A Body of Practical Divinity

Having spoken already of the Reasons of sanctifying the Sabbath, I come now to that Question:

Quest. In what manner we are to sanctify the Sabbath?

Quest. In what manner we are to sanctifie the Sabbath?

Resp. 1. Negatively, we must do no Work in it; that is expressed in the Commandment, In it thou shalt do no manner of Work. God hath enclosed this Day for himself, therefore we are not to lay it common by doing any Civil Work. As Abraham when he went to sacrifice, left his Servant and the Ass at the bottom of the Hill, Gen. 22.5. So when we are to Worship God this Day, we must leave all worldly business behind, ⟨p. 335⟩leave the Ass at the Bottom of the Hill. And as Joseph when he would speak with his Brethren, thrust out the Egyptians; so when we would converse with God this Day, we must thrust out all earthly Employments. The Lord's Day is a Day of Holy Rest, all secular Works must be forborne and suspended, it is a profaning the Day. Nehem. 13.15. In these days saw I in Judah some treading Wine-presses on the Sabbath, and bringing in Sheaves, as also Wine-Grapes and Figs, and all manner of Burdens which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath-day, and I testified against them. Thou I contended with the Nobles of Judah, and said to them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the Sabbath-Day. It is Sacrilege to rob that Time for Civil Work, which God hath Dedicated and set apart for his Worship. He that converts any time of the Sabbath to worldly business, is a worse Thief than he who robs on the High-way; for such a Thief does but rob Man, but this Thief robs God, he robs him of his Day. The Lord forbade Manna to be gathered on the Sabbath,