And it is certain; that he ⟨p. 513⟩who makes no conscience to break the Sabbath; will not (to serve his turn) make any conscience, to break any of the other Commandments: so he may do it, without discredit of his reputation, or danger of mans law. Therefore God placed this Commandment in the middest of the two Tables: because the keeping of it is the best help, to the keeping of all the rest. The conscionable keeping of the Sabbath, is the Mother of all Religion, and good discipline in the Church. Take away the Sabbath, and let every man serve God when he listeth; and what vvill shortly become of Religion, and that peace, and order, 1which God ⟨p. 514⟩will have to be kept in his Church? The Sabbath day is Gods Market day, for the weeks provision, wherein he vvill have us to come unto him, 2and buy of him, without silver or money, the Bread of Angels, and Water of life, the Wine of the Sacraments, and Milk of the Word, to feed our Souls: tried Gold, to enrich our Faith:3 precious eye-salve, to heal our spiritual blindness: and the white raiment of Christs righteousness, to cover our filthy nakedness. He is not far from true Piety, who makes conscience to keep the Sabbath day: but he who can dispense with his conscience, to break the Sabbath for his own ⟨p. 515⟩profit or pleasure: his heart never yet felt, what either the fear of God, or true Religion meaneth. For, of this Commandment may that speech of S. James be verified; he that faileth in one, 4is guilty of all. Seeing therefore that GOD hath fenced this Commandment with so many moral reasons, it is evident, that the Commandment it self is moral.
And it is certaine; that hee ⟨p. 513⟩who makes no conscience to breake the Sabbath; will not (to serue his turne) make any conscience, to breake any of the other Commandements: so hee may doe it, without discredit of his reputation, or danger of mans law. Therefore God placed this Commandement in the middest of the two Tables: because the keeping of it is the best helpe, to the keeping of all the rest. The conscionable keeping of the Sabbath, is the Mother of all Religion, and good discipline in the Church. Take away the Sabbath, and let euery man serue God when hee listeth; and vvhat vvill shortly become of Religion, and that peace, and order, 1which God ⟨p. 514⟩will haue to be kept in his Church? The Sabbath day is Gods Market day, for the weekes prouision, wherein hee vvill haue vs to come vnto him, 2and buy of him, without siluer or money, the Bread of Angels, and Water of life, the Wine of the Sacraments, and Milke of the Word, to feede our Soules: tryed Gold, to enrich our Faith:3 precious eye-salue, to heale our spirituall blindenesse: and the white rayment of Christs righteousnesse, to couer our filthy nakednesse. Hee is not farre from true Pietie, who makes conscience to keepe the Sabbath day: but he who can dispense with his conscience, to breake the Sabbath for his owne ⟨p. 515⟩profit or pleasure: his heart neuer yet felt, what eyther the feare of God, or true Religion meaneth. For, of this Commandement may that speech of S. Iames be verified; he that faileth in one, 4is guiltie of all. Seeing therefore that GOD hath fenced this Commandement vvith so many morall reasons, it is euident, that the Commandement it selfe is morall.
- 11 Cor. 14.33 40.
- 2Esa. 55.1.2.
- 3Apoc. 3.18.
- 4James▪ 2.9.Iames▪ 2.9.
