A20559:295
The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A…
The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A familiar and learned exposition on the ten commandments gathered from the mouth of a faithful pastor by a gracious young man, sometime scholar in Cambridge.The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A familiar and learned exposition on the ten commandements gathered from the mouth of a faithfull pastor by a gracious young man, sometime scholler in Cambridge.
London: printed by John Harison for Thomas Man, 1603London: printed by Iohn Harison for Thomas Man, 1603
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
But here seems to come in an objection, may one do no business, may not one look to their cattle, serve their sheep or their horses, and order them on the sabbath? yes, a christian man on the sabbath day must serve his beast, but always provided, that he do it not as business of his own, but as a work of mercy to the beast, not seeking or respecting his own commodity, as the creatures necessity, and doing it thus for conscience sake, to help the poor creature, it is a work of the sabbath, and in it place pleaseth God; for God himself commands to be merciful, even to the beasts, therefore one must see that he do it with a merciful hart in compassion to the creature, so that the end must differ from the end in the working days.
But heere seemes to come in an objection, may one doe no businesse, may not one looke to their cattle, serue their sheepe or their horses, and order them on the sabboth? yes, a christian man on the sabboth day must serue his beast, but alwaies prouided, that hee doe it not as businesse of his owne, but as a worke of mercie to the beast, not seeking or respecting his owne commoditie, as the creatures necessitie, and doing it thus for conscience sake, to help the poore creature, it is a work of the sabboth, and in it place pleaseth God; for God himselfe commands to bee mercifull, euen to the beasts, therefore one must see that hee doe it with a mercifull hart in compassion to the creature, so that the end must differ from the end in the working daies.
Secondly, his affection and meditation must be divers from that he may have at other times; for this work must raise him up to some godly and spiritual meditations for his edification; as for example, when one goes on the sabbath to serve and order the dumb creature, he may make this use of it; why I can in obedience to God, and compassion to the creature, care for it, and bring it things necessary, though it cannot call upon me, yet the very need of it cries loud, that I cannot but help though I bough it for money; what care then must I persuade my self God that is a sea of mercy, of which I have but one drop, will have to me, whom he hath bought with the blood of his Son, and which cease not to call upon him, and make continual supplication for things needful unto him, & so strengthen ones faith: or else such a meditation I see the poor dumb beast that hath done me painful service all the week, when I come to serve it, is contented to be served at my pleasure, if I give it more it is content, if less it doth not fret against me, if it be better provision it takes it in good part, if courser, it doth not murmur and take on; why then should not I be content to live at Gods finding, and take in