Q. 118. Why is the charge of keeping the fabbath more specially directed to governors of families and other Juperiors? A. The charge of keeping the fabbath is more specially directed to governors of families and other fuperiors, because they are bound not only to keep it themselves, but to fee that it be observed by all those that are under their charge; and because they are prone oft-times to hinder them by employments of their own'. Q. 119. What are the fins forbidden in the fourth commandment ? A. The fins forbidden in the fourth commandment are, all omiffions of the duties required, all carelefs, negligent, and unprofitable performing of them, and being weary of them"; all prophaning the day by idleness, and doing that which is in itself finful'; and by all needlefs f See above in b. Exod. 20. 10. In it (the fabbath) thou fhalt not do any work, thou, nor thy fon, &c. Exod. 23. 12. That thine ox and thine afs may reft, and the fon of thine handmaid, and the ftranger may be refreshed. Exod. 16. 22, 25, 29. g Ezek. 22. 26 Her priefts have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things;and have hid their eyes from my fabbaths, and I am profaned among them. h Ezek. 33. 30, 31, 32. And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they fit before thee as my people, and hear thy words, but they will not do them for with their mouth they fhew much love, but their heart goeth after their covet oufnefs. Mal. 1. 13. Ye faid alfo, Behold what a weariness is it? and ye have fnuffed at it, faith the Lord of Hofts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the fick; Amos 8. 5. Acts 20. 7, 9. i Ezek. 23. 39. Moreover, this they have done unto me; they have defiled my fanctuary in the fame day, and have pro faued my fabbaths works, words, and thoughts, about our worldly employments and recreations. Q120. What are the reafons annexed to the fourth commandment, the more to enforce it? A. The reafons annexed to the fourth commandment, the more to enforce it, are taken from the equity of it, God allowing us fix days of feven for our own affairs, and referving but one for himfelf, in thefe words, fix days falt thou labour and do all thy work from God's challenging a fpecial propriety in that day, the feventh is the fabbath of the Lord thy God": from the example of God, who in fix days made heaven and earth, the fea, and all that in them is, and refted the feventh day: and from that bleffing which God put upon that day, not only in fanc tifying it to be a day for his fervice, but in ordaining it to be a means of bleffing to us in our fanctifying it; wherefore the Lord blessed the fabbath day, and hallowed it". Q. 121. Why is the word remember fet in the beginning of the fourth commandment? A. The word remember is fet in the beginning of the fourth commandment", partly because of k Jer. 17. 24. 27. But if ye will not hearken unto me, to hallow the fabbath-day, and not to bear a burden:-then will I kindle a fire in the gates there of, and it fhall devour the palaces of Jerufalem, and shal the great benefit of remembering it, we being thereby helped in our preparation to keep it"; and, in keeping it, better to keep all the rest of the commandments, and to continue a thankful remembrance of the two great benefits of creation and redemption, which contain a short abridgment of religion': and partly becaufe we are ready to forget it', for that there is lefs light of nature for it', and yet it reftraineth our natu. ral liberty in things at other times lawful"; that it cometh but once in feven days, and many q Ezek. 20. 12, 19, 20. Moreover, gave them my fabbaths to be a fign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that fanctify them. And hallow my fabbaths: and they fhall be a fign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God. r Gen. 2. 2, 3. And on the feventh day God ended his work which he had made: and he refted on the feventh day from all his work which he had made. And God bleffed the feventh day and fan&ified it: because that in it he had refted from all his work, which God created and made. Pfalm 118. 22, 24. The ftone which the builders refufed is become the head ftone of the corner. This is the day which the Lord hath made, we will rejoice and be glad in it. Rev. 1 10. I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day. Heb. 4. 9. f Ezek. 22. 26. Her priests have violated my law-and have hid their eyes from my fabbaths. t Neh. 9. 14. And madeft known unto them thy holy fabbath, and commanded t them precepts, ftatutes, and laws, by the hand of Mofes thy fervant. v Exod. 34. 21. Six days thou shalt work, but on the feventh day thou fhalt reft in earing-ime, and in harvest thou fhalt reft. worldly bufineffes come between, and too often take off our minds from thinking of it, either to prepare for it, or to fanctify it"; and that Satan with his inftruments much labour to blot out the glory, and even the memory of it, to bring in all irreligion and impiety. Q. 122. What is the fum of the fix commandments which contain our duty to man ? A. The fum of the fix commandments which contain our duty to man, is, to love our neighbour as ourselves', and to do to others what we would have them do to us". Q. 123. Which is the fifth commandment? A. The fifth commandment is, honour thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. Q. 124. Who are meant by father and mother, in the fifth commandment? A. By father and mother, in the fifth com w Exod. 20 9. Six days fhalt thou labour. Amos 8. 5. When will the new moon be gone and the fabbath that we may fet forth wheat? x Lam. I. 7, Jerufalem remembered in the days of her affliction, and of her miferies, all her pleasant things that fhe had in the days of old, when her people fell into the hand of the enemy, and none did help her, the adverfaries faw her, and did mock at her fabbaths. Neh. 13. from verfe 15, to 23. In those days faw I in Judah fome treading wine-preffes on the fabbath. Jer. 17. 21, 22, 23. y Mat. 22. 39. And the fecond is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyfelf. z Mat. 7. 19. Therefore all things whatfoever ye would that men fhould do to you, do ye even fo to them; for his is the law and the prophete. a Exod. 20. 12. mandment, are meant not only natural parents, but all fuperiors in age and gifts; and efpecially fuch as by God's ordinance are over us in place of authority, whether in family, church, or commonwealth". Q. 125. Why are fuperiors ftiled father and mother? A. Superiors are filed father and mother, both to teach them in all duties towards their inferiors, like natural parents, to exprefs love and tenderness to them, according to their several relations"; and to work inferiors to a greater b Prov. 23. 22, 25. Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and defpife not thy mother when he is old. Thy father and thy mother fhall be glad and the that bare thee fhall rejoice. Eph. 6. 1, 2. c 1 Tim. 5. I, 2. Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father, and the younger men as brethren; the elder women as mothers, the younger as fifters. d Gen. 4. 20, 21. And Adah bare Jabal: He was the father of fuch as dwell in tents, and of fuch as have cattle.. And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all fuch as handle the harp and organ. Gen. 45. 8. And he hath made me a father to Pharaoh. e 2 Kings 5. 13. And his fervant came near, and fpake unto him, and faid, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do fome great thing, wouldst thou not have done it? f Gal. 4. 19. My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Chrift be formed in you. 2 Kings 2. 12. And Elifba faw it, and he cried, My father, my father! the chariot of Ifrael, and the horsemen thereof. 2 Kings 13. 14. glfa. 49. 23. And kings fhall be thy nurfing fathers, and their queens thy nurfing mothers. h Eph. 6, 4. And ye fathers provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. I Theff. 2. 7, 8, 11. But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherifheth her children. So being affectionately defirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gofpel of God only, but also our own fouls, |