It calls for solemn preparation for a Sabbath, and the ordinances of a Sabbath, a duty woefully neglected amongst Christians: some little preparation people make for a Sacrament, and it is to be feared there is more of superstition in it than Evangelical affection to the day, consisting rather in a Ceremonial abstinence from meat and drinks, than a serious separation of the heart and affections for communion with God. But as to the Sabbath, there is rarely any thing to separate between the drudgery of the week and the solemnities of the sabbath, but a little sleep; and that (usually) less than any other night is allowed; people loading the Saturday-night with so many worldly affairs, that the Lords-day-morning is too little to satisfy their sluggish indulgences of the flesh: and there is not time either for closet or domestic devotion, they cannot force themselves out of their bed time enough to join with the Congregation, until half the public worship be finished. The Jews shall rise up against this generation and shall condemn them, of whom it is reported, they were so severe in their parascueves or preparations for the Sabbath, which were precisely to begin at three of the clock in the afternoon,1 that if the servants in the Family were cast behind in dispatching the servile labour of the Family, the Master of the house though he were a Nobleman would not refuse to set his hand to the lowest drudgery, that they might observe the punctual time of preparation: this argued an honourable estimation of the Sabbath.
It calls for solemn preparation for a Sabbath, and the ordinances of a Sabbath, a duty wofully neglected amongst Christians: some little preparation people make for a Sacrament, and it is to be feared there is more of superstition in it than Evangelical affection to the day, consisting rather in a Ceremonial abstinence from meat and drinks, than a serious separation of the heart and affections for communion with God. But as to the Sabbath, there is rarely any thing to separate between the drudgery of the week and the solemnities of the sabbath, but a little sleep; and that (usually) less than any other night is allowed; people loading the Saturday-night with so many worldly affairs, that the Lords-day-morning is too little to satisfie their sluggish indulgences of the flesh: and there is not time either for closet or domestick devotion, they cannot force themselves out of their bed time enough to join with the Congregation, until half the publick worship be finished. The Jews shall rise up against this generation and shall condemn them, of whom it is reported, they were so severe in their parascueves or preparations for the Sabbath, which were precisely to begin at three of the clock in the afternoon,1 that if the servants in the Family were cast behind in dispatching the servile labour of the Family, the Master of the house though he were a Nobleman would not refuse to set his hand to the lowest drudgery, that they might observe the punctual time of preparation: this argued an honourable estimation of the Sabbath.
- 1Buxtorf.
