A26892:6858
A Christian Directory
A Christian directory, or, A sum of practical theology and cases of conscience directing Christians how to use their knowledge and faith, how to improve all helps and means, and to perform all duties, how to overcome temptations, and to escape or mortify every sin : in four parts ... / by Richard Baxter.A Christian directory, or, A summ of practical theologie and cases of conscience directing Christians how to use their knowledge and faith, how to improve all helps and means, and to perform all duties, how to overcome temptations, and to escape or mortifie every sin : in four parts ... / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed by Robert White for Nevill Simmons, 1673
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Part 3 › Question 81: Quest. 81. May we lawfully keep the Lords day as a fast?
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.
Quest. 81. May we lawfully keep the Lords day as a fast?
Answ. Not ordinarily; Because God hath made it a day of thanksgiving; And we must not pervert it from the use to which it was appointed by God. But in case of extraordinary necessity, it may be done; As, 1. In case that some great judgement call us so suddenly to humiliation and fasting, as that it cannot be de•erred to the next day (As some sudden invasion, fire, sickness, &c.)1 2. In case by persecution, the Church be denied liberty to meet on any other day, in a time when public fasting and prayer is a duty. 3. In case the people be so poor, or servants, Children and Wives be so hardly restrained, that they cannot meet at any other time. It is lawful in such cases, because Positives give way to Moral or Natural duties, caeteris paribus, and lesser duties unto greater: The Sabbath is made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.
Answ. NOt ordinarily; Because God hath made it a day of thanksgiving; And we must not pervert it from the use to which it was appointed by God. But in case of extraordinary necessity, it may be done; As, 1. In case that some great judgement call us so suddenly to humiliation and fasting, as that it cannot be de•erred to the next day (As some sudden invasion, fire, sickness, &c.)1 2. In case by persecution, the Church be denyed liberty to meet on any other day, in a time when publick fasting and prayer is a duty. 3. In case the people be so poor, or servants, Children and Wives be so hardly restrained, that they cannot meet at any other time. It is lawful in such cases, because Positives give way to Moral or Natural duties, caeteris paribus, and lesser duties unto greater: The Sabbath is made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.