For seeing the Sabbath day is the school1 day, the fair day, the market day, the feeding day of the soul, when men purely knowing the use of it, separate it wholly from other days, they shall see how they may recover themselves from sins already past▪ arm themselves against sin to come, grow in knowledge, increase in faith, and how much they shall be strengthened in the inner man. Wherefore in the book of God, when the Lord will urge the observation of the whole law, he often doth it under this one word of keeping the Sabbath. Again, when the Prophets sharply rebuke the people for their sins, they particularly lay before them, how the Sabbaths of the Lord are broken. And to speak the truth, how can a man lie long in the liking of sin, who embraceth this doctrine in conscience, who willingly would have his sins discovered, his conscience unripped, the judgements of God against his sins threatened, whereby he might come to a loathing, & grow to a further misliking of his sins daily? Sure it is indeed, that as in other things, so in this, the ceremonial use little availeth. Howbeit, if for the ceremonial use of the Sabbath, because many so use it, therefore we should leave it, we might as well by the same reason put out of the doors of the Church the administration of the Sacraments, the making of prayer, the preaching of the word, because the most part of men use these things for a fashion: neither is it the question which we have in hand, what men do, but what they ought to do in the observation of the Sabbath. In the setting down whereof, this order doth offer it self to be observed: first to speak of the2 commandment it self, and then of the reasons thereof. The commandment as we see, is3 delivered both affirmatively and negatively, whereas all other the commandments are but either affirmatively, or negatively expressed: so that where it is said, the Sabbath day keep holy, the holy use of the Sabbath is flatly and straightly urged: where it is added, in it thou shalt not do any work, the irreligious breach of the same is plainly restrained. The reasons be in number four. The first is included in the word remember, and is drawn4 from the end, which is thus much in effect: Wilt thou worship me purely, and love thy5 neighbour unfeignedly?
For seeing the Sabbath day is the schoole1 day, the faire day, the market day, the feeding day of the soule, when men purely knowing the vse of it, separate it wholy from other daies, they shall see how they may recouer themselues from sinnes alreadie past▪ arme themselues against sin to come, grow in knowledge, increase in faith, and how much they shall be strengthened in the inner man. Wherefore in the booke of God, when the Lord will vrge the obseruation of the whole law, he often doth it vnder this one word of keeping the Sabbath. Againe, when the Prophets sharply rebuke the people for their sinnes, they particularly lay before them, how the Sabbaths of the Lord are broken. And to speake the truth, how can a man lie long in the liking of sin, who embraceth this doctrine in conscience, who willingly would haue his sinnes discouered, his conscience vnripped, the iudgements of God against his sinnes threatned, wherby he might come to a loathing, & grow to a further misliking of his sinnes daily? Sure it is indeede, that as in other things, so in this, the ceremonial vse little auaileth. Howbeit, if for the ceremoniall vse of the Sabbath, because many so vse it, therefore we should leaue it, we might as well by the same reason put out of the doores of the Church the administration of the Sacraments, the making of prayer, the preaching of the word, because the most part of men vse these things for a fashion: neither is it the question which we haue in hand, what men doe, but what they ought to doe in the obseruation of the Sabbath. In the setting downe whereof, this order doth offer it selfe to be obserued: first to speake of the2 commandement it selfe, and then of the reasons thereof. The commandement as we see, is3 deliuered both affirmatiuely and negatiuely, whereas all other the commandements are but either affirmatiuely, or negatiuely expressed: so that where it is said, the Sabbath day keepe holie, the holie vse of the Sabbath is flatly and straightly vrged: where it is added, in it thou shalt not doe any worke, the irreligious breach of the same is plainely restrained. The reasons be in number foure. The first is included in the word remember, and is drawne4 from the end, which is thus much in effect: Wilt thou worship me purely, and loue thy5 neighbour vnfainedly?
- 1The Sabbath the Lords market day. He that keepeth the Sabbath, keepeth the whole.
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- 3The order of setting down the doctrine of the Sabbath.The order of setting downe the doctrine of the Sabbath.
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