A63997:357
The Christian Sabbath defended against a crying evil in these times of the antisabitarians…
The Christian Sabbath defended against a crying evil in these times of the antisabitarians of our age: wherein is showed that the morality of the fourth Commandment is still in force to bind Christians unto the sanctification of the Sabbath day. Written by that learned assertor of the truth, William Twice D.D. late prolocutor to the Assembly of Divines.The Christian Sabbath defended against a crying evil in these times of the antisabitarians of our age: wherein is shewed that the morality of the fourth Commandement is still in force to bind Christians unto the sanctification of the Sabbath day. Written by that learned assertor of the truth, William Twisse D.D. late prolocutor to the Assembly of Divines.
London: printed for Thomas Pierrepont, 1652
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.
But the weekly Sabbath, was for pleasure and delight, but not for mans own pleasure, nor for the doing of their own ways. But to delight in the Lord, which is spiritual pleasure, and the recreating of our souls in the Lord: this is a blessed rest, thus to rest unto him; and the word of God is the best food of the soul; No recreates like unto Gods holy ordinances. Of wisdom ⟨p. 243⟩it is said, that her ways are the ways of pleasantness. I willingly confess, that to the natural man, as the things of God are foolishness, so the word of God is a reproach unto him, 1he hath no delight in it. He delights rather in carnal pleasures; and is it fit to humour him in such courses, and that on the Lords day? our Saviour expressly tells us, that The pleasures of life choke the word, and make it become unfruitful: Therefore it no way fits a man to Gods Service; And if way be opened to such courses, though not till after evening prayer; as many as are taken with them, will have their minds running upon them, so as to say, when will the Sabbath be gone, and the time of Divine service be over? that so they may come to their sports, as well as covetous persons longed after the like, that they may return to their trading. A natural man, before his calling is described unto us in Scripture, to be such a one as served lusts and diverse pleasures, 2and the wicked are said to spend their days in pleasure; and such are they, whom the Prophet describeth after this manner, Hear now thou that art given to pleasure. As for the children of God, as they are renewed in their affections generally, so the matter of their delight is much altered; His delight is in the Law of the Lord; 3as Christ sayeth, I delight to do thy will, and Psal. 119.16. J delight my self in thy Statutes, & v. 24. thy testimonies are my delight, and 47. I will delight my self in the commandment, and Psalm 94.19. Thy comforts delight my soul: on the other side, the Character of the fool is this, H• hath no delight in understanding.