The Institution of Christian Religion

The end of this commandment is, that we being dead to our own affections & works, should be busied in meditation of the kingdom of God, & to the same meditation should be exercised, by such means as he hath ordained. But because this commandment hath a peculiar & several consideration from the rest, therefore it must have also a several manner of exposition. The old writers use to call it a shadowish commandment, for it it containeth the outward observation of the day, ⟨image 135⟩which by the coming of Christ was taken away with the other figures. Wherein I grant they say truly, but they touch but half the matter. Wherefore we must fetch the exposition of it farther of. And (as I think) I have marked y• there are three causes to be considered, whereupon this commandment consisteth. For first the heavenly lawmaker meant under the rest of the seventh day, to set out in figure to the people of Israel the spiritual rest, whereby the faithful ought to •esse from their own works, that they might suffer God to work in them. Secondarily, his will was to have one appointed day, wherein they should mere together to hear the law, and execute the ceremonies, or at leest bestow it peculiarly to the meditation of his works: that by such calling to remembrance, they might be exercised to godliness. Thirdly, he thought good to have a day of rest granted to servants, and such as lived under the government of other, wherein the• might have some ceasing from their labour.

The end of this cōmaundement is, that we beyng dead to our owne affections & workes, should be busied in meditation of the kingdome of God, & to the same meditation should be exercised, by such meanes as he hath ordeyned. But bicause this cōmaundement hath a peculiar & seueral consideration frō the rest, therfore it must haue also a seuerall manner of exposition. The old writers vse to call it a shadowish commaundement, for yt it conteyneth the outward obseruation of the day, ⟨image 135⟩whiche by the comming of Christ was taken away with the other figures. Wherin I graunt they say truely, but they touche but half the matter. Wherfore we must fetche the exposition of it farther of. And (as I think) I haue marked y there are three causes to be cōsidered, wherupō this cōmaundement consisteth. For first the heauenly lawmaker meant vnder the rest of the seuenth daye, to set out in figure to the people of Israel the spirituall rest, whereby the faithfull ought to esse from their owne workes, that they might suffer God to worke in them. Secondarily, his wil was to haue one apointed daye, wherein they should mere together to heare the lawe, and execute the ceremonies, or at leest bestowe it peculiarly to the meditation of his workes: that by such callyng to remembrance, they might be exercised to godlinesse. Thirdly, he thought good to haue a day of rest graunted to seruants, and such as liued vnder the gouernement of other, wherin the might haue some cessyng from their labour.