The Sabbath is a sign, but not a ceremony, as the tree in Paradise, it doth admonish of1 the true Rest, & is a pledge of the everlasting Rest. It is the agreement between the Lord and us, Exod. 31. 17. Ezech. 20. 12. It is the Market-day of the soul to gather Manna, which is the bread of life. Well, we must first rest; from what? from our own work, works, words, and delights: for the Law is spiritual, Isaiah. 58. 15. First, we must rest from the works and labours of the six days, which are here opposed to rest; from bearing burdens, Jere. 17. from gathering Manna, Exod. 16. which was their food; from treading the wine presses, and making bargains, Nehem. 13. from bringing sheaves, Ibidem, both in Earing time, and Harvest, Exod. 34. 21. To work on the Sabbath is to defile it, Exod. 3. The plague of fire, is God his judgement of it, Jerem. 17. 27. Gods severity by death, Exod. 35. As for the sanctifying of it, GOD hath made it holy, Gene. 2. 3. By his blessing he associateth us to make it holy, as well as himself, & that is by our obedience. He hath done what he can to make it holy, let not us profane it, & he will not account it holy, unless we so use it. We must therefore separate it from the common uses, as the Church, the font, the cup, which are pu to holy uses, to the worship of GOD, & the furthering of religion. First, we must separate into Gods work, as preaching, Luc. 4. 16. Reading, Acts. 13. 13. Prayer, 16. 13 conference, Mala. 3. Meditation. Psalm. 92. or any good work, Matth. 12. 12. whatsoever showeth in us the power of Christ his Resurrection. Now to the reasons. It were a great sin not to yield to his Commandment, a greater, not to yield to his persuasions. His first eason is, Six days shalt thou labour, &c. This is rather a permission than a commandment, as was that of eating of the Trees in Paradise. If GOD had given us one for our selves, and kept six for himself, it had been equity in him to command, and duty in us to obey: now he hath kept but one for himself, and that for profit too. To break the commandment in respect of such liberality, were great sin, as we may see in Nathans conference, in Aevaes reasoning, and in Josephs argument with his Mistress, as also in Jo•s speech to his wife. And do all that thou hast to do: That is; Finish all ere this day come:
The Sabbath is a signe, but not a ceremonie, as the tree in Paradise, it doth admonish of1 the true Rest, & is a pledge of the euerlasting Rest. It is the agreement betweene the Lord and vs, Exod. 31. 17. Ezech. 20. 12. It is the Market-day of the soule to gather Manna, which is the bread of life. Well, we must first rest; from what? frō our owne worke, works, words, and delights: for the Law is spirituall, Esai. 58. 15. First, we must rest from the works and labours of the sixe dayes, which are heere opposed to rest; from bearing burthens, Iere. 17. from gathering Manna, Exod. 16. which was their foode; from treading the winepresses, and making bargaines, Nehem. 13. from bringing sheaues, Ibidem, both in Earing time, and Haruest, Exod. 34. 21. To worke on the Sabbath is to defile it, Exod. 3. The plague of fire, is God his iudgement of it, Ierem. 17. 27. Gods seueritie by death, Exod. 35. As for the sanctifying of it, GOD hath made it holie, Gene. 2. 3. By his blessing he associateth vs to make it holy, as well as himselfe, & that is by our obedience. He hath done what he can to make it holie, let not vs prophane it, & he will not account it holy, vnles we so vse it. We must therefore separate it from the comon vses, as the Church, the font, the cup, which are pu to holy vses, to the worship of GOD, & the furthering of religion. First, we must seperate into Gods worke, as preaching, Luc. 4. 16. Reading, Acts. 13. 13. Prayer, 16. 13 conference, Mala. 3. Meditation. Psalm. 92. or any good worke, Matth. 12. 12. whatsoeuer sheweth in vs the power of Christ his Resurrection. Now to the reasons. It were a great sinne not to yeeld to his Commaundement, a greater, not to yeelde to his perswasionss. His first eason is, Sixe dayes shalt thou labour, &c. This is rather a permission than a commandement, as was that of eating of the Trees in Paradice. If GOD had giuen vs one for our selues, and kept sixe for himselfe, it had bene equitie in him to command, and dutie in vs to obey: now he hath kept but one for himselfe, and that for profite too. To breake the commaundement in respect of such liberalitie, were great sinne, as we may see in Nathans conference, in Aeuaes reasoning, and in Iosephs argument with his Mistris, as also in Ios speach to his wife. And doe all that thou hast to doe: That is; Finish all ere this day come:
- 1Sabbath, a sign.Sabbath, a signe.
