The doctrine of the Sabbath handled in foure seuerall bookes of treatises. The first of which intreateth of the day of rest. The second, of the duties of the day. The third, of the persons whom these duties concerne. And the fourth, the reasons vsed to perswade all persons to the practise of these duties vpon that day. Written by G.W. Master of Arts, and minister of the word of God in Portsmouth.

onely so farre they vse them as their beasts to do their businesse, and no more. But what shall the poore sea-man doe in this case? Surely, first to importune the Merchant for instruction: which if it will not be granted, let him not depriue him∣selfe of Gods blessing for a warme sunne, let him tarrie at home. Or if it be so that he will needes goe, yet let him haue a speciall care in some mea∣sure at least as hee may, to sanctifie that day vnto the Lord. And this much as touching the rest in generall, that must bee kept both at home and a∣broad.

[§. Sect. 13] But yet I know there be some particular doubts that trouble many men, and often leade them to the breach of the Sabbath. For sinne is spunne many times of a fine thred, and hath such a glasse set vpon it, that we cannot easily discerne it. Som∣times the diuell pleadeth vnto vs the smalnes of the sinne, as thus, Thou maist doe this vpon the Sabbath well enough, this is but a small matter; and, I pray God you neuer do worse, &c. Indeed I confesse all sinnes bee not of one sise, some bee gnats, and some bee cammels; some be moates, * 1.1 and some be beames; they being compared be∣twixt themselues; but yet the maiestie being con∣sidered against which they bee committed, they appeare in their owne shapes euery one of them infinitely great: and they bee not as they seeme vnto vs light (being waighed in the ballance of our owne priuate conceit); but being waighed in the ballance of the Sanctuarie they are infinit∣ly waightie, euery sinne deseruing death: and

therefore wee must not account sinne light, be∣cause it seemeth so vnto vs; but we must reckon and account of them as God hath taught vs to account of them, in his word. Cast wee our eyes vpon the Israelites in gathering Manna vpon the Sabbath: what great matter think you was it for them vpon the Sabbath day in the morning to stoope and gather Manna, that lay before them at their feete? they might haue done it and kept the Sabbath too; yet God takes this most hei∣nously, How long (saith he) will this people breake all my commandements? reckoning that breach of the Sabbath, as the breach of his whole law. Againe, what great sinne was it for a man to step ouer the threshold of his doores, and to gather a handfull of sticks to make a fire with? would any of these men that reckon sinnes small haue accounted him worthie of death, though happely hee had done it presumptuously? yet God adiudgeth him to dye for it; and therefore that work which thou presumest to doe, is it seruile? is it forbid∣den? Count it not light then, for the breach of Gods law is no small matter, especially if thou presumest to doe it because it is a small sinne, or disorder.

[§. Sect. 14] Yea but, will some man say, this which I doe is very requisite and meete to bee done, and I * 1.2 know not whether I shall againe haue a time to doe it if I neglect this: as for example, in the time of haruest, the weather is catching, the corne is readie to grow in the gripes, and the hay to rot in the swath: and now the Sabbath is a faire day,

and is it not meete to gather it vp? Yet I say for all this, thou must let it alone; for in seede time and in haruest thou must rest, Exod. 34. 21. Yea, but I know not whether I shall haue another time so fit to take it vp. Why who taught thee to di∣strust? especially when thou seest faire weather comming. Doth not the same God giue the se∣cond day that gaue the first? and diddest thou hang vpon his prouidence so long as it rained; and now it shineth wilt thou presently vnclaspe thy hold by thy carnal distrust? Yea but the wea∣ther is very catching, and the scarcitie is great; and therefore it is best to take the opportunitie. What? still, is thy soule buried vnder a loafe of bread? and wilt thou haue bread, or else thou wilt make it of stones? If thou doest remember what Salomon saith of the bread of deceit, it is sweet, but afterwards it filleth their mouthes with grauell; Such shall this bread be vnto thee that is gotten with the breach of the Lords Sabbath. Yet it were better to be without it than to haue it in his anger, least he smite thee whilest the meate is in thy mouth, and make it come foorth againe at thy nostrels, for thy contempt of his law, as hee did the Israelites, Numb. 11: yet rather so long as it perisheth not by thy default, throw thy selfe vpon the Lord, and resolue that as he gaue, so if it please him to take it thou wilt be content, knowing that hee is able to giue much more. If not, yet in thy obedience is his loue, Ioh. 15. 10. and in his loue is life, Psal. 35. And last of all, let this rather make thee to erect a new Sabbath, than to

destroy the old, as in Ioels time in a great scarci∣tie they did, as appeareth Ioel. 1. 14. Sanctifie a fast, call an assemblie. What is the matter? see before vers. 10. The field is wasted, the land mourneth, for the corne is destroyed. So that Gods punishments must leade vs to the keeping of his Sabbath, or rather vnto the erecting of a new: but by no meanes vnto the breach of the old.

But, wil another say, that which I do is a good * 1.3 worke, and it tends to the glorie of God, and to his seruice; and therefore I trust you will not de∣nie but that a man may doe such workes vpon the Sabbath. To which I answere, is it a worke of thine ordinarie vocation? and is it seruile? I say then for all this glorious shew thou maist not doe it; for God would not haue them worke a∣bout the Tabernacle vpon the Sabbath day, Ex. 31. 13, though the businesse were no lesse than to make a house for him to dwell in. And the wo∣men that followed Christ out of Galilie, would not imbaulme the bodie of Christ vpon the Sab∣bath, though it might haue been thought a work of great consequence; but how great soeuer in the eyes of men, yet they would not doe it; and least they should bee blamed as being ouer cu∣rious and strict in not doing of it, the holy Ghost defends them, and shewes they did well in for∣bearing; for they rested (saith the text) according vnto the commandement, Luk. 22. 56.

[§. Sect. 15] But now vpon this which I haue written, it will happely be deemed that I hold it vtterly vn∣lawfull vpon the Sabbath to doe any kinde of

worke at all. Which, that I may not be mistaken, I will now set downe what kinde of works vpon * 1.4 the Sabbath be lawfull to be done, and in what cases. For this wee must know, that there is no commandement so generall but it hath some ex∣ception; especially those which are affirmatiue, for they are alwaies more milde, and binde not alwaies and at all times; of which sort in the De∣calogue there bee two, the fourth, and the fifth, both which haue exceptions; as in the fifth, Thou shalt honour thy father and mother, this is generally true: yet it may so fall out in some cases that thou maist be exempt from thy dutie, if the honoring of them may dishonour God: and therefore thy honour is limited in the Lord, Ephe. 6. 1. So here thou shalt doe no manner of seruile worke: yet (saith Christ) which of you is it that hauing an oxe, or an asse, fallen into the ditch on the Sabbath, doth not presently help him out? Matth. 12. 11. Where Christ doth not, as some foolishly furmise, abolish the Sabbath as a ceremonie; but sheweth that hee did no more in healing vpon the Sabbath, than they themselues did in plucking the oxe or asse out of the ditch: thereby indeede making a te∣nise ball of their argument, and retorting it vpon themselues which they banded at him. But had Christ held the Sabbath to haue been abolished, when they charged him with the breach there∣of, he might easily haue answered, it is abolished: but hee sheweth quite contrarie that hee did no more breake the Sabbath in healing, than they did in plucking the oxe out of the pit: so that he

doth not here abolish the Sabbath, but rather e∣stablish it by shewing the right obseruation ther∣of. And to speake the truth, Christ neither did, nor could abolish the ceremonial law, but by his death. Therefore hee is said, Coloss. 2. 14. in his crosse to take away the hand-writting which stood in or∣dinances, and to naile it vnto the same his crosse: but in his life hee was obedient vnto it euen in all things: which I thinke no man will be so impu∣dent as to denie. This therefore being plaine, let vs returne vnto the exceptions which this com∣maundement admitteth: for notwithstanding that the Lord commaundeth that ordinarilie a man may doe no seruile work vpon the Sabbath; yet this commandement admitteth three excep∣tions.

First, if God extraordinarily commaund vs to * 1.5 worke vpon the Sabbath, we may worke: for he is Lord of the Sabbath, and therefore may giue a dispensation when he list. And therfore the man did well, Ioh. 5. 11. that at Christs commaunde∣ment tooke vp his bed and did walke. So also did the Iewes that compassed Iericho on the Sabbath: for they were commaunded to compasse it seuen daies, whereof then the Sabbath must needes be one, Iosh. 6. 14, 15. This is the first exception.

The second is, that if the worke be necessarily * 1.6 required to the performance of the seruice of God, seruile or not, it must be done. As Circum∣cision on the eighth day, if it fell vpon the Sabbath it was to be done, Ioh. 7. 22. And the Priests on the Sabbath killed the sacrifice, and were blamelesse,

Matth. 12. 5. And in this respect the Minister on the Sabbath is allowed to go to preach, as Christ did vpon the Sabbath, Matth. 12. and the people are to goe to heare. An example whereof wee haue in the Shunamite, that went ordinarily vp∣on the Sabbath and new Moone to the Prophet: For when she demaunded leaue of her husband to goe to the Prophet, Why wilt thou goe (saith he) seeing it is neither Sabbath nor new Moone: intima∣ting thereby that vpon those times she went to heare him. And in this regard was the Sabbath daies iourney allowed, Act. 1. 12. And therefore whosoeuer shall breake the rest of the Sabbath in this respect is blamelesse. For, the Sabbath was made for man, that hee might keepe it holie vnto the Lord. Now, if it may so fall that the rest it selfe should any way bee a let to the keeping of it holie, then the rest it selfe is to be broken: and they that so doe are blamelesse. For the end of the law in this respect is to be regarded, and not the letter. For the Sabbath was made for man, that is, for the good of man; and not man for the Sabbath, that is for the rest. And this is the mea∣ning of that place, Mark. 2. 27. The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.

Thirdly, if it be a worke of necessitie; that is, * 1.7 a worke which the time present doth necessarily require to be done, and cannot be deferred vnto another day, without losse or hindrance; that same worke, whether it bee for preseruation of life, health, or goods, must be done vpon the Sab∣bath. All which I will shew. And first, for preser∣uation

of life it is lawfull to breake the rest of the Sabbath: for Elias continued his flight from Iezabel many Sabbaths together, 1. King. 19. 8. And this was the fault of the Iewes; but afterwards corrected by Iudas Macchab. that they would not fight on the Sabbath, for the preseruation of their liues: for the Sabbath was not made for the hurt, but for the good of man.

And as it is lawful to break the Sabbath for the * 1.8 preseruation of life, so is it for the preseruation of health. Therefore the Physition may goe to visit the sicke. Christ himselfe did so, Ioh. 5. 3. He went vnto the poole of Bethesda, where lay a great com∣panie of sicke folkes. And it is not onely lawfull to visit, but also to cure; for he cured the blind man vpon the Sabbath, Ioh. 9. 14. The same is also war∣ranted vnto the Chirurgion by Christs example to dresse the wounds, and temper the salues, Ioh. 9. 6. He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and annointed his eyes. And as these things may be done for the recouerie of health: so also may a man doe that which is conuenient, for the preseruation and continuance of his health: for God would not allow that a man should liue, but also that he might liue cheerfully: & therfore the oxe was to be lead to the water, Luk. 13. 15. though he might haue liued one day without water. Now if this may be allowed for the good of the beast; then how much more for the good of man? In this case therefore it is lawfull vpon the Sabbath for a man to doe workes of comelinesse, as to cloathe himselfe. Secondly, to do things for our

present vse, as to dresse his meate, which is also warranted by the Disciples pulling and rubbing of the eares of corne. Wherein also respect may be had of his place and degree, as Nehemiah had daily an oxe and sixe sheepe, besides birds prouided for him, Nehem. 5. 18. Now if euery day, then on the Sabbath: yet here we must take heede that wee make not the Sabbath a day of feasting, as in ma∣ny places in the countrey they doe, keeping their feasts not like Iobs children euery one his day, but euery one his Sabbath day. A good rule there∣fore for the ordring of this, will be vpon the Sab∣bath not to exceede our ordinarie. Thirdly, this also giueth libertie for the dressing of our cattell, milking of our kine, and such like; without which things life it selfe is not so comfortable vnto them. Last of all, as all these things may be done for preseruation of health; so also may we labour vpon the Sabbath for the preseruation of * 1.9 our goods, being in danger of losing them. Which of you is it (saith Christ) that hauing an oxe or an asse fallen into the ditch, doth not pull him out? All which things as they may bee done vpon the Sabbath, so if necessitie be, they must presently bee done; and the exercises of the Sabbath neglected for the doing of them; for Christ will haue the oxe pul∣led presently out of the pit, Luk. 14. 5. And in regard of this it is that he requireth mercie and not sacri∣fice; not but that hee will haue both: but if the case so stand that hee cannot haue both at once, but must content himselfe with one, hee had ra∣ther haue mercie than sacrifice. And therefore Paul

when Eutiches was fallen downe dead, left prea∣ching to recouer him to life: and the Israelites, though they were commaunded not to touch a carrion, yet they must take vp Iosephs bones, Exo. 13. 19. And Mat. 5. though he commands thee to offer sacrifice, yet if thy brother haue ought against thee, thou must first goe and be reconciled, and then come. So that in all these respects, howsoeuer the law commaunds a precise rest; yet as we say, Ne∣cessitie hath no law; so truly may wee say, it hath no Sabbath daies.

[§. Sect. 16] But yet in doing these workes of necessitie, three things must diligently bee taken heed of. * 1.10 First, that we send not for excuses, and make mat∣ters of necessitie, when before hand wee might haue preuented the necessitie. As for example, if a man owe a summe of money vpon a band, and neglect the taking of order for the paiment of it, vntill the day be so neere that he must needs tra∣uaile on the Sabbath to discharge his band. Also when a man is serued with processe to appeare on such a day at Westminster, hee hauing time enough deferreth it so long, that he must needes trauaile vpon the Sabbath to come there by his day, and by this meanes bringeth a necessitie vpon himselfe, which God neuer laid vpon him; all which necessities, if men did well consider before hand, might be easily auoided. Well, but when a man hath negligently runne into this ne∣cessitie, whether may hee then trauaile vpon the Sabbath? I say, if it bee of necessitie to be done, thou maist doe it: but thou must withal remem∣ber

to crie to God for mercie for forgetting his Sabbath, which thou shouldest haue remem∣bred. The second thing that must be taken heed of is, that no recompence be taken for the labour which thou doest vpon this day: for by that meanes thou makest it a seruile worke. Second∣ly, it will be a meanes to leade thee on to this sin of Sabbath-breaking: for rewards do blinde the eyes. And thirdly, be well assured that God will neuer blesse that hire, but it shall be vnto thee like the Manna that the Israelites gathered more than needed, that rotted and stunke, Exod. 16. The last caution is, that when we are thus forced by necessitie to breake the Sabbath, that then we haue an especiall care sometime of the weeke to repay that time, which we tooke on the Sabbath, by imploying so much of the weeke vnto holie exercises; so that although God hath not the pre∣cise time prescribed which he requireth, yet hee may haue at least the equitie thereof; so much time.

Now there be, I know, that vnto these workes * 1.11 which God hath in his word dispensed with to be done vpon the Sabbath, doe adde moreouer all works of mercie, which I take may no further be done vpon the Sabbath, than they come with∣in one of the foresaid limitations, that is, that they be either in speciall commanded, as 1. Cor. 16. 1. As first, collections for the poore; of which kinde also are visiting of the poore, and sicke, and such like: or such as godlinesse requireth, as a man may trauaile to bring others vnto the exer∣cises

of religion, or necessitie inforceth vs vnto; of which before. But if neither of these leade vs thereunto, though they be workes of mercie, yet they must be deferred. As for example, a poore man hath an aker of corne to bee cut, who is not able to pay for y^e cutting of it, neither yet to cut it himself. Now to help such a man, there is no man but wil say it is a deed of charity to cut his corne; yet if his neighbours should, some sixe or seuen of them, euery one take his sithe, and cut downe his corne vpon the Sabbath, they should breake the Sabbath, and should cleane contradict Gods commandement, that forbiddeth them to doe a∣ny seruile worke vpon the Sabbath; for this cha∣ritie to our neighbour must not take away our dutie to God, nor hinder it, vnlesse as before.

The conclusion then of this point is this: That no kinde of ordinarie or seruile worke may bee done vpon the Sabbath; neither in the house, nor in the citie, nor in the fields; nor vpon the seas, be they neuer so small, or neuer so meete, or neuer so glorious in shew, except either God commaund it extraordinarily; or that the worke tend directly to Gods worship: or be of necessi∣tie either for the preseruation of life, or health, or goods; in which respects God hath giuen vs al∣lowance vpon the Sabbath to worke, and not otherwise. And this much touching the first kind of workes here principallie and by name for∣bidden.

Notes

• * 1.1

  No breach of the Sabbath is to be counted small.
• * 1.2

  No pretence of meetnes must make vs breake the Sabbath.
• * 1.3

  No pretence of the good∣nesse of the worke, must cause vs to breake the Sabbath.
• * 1.4

  What workes may be done vpon the Sab∣bath.
• * 1.5

  1. We may worke if God command vs.
• * 1.6

  2. If the worke be necessarily required for the perfor∣māce of Gods seruice.
• * 1.7

  3. If it be of necessitie we may worke vp∣on the Sab∣bath.
• * 1.8

  Labour lawfull for preserua∣tion of health vpon the Sab∣bath.
• * 1.9

  Labour vpon the Sabbath for preserua∣tion of goods, lawfull.
• * 1.10

  Cautions to be obserued in doing the workes of necessitie.
• * 1.11

  All workes of mercie may not be done vpon the Sab∣bath.