A Body of Practical Divinity

Use III. It exhorts us to Sabbath-holiness.

Vse III. It exhorts us to Sabbath-holiness.

I. Make Conscience of keeping this Day Holy. The other Commandments have only an Affirmative in them, or a Negative: This Fourth Commandment hath both an Affirmative in it, and a Negative: Thou shalt keep the Sabbath-day holy: And, Thou shalt not do any manner of Work in it: To show how carefully God would have us observe this Day. Nor only must you keep this Day your Selves, but have a care that all under your Charge keep it. Thou, and thy Son, and thy Daughter, and thy Man-Servant, and thy Maid-Servant. That is, Thou who art a Superior, a Parent or a Master, thou must have a Care that not only thy self sanctify the Day, but those who are under thy Trust and Tuition. To blame are those Masters of Families, who are careful that their Servants serve them, but have no care that they serve God. They care not though their Servants should serve the Devil, so long as their Bodies do them Service. That which St. Paul saith to Timothy, 1 Tim. 6.20. Serva Depositum, Keep that which is committed to thy Trust, is of a large Extension. Not only have a Care of thy own Soul, but have a Care of the Souls thou art entrusted with. See that they who are under thy Charge sanctify the Sabbath. God's Law provided, That if a Man met an Ox or an Ass going astray, he should bring him back again: Much more when thou seest the Soul of thy Child or Servant going astray from God, and breaking his Sabbath, thou shouldest bring him back again to a Religious Observation of this Day. Now that I may press you to Sabbath-Sanctification, consider,

I. Make Conscience of keeping this Day Holy. The other Commandments have only an Affirmative in them, or a Negative: This Fourth Commandment hath both an Affirmative in it, and a Negative: Thou shalt keep the Sabbath-day holy: And, Thou shalt not do any manner of Work in it: To show how carefully God would have us observe this Day. Nor only must you keep this Day your Selves, but have a care that all under your Charge keep it. Thou, and thy Son, and thy Daughter, and thy Man-Servant, and thy Maid-Servant. That is, Thou who art a Superiour, a Parent or a Master, thou must have a Care that not only thy self sanctifie the Day, but those who are under thy Trust and Tuition. To blame are those Masters of Families, who are careful that their Servants serve them, but have no care that they serve God. They care not though their Servants should serve the Devil, so long as their Bodies do them Service. That which St. Paul saith to Timothy,