That we ought to pay God all due Homage and Worship, particularly that of the Lord’s Day.
For a Conclusion of these Lectures, the last Thing I shall infer, from the foregoing Demonstration of the Being and Attributes of GOD, shall be, that we ought to pay GOD all that Homage and Worship which his Right of Creation and Dominion entitle him unto, and his great Mercies call for from us. And forasmuch as the Creator appointed, from the very Creation, one Day in seven to his Service, it will not therefore be improper to say something upon that Subject: And if I insist somewhat particularly and largely thereon, the Congruity thereof to the Design of these Lectures, and the foregoing Demonstration, together with the too great Inadvertency about, and Neglect of this ancient, universal, and most reasonable and necessary Duty, will, I hope, plead my Excuse. But that I may say no more than is necessary on this Point, I shall confine my self to two things, the Time God hath taken, and the Business then to be performed.
I. The Time is one Day in seven, and one of the ancientest Appointments it is which GOD gave to the World. For as soon as GOD had finished his six Days Works of Creation, it is said, Gen. ii. 2, 3. he rested on the seventh Day from all his Work which he had made. And GOD blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it, because that in it he had rested from all his Work. This Sanctification[a], and blessing the Seventh Day, was setting it apart, as a Day of Distinction from the rest of the Week-Days, and appropriating it to holy Uses and Purposes, namely, the Commemoration of that great Work of the Creation, and paying Homage and Worship to that infinite Being, who was the Effector of it.
This Day, thus consecrated from the Beginning, for the Celebration of the τοῦ κόσμου γενέσιον the World’s Birth-Day, as Philo calls it, was probably in some measure forgotten in the following wicked Ages, which God complains of, Gen. vi. 5. and so after the Flood likewise. But after the Return out of Ægypt, when GOD settled the Jewish Polity, he was pleased to renew this Day, and to establish it for a perpetual standing Law. And accordingly it was observed down to our blessed SAVIOUR’s Time, countenanced, and strictly observed by our great LORD and Master himself, and his Apostles and Disciples in, and after his Time; and although for good Reasons the Day was changed by them, yet a seventh Day hath been constantly observed in all Ages of Christianity, down to our present Time.
Thus we have a Day appointed by GOD himself, and observed throughout all Ages, except some few perhaps, which deserve not to be brought into Example.
And a wise Designation of Time this is, well becoming the divine Care and Precaution; serving for the recruiting our Bodies, and dispatching our Affairs, and at the same Time to keep up a Spiritual Temper of Mind. For by allowing six Days to labour, the Poor hath Time to earn his Bread, the Man of Business Time to dispatch his Affairs, and every Man Time for the Work of his respective Calling. But had there been more, or all our Time allotted to Labour and Business, and none to rest and recruit, our Bodies and Spirits would have been too much fatigued and wasted, and our Minds have been too long engaged about worldly Matters, so as to have forgotten divine Things. But the infinitely wise Ruler of the World, having taken the seventh Part of our Time to his own Service, hath prevented these Inconveniencies; hath given a Relaxation to our selves; and Ease and Refreshment to our wearied Beasts, to poor fatigued Slaves, and such as are under the Bondage of avaritious, cruel Masters. And this is one Reason Moses gives of the Reservation and Rest on the Seventh Day, Deut. v. 13, 14, 15. Six Days shalt thou labour, and do all thy Work; but the Seventh is the Sabbath of the LORD thy GOD; in it thou shalt not do any Work, thou, nor thy Children, Servants, Cattel, or Stranger, that thy Man Servant and Maid Servant may rest as well as thou. And remember, that thou wast a Servant, &c. therefore the Lord thy God commanded thee to keep the Sabbath Day. That carnal, greedy People, so bent upon Gain, without such a Precept, would have scarce favoured their own Bodies, much less have had Mercy upon their poor Bonds-men and Beasts, but by this wise Provision, this great Burden was taken off. But on the other hand, as a longer Liberty would too much have robbed the Master’s Time, and bred Idleness, so by this wise Provision, of only one Day of Rest, to six of Labour, that inconvenience was also prevented.
Thus the wise Governour of the World, hath taken Care for the Dispatch of Business. But then as too long Engagement about worldly Matters, would take off Mens Minds from God and divine Matters, so by this Reservation of every Seventh Day, that great Inconvenience is prevented also; all being then bound to worship their great Lord and Master, to pay their Homages, and Acknowledgments to their infinitely kind Benefactor; and in a word, to exercise themselves in divine, religious Business, and so keep up that spiritual Temper of Mind, that a perpetual, or too long Application to the World would destroy.
This, as it was a good Reason for the Order of a Sabbath to the Jews; so is as good it Reason for our Saviour’s Continuance of the like Time in the Christian Church.
And a Law this is, becoming the infinitely wise Creator and Conservator of the World, a Law, not only of great Use to the perpetuating the Remembrance of those greatest of God’s Mercies then commemorated, but also exactly adapted to the Life, Occasions, and State of Man; of Man living in this, and a-kin to another World: A Law well calculated to the Dispatch of our Affairs, without hurting our Bodies or Minds. And since the Law is so wise and good, we have great Reason then to practise carefully the Duties incumbent upon us; which will fall under the Consideration of the
II. Thing I proposed, the Business of the Day, which God hath reserved to himself. And there are two Things enjoyned in the Commandment, a Cessation from Labour and worldly Business, and that we remember to keep the Day holy.