A26918:433
The divine appointment of the Lords day proved as a separated day for holy…
The divine appointment of the Lords day proved as a separated day for holy worship, especially in the church assemblies, and consequently the cessation of the seventh day Sabbath : written for the satisfaction of some religious persons who are lately drawn into error or doubting in both these points / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for Nevil Simmons, 1671
The Divine Appointment of the LORDS DAY, proved, as a separated Day… › Chapter 11
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.
7. And a little public hurt must be more regarded than more private benefit; And the hurt of a mans soul cannot be countervailed by your corporal Commodities.
7. And a little publick hurt must be more regarded than more private benefit; And the hurt of a mans soul cannot be countervailed by your corporal Commodities.
8. These things being premised, I suppose that the great Rule to guide you in such undetermined Circumstances is the Interest of the End; All things must be done to the Glory of God, and to Edification. A truly impartial prudent man can discern by comparing all the circumstances whether his action (as if it were carrying in Endangered Corn) were likely to do more good or harm? On one side you must put in the balance the value of the thing to be saved; your own necessity of it; the poor's need of it; and Christs command, ⟨p. 135⟩Gather up the fragments that nothing be lost: on the other side you must consider, how far it will hinder your spiritual benefit and duty; and how far the example may be like to encourage such as will do such things without just cause; And so try which is the way of Gods honour and your own and your neighbours good; and that is the way which you must take (As in the Disciples rubbing the ears of Corn, &c.) For the Rule is, that your labour is then lawful and a duty, when in the judgement of a truly judicious person, it is like to do more good than hurt; And it is then sinful when it is like to do more hurt than good. Though all cannot discern this, yet (as far as I know) this is the true rule, to judge such actions by. As for them that suppose our Lords day to be under the same Laws of Rest with the Jewish Sabbath, and so think that they have a readier way to decide these doubts, I will not contend with them, but I have told you why I am not of their mind.
8. These things being premised, I suppose that the great Rule to guide you in such undetermined Circumstances is the Interest of the End; All things must be done to the Glory of God, and to Edification. A truly impartial prudent man can discern by comparing all the circumstances whether his action (as if it were carrying in Endangered Corn) were likely to do more good or harm? On one side you must put in the ballance the value of the thing to be saved; your own necessity of it; the poors need of it; and Christs command,