Hopkins - HP BR75 .H65 1710

Fourth Commandment. Piety in themfelves, yet were they _AB:ions tending towards Piety, that thofe who were remote from the Places of Worlhip, might affcmbl~ themfelves together to hear the Scriptures read and expounded to them. Thts ~ppears 2 Kings 4· 231 where the Husband of the Sbunamitijh Woman expoftulates With her, Wherefore 111i/t thou go to the Prophet to Day l it is neither-new Moon nor Sabbath. Whence it may be clearly colletl:ed, that they were permitted to travel a certain Space, to attend up~ on the Worlhip and Serv ice of God. And this Sabbath-Day's Journey fomc limit to a Mile others two, the dtftance of the utmoft part of the Camp of Ifrael from the Tabc;naclc of the Congregation. But with very good reafon, it may be thought that the Sahbath-Day's Journey, was any diflance from the place of their abode, to the next Synagogue, which commonly not being above a Mile, or two, that diftance was vulgarly eaU~ a Sa?bath-Day:s Journ.ey. So that it appears, that W<:>rks of Piety, or Works Immedtately tendmg to Ptety, may lawfully be performed wtth the ftridefl Obfervation of the Lord's Day. Seco11dty, Not only Works of Piety, but Works of Neccffity, and of great Con- z; veniencc, may alfo be done on the Lord's Day. And they arc fitch without which we cannot fi1bfift, or not well fubfift: and therefore we may quench a raging Fire, prevent aQ.y great and notable Damage that would happen either to our Perfons or Eftates; fight for our own Defence, or the Defence of our Countrey, without being guilty of the Violation of this Day. Concerning the laft of which, Hiftories inform us, that the Jews were fo fcrupnlous, as to fuffer themfelvcs to be allimlted and flain by their Enemies, rather than they would on this Day lift up a Weapon to repel them, till MarthiM perfuaded them out of this Foppilh Superfi:ition, 1 Mac· cab. 2· 40. And not only thefe\Vorks which areofabfolutc Neceility, but thofe likewifewhich are of great Conveniency, may lawfully be done on the Lord's D.:~y. Such as are kindling of Fire, prep:tring of Meat, and many other Particulars tot> numerous to be mentioned : We find our Saviour defending his Difciplcs againfi: the Exceptions of the Pharifees, for plucking the Ears of Corn, rubbing them in their Hands, and eating them on the Sahbath-Day, Matth. 12. 1, &c. Only let us take this Caution, that we negleCt not the doing of thofe th ings till the Lord's Dly, which might be well done before, and then plead Neceffity or Conven ience for it. For if the Neceffity or Convenience were fuch as might have been forefeen, our Chriftian Prudence and Piety ough t to have provided for it before this Holy Day; fo that we might wholly intend the immediate Service of God in it, with as few Avocations and Impediments as are poffible. Thirdly, Another fort of Works that may J_nd ought to be done on the Lord's 3 . Day, are the Works of Charity and Mercy. For indeed, this Day is infi:ituted for aMemorial of God's great Mercy towards us; and therefore in it we are obliged to fhew Charity and Mercy : Charity towards Men, and Mercy to the very Beafts themrelves. And therefore, although the Obfervation of the Sabbath was fo ftriCtly injoined the Jews, yet was it to give place to the Works of Mefcy, whenfoever a poor Beaft did but, ftand in need of it. So Marth. 12. 1 1. What Man jha/1 rbere be among you, thf!t fl~all have one Sheep, and if i~ fall into a Pir on the Sabbath Df'.y, will not lay hold on it, and lift it out.? And fo agaln, Luke 13. I 5· Doth nbt every one of you on the Sab~ath loofo his f?x or his Afs ftom the Sra/1~ Jii.JJd {Md him away to watering,? Yea, M1&rq[;. and th1s the very Hea"thens obferved on the1r Fefi:tvals; when other WorKs .were s.,t 1 mJ.!ib; forbidden, yet works of Mercy were exprefiy allowed, and by Name the helping r.ca,?. 16. of an Ox out of a Pit. Works of Mercy therefore are to be done even to Beafts themfelves, whatfoever Labour may be required to the doing of them: And how much more then, Works of Charity to Men like our felves? Which Charity is to bc.lhewn either to ~heir Soul~, ~r their .Bodies; _for both ma~y times are extreamly tmf~rable. To thetr Souls, tn mftruiling, advlling, exhortmg, reproving, comforttng and counfelling ?f them, prayin~ for the~; and if in any thing tfiey have offended us, freely forgmng them. ThiS mdeed IS a Work of Charity proper for the Lord's Day, a Work highly acceptable unto God, and the beft way that can be to fandifie it. Neither

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