An exposition of the assemblies catechism with practical inferences from each question as it…

A. It is not a mere natural or civil, but an holy rest, resembling the rest in Heaven. wherein the Mind is most active and busy in the work of God, though the Body be at rest, and the Spirit not wearied with its work; Rev. 4.8. And the four bea••s had each of them six wings about him, and they were full of eyes within, and they rest not day and night, saying, holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

A. It is not a meer natural or civil, but an holy rest, resembling the rest in Heaven. wherein the Mind is most active and busie in the work of God, though the Body be at rest, and the Spirit not wearied with its work; Rev. 4.8. And the four bea••s had each of them six wings about him, and they were full of eyes within, and they rest not day and night, saying, holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

Q. 2. May not any works of our civil Calling be ordinarily done on that day?

A. No; it is sinful to put our hands ordinarily to our Callings on that day, and God usually punishes it: Neh. 13.15, 16, 17, 18. In those days saw I in Judah, some treading wine-presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses, as also ⟨p. 131⟩wine, grapes and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day; and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals. There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath, unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem. Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day? Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath.