A26918:444
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 12
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.
O what a happy acknowledgement of God our Creator and Redeemer is it, and an honouring of his blessed name, when all the Churches throughout all the World, are at once praising the same God, with the same praises, and hearing and learning the same Gospel, and professing the same faith, and thankfully commemorating the same benefits! The Church is then indeed, like an Army with Banners. And were it not for this days observation, alas, how different would the case be? And what greater thing can man be bound to, than thus, to keep up the solemn acknowledgement and worship of God and our Redeemer in the world?
O what a happy acknowledgement of God our Creatour and Redeemer is it, and an honouring of his blessed name, when all the Churches throughout all the World, are at once praising the same God, with the same praises, and hearing and learning the same Gospel, and professing the same faith, and thankfully commemorating the same benefits! The Church is then indeed, like an Army with Banners. And were it not for this dayes observation, alas, how different would the case be? And what greater thing can man be bound to, than thus, to keep up the solemn acknowledgement and worship of God and our Redeemer in the world?
II. The due Sanctification of the Lords day, doth tend to make Religion Universal, as to Countries and individual persons, which else would be of narrower extent. When all the world are under a Divine obligation, to spend one day every week in the exercises of Religion, (and superiors see to the performance of their subjects ⟨p. 141⟩obedience to this Law,) it will make men to be in some sort Religious whether they will or not: Though they cannot be truly Religious against their will, it will make them visibly religious. Yea Gods own Law, if mans did nothing, would lay awe on the Consciences of most, who believe that there is a God that made that Law. And the weekly Assemblies keep up the knowledge and profession of the Christian faith, and keep God and Heaven in the peoples remembrance, and keep sin under constant rebukes and disgrace: And were it not for this, Heathenism, Infidelity and profaneness would quickly overspread the world. The Lords day keepeth up the Christian Religion in the World.