A53694:476
Exercitations concerning the name, original, nature, use, and continuance of a day of sacred…
Exercitations concerning the name, original, nature, use, and continuance of a day of sacred rest wherein the original of the Sabbath from the foundation of the world, the morality of the Fourth commandment with the change of the Seventh day are enquired into : together with an assertion of the divine institution of the Lord's Day, and practical directions for its due observation / by John Owen.
London: printed by R.W. for Nath. Ponder, 1671
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.
§. 14 These things premised, I shall recommend to the Godly Reader a threefold preparatory Duty to the right observation of a Day of Holy Rest unto the Lord. (1) Of Meditation; (2) Of Supplication; (3) Of Instruction, unto such as have others depending on them.
(1) Of Meditation; and this answers particularly the Reasons we have given for the necessity of these preparatory Duties. For herein are the minds of Believers, to exercise themselves unto such Thoughts of the Majesty, Holiness, and Greatness of God, as may prepare them to serve him with reverence and Godly fear. The nature of the Duty requires, that this Meditation should first respect God himself; and then the Day and its Services in its Causes and Ends. God himself, I say, not absolutely, but as the Cause and Author of our Sabbatical Rest. God is to be meditated on with respect unto his Majesty, Greatness, and Holiness, in all our Addresses unto him in his Ordinances. But a peculiar consideration is to be had of him, as the especial Author of that Ordinance which we address our selves to the celebration of, and so to make our access unto him therein. His Rest therefore in Jesus Christ, his satisfaction and complacency in the way and Covenant of Rest for us through him, are the objects of a suitable Meditation in our preparation for the observance of this Day of Rest. But especially the person of the Son, whose works and Rest thereon, is the Foundation of our Evangelical Rest on this Holy Day, is to be considered, It were easy ⟨p. 445⟩to supply the Reader with proper Meditations on these blessed subjects, for him to exercise himself in as he finds occasion: But I intend only Directions in general, leaving others to make Application of them according to their ability.
(1) Of Meditation; and this answers particularly the Reasons we have given for the necessity of these preparatory Duties. For herein are the minds of Believers, to exercise themselves unto such Thoughts of the Majesty, Holiness, and Greatness of God, as may prepare them to serve him with reverence and Godly fear. The nature of the Duty requires, that this Meditation should first respect God himself; and then the Day and its Services in its Causes and Ends. God himself, I say, not absolutely, but as the Cause and Author of our Sabbatical Rest. God is to be meditated on with respect unto his Majesty, Greatness, and Holiness, in all our Addresses unto him in his Ordinances. But a peculiar consideration is to be had of him, as the especial Author of that Ordinance which we address our selves to the celebration of, and so to make our access unto him therein. His Rest therefore in Jesus Christ, his satisfaction and complacency in the way and Covenant of Rest for us through him, are the objects of a suitable Meditation in our preparation for the observance of this Day of Rest. But especially the person of the Son, whose works and Rest thereon, is the Foundation of our Evangelical Rest on this Holy Day, is to be considered, It were easie