Too little we may speak never too much All the excellencies of God and man meet in Christ That then must needs be excellent whereof Christ is the Author That Child is nobly born which can call Christ Father The Sabbath derives its pedigree from Christ 2. The reason upon which this Day was ordained was Christ in his Resurrection The Resurrection of Christ was the first degree of his exaltation Had he not risen from the dead he had never ascended into heaven never sat down at the right hand of God And therefore his rising day may well be our resting day that day on which Christ took the first step to all his great honours is an honourable day and a day much to be honoured God hath highly honoured this day As by converting on it the Souls of men So by raising on this day the Body of his Son 2. We may see this days excellency in its permanency As the Priesthood of Melchizedeck was more excellent then the Priesthood of Aaron because of its order for ever Hebr. 7.17 So the Sabbath of Christians is more excellent then all the Sabbaths of the Jews because it continues To this Sabbath it might be said in regard of all the Jewish Sabbaths They shall perish but thou remainest and they shall all wax old as doth a garment As a vesture shalt thou roul them up and they shall be changed but thou art the same and thy years shall not fail Heb. 1.11 12. To this day all the powers of earth hell shall never put a period Lastly we may look into the large dignity of this Day From the timing of it and From the naming of it 1. This day is so tim'd as is a help to its honour 'T is the first day in the week We have a rule That the first in every kind is more excellent then all the rest August de civit De. ili 11. Cypria Serm. de Spir. S Austin Cyprian and other of the Ancients much advance the excellency of the Sabbath from the circumstance of time That 't is the seventh Day The number seven being most perfect that which they say comprises many mysteries of moment But that which is more meet for us to consider is the settling of our Christian Sabbath upon the first day of the week Luke 2.23 we read how 't was written in the Law that every Male that first opened the womb was called holy to the Lord our Sabbath it is
that day which first opened the womb of time that day which first opens the womb of every week and therefore may well be kept holy to the Lord and be accounted honourable in the world Whereas the Jewes Sabbath was upon the last ours is upon the first day of the week So that the Jewish Sabbath might well say concerning the Christian as John Baptist of Christ There comes one after me that is to be preferred before me 'T is more excellent as 't is time 2. Our Sabbath as it is named transcends in excellency Heb. 1.9 't is said of Christ in respect of the Angels He hath obtained a more excellent name then they so may it be said of our Sabbath in respect of all the Judaicall Sabbaths It hath obtained a more excellent name then they it is called THE LORDS DAY True there is excellency in the name Sabbath as it signifies rest Rest is the Centre to which all living creatures move Rest is the perfection and satisfaction of all creatures after their tyring and troublesome motions But in this name excellencie more abounds THE LORDS DAY As it made much for the honour of Jacob when he had another name added Israel Jacob signified The supplanter of weak man Israel signified The prevailer with a strong God The latter the far more excellent name This is the honour of the Sabbath it hath another name and the former was not like this last THE LORDS DAY There is admirable excellency in all that is called the Lords The Lords Gospel The Lords People The Lords Praier The Lords supper 1. The Lords Gospel There is excellencie The Law of God hath beauty but the Gospel excells in glory The Jewish Rabbins were wont to say That upon every letter of Gods Law hang Mountaines of admirable matter But Luther of the Gospel goes further saying That the shortest line and the least letter thereof is more worth then all Earth and Heaven The very Angels look out from Heavens Glory stooping down to see into the glory of the Gospell 1 Pet. 1.12 1. The Lords people There is excellencie They are the honour of the earth the glory of the world the ornaments of Townes and Cities As one pearl says Chrysostome is more worth then a thousand pebbles So one pious man is more precious then ten thousand sinners The whole wicked world may say to a Saint as the people of Israel to David Thou art worth ten thousand of us 2. Sam. 18.3 We may say of Saints in the world as our Saviour said of the Lilies of the field Solomon in all his glory was not cloathed like one of these Matth. 6.29 3. The Lords prayer There is excellency Some have called it The Abridgement of the Bible and others Tertul. li. de orat ca. 1. Cypr. ser de orat Dom. The Epitome of the Gospel And several observe that though it be little for phrase of words yet it is great for matter and sweet for order pithy and precious in every part A short prayer may be full of God as there may be little of God in a prayer that is long The Lords prayer is as it were a Breviary and Compendium of the great God Infolded Gods worth and Mans wants 4. The Lords Supper There is excellency 'T is that Ordinance wherein Saints the most excellent of persons and wherein faith the most excellent of graces hath the highest activities Here the precious blood of Christ and the precious faith of Christians meet Cypr. de coe Dom. Here faith sayes Cyprian layes its mouth close to the wounds of Christ and sucks in sin-killing and soul quickning blood O blessed be God! Thus 't is evident what is the Lords is excellent And is not the Lords day Let us observe All time from the Beginning was precious Gospel-time is more precious then any before it The Lords day is the most precious part of Gospel-time 'T was a brave expression of Galeacius Garacciolus that Italian Marquesse when a great summe of money was offered him to draw him to his own Popish Countrey and kindred Let all their money perish with them who account all the wealth of the world worth one dayes Communion with Jesus Christ One Sabbath-dayes society with a Saviour ought to be of higher esteem then all the honours of the earth O let us not sink down the dignity of this day in our hearts but every way let us labour to lift up its Honour higher and higher For As 't is sad to debase it So to advance it is good 1. To debase and despise the Lords day is common now in our Nation Men for the most part make no more of this then of any other day Cant. 5.9 What is thy beloved more then another beloved say they to the Church extolling of Christ Upon this she fell to a more full discovery of the dignities and excellencies of Christ Some had need set up Gods Sabbath-honour the more there are so many that say in their hearts What is the day of the Sabbath more then another day yea and indeed it is no more as many in their lives sinfully make it Dalilah prevailing upon Sampson he lost his locks and his strength and became like another man The Devil with divers hath prevailed so far against the Sabbath that it hath lost its life and lustre glory and honour and is become like another day which I am sure is no sign of good to come Some say that if the Sun which is the chief of planets be Eclipsed it signifies great Commotions Mutations Destructions I dare say that when the Sabbath which is the chief of dayes is clouded and covered over with black opinions and practices it intimates heavy evils to come O how do men pollute that which God hath sanctified and debase that day which God hath dignified Act. 10.15 What God hath cleansed call not thou common And what God hath honoured O man account not thou base 2. To advance this day is its due and our duty And indeed could we in England but recover the Sabbaths honour that this Sabbath-Sun might shine again in its beauty and lustre and our Horizon be filled with the bright beames thereof it would remove the fogs of filthy errors prevent the inflicting of sad calamities regain the credit of contemned Ordinances Joh. 12.32 as there the Lord of the Sabbath said If I be lifted up I will draw all men to me So may the Sabbath of the Lord say If I be lifted up I will draw all to me Then all the things of God shall rise As when Christ was risen Matth. 27.52 Many bodies of Saints which were asleep in their graves arose and went into the holy City c. Thus were the Christian Sabbath raised the whole body of Christian Religion would be brought out of its grave and many of Gods Saints that are as it were now asleep upon the beds of sad seducing errors would arise and come forth to the holy service of God
this sin against God in Sabbath-abuse is abominable and inexcusable because we are charged only with one day weekly to be kept as holy unto the Lord. I remember Deut. 5. that Moses maketh mention of this as an Act of Gods great indulgence towards man and that having written the ten Commandments he added no more And should not we with obediential submission acknowledge the same concerning the Sabbath Upon the second consideration men may without uncharitablenesse be censured also as inexcusably regardlesse of their own soules good both in regard of grace and comfort here and hereafter who disrespect the Sabbath day which is the Market-day of the soul as worthy Mr. Rich. Rogers was wont to call it And that smart sentence which was misapplyed unto Christ for he strictly kept the Sabbath of the Lord his God may be applyed to that person who is a wilfull ordinary profaner of that holy time Joh 9.16 This man is nor of God because he keepeth not the Sabbath day According to a mans regard or disregard of the Sabbath is his respect or disrespect unto all the rest of Gods Commandements Here I might take occasion to bewail bitterly Englands wofull declinings both in matters of doctrine and practice concerning the Sabbath In former times no Reformed Church was so famous either for soundnesse in judgment or exactnesse in conversation in relation to the Lords Day But our Apostasie began to be Notorious when the Book for the allowing of sports on that day was promoted to gratifie the profane and Popish party then predominant in England And hereupon many both Bishops and others for alas how apt are men even Ministers among others to swim down the tide with them who bear rule appeared in the Pulpit and in the Presse to decry the moralitie and exact observation of the fourth Commandment Many worthy servants of Christ looked upon Germanies Warres as a fruit of this high provocation there and they have judged our late-yeares troubles an effect of the like profanation At this day notwithstanding our Covenanted Reformation how wofully is Gods Sabbath neglected every where and may we not say that the loosenesse of them who are Atheistically wicked is not so dangerous to poor England as the carnal liberty of such who pretend unto the highest pitch of sanctitie How many even amongst them under pretence of Gospel immunities and of observing every day as a spiritual Sabbath do both take and plead for that libertie on the Lords Day which old Puritans amongst whom the power of godlinesse shined gloriously did decry and abominate Many years since I heard this speech uttered with much affection from famous Mr. John Rogers Take away the Sabbath and Religion will soon wither And is not this too much verified amongst our selves in England at this day We have had and we have Acts Ordinances Orders for the better keeping of the Lords Day but who knoweth not that the life of the Law lyeth in the execution Proclamations and Papers will not pluck down profanenesse except they be strengthened by the vigorous actings of persons in power The Lord threateningly complaineth of the Priests in former times because they hid their eyes from the Sabbath Ezek. 22.26 The meaning of the complaint is judged to be either more generally their regardlesnesse thereof 〈◊〉 more particularly their not taking notice when and how and by whom profaned that they might by roproof seek redresse This I mention that we Ministers may mind our Duties in this regard more The Reverend Authour of this Usefull Treatise hath expressed vigorous affections with forcible arguments to awaken quicken and encourage people unto the better keeping of the Christian Sabbath And what considerations can be more commanding and conquering unto an ingenuous experienced Christian then those two hinted and handled from the Text which this godly man undertaketh and pursueth to good purpose in this present Treatise viz. 1. Christ whose Day the Sabbath is in a way of sanctified peculiarity 2. Spirituall joy with which the Lord is wont to crown the sanctifiers of this his holy Day The former usefull Works of this my worthy good friend have found so good acceptance amongst Gods people that I hope this piece for its own sake rather then for my poor Testimony will also be welcomed and improved I commend this savoury Treatise to thy serious perusal and thy self therein to the blessing of God Almighty I am Thy friend and servant in and for Jesus Christ Simeon Ashe August 7. 1654. THE Contents of the first Part. 1. HOw God from the Beginning before the Law ordained a set Day for Religious Duties pag. 6 2. How God after under the Law did more unfold and confirm the same pag. 7 3. Why Christ under the Gospel should have a set Day for his Service p. 10 4. Wherein the work of Redemption surpass'd the work of Creation p. 11 5. Wherefore the first Day of the week is called The Lords Day p. 15 6. What warrant for the change of the Sabbath from tke last to the first Day p. 34 7. Their Objections answered who oppose the Doctrine of the Lords Day p. 36 c. 8. Of the Lords-Day-Duties what they are and where to be perform'd p. 58 125 9. Their Objections answered who neglect the Duties of the Lords Day p. 65 c. 10. The Multitudes of sinners against the Lords Day discovered p. 20 c. 11. The Magnitude of their sin opened in several respects p. 83 c. 12. The sad Judgments to which Sabbath-breakers are subject p. 96 c. 13. Gods Delay of executing Judgment upon many that mis-spend his Day why p. 110 c. 14. What all are to do to help on due Sabbath-observance p. 120 c. 15. What especially some are to do that the Sabbath-Day may be duly observed p. 132 c. 16. The Necessary Use of the Sabbath To whom and for why p. 138 c. 17. The probable losse of the Lords Day when and wherefore p. 148 c. 18. How the Lords Day being removed may be long before its return p. 160 c. 19. How the Lords Day may remain amongst some as a sore curse p. 166. c. 20. How equal it is to observe one Day in seven holy to God p. 169 c. 21. The excellency of the Lords Day being well observed p. 179 c. 22. The commodity of well keeping this our Christian Sabbath p. 196 c. 23. The comforts of the Christian Sabbath well kept p. 214 24. Their Objections answered who cannot find the comfort and profit p. 225 c. 25. How the Lords Day in the worst times may be certainly and sweetly continued p. 244. THE CONTENTS of the second Part. 1. TO be in the Spirit on the Lords Day as S. John was what it is p. 259 2. Why some of Gods Servants are on the Lords Day in the Spirit p. 281 3. How any others of the servants of God may be in the
cattell upon a thousand hills and all the Fowles of the Mountaines are mine Verse 10 11. But yet those Bullocks and sheep that were set apart for Sacrifice were more immediately the Lords And thus all time is the Lords there is not a day in a thousand years nor an houre in ten thousand dayes but to the least minute all is the Lords Yet there is a day so set apart for holy service That 't is THE LORDS DAY I shall reduce things to a threefold Thesis or Position 1. Pos That God hath one day in seven set apart for his solemne service is sure even from the beginning 2. Position That Christ also should have one day in seven solemnely set apart for his service is sure 3. Position That this day viz. the first day in the week which Christians have commonly kept is that day assuredly THE LORDS DAY First God from the beginning did ordain such a day for religious duties a holy Sabbath This we shall consider As first sanctified And after ratified The consecration of it to Adam in Paradise And The promulgation of it to Moses on the Mount 1. God did establish a seventh day for a sacred Sabbath Gen. 2.2 3. And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it c. As God appointed Adam his work to wit on the week-dayes to dresse the ground so God provided him a Sabbath a seventh day of holy rest The ground indeed did not then as now need tillage but the first man must be an Exemplar or pattern to Posterity Neither did Adam need rest by reason of any bodily wearinesse in Innocency presupposed but God would have him full and whole to set himself one day in seven to serve him and in a holy communion then more immmediately to meet his Maker which might be unto him a Paradise in Paradise This Sabbath for his souls solace was as the sweetest flower in all his Garden This Seventh day God had bâ—â—ssed and man was bound to keep As there was a speciall Tree whereof Adam might not eate So there was a speciall time that Adam might not break Though he should live without sin Yet he must not live without a Sabbath Secondly God did publish his Sabbath-pleasure more plain to his People upon Mount Sinai Exod. 20.8 9. ver Remember the Sabbath to keep it holy c. Which words as they concern a Set-seventh-day-sabbath so they seem to look towards it with a two-fold aspect Both backward And forward Backward As reflecting upon the Sabbath for meer entrance Such a day already instituted the Seventh day God in mercy had made it holy and man must remember to keep it holy Some especially Popish Writers say there was no Sabbath set before the Lord had proclaimed his Law upon Mount Sinai but all the most Orthodox determine otherwise Besides that in Genesis precited we see Exod. 16.23 To morrow sayes Moses is the rest of the holy Sabbath to the Lord. It appears 't was a preappointed day Forward As directing to the Sabbaths further continuance A day that must be remaining Some would make the fourth commandement to be a meer transient ceremonie to live and die with the Jewish Church But if they graunt that the other nine are morall and perpetuall Then this For 't is comprised among them Yea 't is advanced above them This is set in the middle of all as the very heart of the whole as if the Sabbath on the seventh day were the centre in which all the lines of Gods Law meet Yea this is set beyond them as we may see if we observe with what a word 't is inforced in the preface and with what words 't is inlarged in the progresse Remember it stands at the door to invite Calvin Musculus Zanchius c. 't is a word of great weight as our late VVriters observe And in the precept as we passe the roomes there we meet with many words to welcome The Seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God in it thou shalt not do any work c. As saint Paul said of himself considered with the other Apostles 2. Cor. 11. Are they Israelites So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham So am I. Are they the Ministers of Christ I am more In labours more abundant In prisons more frequent So may the Sabbath-precept say of it self in respect of the other commandements Were they written with the finger of God in stone so was I. Were they put into the Ark safe to be preserved So was I. In reasons more urgent In circumstances more aboundant more particulars pressing practise then in any of the other precepts The whole Decalogue or holy Law of God was delivered in thunder and the loudest and longest clap seemed to lie upon the fourth commandement As if at this the Trumpet gave the largest and shrillest sound to set it forth and to settle it fast So we see God had for his service a Sabbath the seventh day From the creation setled and so to proceed Secondly that our dear Saviour should have such a set day of holy rest and religious labour as relating to him suits with Scripture and agrees with grounds of reason For Christ he hath wrought as God the Father did and Christ is to be honoured as God the Father was First the same works have been done by Christ the Son as were done by God the Father John 5.19 Jesus answered Verily verily I say unto you The Son does nothing of himself but what he sees the Father do For whatsoever things he doth the same doth the Son likewise Did God the Father blesse and sanctifie a seventh day for his sacred service and shall not the Son do the same Is there not a set day which the Son hath sanctified As God the Father rested from his works so hath Christ the Son ceased from his Heb. 4.10 Therefore Christ is to have his Sabbath of rest as well as God the Father in the first age of the world Yea the work of Redemption done by the Son doth it not surpasse the work of the whole Creation Being In it self most precious Upon Christ more pressing and Unto us more profitable First most precious is this work in it self viz. Christs recovering souls above Gods creating the World As mans gaining the world cannot recompence the losse of his soul so Gods making the world does not equalize Christs redeeming the soul To draw men out of an enthralled bondage is more then to bring matters out of a confused Chaos In the former God was to deal with no enemy but in the latter Christ was put to combate with all the Divells in hell yea and to overpower men opposing their own mercies 2. Most pressing was this work to Christ it made his very soul heavy unto the death Mat. 26.38 In this Christ did not onely fight with the Divell but God herein fought with Christ bruised him and put him to grief Isay 53.10 The worlds creation was done without
difficulltie But the redemption of souls was difficult and painfull To effect the former God did but speak the word VVhereas to fulfill the latter the Lord Christ did shed his dearest blood 3. Most profitable unto us men is this mighty work of Christ Indeed to have earth to tread on air to breath in meat to feed of light to walk by are benefits but the subduing the strength of the Divell the removing the sting of sin with all the astonishing and sad sequels thereof The reconciliatian of Gods anger and The reparation of mans nature These and the like are benefits more abundantly benenficiall 'T is a mor admirable and andvantagious work for Christ to pull brands out of the fire then for God to bring a world out of the water After such works then may not Christ well require a day of religious rest A Sabbath to be sanctified for his service one day in seven Secondly The same honour is due to the Son that was done to God the Father John 5.23 All men should honour the Son of God even as they honour the Father In the times of the Old Testament all men did honour the Father with a day of holy worship and was a special part of his honour therefore all men must honour Christ the Son in the times of the New Testament with a set day for his solemne service To Christ for his Honour is ascribed The service of the day and therefore The day for the service is his due We find Christ honoured by attributing to him the Word Coloss 3.16 The Sacraments of Baptisme Act. 8.16 of the Supper 1. Cor. 11.24 So prayer John 16.23 Yea the whole Gospel-Ministery 1. Cor. 4.1 Sure then he ought for his honours-sake to have a Sabbath-day for the exercise of all these And are there not as great endeavours in these last dayes to lay the honour of Christ in the dust as ever before was to trample down the glory of God the Father Yea and far greater For Christ and the things of Christ As they are much above nature created So they are most against nature corrupted Yea and the corruption of nature was never so active and opposite against the dignities of Christ as in these last daies 1 John 2.18 Little Children it is the last time and as ye have heard that Antichrists shall come even now are there many Antichrists whereby we know that t' is the last time or the last hour as in the Greek And the divell knowing his time is short as he is the more malicious Quanto potestas Diaboli decrescit in tempore tanto crescit in malignitate so he is the more expeditious and industrious to dash down all the dignities of Christ and to hinder him the honour of his day which for his honour is his due Thirdly that the first day in the week is the day due to Christ THE LORDS DAY And this is fitly called the Lords day for a double cause Because of what was done by the Lord on this day and Because of what upon this day was done unto the Lord First Such things the Lord did upon this day as might well denominate it The Lords Day as 1. His resurrection from the dead upon this day Luk. 24.1 2. John 20.1 Very early in the morning did this Sun rise upon the first day in the week And well might he settle this day most observable for by his this day rising he made himself Most honourable Most profitable Most comfortable First Hereby honourable manifesting his marvellous Power when after three daies dead the Sepulchre sealed the stone rolled a strong watch placed yet he broke through all bars beat down all opposition as a Triumphing Conquerour over death and devills Lazarus John 11. When he rose came up with his grave-clothes bound but Christ cast off his grave-clothes leaving them in the Sepulchre Joh. 20. signifying he had victory over death wereas Lazarus was subject to die again Plus erat de sepulchro surgere quam de cruce descendere plus mortem resurgendo destruere quam vitam descendendo servare Greg◠The Jewes cryed Let him come down from the Crosse and we will believe T' was more sayes one for Christ to ascend from his sepulchre then to descend from the Crosse more to vanquish death by rising then to save his life by escaping O the honour of this 2. Hereby profitable The death of Christ was at the sowing of the Corn Joh. 12.24 The raising of Christ is as the springing up of the Corn. The benefits of Christs death are reaped in his resurrection the death of Christ was as the casting of Joseph into the pit selling him into Egypt and putting him into Prison the raising of Christ is like the preferring of Joseph by which he comes into a capacity to enrich all his Relations 3. Hereby comfortable O the joy of a raised Christ The Christians in the Primitive Church were wont when they saw one another to have this joyful salute The Lord is risen and the others ordinary answer was True 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plus gaudere propter resurrectionem gloriosam quam dolere propter passionem ignominiosam Bern. The Lord is risen indeed We should not so much mourn saith a good Author at Christs ignominious Passion as we should rejoyce at his glorious resurrection The day therefore of Christs rising may well set up this Christian Sabbath 2. Christs appearing to his Disciples was upon this day he shewed himself five times upon the very day he rose first to Mary Magdalen in the morning Mark 16.9 Secondly to the women Matth. 28.9 10. Thirdly to the two Disciples Luk. 24.18 Fourthly to Peter Luk. 24.33 Fifthly to the Eleven Mark 16.14 Excepting Thomas Joh. 20.24 When the Disciples were assembled Christ came in and he stood in the midst among them as the tree of life in the midst of Paradise and unto them we may observe He spake peace and He gave power He said unto them Peace be unto you Peace From outward foes and From inward fears And when fears were out joyes were in Joh. 20.20 Then the Disciples rejoyced when they saw the Lord never did their spirits so spring within them Never before did such a day of comfort dawn And upon this day he gave them a threefold power To Preach the Gospel To administer the Sacraments and To exercise Church-Discipline As is evident Matth. 28.16 17 18 19 20. Mark 16.15 16 17. Joh. 20.21 22 23 c. Hereby He did both sanctifie the day for such Ordinances And he did signifie such Ordinances were for the day And again the very next first day of the week after he arose from the dead he appeared to his Disciples Thomas being with them Then he did for his sake more familiarly and fully unfold himself then before This made one say He was more beholding to Thomas doubting then to Peter believing for upon the occasion of that Disciples doubts our dear
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
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-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
parts of the service Suitable to their places for the service Concerning the service of the Lords day it self observe The spring of it and The spread of it What it must proceed from and What it must extend unto 1. Sabbath-service must proceed from a spring of love The service of our Christian Sabbath-love Amor meus pondus meum eo feror quocunque feror Aug. 'T will facilitate it and 'T will perpetuate it Love it will lead out and carry through the wole businesse of this blessed day with ease to the end Love is the best Load-stone through all the Lords day-duties This is one of the dayes of the Lords appearing which every Christian is bound to love 2 Tim. 4.8 And who ever loves the day will not leave the duty 2. The service of the Sabbath is of such extent that there are divers duties duly to be performed Both secretly in our Habitations And openly in the Congregation In our private dwellings Religious duties upon the Lords day are required of every one as Prayer Meditation and holy Conference Prayer whereby we speak to God Meditation whereby we speak to our selves And good Conference whereby we speak one unto another Prayer The Sabbath is indeed a day God hath sanctified yet 't is not sanctified as to us nor we to it without prayer Our Sabbath in heaven shall all be imployed in praysings of God but prayer to God must have a prime part of every Sabbath we observe on earth Are there Sbbbath duties to be performed we must pray that God would make us able Are there Sabbath mercies to be received we must pray that God would count us worthy Meditation The Sabbath is the day for the bodies rest from earthly affairs and therefore the mind is then most meet to be about the best businesse Theophil in Marc. 1. et 21. One well notes that the Lord commands rest upon the Sabbath that men might read the Word and meditate upon the Word they read The Word and the Works of God are indeed every day to be meditated on but most upon the Lords day Augustine gives this reason why God was six several dayes in the works of the World to wit that upon the seventh day man might the more orderly think upon those Works of God Conference The Sabbath is the day when all in a family have more liberty to be together then on any other day On the week dayes persons in a house are as Bees in a Hive that go forth several wayes to work but on the Lords day their common work abroad ceases so that they may the better set themselyes to assist each other in soul concernments Exhorting one another while it is called to day Heb. 3.13 In our publick meetings The religious duties which upon the Lords day are required be Either more ordinary Or lesse ordinary Ordinary and constant duties for the exercise of all As Prayer to God Hearing the Word and Singing of Psalmes Prayer Upon the Lords day though one be made the Mouth yet 't is meete there should be as many praying hearts as present bodies Prayer was a principal thing the practice of which the Primitive Christians continued in their congregated assemblies Act. 2.42 Austine sadly complains of some in his time August de tempore Serm. 251. who when they should be entring in the Church doors they are tarrying in the Church-yard playing without when they should be praying within idly talking of the world when they should be seriously seeking the Lord c. O that this abuse had dyed in his dayes but the Lord knows it lives for us to lament Hearing Upon the Lords day a great duty is diligent attention to Gods word read and preached They sayes a reverend Writer who rightly use the Sabbath day Gualt in Marc. 3. Hom. 23. they go to the publick assemblies to hear the holy word of God And herein what was the practice of Gods people in the time of the Apostles is plain Act. 13.14 15 16 42 44. Act. 15.21 Act. 20.7 c. And Justine Martyr who dyed for the cause of Christ in the year of our Lord 170. in his second Apologie for Christians reports the people of God to gather into one place perpetually on the Lords day to hear the Scriptures read and to attend exhortations thereupon Singing Upon the Lords day it being the day of Saints sweetest delight holy Psalmes are seasonable to be sung And in ancient times there were some Psalmes penned and purposely appointed for the Sabbath day as is expressed in the Preface of Psal 92. Pliny in his letter to Trajan tells how in those times the Christians upon their set dayes of solemn worship used early in the morning sweetly to sing together unto the praise of God August lib. 9. confessio cap. 6. Austin in this publike exercise sayes he had often wept for joy joy c. Some seek to cut off and cast this comfortable service quite out of doors contrary to the example of Christ Matth. 26.30 the practice of the Apostles Act. 16.25 and other expresse texts in the New Testament August in lib. Psal Prolog Basil de virt laud. Psal Tom. 1. as Colos 3.16 Ephes 5.19 Jam. 5.13 Among other ancient Writers Basil speaks large in the praise of praysing God in this way and abundantly blesses God for the Book of the Psalmes as a fit foundation for this duty Lesse ordinary yet frequent duties upon the Lords day to be done they do relate to Sacraments administring Censures inflicting and Necessities supplying Sacraments The transacting of these suites best unto the Sabbath season One well observes that upon the day of the ancient Sabbath the sacrifices were doubled Danaeus Ethic. Chr. lib. 2. cap. 10. And our Sacraments succeeding these should not onely come in their room but be at their time as services most seasonable for the day of our Sabbath Chrysostome reports how in the primitive times the Lords day had a double name 't was called Chrysost de Resurr Serm. 15. The day of light and The day of bread Of light Because on that day the Sacrament of Baptisme was wont to be openly administred Of bread Because the Sacrament of the Lords Supper used to be celebrated on that day in the Assemblies of Christians And this was the manner of the Disciples in the time of the Apostles Act. 20.7 Censures The exercise of Discipline is fit for the Lords day when the servants of Christ are assembled then to remove from among them scandalous persons both in opinion and practice that 's a plain place 1 Cor. 5.4 In the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ when ye are gathered together viz. on our Lords day and my spirit with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ to deliver such a one unto Satan c. And the first power for this purpose that our Saviour gave to his Disciples was upon the day of our Christian Sabbath the first day of
the week see Joh. 20.19 23. Therein directing them as on this day to exercise that power and that power it does appear was upon this present day principally put in execution afterward thus Origen Cyprian and others relate Orig. can Cels lib. 3. Cypr. ad Pomp. Epi. 62. Greg Nys orat And O how pure and clean would our waters boyl could we on this day so cast off our scum Help Lord c. Necessities The duty of charitable relief is proper for the Lords day 1 Cor. 16.1 2. Tertullian tells in his Apologie for Christians how carefull the Christian Churches were to works of mercy on the Lords day whereby their Brethren in bonds were bountifully supplied and the bellies of the afflicted refreshed Irenaeus contra Valenti lib. 4 cap. 19â— Another of the Ancients does excellently note from the example of our Saviour Luk 13.15 that the right sanctifying the Sabbath day does consist in acts of pitty works of mercy and how charitable deeds become this comfortable day Luk. 14.1 2 3 4 5. is full These Sabbath-duties some way concern the whole body of a people more promiscuously 2. There be some duties on the Sabbath that do concern some persons principally as Magistrates and Ministers Parents and Masters All ought to concur in their care for the keeping of this day Indeed the Lords day is the Fort-royal of Religion let all stand to it in their places we be not beaten out of that especially now when so many lay siege thereunto Some set their wits awork and oppose the doctrinal part of it Others set their wills awork and impugne the practical part of it and as they will not rest on the Lords day so they will not let the Lords day to be at rest but mount their Cannons and make what batteries they can c. O let all and especially such as may do more then others now bestirre themselves to raise the Sabbath siege and to maintain our Sabbath Fort if we dye let us dye in a couragious keeping of this indeed if this be taken all is lost hold this and yet there is hope Let us that are in publike places play the men As the two milch-kine 1 Sam. 6. being coupled together they bore up and carried on the Arke of God Thus let Magistrate and Minister be united to hold up the holy day of God and the holy worship of God upon his day Let Sabbath-breakers for multitude be like a numerous Army if Magistrate and Minister would but joyn we should route them all O how commendable were it if these two in this regard would agree like Joab and Abishai his brother 2 Sam. 10.11 12. If the Syrians be too strong for me then thou shalt help me but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee then I will come and help thee onely be of a good courage let us quit our selves like men for our people and for the Cities of our God and the Lord do that which seemeth him good So let us do what we are able to the utmost for the Sabbaths and the service of our God and then the Lord do with us what seems him good O that those who bear the sword were fired with some of that Sabbabth-zeal that once Nehemiah had Chap. 13.17 18 19. 'T was a high praise that Ambrose gave of Theodosius that he was more solicitous to preserve the things of God as a Magistrate then to preserve himself as a man And it was a good caution that Austin gives upon Psal 2. Magistrates are to be admonished Vid. Pet. Martyr in judg cap 1. saith he as not to grant men immunity to any false worship so not to allow men liberty to leave the true worship of God The Magistrate upon the Lords day is not onely to see men forbear the outward works of their callings but to see that they be about the visible works of Gods worship August Bonif. comiti Epi 50. praecip Tom. 7. Cont. epist Parmeniani lib. 1. cap. 7. Tom. 7. lib. 2. contra Epist Gaudentii cap. 16.17 Austin more then once commends Imperial Lawes against the Donatists for separating from the publike worship of God and gathering into private houses upon the Lords day there to promote their Anti-magisterial opinions Which Lawes were to punish the ordinary people with fines of Money their leaders with banishment the places of their meeting to be forfeited to the Emperour and that none of them should have power to bestow their goods by will or to enjoy any Legacy to them by will bequeathed And he gives Instances of the execution of these Laws and the good successe thereof encouraging the Magistrate therein And when people are brought to the publike Pool Joh. 5.2 3. the Minister is as the Angel that upon this Sabbath-season must move and work in the waters to wit be active in all the Ordinances of God that such as by divine assistance step close in may meet God for the cure of their souls And as the Minister is more immediately to manage the worship of God upon this holy day yea his place is to presse that men do not on this day of the Sabbath satisfie themselves in a bare bodily way to worship God but to see they on the Sabbath serve God in Spirit and truth Thus these two as the two Cherubims that looked one towards another and both upon the Mercy-seat they should with respect look one upon another and both upon the service of the Sabbath that so the Lord may have his day and his due Lastly Let governours of families Parents and Masters contribute their best assistance to see the Sabbath well observed for which end towards their children and servants there is required upon the Lords day a double duty A taking of them to the publike means And a taking with them private pains 1. You are to bring them with you unto the publike Ordinances In the time of the Old Testament people that went to worship God they carried their flocks and their herds with them Hose 5.6 that in sacrifice they might offer them up to God In these times of the New Testament men are to carry their children and servants with them to the worship of God upon his holy day offering them up with themselves as a sacrifice to God When 't was required that the whole body of the Israelitish people should go out from their dwellings in Egypt to serve the Lord together in the Wildernesse Pharaoh called Moses and said Go ye serve the Lord but let your flocks and your herds be stayed but what sayes Moses We will go with our flocks and our herds with our sons and our daughters with our young and with our old will we go there shall not a hoofe be left behind for we must hold a feast unto the Lord and serve the Lord our God Exod. 10.9 24 26. Such Religious resolutions become Christians in the present case 2. Such of you as are heads
of families must upon the Lords day be diligent in houshold-duties We find in the 4 th of Mark yea and likewise Luke 14. how our Saviour on the Sabbath day when he had publikely preached to the people as a Minister of the Gospel he after privately examined his Disciples and further instructed them as a Master of a family From which example of Christ an excellent Expositor observes Chemnit examen cap. de dieb fest how unto the sanctification of the Sabbath besides publike duties there is work to be done in Families as instructing servants repetition of Sermons reading Scriptures counselling and quickning such as are under our care that all may keep holy the Lords day So we see the matters men are exhorted unto I come now to consider the motives by which hereunto men are to be exhorted These are of two sorts Some more driving and Others more drawing Motives that more drive unto diligence in these Duties may arise by observing concerning the Christian Sabbath these four things The necessity of it's continued being The Jeopardy of its future losing The uncertainty of its sudden regaining and The possibility of its present cursing 1. The being of the Lords day is necessary note Negatively and Affirmatively Not that God needs any Sabbath-service or such holy duties as additionals to his Dignity Indeed as to us the honour of God seems to sink when Sabbaths cease And the supporting of Sabbaths seems the advancing of Gods glory but the intrinsecal glory of God can receive no increase God would be infinitely happy though men keep no day holy we need his service not he our obedience When our Saviour sent Luk. 19. to unloose the Colt the Disciples were to give the owner this reason thereof The Lord hath need of him We call indeed to a careful keeping of the Sabbath but we do not say the Lord hath need of it The gods of the Heathen need the supports of such as serve them but so does not the God of heaven Hence sayes the holy Apostle Act. 17.24 25 God that made the world and all things therein seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth dwells not in temples made with hands neither is worshipped with mens hands as though he needed any thing seeing he giveth to all life and breath and all things One well observes of the Angels Chrysost in Matth. Hom. 9 they are not poor though they have no flocks of sheepe they are not in want though silver gold they have none they do not need these things because they have better things abide them Thus God does not want our service in Sabbaths neither needs he any of our duties on holy dayes because of those most perfect felicities and glorious excellencies that are in himself abiding As the Lord is omniscient and needs not any man to assist his knowledge So the Lord is all-sufficient and needs not any thing to help his happinesse And therefore the necessity of Sabbath-observance does not referre to God But to observe Sabbaths the necessity is in reference to us for a double cause viz. Necessitas duplex Praecepti Medii Gods Injunction towards us and Our condition towards God 1. 'T is necessary for us to observe the Sabbath day in all its duties because of Gods injunction And here 't is meet of two things to take good notice to wit Every command of God causes a necessity of our obodience and here is a necessity of our obedience because of Gods expresse command 1. Whereever God gives a word of command there is a work of our obedience necessary I had rather sayes Luther obey the Lords commands then to work Miracles If Miracles need be wrought God will do his own work but 't is needfull we obey commands for God will not do mans work As God by his promises binds himself to vouchsafe mercy So God by his precepts binds us to perform duty As God promising mercy requires our faith so God commanding duty requires our obedience Obedience 't is a debt which as we certainly owe so we must necessarily pay Some they owe to God the debt of passive obedience as they are his prisoners all they owe to God the debt of active obedience as they are his creatures 2. Here God gives a word of manifest command and therefore visibly to obey is necessary Remember thou keep holy the Sabbath day Exod. 20.8 Touching this commandement That the Sabbath day be kept holy we may observe Who was the Giver of it Mediatorem hic appellat Christum declarans quòd ipse ante legem fuerit legem tulerit Chrysost In principio mundi Christus Mediator erat hominum etfi nondum erat homo c. Orig. Ambros lib. 4. in Luc. and To whom it was given 1. He who gave this Sabbath Command was Christ the Mediatour He who came down upon Mount Sinai and gave the whole Law is called Jehovah Exod. 20.2 Deut. 4 11. This the Septuagint translate Lord And the same the holy Apostle applies to the Mediatour our Lord Christ Gal. 3.19 And Origen Chrysostome Ambrose with almost all the Ancients in expounding that place of the Apostle do affirme that 't was Christ the Mediatour both of the Old and New Testament by whom the Law was given So Calvin Junius Marlorat and other able Writers since assert upon the same text We are therefore to look upon this sanctifying the Sabbath as that for which Christ hath given a positive Command 'T was not a Mosaical Ceremony pointing to Christ but 't is a Moral duty appointed by Christ and so to remain under the Gospel and government of Christ untill Christ shall deliver up the Kingdome to God the Father and set an end to all times and things in this world 2. He to whom this Sabbath-Command was given is every one Individually Thou Remember thou keep holy the Sabbath day Thou Not as a Jew but as a man every man both Jew and Christian Herein whosoever exempts himself deceives himself Yea and of all the commands not any have such a Memorandum upon it as that which concerns the sanctifying of the Sabbath Remember As it related to a duty to be performed in dayes past so it related to a people that in dayes past should still perform that duty A Christian Church to come Remember If men forget all the rest yet let them remember this and if they well remember this not any of the rest will be forgoten That which Luther affirms of the first may wel be referred to the 4. Commandment that in the observance of that obedience to all the rest is comprized 2. The Sabbath day in all its duties is necessary for men to sanctifie because of their condition whether they be considered As unregenerate Or as regenerate 1. For men in an unregenerate estate they need to have a holy Sabbath observed And of such there are two sorts Some in a sinful estate and know it not and others that know
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
that in the compasse of every week one whole day was to be spent in spirituall working for God and a Sabbath to be for holy rest as long as a week of the world last Had Adam in innocencie remained he was bound to God in Sabbath-obedience and is it not more meet that we should be Sabbath-bound in obedience to God Must he keep a Sabbath to God his Creator and we keep no Sabbath to Christ our Redeemer Must not he misse a Sabbath in his compleat condition and may we omit Sabbaths who have manifold imperfections Might not the first Man and the common Father of us all be free and shall any of his posterity plead liberty 2. The Jewes generally were held under the tye of a holy Sabbath Hereof we have greater cause for a conscionable course If we consider Our Sabbaths are fewer and Our mercies are larger 1. The Jewes besides their great Sabbath every seventh day they had several other Sabbaths which they were required to observe Sabbaths of moneths and Sabbaths of years Sabbaths of divers sorts Isay 1.13 Hosea 2.11 We for our Christian Sabbath have onely one day in seven and shall we cease the service of that or in the service thereof be slight 2. The Jewes had not so many mercies as we for engagements unto Sabbath-observance They lost many mercies that we might find them We find many mercies that they never lost 1. Mercies were taken from them for us to possesse They that were the natural branches were broken off that we of the wilde Olive might be graffed in Behold therefore the goodnesse and the severity of God on them severity but towards us goodnesse See Romans the eleventh at large They received their Lo-ammi and Lo-ruhamah that it might be Ruhamah and Ammi to us Hosea 1.6 8. Hosea 2.1 2. Mercies are given to us that they did never possesse The best of them could but look through a lattice and see Christ to come look upon the sacrifices slain and see a Christ to die We may see Christ come crucified raised and set at the right hand of the Majestie on high They had the Gospel vailed in the Law We have the Law revealed in the Gospel They had the promises of things precious We have the precious things promised Shall God to us be more in mercy And shall we in duty be lesse to God We should be stricter then they in Sabbath-obedience because God hath been larger to us in all sorts of kindnesse 3. If we yet further consider our selves the best care in keeping the Sabbath-day is due Other dayes we observe whilest we live We may live to observe but few Sabbath dayes As long as we live there are dayes we duly observe some their Birth-day others their Marriage-day The day of some notable victory The day of a great deliverance wherein we know our selves concerned Our Fair-dayes and Market-dayes that meet us every week upon that day who lyes in bed or lazies abroad are not shops filled and sacks crouded every one in his calling careful And is it not more meet to mind the Lords day in the serious observing of which consists the saving good of souls and mens necessary commerce for heaven and converse with God And long we may not live to celebrate Sabbath-seasons The Wise man Eccl. 3. sayes There is a time to be borne and a time to dye he sayes nothing of any time to live For what is our life sayes the Apostle Jam. 4. 'T is but a vapour that appears a little time and then vanisheth away Mans time in this world is certainly short and how short uncertain and are his Sabbaths sure The dayes of mans life are few and are his Sabbaths many Indeed he that hath not lived above twenty years above a thousand Sabbaths have passed over his head but whether his life will last to the light of another Lords day he cannot say Before the rest comes of another Sabbath on earth we may come to our sabbath-Sabbath-rest by death Thus we see the Equity 2. Let us see the Excellency of Sabbath-time The honour and dignity of this day is discoverable Both as a holy Sabbath And as a Christian Sabbath 1. This day having holinesse hath honour For what ever God sanctifies and makes holy he dignifies and makes honourable 1 Thes 4.4 God hath much honoured this holy day And this holy day hath much honoured God 1. God hath highly honoured this his holy Day By precious Ordinances in it and By glorious Exercises on it 1. The Ordinances God hath put into the day adds to its honour A ring that is it self gold is of value but put a precious Diamond into it the weight and worth thereof is greater Take a plot or parcel of ground that is it self good yet if there be rich Woods Springs and Mines in it costly houses and stately buildings on it this raises the price Thus is the Sabbath it self holy and highly to be priz'd O but the rich treasures of Ordinances wherewith God hath adorned the day draw up the dignity of it Yea upon the Sabbath day there is not onely some single Ordinance but the Ordinances of God gathered as then there is a meeting of good Christians at the Ordinances So then there is a meeting of Ordinances for the good of Christians Prayer sayes to Preaching Come and help me The Sermon sayes to the Sacrament Come and help me Upon this day they all joyn which is indeed the honour of the day Ahashuerus commanded Mordecai to be dressed in all his brave attire and to have it proclaimed Thus shall it be done to the man the King delights to honour The Sabbath 't is dressed up with all the rich attire and stately furniture of glorious Ordinances that we well may say Thus shall it be done unto the day that God delights to honour 2. Let us see what God for a further honour hath done upon this day Upon this day God hath commanded light to shine out of darknesse brought many a dead Lazarus out of his grave upon this day God hath of stones raised up children to Abraham of Lions made Lambs to God out of sinful men converted thousands of souls to the faith of Christ Upon this day God hath made the blind to see the deafe to hear the dumbe to speak and the lame to walk Whereas the works of the first Creation were all done upon the six dayes and none upon the seventh which was the Sabbath-day All the works of the new Creation are ordinarily done upon the Sabbath day rather then upon any of the six dayes This this hath been the Birth day of many spiritual Kings and Princes Psal 87.5 And of Zion it shall be said This and that man was born in her And of the Sabbath it may be said This and that man was born therein O blessed day Millions of Saints in heaven they blesse this day of God and they blesse God for this day I read of one that cursed
rest in Ordinances that therefore they are not upon the Lords Day in the Spirit This may be considered Both in respect of the Ordinances they use And in respect of their use of Ordinances 1. The Ordinances that some upon the Sabbath use are of a lower rank viz. Reading of Scriptures Hearing of Sermons and Prayer to God In these they rest and do not rise to duties of a higher sort viz. Sequestred Meditation Sacramental participation and Solemn congratulation These three duties are as Davids 3. Worthies that outwent all their fellowes 2. Sam. 23.23 In reading and hearing Gods Word truths are more transient but in meditation they are more stayed and established In the Word are rare things uttered and opened But in the Sacrament they are also sealed and settled In prayer to God we seek the supplying our wants and serving our present necessities c. But in prayses of God we set up Gods worth exalting his Bounty and Beauty In the Ministery of the Word God comes as it were down into the world to us In meditation we go as it were out of the world up to God Of Isaac 't is said he went into the field to meditate but of a Christian it may be said he goes out of the field viz. out of the world to meditate dilate and delight his thoughts upon God Of God he cannot take in so much by the hearing of the ear as he doth by the thoughts of his heart In the Word we hear discovered the Love of God by his voice In the Sacrament we see uncovered the Love of Christ in his Crosse herein the soul by a working faith walks into the wounds of Christ banquets upon his bruised body and bathes it self in his blessed blood By prayer we receive mercy from God By Praises we give glory to God Now 't is more excellent to give then to receive Prayer is the sole work of Saints militant on earth praises is also the work of Saints triumphant in Heaven As in an Orchard the ripest and sweetest fruit and that which is most pleasant to sight and taste is to be gathered from off the upper boughs of trees So the sweetest comforts of the Spirit that most refresh the heart and ravish the soules of Saints are to be found in these upper duties upon the Day of the Sabbath Now because Christians do not rise unto these higher performances but rest in those lower services therefore they are not in the Spirit upon the Lords Day 2. The use that some upon the Sabbath have of sacred Ordinances is onely in a lower way viz. so as that their hearts in holy duties Are heavy and sad Or lazie and dead And empty of God Thus they rest and do not rise to that higher way of using Gods holy Ordinances viz. so as in religious exercises to have their hearts Cheered Fixed and Filled with God First they perform the Service of the Sabbath all with sadded hearts in a lumpish way Their spirits bowed down with a burden of black apprehensions so as that all the Lords day long they have no list to lift up themselves Fishermen when upon the waters of the Sea they cast out their nets they not onely hang on lead but they put on cork that they may the better bear them up and bring them out whereas when Christians upon the duties of the Sabbath draw out their hearts having no cork of encouraging hope but all lead of desponding thâ—ughts and distrusting feares they cannot bear up their souls sink in the service of God Matth. 28.8 it is said of some good women that they went from Christs Sepulchre upon his Resurrection-day with fear and great joy but some Christians they come and go from Gods Ordinances upon the Lords Day with great fear but no joy so that when they should be in the triumphs of the Spirit thâ—â—r spirits are filled with troubles Tâ—â— Sabbath it is the day whereon Christ came up from his Sepulchre in which before he lay dead and buried buâ— the Sabbath 't is the day whereon some Christians go down into the Sepulchre of sorrowes and bury their soules under sad doubts in which graves of darknesse they rest when from them they ought to rise Upon the day of the Sabbath the soules of Gods Saints should send out sweet comforts as the conduits of a City that run with wine upon the day of some triumph Upon this day the minds of all good men should mount up into heaven and comfortably converse with God from morning to night drinking deep of those rivers of pleasure that are in Gods presence Now this Christians do not whose hearts are upon this day down in deep fears and sorrows 2. Gods Saints may sometimes transact the duties of the Sabbath with deadnesse of heart in a livelesse and luke-warm way Dead Sacrifices and Jewish Sabbaths suited but dead services and Christian Sabbaths do not accord Gospell-Sabbaths require living Sacrifices yea a lively soul in every service As the true mother in the Kings could not be content with a dead child in her bosome no more should a true Christian be satisfied with a dead heart in holy duty especially upon the Lords Day The day wherein deadnesse should be turn'd into life weaknesse into strength and earthly coldnesse into heavenly heatings For want of this Sabbaths passe with small profit The day may be long yet little work done Souldiers who meet and muster upon a training day and diâ—charge their Muskets withâ—ut bullet or shot they make a noise but no execution is done Christians meet and gather on the Sabbath day discharge their duties without feâ—vour and heat some noise is made but little work wrought no rising of heart no ascending of soul no being in the Spiâ—it on the Lords Day As Christians should not rest in livelesse low or weak graces but labour to enliven and still more to strengthen those divine qualities so they should not rest in livelesse low and flat performances but endeavour to grow to greater life warmth and strength in all holy duties Not sloathful in businesse but fervent in Spirit serving the Lord Rom. 12. For want of fervency of Spirit there is so much sloathfulnesse in the businesse of Gods blessed Day Fervency or zeal is to duty as the soul to the body without which all is but a cold carcase Zeal is to the Soule as oyl to the wheele whence it goes quick and is agil in all the waies of Gods worship This is that Pillar of fire which as it must go along with us in the night of our suffering so in the day of our service Service and soul and all dies as this decayes As upon the wasting of radicall heat the body growes into weaknesse sicknesse and death so in the soul of man and Service of God all languishes and declines as spiritual heat abates It is said of John the Baptist he was a burning and a shining light When Christians are before men shining in actions
but are not towards God burning in affections they keep dayes and carry on duties in a spiritlesse way And for lack of such sparklings and springings of soul they are not in the Spirit on the Lords day 3. Pious men may possibly passe Sabbaths resting in Gods Ordinance without enjoying Gods presence God having made those heavenly creatures Sun Moon and Stars yet rested not till he had created man so man having used holy duties Word Sacraments and Prayer yet therein should not rest till he can attain God When the Jewes were gone out of Egypt and were in their way to Canaan God told them they should have his Angel to go before them but himself would not go with them which when they heard they all mourned and none would put on his Ornaments Exod. 33.2 3.4 Gods servants in Sabbaths should not be satisfied though they had the Ministery of Angels except God himself be present When Rebecca was in her journey to Abrahams house with his servants she rode on the Camel but she did not rest on the Camel when she saw Isaac who was to be her husband she lighted down and modestly met him Gen. 24.63 64. Jacob rejoyced to see the wagons his son Joseph had sent yet was not the seeing of them nor being in them that satisfied Jacob but thereby to go into Egypt and see and enjoy Joseph himself It becomes Christians to rejoyce when God gives them Ordinances to use yet is not the highest Ordinances they can have upon this holy day wherein they should rest contented except thereby they can come to some communion with God It is reported of Master Bradford the Martyr that he would never leave off in holy duties till he found therein somewhat of God as in prayer he would not give over till he had some intimation from God of his love in meditation till he had some manifestation of Gods presence quickening and quieting his heart Gods servants even upon Sabbath dayes when duties are most solemn and settled should not rest satisfied except God shewes upon them some token for good and seals upon their souls some impression of his presence which they may carry with them all the week The Church Cant. 3. being at a losse for her beloved she goes to the watchmen and enquires of them And 't was but a little said she tâ— at I passed from them but I found him whom my soul loveth We are not so far to passe Instruments and Ordinances as not to make use of them or attend in them but we are to passe them a little in respect of any relyance on them or resting in them As evil things unrepented of carry us from God so good things rested in keep us from God It is for Pharisees and Papists to rest in good works done Christians should rise higher and reach at a GOD in every good work at Christ a Saviour in every service of the Sabbath When Samuel was to anoint one of the family of Jesse to be King over Israel Jesse made seven of his sons to passe before the Prophet and as they passed one after another the Prophets word was This is not he Neither this he c. Then sayes Samuel Is there not yet another And Jesse said There remains yet the youngest and behold he keeps the sheep And Samuel said Send and fetch him for we will not sit down till he come hither And Jesse sent and brought in David Then sayes the Prophet This is he and he anointed him 1 Sam. 16. Thus upon a Sabbath when Instruments Ordinances Ministers Scriptures Prayers Sermons Sacraments and all passe one after another the souls of Gods Saints should secretly say Is there not yet another The Lord our righteousnesse we cannot sit down till he comes hither And when the Lord himself appears in an Ordinance each soul should say This this is he Some they sit down in Ordinances though no Christ comes in little or nothing of the Lord himself is seen and so their hearts rise not The Virgin Mary comming into the house where Elizabeth was she being with child the babe leaped in her womb and she was filled with the holy Ghost and said with a loud voice Whence is this that the mother of my Lord should come to me Luk 1. Now it was not so much the Mother of the Lord as the Lord in his Mother that made the child in Elizabeth leap 'T is not the Ministers of Christ nor the Ordinances of Christ but Christ in his Ministers and Christ in his Ordinances that makes the hearts of holy men to leap upon the Lords day Thus they are filled with the holy Ghost and fixed with the Spirit of God Now because Christians do not rise to a high minding the presence of Christ but rest in a low using the Ordinances of Christ they are not in the Spirit on the Lords day Use Exhortion Let this incite all Gods Saints to such a spiritual spending of the gospel-Gospel-Sabbath that upon this day they may be in the Spirit Two things 't is here meet to mark Viz. The matter whereof this is comprised and The motives whereby this is enforced Spiritually to spend the Lords day does comprise principally these two things viz. The influence of Gods Spirit with us and The concurrence of our spirits with God 1. The inflowings of Gods Spirit so as to work in a double way viz. Of Resistance And Assistance There being mighty oppositions against us we need the Spirit of God for their resisting and There being many imperfections about us we need the same Spirit for our assisting 1. The blessed Spirit upon the Sabbath to resist Satan and what he secretly suggests to damp the duties of the day Indeed the Divels design is not onely to dull us in but if possibly to drive us from this day in all the duties thereof And when he cannot keep off our bodies to carry away our hearts he comes oft like a flood a flood of water to hinder a flame of zeal Revel 12.15 And the Serpent cast out of â—is mouth water as a flood after the woman that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood When Satan sees that upon the Sabbath we will go out to the Ordinances of God to quench and carry away our hearts he then causes temptations to come as a flood viz. Both in abundance And with violence Against this the best helper is Gods holy Spirit Esay 59.19 VVhen the enemy shall come in like a flood the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him Thus ate the billowes beat back and the floods dryed up and Satans designs dashed and our souls upon the Sabbath set in a more hopeful way for Spiritual work 2. The Spirit of God upon the Sabbath to assist and help our infirmities Rom. 8.26 Our infirmities likewise the Spirit helpeth for we know not what to pray for as we ought but the Spirit it self makes intercession for us with groanes that cannot
the Sabbath that they practise And indeed as the leavers of the Lords-day-duties so the liveâ—esse in the duties of the Lords day who would not condole their conditions and endeavour to quicken their affections These latter we as Ministers should much lament and if possible amend The wonted way and day of Gods worship how doth it wax old in our Land Like David when he was old and stricken in years they covered him with cloathes but he gat no heat wherefore his servants said to him Let there be sought for my Lord the King a young Virgin and let her stand before the King and let her cherish him and let her lie in thy bosome that my Lord the King may get heat 1 Kings 1.1 2 3. 'T is not ordinary cloaths or bare outward Ordinances that will bring warmth into this blessed day that now seems with us to wax old and cold We must seek for the Spirit of God the spirit of duty which as the soul being brought into its bosome will put new life with warmth thereinto And were but the Lords day thus recovered to its heat and health other duties of Religion would not long lie sick yea though all religious duties with divers lie dead in our dayes yet if this live they would live likewise Of the lively Lords day we may say as 't is said of Eve Gen. 3.20 She was the Mother of all living As the Lord of the Sabbath is the Father so the Sabbath of the Lord is the Mother of all spiritual life In the womb of a wel-spent Sabbath are the most vigorous and best spiritual conceptions In the armes and by the breasts of such blessed Sabbaths are born and brought up many new-born babes for God yea let the Spirit of the Lord spring life in the Lords-day-duties and Ministerial endeavours how soon would sunk Christians decaying and dying professors be fetched back that are going apace to the grave of Apostasie And other raised that are â—ven dead and buried in sin Indeed some have sunk so low and God-ward been dead so long that we may say of them as Martha of her brother Lord by this time he stinketh Joh. 11. yet we might look to see even such Lazarusses arise from their Sepulchers of sin upon the spiritual living of Sabbaths and the sacred service of God such things I also considering my encouragments have encreased thus publickly to appear in this present Treatise Yet as great cause requireth reflecting upon my many infirmities crosse thoughts have sometimes beset me not knowing what to do but looking up to the Lord at length I resolved to let it go considering likewise that the Lord oftentimes does great matters by litle and unlikely means The Prophet was pulled out of a dark deep Dungeon by cast clouts and rotten rags that onely seemed fit for the Dunghil Jer. 38.11 12 13. If thâ— Lord will my poor weak word may be some means to draw Sabbaths and sacred Ordinances out of those Dungeons of contempt into which they seem now to be cast And therefore good Reader joyn with me in prayer that a blessing from above may abide this book and that the great God of heaven would go with it from heart to heart and make it some help to this holy Sabbaths and servants Now the good Lord put life into every leafe line and letter and the Lord out of his goodnesse more enliven my soul and thine Who am thine in the Lord glad to do thy soul any good Philip Goodwin August 9. 1654. To the Reader THe matters of Almighty God and of mans immortal soul are things of the greatest concernment in all the world This truth is in the generall readily acknowledged by all and yet there is no one truth more contradicted by the constant courses of the most of men The businesse of the Sabbath is a convincing instance for although Gods honour and mens welfare are very much engaged herein yet many in opinion and more in their practice do oppose the right observation thereof as holy to the Lord. First Gods concernment herein may many wayes be made manifest This is one of those ten Commandements charged by the Creatour of heaven and earth upon man â—eut 4.13 â—â—o 31.18 Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy And the engrossing of this charge God did not leave to any Amanuensis but he writ it with his own finger â—eut 4.13 â—â—sworth Also to intimate that his intentions were to perpetuate this with the other precepts of the Decalogue in the morality thereof the Lord himself imprinted it not in paper but upon Tables of stone yea when the first Tables of stone were broken â—xo 34.1 â— â—en 2.2 â—hald Paâ—phr â—a 58.13 â—oc ad â—eum non â—d homines â—ferri deâ—t Calv. â—ark 2.28 his Majestie gave expresse order unto Moses to have other Tables like to the former prepared and he wrote thereon the same Law the second time As the Lord delighted in the first institution of the Sabbath so he accounts himself honoured by its sanctification yea he taketh this as a title of glory to be called The Lord of the Sabbath whereas this is his complaint and charge against them who are regardlesse of his Sabbath I am profaned amongst them Ezek. 22.26 Secondly Mans obligations to keep the Sabbath would neither be judged few nor weak Ezek. 20.12 Ezek. 20.20 Ezek. 20.12 Heb 4.4 5 8 9. if principles of sacred self-love might prevail For the Sabbath is givin not as a task but as a priviledge to Gods people to be a pledge of their interest in God and a confirmation unto their hope of their further sanctification as also of their everlasting Sabbatisme or rest after their wearisome wandrings in this World â—sa 58.13 Sabbathum deliciarum And for the sweetning of the Wildernesse-Way unto the heavenly Canaan the Lord hath provided a Sabbath for our spiritual feasting every Week in which respect he commandeth us to call it and to observe it as a day of delight The Text opened and improved in this ensuing Treatise giveth instance of an heavenly rapture Isa 58.13 Sabb thum delicatum quia delicatè et te nerè est observanduâ— Lapid locum â—n with which Saint John in his exile was refreshed on the Lords Day and the servants of Christ have in all ages had abundant experience of spiritual Cordials given in upon their consciencious keeping of this Sabbath therefore the rather should we observe it with holy tendernesse as Solomon counselleth every one to keep Gods Law as the Apple of his eye Prov. 7.2 Upon the first consideration we may condemn the profaners of the Sabbath as guiltie of sacriledge Exo. 20.10 Rev. 1.10 for it being the Sabbath of the Lord and the Lords Day that time is stollen from God himself which is spent otherwise then he alloweth And how sad this sacriledge and theft is I find unfolded in the following Treatise Onely observe
which does belong to God The Sun must bear the swey of the Day though the Moon rules the Night and though the World hath the predominancy all the week yet 't is meet Christ should have the command of his own day THE LORDS DAY I proceed to a second sort that sinne against this Lords day by not doing on the day what they ought Concerning Sabbath-day-duties we shall consider The kind they are to be of and The place they are to be in For the kind the duties on the Lords day to be done are Of Piety towards God and Of Charity towards men For the place the duties to be done on the Lords day Are in our publike meetings Or in our private dwellings Now persons who do not their Sabbath duties and so sin against this day are of two sorts Some that Idle out the day and do nothing of the duty and others that trifle in the day and of the duty do but something 1. Too many are manifest that spend this holy day in Idlenesse By the Law the Priests upon the Sabbath day were to offer double sacrifice whence Chrysostome collects Chrysost concion de Lazaro that the Sabbath ought not to be a day of ease and Idlenesse but of double diligence in holy exercises In the Gospel even the Lord of this day is revealed not as in an idle but an active posture During the dayes of his flesh he went about doing good Act. 10.38 And the Sabbath was the day of his best and most abundant works as is well observed and therefore this Lords day calls for diligence in the best duties and does not indulge Idlenesse The Jewes use to call the seventh year the Idle year because then the ground lay follow no Plowing or sowing or bringing forth of Corn. Many Christians may call the seventh day the Idle day for then is no praying hearing c. or bringing forth any fruit that is good the whole day to the man and the whole man in the day lyes like the desert dry and barren where no seed is sowen through Idlenesse on the Lords day men they become Most culpable in their sin and Most lyable unto Satan 1 To be Sabbath-idle increases a mans sin Idlenesse is ever evil but never so bad as upon this good day No time is allowed for Idlenesse As of every idle word Matth. 12.36 so of every idle hour a man must give account at the day of judgement and as one upon the place further infers Sâ— pro etioso verbo reddemus rationem videamus ne reddamus pro otioso silentâ—o Ambros de ossic lib. 1. cap. 3. ut nullo die intermittantur certa tempora orandi Aug. Haeres 57. We shall not onely give account for our idle sayingâ— but we must give account for our idle silence for our not speaking when men do not take unto themselves words in prayer and the like but he like the Prophets Idols having mouthes and speak not ears and hear not c. Some religious exercises are every day duties Austin upon that place of the Apostle Pray continually Expounds it See that in no day there be any intermission of certain times for prayer But then from prayer and other holy duties to be idle vacant and voyd on the Lords day deepens the sin because on such dayes Men have best work And most work to do 1. The Sabbath is a day of the best work Most of the week-work is world-work poor in comparison of this That 's like digging in a dark pit this as reaping in a pleasant field As 't is best being with God so 't is best working for God Weekly labour is but bodily labour burdensome labour Sabbath-work is chiefly soul-work and all sweet work Men work on the week that they and theirs may live well in this world a while But the Lords Day-work is our meal for ever Therefore for any to be idle on this day aggravates their sin of Idlenesse Secondly the Sabbath is a day of the most work men on that day should do more in the service of God then all the week besides The Jews did much on their Sabbath Christians are to do more on their Lords Day If we compare Numb 28.9 with Ezek. 46.4 we shall find that the offerings in the time of the Gospel prophesied of were more then those in the time of the Law In Num. we find but two Lambs but in Ezekiel we find six Lambs and a Ram for the Sabbath This signifies that in the settled times of the Gospell Gods Worship upon the Christian Sabbath should be solemnized more fully then in former times under the Law Now for men to be idle when they have most work to do causes idlenesse to become the more culpable and the greater sin Secondly to be Sabbath-idle exposes souls to Satans service hence so many do the divells drudgery and draw the divells cart upon the Lords day When Satan especially in Sabbath time sees men idle and not about any thing that is good then he soone sets them about that which is naught so that upon this day men are most eager to go on the divels arrand though to their own ruin Yea men upon the Lords Day that lye idle they tempt the Tempter and do invite the Divell to their dwellings and as it were ask if he hath no work or what service he will command them They are ready each saying Here am I send me As in supper-time Satan entred into Judas so in Sabbath-time Satan takes possession of such idle ones Some keep the Sabbath like their cattel they go not to plow in deed but nothing good they go about They are in their houses as their horses in ther stables yea perhaps in their beds as their hogs in their styes Or on the Lords Day if they be not as beasts they are as birds that flye from place to place so do they wander from town to-town idly passing away of Sabbath-time Yea 't is with many in this as with the Divells they believe a Sabbath but they observe no Sabbath as they can keep no Sabbath in point of rest so they will keep no Sabbath in point of work Men are on earth as the damned in hell who never are in any religious duties they may be crying for water to coole theie tongues but never praying for grace to change their hearts or for mercy to remit their sins For thousands of idle Sabbaths hath God with some to reckon and let them be fure that as God will not hold them guiltlesse that take his Name in vain so God will never hold them guiltlesse that spend his time in vain Secondly I come to consider such as indeed do somewthat of duty in the day of the Sabbath but of these there are that take up their Sabbath-work Either in some one part of the day Or in some one place for the day The part of the Lords day wherein the exercises of religion ought to lye being both
The former and The latter Some men they take the one but then leave the other and will not let the Lord have his time entire They say of the Lords day as she in the Kings of the living child Divide it Divide it Yea they make the time of the Sabbath like the Vaile of the Temple at Christs death to be rent in twain viz. between the Lord and the World or which is worse between the Lord and their lusts whereas not a bone of Christs body was to be broke so not an hour in his day As not a member of that so not a minute of this As our Saviour said concerning the loaves and the fishes Gather up the fragments let nothing be lost so he seems to say concerning his holy Sabbath Gather up the parcells thereof let not minutes be lost which are precious like the least parings of gold It hath been perillous to clip a Kings Coyn t is more dangerous to clip the Lords day O the dreadful death and doome of Ananias who kept back part of the price and brought onely a certain part and laid at the Apostles feet whereas before 't was all in his own power Act. 5.3 4. But this holy time was never ours nor ever was any part thereof in our power therefore to keep back any hour of this holy day is worthy of death If no part be the Lords why do you give him any if the whole be the Lords why do you put him off with part 2. The places wherein religious exercises are to lye upon the Lords day being Both publike And private Some rest in the publike and neglect the private And others are all for the private and contemn the publike First There are some all whose religion upon the Lords day lyes at Church no praying reading of Scriptures repeating of Sermons instructing their charge or any such duty done in their houses all the day long 'T is said Exod. 12. that there was a great cry at midnight in all the dwellings of Egypt for there was not a house where there was not one dead but not so much as upon the Lords day from the dwellings of divers does any holy cry go up to heaven 'T is doubtfull in divers houses there are not any alive by grace to bewaile them that lye there dead in sin while yet 't is easie to hear and evident to see what rudenesse they suffer in their children and servants on the Sabbath day Hast thou kept the commandement of the Lord said Samuel to Saul in destroying all Amelek What then means the bleating of the Sheep and lowing of the Oxen which I hear to day So may we say to many a man hast thou kept the commandement of the Lord in observing his Sabbath What meanâ— then the laughing and sporting and foolish talking of children and servants which is then heard in their houses Such parents and ungoverning governours sure the Lord will one day charge with the breach of his blessed Sabbath See what God sayes to Eli 1 Sam. 2.29 Wherefore kickest thou at my sacrifice and honourest thy sons above me c did Eli kick at the sacrifice of God no but his sons did and he restreined them not and therefore Gad accounts it upon him Will not God thus say to some Fathers and Masters Wherefore prophane ye my Sabbath and why have ye polluted my holy day for they so do in their children and servants whom herein they do not restrain They are careful to provide for family necessities but carelesse to perform family-duties though it be the Lords day when they should look to all within their gates Exod. 20.10 2. There are others what they do in Gods service on the Sabdath 't is private for in the publike Assemblies they are seldome or never seen For the Israelites to sit still in their houses when a thick darknesse was abroad in all parts of the land was excusable I pray God there be not a near approach of such a time upon England when through worse then an Egyptian darknesse people be constreined to stay at home in their houses But to lye at home on the Lords day while through the open light of the Gospel the land is like Goshen is an inexcusable evil And sure Chrysost in Act. 3. Hom. 9. Hom. 2. in 1 Cor. 1. 't is no good presage when people despise publike Ordinances even on the Lords day does not to such the Lord say 1 Sam. 2.29 Wherefore do ye kick at my sacrifice and at mine offering which I have commanded in my habitation Read but those Gospel-Prophesies and Promises Isay 2.2 3. Isay 56.7 Mich. 4.1 which import the gatherings of Gods people for his publike worship There are those who withdraw themselves from such duties and while they think to prejudice others they do themselves the greatest wrong 'T is clear they do not onely fall from holy ordinances but they fall into ugly errours and filthy evills many of them come to act Chrysosto Serm. cont Anomeos Chrysostome concludes that there is nothing more causes stablenesse in the truth and keeps up holinesse of life and corrects opposite vanities and vices then a constant frequenting of the publick assemblies and a careful and chearfull there hearing the holy Word of God And hence Augustin so earnestly exhorts and perswades in some of his Sermons Aug. de tempore Ser. 251. not to separate but to congregate upon the Lords Day and to the Gospel publickly preached to apply themselves Just Mart Apol. 2. Justin Martyr reports of the Christians in the primitive times how they would call one another out of their houses to meet together in the most solemne manner they might upon the Lords Day And if we come out of the Ocean of the Ancients and go into the streames of our late * Calv. in Deut. 5. c. Pet. Mart. in 1. Sam. 1.3 Bucer in Math. 12.11 Zanch. in 4. Precep Bullinger Gualterus in Act. Writers as they all urge the observance of the Lords Day so they presse the practice of publike duties in open assemblies as most necessary unto the right and religious observation thereof Give me leave I hope I dote not on any holinesse of places but prize the publike gatherings of Gods people especially upon the Lords Day to tell you that such servants the Lord hath had in preceding times that would pitch upon places of publike worship not onely therein to serve the Lord but to suffer for the Lord therein thither they would run to die where they use to pray and rather then they would be driven from them they would be destroyed in them thinking it good going together from thence to heaven Eusebius reports that under the cruell persecution of Dioclesian many thousand Christians were burned in the Temple of Nicomedia being assembled to celebrate the Day of Christ And another mentions how at Ments in Germany Hieron Epistol ad Geront the Citie being taken in the Church were
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
Sabbath 'T is necessary for a man to follow his lawfull calling and to be diligent in his worldly businesse When we read sayes Bernard that Adam in the pleasant place of Paradise was appointed to work shall we think that the sons of Adam in the troublesome Wildernesse of this world are placed for play No 't is necessary for the sons of men to be industrious in their lawful affairs Moses putting his hand in his bosome 't was leprous but putting it out 't was made whole God hath given men hands for a threefold work sayes one To lift them up in prayer to God To stretch them out in charity to the poor and To put them down by labour in a lawful calling So that for a man in his lawful calling to labour it is necessary viz. in its season But herein to labour upon the Lords day is dangerous The gain of this day may be as the gold of Tholosse as the cole brought to the nest setting the young and all on fire Luk. 10. Reproof is given to Martha by our Saviour for her being about ordinary affairs assuring her that One thing was needfull Needfull it was for Martha to be about her houshold businesse Yea but not then when Christ was present and an opportunity served for soul-advantage which her sister Mary minded Thus though 't is needfull for Christians to look after their lawfull occasions in the world yet not upon the Lords day the season for soul-advantages 4. Are such wordly walks and works necessary and are the works of Gods worship arbitrary yea upon the Sabbath is not the service of God much more necessary As the Apostle said Act. 4. Whether it be more needfull to obey God or men judge ye So say I Whether it be on the Sabbath more needfull to serve God or your selves judge ye whether more needfull to take care for your temporal or your eternal being judge ye Among necessaries that which is most necessary is to be first minded Object We see none so exact our neighbours are not so nice but take their liberties on the Sabbath and why not we the same Answ 1. We must live by precept not by example 't is the Law of God and not the lives of men that must be our rule As he that will be for God must crosse the most of men so he that would go to heaven must leave the greatest part of the world behind him He shall never write a good hand that makes the world his Copy nor shall he ever well observe a Sabbath who frames himself unto the common platforme 2. If patterns are to bo followed Be ye then followers of God as dear children Ephes 5.1 In six dayes God made heaven and earth and rested the seventh day wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath-day and hollowed it Likewise let us look unto the Lord Christ Luk. 4.16 He went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath day as his custome was c. Learn we ought of Christ though not as Austin observes to walk on the waters yet to work in Gods worship upon the Sabbath-day 3. If we will take our Model herein after the manner of men 't is best to look back to preceding Saints Gods Church and people considered as past and present may be compared to that cloud Exodus 14. which was partly bright and partly dark The bright part was before to give light to the Israelites and the dark part behind to blind the Egyptians The Saints and people of God aforetime were as the bright side of the cloud shining clear in Chistianity strict in all the waies of God and most exact in Sabbath-service such as now professe themselves the Saints of God are as the following dark side of the cloud more dim and dull in holy duties more loose upon the Lords Day having lesse of the life and lustre of religion O let us but think what was the care of Christians not many years ago to improve Sabbaths and all the service of God such follow with holy Apostles and Martyrs and the spirits of just men made perfect 4. If herein we will take such as are present for our pattern Blessed be the Lord some are left that hold up religion to the life and with great care look to the Lords Day and the duties thereof Indeed there are divers of whom we may complain Chrysost in Matth. Hòm 3. as Chrysostome of some in his time Whereby sayes he shall I know you to be Christians Do you not delight in any place more then in the Courts of the Lords house and take pleasure in any time more then in the hours of the Lords day Yet some few are found faithfull to the Lord and his Day and such we should duly observe 5. When an age is in religion loose 't will be the more any mans credit and comfort to be exact and strict To be a precise Sabbath-keeper in a Sabbath-breaking-age that 's a mans honour For a man to remain sound in his principles and punctuall in the practicall observation of the Sabbath when opposite evills are high and huge August de Tempo Serm. 23 2◠in times and places that strange birds build their nests when multitudes in Townes and Parishes as Austin resembles them are like Toades and Frogs in fens and puddles Croaking against the Lords Day When many as Musculus upon the fourth commandement complaines Beza in Cant. Solo Hom. 30. Bucer◠in Psal 92. the like Beza Bucer and others laments pittifully prophane the Lords holy Day this is praise then to be painful pure and permanent in the practice of all the Lords-Day-duties Object We for our selves observe the Sabbath but there are some with us that will have their liberties and who can help it Answ Superiours must help as much as is possible that others under them as well as themselves observe the Lords Day Therefore as many of us as have others within our gates and under our government we ought as much as in us lyes upon the Lords Day to endeavour the drawing them to holy duties which may appear plain through a double proof The precept of God about them The property of God in them 1. God gives his precept for them herein as we find in the fourth Commandement The Seventh day is the Sabbath in it thou shalt do no manner of work thou nor thy son nor thy daughter thy man-servant nor thy maid-servant c. If it be our duty to keep them from ordinary work for the case of their bodies then to bring them to holy ordinances for the good of their Souls and the bodily rest we are to allow them lyes upon this account they are to rest from the common works of their vocation in order to the exercises of religion in private and publike upon the Lords Day Luke 13.15 Doth not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his oxe or his asse from the stall and lead him away to watering and ought not each one of
read of many such sad examples Some within doors their brains beat out others abroad their bodies burnt with Lightning and beat down dead with claps of Thunder as some recite Object We see no such punishments in our present times upon persons profaning the Sabbath Answ The Lord now leaves men unto that which is worse then punishment to wit sin Both in the time of the Sabbath And out of Sabbath-time O the sad sins of several even upon the Sabbath day Such sins set Musculus upon the fourth Commandement to make a sad moane and Bucer upon the 92. Psalme does bitterly bewaile such sins O that we had some so seriously mourning for we have now many miserably so sinning yea and also at other times Men are in sin when they are out of the Sabbath God leaves men to week dayes transgressions as a punishment of Sabbath day omissions The Lord lets men on the week dayes do the evil they should not because on the Sabbath day they did not the good they should Yea let 's sadly consider our abominable sins Both in judgment And in practice The sinking of Sabbaths is the rising of all errors Hence we note Arminian Socinian Pelagian opinions published almost in every place With our sins against the day of Christ we have sinful errors against the death of Christ against the whole Doctrine of Christ Dignity of Christ Deity of Christ I have found some affirming that 't was a piece of the Divels policy to hinder the Sabbath from being called the Lords day that he might the more keep men from knowing and imbracing the Lord of truth and the truth of the Lord. I dare say 't is Satans design that he might make men vent and advance Venomous opinions against the pure and precious truths of Christ he causes them to become carelesse in keeping the Lords day 'T was observed among the Jewes that when they grew remisse concerning the Sabbath they became corrupt in their Tenents touching the works of God in the Creation And it may be observed among Christians that since men have fallen to soul neglects of the Lords day they have about the works of Christ redemption wax'd wilde in their imaginations yea errors of all sorts hath God suffered as filthy froggs to infect our English air 2. Sinful and prodigious practices are also plentiful in every place As the observation of the Sabbath is that which brings on all the duties of godlinesse cease that and all sinks so the violation of the Sabbath is the inlet of al loosenesse a door to all the works of darknesse what wickednesse will not rise up where the Lords day is down As in the Decalogue the command for the Sabbath is set in the middle being the band of the whole and that which hath an influence into all thus in the Catalogue of Jerusalems sins Ezek. 22. the sin against the Sabbath is set in the midst amongst them as being the main and that through which all the rest move Read vers 7 8 9 10. In thee have they set light by father and mother in thee have they dealt by oppression in thee have they vexed the father lesse and the widow Thou hast despised my holy things and hast profaned my Sabbath In thee are men that carry tales to shed blood in thee they commit lewdnesse thou hast greedily gained by extortion and hast forgotten me saith the Lord God Now for the Lord in a Land to suffer such sins is worse then if he should in an ordinary way punish punishment not being so great an evil as sin Sin is the common cause of punishment In evil things the cause is more corrupt then the effect punishment is the work of God sin is the proper work of the Divel punishment is opposite to the peace and quiet of the creature sin 't is repugnant to the very being of man yea of God himself 'T is sin alone which formally and causally separates a soul from God the chiefest good and therefore is the greatest evil 'T is sins that are Bars in Heaven-gates that there is no entering in and Bonds in Hell flames that there 's no getting out If I sayes Anselme were in hell without sin I should not be kept in and were I in heaven with sin I should soon be turned out This sayes Chrysostome do I think and this I will ever Preach that 't is worse by sin to offend Christ then to be tormented in hell-fire for ever May not we then well think that sin is a sorer evil then any punishment possible And therefore though God does not punish persons for polluting his Sabbath yet in that he leaves them upon this unto other sins their case is a thousand fold worse Yet of such too many are manifest men who on the Sabbath do not regard Gods assisting grace to help them in good God on the week dayes withdraws his restreining grace that might keep them from evil even sin the worst of evils 2. Though God does not in visible wayes punish such men yet he does in various wayes whereof they are not aware viz. Negative and Positive 1. 'T is a punishment that God does not punish them Hosea 4.14 I will not punish your Daughters when they commit whoredome Infignis est poena vindicta impietatis connivere Deum indulgere peccantibus Philo. lib. de confus linguarum c. When God does not punish persons for polluting and neglecting his Sabbath this is a sore punishment Yea 't is a notable punishment sayes a learned Writer and a dreadful revenge when God seems to indulge and as it were oversee sinful men As God shewes love in correcting so he shewes wrath when he does not correct 'T was mercy to me may some man say that I was chastised 'T was good for me sayes David that I was afflicted So every wicked one shall one day say 't was ill for me I was not afflicted 't was a judgement to me God did not correct me The lesse smart on earth the more pain in hell 't is a terrible punishment upon some Sabbath-breakers to break the Sabbath and yet to passe unpunished 2. God sends in sad Judgements for this sin which men do not see as a Judge he smites them with blindnesse of mind and hardnesse of heart for this God threatens Levit. 26. to make the earth as brasse and heavens as Iron Iron-hearts are worse then Iron-heavens If sometimes on the Lords day to the Congregatiō men of hard hearts come yet that word which is a mercy to some is a judgement to them * Quum sanctae exhortationis verba aliamens suscipit alia recipere recusat super unam civitatem pluit Dominus non super aliam Grego in Ezek. Hom. 10. 't is Gods expression in the Prophet That he caused it to rain upon one City and not upon another that is sayes an ancient Writer the same words of exhortation which God as a loving Father causes some to receive
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
you will think they doe God good service John 16.2 Rom. 11.3 Or if such places be not plucked down they abuse them to abominable worships When ye shall see the obomination of desolation stand in the holy place Math. 24.15 Instead of a preaching Ministery a wooden Idol 'T is said of the Egyptian Temples they are beautifull without but within ugly formes To have the places of our publike meetings filled with deformed faces and blaspheming voices Owles to dwell there and Satyres dance there Isay 13.22 23. Yea upon this losse followes not onely the desolating the places of publike worship that be in the Land but the desolating the Land it self wherein the places of publike worship be Levit 26.31 33. I will bring your Sanctuaries into desolation and I will not smell the savour of your sweet odours Yea I will make this whole Land desolate that your enemies shall be astonished thereat Then shall the Land enjoy her Sabbaths as long as it lies desolate The Land shall have Sabbaths of rest from plowing when Sabbaths of praying cease Now let us hence learn how lamentable the loss of the Lords Day would be I fear some are so profane that they think while Sabbaths are kept the losse is great August de civit Dei li. 6. ca. 11. Austin reports of that heathen Philosopher Seneca That he severely blamed the Jews for resting on the Seventh Day because thereby they lost the seventh part of their time Some I doubt that are called Christians that yet are of such a Paganish opinion that they think that time lost which is spent in the Service of God But this this is indeed that losse which the Lord help us to lay close to heart not to have the Service of God to spend Sabbath-time in and not to have Sabbath-time to spend in the Service of God To lose the Sabbath is not alone the losse of bare time but of blessed time time sanctified and set apart by a Divine Ordinance c. 3. The Lords Day lost in a land may be long before it be regained The way of Sabbaths once ceased may not soone if ever return as may evidently appeare in a double respect viz. Of God inflicting this losse and Of Men on whom this losse is inflicted 1. Because God does not make Sabbaths to cease in a sinfull Land but when there is great wrath in him stirred up and great wrath of him to be poured out 1. When God takes away his holy Sabbath from a people he is with great wrath provoked The Lord does not deprive a people of such precious priviledges as his holy times and things till he is very angry and exceedingly incensed so as that himself forsakes them Now great wrath in God as it is not suddenly raised so it is not presently appeased but it may remain long Zech. 1.12 2. When God takes away his holy Sabbath from a people he hath great wrath to execute The Lord hath caused the Sabbaths to be forgotten in Zion Lam. 2.6 This was when God had great anger against Zion and Zion was sadly covered with the anger of God How hath the Lord covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud in his anger Lam. 2.1 He hath thrown down in his wrath the strong holds of the daughter of Zion v. 2. He hath cut off in his fierce anger all the horne of Zion v. 3. He hath poured out upon Zion his fury like fire v. 4. c. Now when God hath much fury to bring forth and in the way of his judgments much work to do he takes time God in the wayes of his mercie goes swift because therein he moves with delight Micah 7.18 But as God is slow to execute wrath so he is slow in the wrath he executes Dolet Deus quoties cogitur esse ferox for herein he moves with a kind of grief Judg. 10.16 Lam. 3.33 2. Such men as suffer this sad punishment the cessation of Sabbaths 'T is long As before they come to a true sense of it So before they may make a good use of it Men are many times long before they are sensible Either of their sin which is the cause of punishment Or of the punishment that is the effect of their sin Commonly men that come under this Spiritual Judgement the deprival of the Lords holy day Either they are pleased with it Or they are stupid under it Some they please themselves in being Sabbath-free as we may see at present in some parts of the Nation Can it be believed that in England or Wales there should be Parishes wherein the people know not when the Sabbath comes neither do they enquire but are contented and account liberty from Gods Ordinance a great deliverance People are pleased when well-spent Sabbath dayes are down Because then they are gone who disturbed them and Because then they find others in place that flatter them Such as caused them some soul-disquiet are gone Revel 11. See how merry the world makes it when Gods witnesses are slain They that dwell upon earth shall make merry rejoyce and send gifts one to another because the two Prophets that tormented them are dead vers 10. Yea and then such as keep them in a carnal quiet and sinfull secure peace are present See the people of the Jewes when Moses was gone from amongst them and they got Aaron to be of their own minds and made them a golden Calf O what dancings and merry doings there was Exod. 32. It liked them well but it wrought them woe 'T was that which had a sad influence into all their after troubles Hence it grew a Proverb Non est poena supra Israelem in qua non est uncia vitult That there was no punishment upon Israel in which there was not an ounce of the goldden Calf Thus people when they can get such Ministers among them Sabbatum aurei vituli August as will help make them a Sabbath of the golden Calf as Austin calls it that they may huddle and slubber over a little service to God and passe the principal of the day in dancing feasting and Jovial meetings this is to their minds but 't will be misery in the end 'T will put a sting into every trouble on earth and torment in hell Others under this judgement of Sabbath-ceasing are sottish and brutish Abundance such there be now abroad in England where for want of a publike Ministery the Lords day it laid by and since that liberty hath been granted to some upon the Sabbath wholly to separate into private houses others have taken the advantage to live like Atheists and Epicures as if there were no Sabbath for God nor any God for a Sabbath Yea people are in such a posture that if the Lord should punish the Land with the losse of Sabbaths 't is not like soon to be laid to heart With many the Lords day is already lost in the Land As they that being asked whether they had received
the holy Ghost Answered We know not whether there be any holy Ghost So aske many now adayes whether they have observed the Lords holy day they are ready to answer they know not whether there be any such holy day to be observed Time was a Book was set out to give liberties upon the Lords day men now take their liberties from the Lords day without any Book And they that do not are so listlesse and livelesse in the Lords-day-duties that I doubt if God should judicially deprive us of Sabbath-Seasons we should not thereof soon be sensible And so the time of Sabbath-returnes may likely be long Again if the Lord should lay such a Judgement upon the whole Land as the losse of Sabbaths 't is not probable people will presently make such a profitable use thereof As to prize them highly And to pray for them earnestly Highly God will have them prized God will raise Sabbath-esteems before he makes Sabbath-returns before God brings back his blessed Day as men shall feele the want so know the worth thereof and be of Davids mind One day in thy Courts is better then a thousand Psalme 84.10 vers Heartily God will have them prayed for Sabbath-Liberties Men shall be humble Petitioners for them before they be happy possessors of them 'T was one of the three things Latimur did so ordinarily and earnestly pray for in Queen Marys dayes That the Gospell might be restored to England once again once again c. That Sabbaths might be openly observed and Gods worship publikely performed Once again once again Which words he used to repeat with great vehemencie of spirit Others concurred in the same request and had from God a most gracious grant What are David desires and prayers Psalm 63.2 That I may see Lord thy power and thy glory so as I have seen thee in the Sanctuary And Psalm 42.4 When I remember these things I pour out my soul within me for I had gone with the multitude I went with them to the house of God with the voice of joy and praise with the multitude that kept holyday Should holy Sabbath-dayes cease some I doubt not but upon knees bended would beg their bringing back though the Major part would likely make little of it O that men would yet make much of Sabbath-Seasons lest such a time come when they would they cannot Time will be sayes our Saviour to his Disciples Luke 17.22 when ye shall desire to see one of the daies of the Son of man and shall not see it O if you might but have one Sabbath as in former times Luke 19.42 43. When he came near he beheld the City wept over it saying If thou hadst known even thou at least in this thy Day the things that belong to thy peace but now they are hid from thine eyes The things with the day and the day with the things thereof are now past and gone Amos 8.11 Behold the dayes come saith the Lord I will send a famine in the Land not of bread but of hearing the Word And men shall wander from Sea to Sea and from the North to the East they shall run to and fro to seek the Word of the Lord and shall not find it O now now while it is called to day THE LORDS DAY before Sabbaths and Sermons cease though there should not come such a time over all the Land yet it may be upon particular places rain may fall on one City and not upon another Amos 4.7 Brighr beames of the Sun may shine on one field and the very next field under a dark shadow and over it a black cloud There shine Here rain O the clear light that hath shined upon the Lords Day and the sweet Sabbaths that have been kept in some Townes of England not long since but now Ichabod The glory is gone God knowes whose turn it may be next O let me beseech you of this place to look to the Lords Day be diligent hold fast God never takes away his Sabbaths till people are weary of them and willing to part with them 4. To a people the Lords Day may not be lost but last yet all lie under a curse They may be curs'd to the Sabbath The Sabbath may be curs'd to them The soules of men may be curs'd towards Sabbaths Never let fruit grow on this tree Never let Sabbath or Sermon do this people good No sooner had our Saviour curs'd the fig-tree but it withered at the roots May there not be found amongst us men and women that are most miserably withered Both branch And root Not onely the branch of their outward profession but also the root of their inward affection withered What shall we say of such Galatians who would now pluck out Paul's eyes that were once ready to pluck out their eyes for Paul Are not they withered Are not they under Gods dreadful curse For men to be curs'd in the trades they follow fields they possess is sad but to be curs'd in the Sabbaths they spend and curs'd in the Sermons they hear is worse For God to say to a Minister every time a Sabbath comes Go indeed to the Pulpit and preach to that people Hearing they shall hear but shall not understand seeing they shall see but not perceive For the heart of this People is waxed grosse their ears are dull of hearing their eyes have they closed Now make their hearts hard their eares deafe their eies blind that they may never be converted never healed but live and die under a Gospell-curse and their Soules sinking under a Sabbath-curse yea and so Sabbaths themselves may be cursed to the soules of men As men by their sins may pollute that day which otherwise is holy So God by his judgement may curse that day which otherwise is blessed and so Sabbath-mercy may be turned into a judgement as Moses Rod was turned into a Serpent It would have been ill for Israel if the brazen Serpent should have become a fiery Serpent that mortally to sting them that was made to heal them And will it not be ill for any if the Lords day which is a day of life shall become a day of death This saving day changed into a damning day 1 Sam. 12.17 We see 't was terrible when God turned a day of Harvest into a day of tempest and that time wherein they should have gathered their Wheat with the labour of their hands on earth God scattered it with thunder and hail from heaven And who would not fear such an effect for God to turn a day of Rest into a day of Wrath and therein not to blesse but thereby to blast mens hearts and hopes 'T is sweet for Saints when to them the very curses of men are blessed but 't is sad for sinners when to them the very blessings of God are cursed Mal. 2.2 I saith the Lord will send a curse upon you I will curse your blessings yea I nave cursed them already yet ye lay
A Sabbath well spent As it is formidable to the Devil So 't is acceptable to God We go from Sabbath-day-duties Prayer well made Sermons well heard and Sacraments well received sayes Chrysostome as Lyons breathing fire terrible to the Devils themselves But that which is bitterly displeasing to the Devil is most sweetly pleasing to God So Calvin expounds that place of the Prophet Isay 58.13 Thou shalt call the Sabbath a delight Or Delights in the plural as that worthy Interpreter renders it from the Hebrew and refers it not to men but to God saying That the right observation of the Sabbath is the delights of the Lord nothing to God more grateful And indeed no lesse from the place appears Thou shalt call the Sabbath a delight the holy of the Lord HONOVRABLE and shalt honour him The Prophet seems to set down a double reason why the Sabbath should be the delights of the Lord viz. 'T is the holy of the Lord and 'T is the honour of the Lord. That sure is the delight of the Lord which is the holy of the Lord. A holy God cannot but delight in a holy day That which is so suitable to him must needs be acceptable with him And that which is the Lords honour is certainly the Lords delight The Sabbath it is the honour of God displayed 't is the great Engine God moves in this world to make out his honour As God hath honoured this day by making it holy for us so we much honour God by keeping it holy to him What is his honour is his pleasure 2. The Angels of God are greatly delighted to see Sabbaths observed which may arise from a double advantage viz. To themselves and To others Through our Sabbath-day-exercises Angels do much advantage themselves in that their knowledge comes hereby constantly to encrease Austin well observes that the Angels of heaven have Both their Morning and Also their Evening-knowledge Their morning-knowledge This they have by Creation from the Worlds beginning as soon as they were made they were able knowingly to contemplate God heavens glory and their own felicities Their evening-knowledge This they have by inspection and diligent observation of the affairs of the Church and Mysteries of the Gospel made manifest in the end of the World Ephes 3.10 1 Pet. 1.12 Those Gospel-discoveries of Christ upon the Lords day the Angels delight fully to look into and enlarge their knowledge by 2. Through Sabbath-day-exercises Angels see great advantage to others and this makes the day their delight This being the day wherein lost Goats are found strayed sheep are brought home and prodigal sons return to their Fathers house O the musik it makes in heaven and joy among the Angels of God Luk. 15. Luk. 2. we see what rejoycing was among the Angels upon the day of Christs Birth singing Glory be to God good will to men Tydings of great joy To you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord. If Angels reioyced at the day when Christ is born to men do they not rejoyce on the day wherein men are born to Christ Ut homâ—nes nascerentur ex Deo primo ex ipsis natus est Deus August in Joan. c. 2. The very end as Austin observes why God was first born of men was that after men might be born of God Therefore Angels who rejoyced at the other may well rejoyce at this Yea Angels who are present in the publike Assemblies of Gods Saints 1 Cor. 11.10 not only to observe but to assist them in Sabbath day-duties O how much is it Angels delight to find us this day fervent in praying painful in preaching diligent in hearing c Persons inferiour that herein find pleasure are Faithful Ministers and Faithful Christians 1. To Ministers that are faithful the Sabbath is a day of sweet delight Upon the Lords day labouring Either they have herein their desired successe Or they have not that successe herein they do desire Sometimes God gives them good successe in their Sabbath-Day-endeavous that is their delight Austin having preached an excellent sermon some of his hearers thinking to please him with their applause fell into his high praises the good man sighed saying Alas these are but leaves it is fruit we delight in The peoples fruit and profit is the Ministers delight and pleasure Let a faithful Minister meet with never so many molestations all the week yet if upon the Sabbath God prospers and the peoples profit lo this is his delight and comfort this his crown and joy John 16. it is said of a Mother she forgets her pain and travels for joy that a man-child is born into the world Thus a good Minister forgets all his week-day-difficulties and discouragements in the world for joy that a soul on the Sabbath is born again to God And if they have not such successe yet the day of their labour is the day of their delight 2 Cor 12.15 I will very gladly spend and be spent for your soules though the more abundantly I love you the lesse I be loved Here the Apostle in all his Ministerial paines seemes to have poore successe cold encouragement Little love for great labour Yet for the desired good of souls he gladly yea very gladly spends himself is spent Faithfull Ministers if they find good successe of their Sabbath-service then they rejoyce because they have a sure reward from God If upon the service of the Sabbath they have no such successe yet they can rejoyce because they have asure reward with God Isay 49.4 I have laboured in vain I have spent my strength for nought yet SVRELY my Judgement is with the Lord my REWARD with my GOD. Vers 5. Though Israel be not gathered yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord. If Israel be gathered then are we glorious in the eyes of men If Israel be not gathered yet are we glorious in the eyes of God who looks more to our sincere intent in our work Nos octavâ die quae ipsa prima est perfecti Sabbeti festivitate laetamur Hilar Prolog in Psal pag. 335. then at the successeful event of our work We may well therefore make our labouring day our delighting day The day of our greatest paines the Day of our sweetest Pleasure 2. To Christians that are fruitful the Lords Day is a day of large delight This is the day which the Lord hath made we will rejoyce and be glad therein Psal 118.24 As there is not a day which the Lord hath not made So there is not a day wherein Saints may not be glad but as the Lord hath made this DAY to differ from all the rest so saints may be otherwise glad on this day then at any other times Which will be evident if we consider 2. The properties of Sabbath-joyes as to Gods Saints They are The safest and The sweetest They are The firmest and The fullest joyes 1. These are the safest joyes
his son who sent the waggons The Ordinances upon the Lords day they are the waggons that for us God hath sent it is some reviving to see them O but to see God whence these waggons are and whose the Ordinances be how reviving is that O sayes David to God that I may see thy power and thy glory so as I have seen thee in the Sanctuary Psal 63.2 2. The closer upon the Sabbath we can draw to God the better will our revivings be We read 2 King 13.21 of a dead man that being let down into the Sepulchre of Elisha as soon as he touched the bones of the dead Prophet he presently revived Thus Christians whose hearts are dead yet coming close to God in the Sabbath have sudden soul-revivings and most comfortable quicknings And this is the way to recover the life of the Lords day and so to settle the liberties thereof which at least to some seem to be shaking Towards the Lord yet further that his day may endure let us Keep in the presence of the Lord Keep up prayer to the Lord. 1. The presence of the Lord kept in with us will hold holy Sabbaths amongst us Indeed let the Lord depart and then the dayes of grace and means of grace will immediately remove When Christ goes he calls Come with me my Sabbaths Ordinances and all my holy Institutions Time was Christ walked in the midst of the seven golden Candlesticks Rev. 1.13 That is those seven once famous Churches of Asia had the presence of Chirst with them and the Ordinances of Christ among them the Lords day was a known day But now the Sabbath of the Gospel and the Gospel with the Sabbath is gone because Christ there was not kept O sayes Martha Lord if thou hadst been here my brother had not died If thou hadst been present my brother had not departed So may those Asian people now say to Christ Lord if thou hadst aboad with us thy holy Times and Things had never been stirred Matth. 28.20 Christ there hath promised his presence even in the use of Ordinances unto the end of the world The way to retain Christs presence Is to believe his promise No hands like faith to lay hold upon Christ Faith sayes Luther is like the beloved Disciple it leans in Christs bosom it will not leave him nor let him go Faith it produces A vigorous love and A vertuous life Unto a people both will bind Christ 2. Prayer to the Lord kept up by us will hold holy Sabbaths amongst us In the land were the Spirit of prayer up Sabbaths would never go down Indeed it will be a hard matter to make Sabbaths stand if still praying hands fall O pray pray pray And in prayer plead with God To send out more Sabbath-labourers and To blesse Labourers more in the Sabbath 1. Pray that more may be sent out who will be faithful in the labours of the Sabbath Matth. 9.37 38. The harvest is plenteous but the labourers are few pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that he will send forth lavourers into his harvest Many places in this Land are as fields of ripe Corn and alas how do the Divels those fouls of the air Math. 13.4 and wicked men those swine of the earth Matth. 7.6 wholly waste and spoil all for want of Sabbath-labouring men to gather into Gods Barn In divers places upon the Lords day O what dark doings people being as a black Lanthorne without any Candle And shall not we pray that God would set up lights and send out labourers that his day may be duly observed and that we may pre his day 2. Pray that those who are sent out may be fruitful in their Sabbath-labour that they may see the travels of their souls and be satisfied That Gods good work may prosper in their hands and their peoples hearts That every Sabbath they spend and every Sermon they preach may prove as the bowe of Jonathan which from the Battel never returned empty There is a precious promise fit in prayer to be pressed Esay 54.10 11. As the rain comes down and the showers from heaven and returns not thither but watereth the earth making it bud and bring forth seed to the sower and bread to the eater So sayes God shall my Word be that goes out of my mouth it shall not return to me void O pray we that neither the Red or the Black horse be harnessed out to the Battel But that Christ on the white horse may conquer Rev. 6. Many souls in the Sabbath by the Gospel may be gained over to God This would perpetuate Sabbaths and make the Lords day lasting Last of all unto Gods Saints a Sabbath in some sense is sure never to cease Gods people Shall either have the Sabbath of the Lord Or to them the Lord will be a Sabbath Ezek. 11.16 Thus saith the Lord I will be to them as a little Sanctuary in the Countries where they shall come Gods people in Babylon when they could not go to worship God in the great and beautifull Temple at Jerusalem yet then God was as a little Temple to them And this little Temple was better then the great Thus the Saints of God when they cannot have the Sabbath that is present God will be to them a Sabbath more precious God is the best Sabbath 1 Sam. 1.8 Elkanah sayes to Hannah his Wife Am not I better to thee then ten sons One God better then ten Sabbaths and twenty Sermons to the souls of his Saints No Sabbath of God is like God a Sabbath no sabbath-Sabbath-rest like to the rest that is in this Sabbath no comfort in a Sabbath like this Sabbath of comfort Yea let Gods sincere Saints live or die they have a Sabbath will last an everlasting Sabbath If they live their Sabbath will be ever with them and If they die they shall be ever with their Sabbath Ambros in Psal 119. August de cavit Dei lib. 22. cap. 30. Some of the Ancients were wont to call that eternal life God gives in heaven The great Sabbath And That long Sabbath-day that hath no night O but then God himself who in heaven gives life eternal what a Sabbath is he O the height and depth breadth and length of this Sabbath Christus est magnum sempiter-numque Sabbatum cujus parvum illud Judaicum exemplar in illo siquidem Sabbato requiescimus cum in illo solo spem ponimus cum hunc toto cordis amore diligimus c. Epiphan lib. 1. Haeres 30 Greg. Nyss de Resurre Orat. 1. Yea I find of the Ancients who affirme that to Gods dear Saints in the dayes of the Gospel there is a double enduring Sabbath viz. Christ And a good conscience Christ is the great and eternal Sabbath which in the Gospel God hath set up and in this Sabbath we rest when we repose our hearts and hopes upon him This is an unchangeable Sabbath Christ the same yesterday to
day and for ever Christ who is The Lord our righteousnesse he is the Lord our Sabbath So chat we shall have a Sabbath last as long as Christ lives A good conscience Sabbatum Dei illud quo exterius â—b opere cessasse dicitur Sacramentum est interioris Sabati ubimens sancto per bonam conscientiam a peccato quiscâ—ns c. Hugo Chrysost Homil. 17. in Genes August Serm. 10. ad fratres in Exem as it is a continual feast so a Sabbath of rest Prov. 15.15 Esay 57.20 The wicked are like the troubled Sea that have no Sabbath of rest Tell me not sayes Chrysostome the man hath a sumptuous Table is cloathed mith silks attended with servants shews me his conscience there is a hurry of lusts a tumult of sins A continual Sabbath-lesse man A good conscience 't is sayes Austin the bed of God the Palace of Christ the Temple of the holy Ghost the Paradise of delights the standing Sabbath of Saints c. Let us be faithful in the Sabbath that may possibly cease and then may we be sure of a never ceasing Sabbath In the saddest most unsetled seasons when customes are changing and Kingdoms are shaking and all Gods Ordinances seem to be taking their leave in a Land yea when all externals in the world are at worst yet there is an internal Sabbath in the heart and an eternal Sabbath in the heavens whereof every Saint may be sure Sabbatum duplex Pectoris et Temporis Aquinas 12ae quest 100. Art 5. Suppose there should be here no more Sabbaths remaining yet there is a remaining Sabbath Heb 4.10 And though the Lords day will end the Lord himself will be a never ending day THE LORDS DAY Enlivened Revel 1.10 I was in the Spirit on the Lords Day THe holy Apostle in the words present plainly reports The Season upon which he was set and The condition into which he was put The Season which he was on It was the Lords Day The condition which he was in He was in the Spirit I was in the Spirit on the Lords Day The Point we are next to prosecute is That it is sensible to some and possible for all pious men to be in the Spirit on the Lords Day This Doctrine I shall endeavour To clear To prove and To presse For the clearing of truth it is fit to unfold What is the Spirit in which they may be on the Lords Day and What it is for them on the Lords Day to be in the Spirit Spirit This is to be considered both as it relates To God and To Man Omnes Nomenis Jehovae literae sunt spirituales ut denotetur Deum esse Spiritum Alsted Spirit This as unto God does import Either the whole divine Essence Or one personall subsistence The whole Essence of the God-head is Spirit As Christ King Priest and Prophet is one compleat Saviour So God Father Son and holy Ghost is one spirituall being And as in the Spirit they are but one being So in their being they are but one spirit Thus God is a Spirit John 4.24 Thus Spirit is attributed as unto God 1 Tim. 3.16 1. Pet. 3.18 c. 2. The third Person subsisting in the God-head is Spirit As there is God a Spirit So there is the Spirit of God Through mighty signs and wonders by the power of the Spirit of God Rom. 15.19 The things of God knoweth no man but the Spirit of God 1 Cor. 2.11 c. This is called The Spirit of truth John 14.17 The Spirit of life Rom. 8.2 The Spirit of holinesse Rom. 1.4 The Holy Ghost Tit. 3.5 Spirit This as appropriate to man implies Either the whole soul of man Or the superiour facultie of the soul 1. For the soul wholly in the substance thereof As every individuall man hath his soul So the soul of every single man it is his spirit Each man is a compound creature made up of soule and body Hence men are compared to Gideons souldiers Judg. 7.16 Ambros de Spir. Sa. lib. 1. cap. 16. Each having his â—arthen pitcher and Lamp therein when the earthen pitcher of mans body is broken by death the Lamp of his soul abides burning either in heaven or hell Thus Matth 10.28 Mans soule while in his body is called his Spirit Isay 26.9 Ex egests vid. Augustin in locum et Ambros Com. in loc With my soule have I desired thee in the night and with my spirit within me will I seek thee early Luk. 1.46 47. Mary said My soul doth magnifie the Lord and my spirit hath rejoyced in God my Saviour 2. Spirit That is the soules superiour facultie As the soule it is spirit So there is the spirit of the soule Or The spirit of the mind as the Apostle calls it Rom. 12.2 This is the intellectual or the knowing power of the soule Who knowes the things of man save the spirit of man which is in him 1. Cor 2.11 Thus 1 Thess 5.23 the Apostle mentions body soul and spirit Indeed this is most applicable to man as born of God considered Not onely in his proper constitution But also in his further restitution As the woman in the Gospell who hid her leaven in three measures of meal till the whole lump was leavened Thus the Lord layes his Grace in these three parts body soule and spirit till the whole man is sanctified Now such a man so spirited is fit to be in the spirit on the Lords Day On the Lords Day in the spirit Spirit it is taken as referring both to God and man The Spirit of God and the spirit of man meeting 2. What it is for a godly man on the Lords Day to be in the Spirit In the Spirit This notes Both his soules habitual condition as settled And his soules actuall condition as moved 1. The soul of a sanctified man according to his settled condition considered is in the spirit Being by grace habitually planted and effectually put into God Father Son and Holy Ghost John 17.21 That they sayes Christ to his Father may be one in us In us That they are not in thee onely nor in me alone but in us viz. Father Son and holy Spirit Every gracious soul Rests in God Abides in Christ and Lives in the Spirit Bernard 1. In God there is a resting Psal 37.7 The soule of every true Believer sayes a learned Writer Hath a double Mansion One wherein it rules viz. the body and The other wherein it rests viz. God The soule of every Saint is settled in God as in its centre The force of some temptation may seeme to unsettle his soule and as it were to separate it from God but then as Noah's Dove out of the Ark it finds no rest back again it comes God is its centre and out of God truly it can never be taken maugre all the malice of hell 2. In Christ there is his abyding John 15.7 In the heart of Christ and In the