Exercitations concerning the name, original, nature, use, and continuance of a day of sacred…

We are therefore in this matter to have no consideration of the present course of the world, nor of the weariness of professors in the ways of strict obedience. The sacred Truth and Will of God in all his commands is singly and sincerely to be enquired after.

We are therefore in this matter to have no consideration of the present course of the world, nor of the weariness of professors in the wayes of strict obedience. The sacred Truth and Will of God in all his commands is singly and sincerely to be enquired after.

§. 6 And yet I will not deny but that there have been and are mistakes in this matter, leaning towards the other extreme. Directions have been given, and that not by a few, for the observation of a Day of Holy Rest, which either for the matter of them or the manner prescribed, have had no sufficient warrant or foundation in the Scripture. For whereas some have made no distinction between the Sabbath as Moral, and as Mosaical, unless it be merely in the change of the Day, they have endeavoured to introduce the whole practice required on the latter into the Lords Day. But we have already showed that there were sundry additions made unto the command, as to the manner of its observance, in its accommodation unto the Mosaical Pedagogy; besides that the whole required a frame of spirit suited thereunto. Others again have collected whatever they could think of, that is good, pious, and useful in the practice of Religion, and prescribed it all in a multitude of instances, as necessary to the sanctification of this Day; so that a man can scarcely in six ⟨p. 421⟩Days read over all the duties that are proposed to be observed on the seventh. And it hath been also no small mistake, that men have laboured more to multiply Directions about external duties, giving them out as it were by number or tale, than to direct the mind or inward man, in and unto a due performance of the whole duty of the sanctification of the Day, according to the spirit and genius of Gospel Obedience. And lastly, it cannot be denied but that some, it may be measuring others by themselves, and their own abilities, have been apt to tie them up unto such long tiresome duties, and rigid abstinences from refreshments, as have clogged their minds, and turned the whole service of the Day into a wearisome bodily exercise, that profiteth little.