This is a grievous sin, Matth. 24.20. Pray that your flight be not in winter, nor on the Sabbath day. Lament. 1.7. The adversaries saw her, and did mock at her Sabbaths. Levit. 19.30. Ye shall keep my Sabbaths, and reverence my Sanctuary, I am the Lord. In this part are these things forbidden:
I. The works of our calling, wherein if we do ought, it must be altogether in regard of charity, and not in regard of our own private commodity.
II. Unnecessary journeys. Exod. 16.29. Tarry every man in his place, let no man go out of his place the seventh day. By this reason, the master of the family must that day remain at home, to sanctify the Sabbath with his household.
III. Fairs upon the Sabbath day, Nehem. 3.19. When the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the Sabbath, I commanded to shut the gates, &charged that they should not be opened till after the Sabbath, and some of my servants, set I at the gate, that there should no burden be brought in on the Sabbath day. read v. 15,16,17,18.
IV. All kind of husbandry; as ploughing, sowing, reaping, mowing, bringing home harvest, & other the like. Exod. 34. 21. In the seventh day shalt thou rest, both in earing time, and in harvest shalt thou rest.
V. To use jests, sports, banqueting, or any other thing whatsoever, which is a means to hinder, or withdraw the mind from that serious attention, which ought to be in Gods service: for if the works of our calling must not be exercised, much less these, whereby the mind is as well distracted from Gods service, as by the greatest labour.
VI. An external observation of the Sabbath, without an internal regard of godliness. Esa. 1.14,15. My soul hateth your new moons, and your appointed feasts, they are a burden unto me, I am weary to bear them: and when you shall stretch forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you, and though you make many prayers, I will not hear: for your hands are full of blood. 2. Tim. 3.5. Which have a show of godliness, but deny the force thereof, such therefore avoid.
VII. The manifest profanation of the Sabbath, in pampering the belly, surfeiting, adultery, and other like profaneness, which is nothing else, but to celebrate a Sabbath to the devil, and not to God.
This is a grieuous sinne, Matth. 24.20. Pray that your flight be not in winter, nor on the Sabboth daie. Lament. 1.7. The aduersaries saw her, and did mocke at her Sabboths. Leuit. 19.30. Ye shall keepe my Sabboths, and reuerence my Sanctuarie, I am the Lord. In this part are these things forbidden:
I. The workes of our calling, wherein if we doe ought, it must be altogether in regard of charitie, and not in regard of our owne priuate commodity.
II. Vnnecessarie iourneyes. Exod. 16.29. Tarrie euery man in his place, let no man goe out of his place the seuenth day. By this reason, the master of the family must that day remaine at home, to sanctifie the Sabbath with his household.
III. Faires vpon the Sabboth daie, Nehem. 3.19. When the gates of Ierusalem began to be darke before the Sabboth, I commaunded to shut the gates, &charged that they should not be opened till after the Sabboth, and some of my seruants, set I at the gate, that there should no burden be brought in on the Sabboth day. read v. 15,16,17,18.
IV. All kind of husbandrie; as plowing, sowing, reaping, mowing, bringing home haruest, & other the like. Exod. 34. 21. In the seauenth day shalt thou rest, both in earing time, and in haruest shalt thou rest.
V. To vse iestes, sports, banquetting, or any other thing whatsoeuer, which is a means to hinder, or withdraw the mind from that serious attention, which ought to be in Gods seruice: for if the workes of our calling must not be exercised, much lesse these, whereby the minde is as well distracted from Gods seruice, as by the greatest labour.
VI. An externall obseruation of the Sabboth, without an internall regard of godlines. Esa. 1.14,15. My soule hateth your new moones, and your appointed feastes, they are a burden vnto me, I am wearie to beare them: and when you shall stretch forth your handes, I will hide mine eies from you, and though you make many praiers, I will not heare: for your handes are full of blood. 2. Tim. 3.5. Which haue a shew of godlines, but denie the force thereof, such therefore auoyd.
VII. The manifest prophanation of the Sabboth, in pampering the belly, surfeting, adulterie, and other like prophanenesse, which is nothing els, but to celebrate a Sabboth to the diuell, and not to God.
