A37049:1008
A37049:1008
London: printed for Dorman Newman, 1675
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.
1. That men would see that the necessity be real, that real sickness keepeth at home, that real hazard maketh them fly, or maketh them bide at home, that it be such a necessity as they cannot contrive a way conveniently to evite when it cometh, or could not foresee before it came.
1. That men vvould see that the necessity be real, that real sickness keepeth at home, that real hazard maketh them flie, or maketh them bide at home, that it be such a necessitie as they cannot contrive a vvay conveniently to evite vvhen it cometh, or could not foresee before it came.
2. Men would see that that necessity be not brought on by themselves; If the thing might have been done at another time, that necessity vvill not excuse; though if the sin be taken with, and repented of, and Christ fled unto for the pardon of it, we may go about the doing that lawfully which sinfully we have necessitated our selves unto; as suppose one had got warning to sly the day before, to bring ⟨p. 281⟩such a Physician, or to provide such drugs, &c. if he did it not, then he sinneth, yet when necessity cometh he may still do it, but not with a good conscience, till he first acknowledge the former fault of his neglect.
2. Men vvould see that that necessitie be not brought on by themselves; If the thing might have been done at another time, that necessity vvill not excuse; though if the sin be taken vvith, and repented of, and Christ fled unto for the pardon of it, vve may go about the doing that lavvfully vvhich sinfully vve have necessitated our selves unto; as suppose one had got vvarning to slie the day before, to bring ⟨p. 281⟩such a Physician, or to provide such drugs, &c. if he did it not, then he sinneth, yet vvhen necessity cometh he may still do it, but not vvith a good conscience, till he first acknovvledge the former fault of his neglect.
3. It would be adverted, if that thing may be done, as well another time, or may not without prejudice (that is considerable) be delayed till the next day; Thus taking or giving of physic on the Lords day, making ordinary civil visits, beginning voyages, &c. vvill not sustain and bear weight before God, when folk do them that day, to have their own work day free, and so put by the proper duties of the Lords day, for some things that may be done the day or days following: Thus rest is commanded Exod. 34.21. even in sowing time and harvest; because the necessity is not clear, but dependeth on ordinary providence, and folks are to expect occasion and opportunities for them afterward.
3. It vvould be adverted, if that thing may be done, as vvell another time, or may not vvithout prejudice (that is considerable) be delayed till the next day; Thus taking or giving of physick on the Lords day, making ordinary civil visits, beginning voyages, &c. vvill not sustein and bear vveight before God, vvhen folk do them that day, to have their ovvn vvork day free, and so put by the proper duties of the Lords day, for some things that may be done the day or daies follovving: Thus rest is commanded Exod. 34.21. even in sovving time and harvest; because the necessitie is not clear, but dependeth on ordinary providence, and folks are to expect occasion and opportunities for them aftervvard.
4. Men would take heed that they have not a tickling complacency that such necessities fall on the Sabbath, and be not glad to have diversions from the proper duties of the day. They would go about such works with a sort of sadness, though yet with clearness and peace of conscience as to their lawfulness: Therefore Christ saith to his Disciples, Matth. 24.20. pray that your flight be not on the Sabbath day; because it would be heavy to Gods people to sly on that day, though it was lawful.
4. Men would take heed that they have not a tickling complacencie that such necessities fall on the Sabbath, and be not glad to have diversions from the proper duties of the day. They would go about such works with a sort of sadness, though yet with clearness and peace of conscience as to their lawfulness: Therefore Christ saith to his Disciples, Matth. 24.20. pray that your flight be not on the Sabbath day; because it would be heavy to Gods people to slie on that day, though it was lawful.
5. We would see that it mar not a spiritual frame, and that in doing these we turn not to mind the World as on other days; There would be still a respect to the day in our frame (which is called for in the word remember) and even when our hand is otherwise employed, the heart should not be taken up with these things, but so far as is necessary to the acting of them.
5. We would see that it marr not a spiritual frame, and that in doing these we turn not to mind the World as on other dayes; There would be still a respect to the day in our frame (which is called for in the word remember) and even when our hand is otherwayes imployed, the heart should not be taken up with these things, but so far as is necessary to the acting of them.
6. It would be adverted to, that they be done without irregularity, and so as not to give offence by them (hence it was that Christ ever gave the reasons of what he did on the Sabbath) lest others, not knowing our necessity, judge us guilty of Sabbath-breaking, or be involved without necessity to do the like.
6. It would be adverted to, that they be done without irregularity, and so as not to give offence by them (hence it was that Christ ever gave the reasons of what he did on the Sabbath) lest others, not knowing our necessity, judge us guilty of Sabbath-breaking, or be involved without necessitie to do the like.
7. Folks would have great respect to the end in these works, and to the motive which swayeth and putteth them on. If it be outward gain or fear of some temporal loss; as if for gaining money a Physician should go rather on the Sabbath then on another day to save the life of a man; that turneth then to be a servile work, and one of his ordinary Week day calling (to speak so): So if a Minister should preach with respect to gain or applause on the Sabbath, or if any man should make a visit for a mere civil end, as we visit on other days, without a suitable respect to spiritual edification or furtherance of Piety, it will mar all, and will be found a breach of the Sabbath.
7. Folks would have great respect to the end in these works, and to the motive which swayeth and putteth them on. If it be outward gain or fear of some temporal loss; as if for gaining money a Physitian should go rather on the Sabbath then on another day to save the life of a man; that turneth then to be a servile work, and one of his ordinary Week day calling (to speak so): So if a Minister should preach with respect to gain or applause on the Sabbath, or if any man should make a visit for a meer civil end, as we visit on other dayes, without a sutable respect to spiritual edification or furtherance of Piety, it will marr all, and will be found a breach of the Sabbath.
8. We would beware of spending too much time in these things, but would endeavour timely and quickly to expede and dispatch them, and rightly to trust them: Dressing of meat, and trimming, adorning, and busking of folks bodies will not be found a well spent part of the Sabbath, when it shutteth out other duties, and getteth too much time, as it doth with many.
By all which we may see what need there is to watch over our selves in these things, lest our liberty be turned into licentiousness, and lest we grow either idle or carnal on that day.
Let us then consider how far this rest extendeth: and under it we take in 1. The rest of the whole man, outward and inward, in deeds, words, and thoughts, so is it Isai. 58.13. we should not speak our own words (nor by proportion think our own thoughts) nor find our own pleasures. 2. It goeth through the whole day, for though every minute of the day cannot be applied to positive duties, yet in no minute of it, is it lawful to do another work (inconsistent with the qualifications and scope aforesaid) that is the negative part in it, thou shalt do no work, which bindeth ad semper. 3. It is to be extended not only to a mans own person, but to all under him, children, servants, &c. he must be answerable for it, that they rest, and must give them no occasion of work. 4. It's to be extended even to the least work of any fort, if unnecessary, as gathering sticks, speaking our own words, &c. these are all breaches of the Sabbath. 5. This rest extendeth to ⟨p. 283⟩all actions or sorts of actions or cases which are not comprehended under the former exceptions which are permitted, or are consistent with the sanctifying of the Sabbath: As,
Let us then consider how far this rest extendeth: and under it we take in 1. The rest of the whole man, outward and inward, in deeds, words, and thoughts, so is it Isai. 58.13. we should not speak our own words (nor by proportion think our own thoughts) nor find our own pleasures. 2. It goeth through the whole day, for though every minute of the day cannot be applyed to positive duties, yet in no minute of it, is it lawful to do another work (inconsistent with the qualifications and scope aforesaid) that is the negative part in it, thou shalt do no work, which bindeth ad semper. 3. It is to be extended not only to a mans own person, but to all under him, children, servants, &c. he must be answerable for it, that they rest, and must give them no occasion of work. 4. It's to be extended even to the least work of any fort, if unnecessary, as gathering sticks, speaking our own words, &c. these are all breaches of the Sabbath. 5. This rest extendeth to ⟨p. 283⟩all actions or sorts of actions or cases which are not comprehended under the former exceptions which are permitted, or are consistent with the sanctifying of the Sabbath: As,
1. All works which tend to our external profit, pleasure, satisfaction, &c. all works of our callings which make for the increase of outward gain and profit, such whereby we ordinarily sustain our lives: These Heb. 4.15. are called our own works, and here it's such works as ordinarily are wrought in the rest of the six days: So it is doing thy own pleasure as well as works, Isa 58.
1. All works which tend to our external profit, pleasure, satisfaction, &c. all works of our callings which make for the increase of outward gain and profit, such whereby we ordinarily sustain our lives: These Heb. 4.15. are called our own works, and here it's such works as ordinarily are wrought in the rest of the six dayes: So it is doing thy own pleasure as well as vvorks, Isa 58.
2. Such works as tend to others external gain or profit as the great motive of them, as Servants may be working for their Masters profit, and yet profane the day.
2. Such vvorks as tend to others external gain or profit as the great motive of them, as Servants may be vvorking for their Masters profit, and yet prophane the day.
3. Such as are not necessary on that day, as ploughing, sowing, reap •ng, or gathering in, and that even in Seed time and Harvest; and so fishing, going of mills, &c. when these are not done for the very preserving of life, because they are not necessary out of that case; neither is there any thing here of an extraordinary dispensation that maketh them necessary, the weather depending on an ordinary providence, or ordinarily depending on providence, which is to be reverenced: Hence though the weather and season be rainy, yet it is not lawful to cut down or gather in Corn on the Sabbath, their hazard in this case being common and from an ordinary immediate providence; yet suppose that a River were carrying away Corn, or that Winds were like to blow them into the Sea, it were lawful in such a case to endeavour to prevent that, and preserve them; because 1. that cometh by some more then ordinary dispensation of providence in the weather, and affecteth and putteth in hazard this Corn more then others: 2. Because there is no probability of recovering these in an ordinary way, though the weather should alter, but there is hope of gathering in of such as are in the fields without that reach of hazard, if the Lord alter the season.
3. Such as are not necessary on that day, as ploughing, sovving, reap •ng, or gathering in, and that even in Seed time and Harvest; and so fishing, going of mills, &c. vvhen these are not done for the very preserving of life, because they are not necessary out of that case; neither is there any thing here of an extraordinary dispensation that maketh them necessary, the vveather depending on an ordinary providence, or ordinarily depending on providence, vvhich is to be reverenced: Hence though the vveather and season be rainy, yet it is not lavvful to cut dovvn or gather in Corn on the Sabbath, their hazard in this case being common and from an ordinary immediate providence; yet suppose that a River vvere carrying avvay Corn, or that Winds vvere like to blovv them into the Sea, it vvere lavvful in such a case to endeavour to prevent that, and preserve them; because 1. that cometh by some more then ordinary dispensation of providence in the vveather, and affecteth and putteth in hazard this Corn more then others: 2. Because there is no probability of recovering these in an ordinary vvay, though the vveather should alter, but there is hope of gathering in of such as are in the fields vvithout that reach of hazard, if the Lord alter the season.
4. Such as are for carnal pleasure or civil ends, thus playing, gaming, much laughing, &c. being our own works, more especially our own pleasure, are unlawful on that day.
4. Such as are for carnal pleasure or civil ends, thus playing, gaming, much laughing, &c. being our ovvn vvorks, more especially our ovvn pleasure, are unlavvful on that day.
5. Consider that all things are prohibited which mar the end of the day, and are not consistent with the duties thereof; such are buying, selling, &c. out of the cases of pressing necessity; folks cannot be spiritually taken up, and with these also; so playing and gaming is no less consistent with praying, reading, conferring, &c. then ploughing or such like, yea, is much more indisposing for it, and so we do necessarily thereby incapacitate our selves for the duties of the day.
5. Consider that all things are prohibited vvhich marr the end of the day, and are not consistent vvith the duties thereof; such are buying, selling, &c. out of the cases of pressing necessity; folks cannot be spiritually taken up, and vvith these also; so playing and gaming is no less consistent vvith praying, reading, conferring, &c. then ploughing or such like, yea, is much more indisposing for it, and so vve do necessarily thereby incapacitate our selves for the duties of the day.
6. All things are forbidden which consist not with this rest and the duties of worship called for from our selves and others; thus unnecessary journeying, walking, even suppose one could or should be exercised in meditation, is not resting as is required, much less is gadding in companies, in the street, or fields, to the neglect of secret and family duties.
6. All things are forbidden vvhich consist not vvith this rest and the duties of vvorship called for from our selves and others; thus unnecessary journeying, vvalking, even suppose one could or should be exercised in meditation, is not resting as is required, much less is gadding in companies, in the street, or fields, to the neglect of secret and family duties.