to be ufed upon this day, and therefore remember it, Moderate walking may thus far be used, fo far only as it enableth to the more cheerful and lively performance of the duties of this day; and therefore I allow you to walk foberly about half an hour after dinner to digeft your meat, that you be not drowsy, nor indifpofed in the religious duties of the day. Merry, but harmless talking, or talking about fports or worldly business, may be ufed another day, but not upon this. Feaftings may be fometimes feasonably ufed upon other days, but are not fit upon this day. Let only fuch provifion be made upon this day as may be neceffary for the feeding of the family and the poor; and therefore I hold that curiofities, baking of meats, and fuperfluous provisions upon this day, are to be avoided, as being an unneceffary breaking of the rest of this day, and unbefeeming the folemnity of it. III. 3. What things may be done this day, is a queftion of a great latitude; because circumftances are many that do much diverfify the actions of men, and many times render them lawful or unlawful, according to thofe varieties of circumftances. Therefore I fhall fhortly fet down thofe things that do not of themselves directly tend to the fanctification of this day, that yet may, and fometimes muft, be done upon this day; for there were many things that were ftrictly enjoined to the Jews in their obfervation of their Sabbath, which were ceremonial, and concerned only that ftate, and do not oblige under the Gofpel, as their dreffing of meat upon this day was prohibited to them, but not to us; and many more things they did forbear and count unlawful, which in truth were not only not forbidden, but enjoined and commanded, for which our Lord reproves the Pharifees 1, who ac counted it a breach of the Sabbath to heal the fick, or to pluck the ears of corn for the neceffary relief of hunger. Therefore, 1. Works of abfolute neceffity for man or beafts may be done upon the Lord's-day. And thofe I call works of neceffity, which cannot be done before the day, or after, without apparent danger. As, for instance, stopping of the breach of a fea-wall; fupporting a houfe that, upon a fudden tempeft or cafualty, is ready to fall; pulling out an ox or other beaft fallen into a ditch; preventing of a trefpafs, that by a fudden accident may be occafioned to my corn or my neighbour's; fetting of a broken bone; phyfic to remove an incumbent, or imminent disease, or pain; milking of cows; feeding of cattle; the neceffary dreffing of meat for the family; and many more inftances of that kind. But yet therein great warinefs and integrity must be used; for otherwife men, under pretence of neceffity, will take the liberty to do what they please. Therefore take thefe cautions concerning neceffity: 1. That is not a neceffity that excufes a work upon this day, which might have been reasonably foreseen and done before the day: as, for instance, a man hath a neceffity to drefs meat for his family, which he might have provided on the Saturday, and neglects it; this neceffity will not justify him in fending two or three miles to buy meat upon the Lord's-day. 2. That is not a néceffity which may be forborne to be done without any abfolute deftruction or lofs of the thing until the morrow. If a rick of hay be on fire, I may endeavour to quench it on the Lord's-day; but if my corn be cut, and lying upon the ground on the Saturday, though the weather be rainy, or inclining to wet, I may not make it into cocks, or fetch it home upon the Lord's-day; because poffibly Almighty God may fend fair weather to-morrow. And therefore in my forbearance I do two duties under one, viz. obferve his law, and rest upon his providence. *** Men make neceffities many times to ferve their eafe, and floth, and fancies, when in truth there is none, but the bufinefs may be deferred without any danger. If we would be more faithful in our obedience to God, we should find many pretended neceffities to vanish into mere imaginations. 3. Works of Charity. Relief of the poor; adminiftring phyfic upon an apparent neceffity; vifiting or comforting the afflicted; admonifhing the diforderly; perfuading peace between neighbours offended; and endeavouring to compofe differences which require not much examination, or cannot be deferred without an apparent danger of greater mifchief. Thefe are not only permitted, but commendable, nay commanded upon this day. But if the business require examination, or may be deferred till to-morrow, then it is beft to defer fuch examinations and treaties between offended parties till another day; because they will take away too much of the little precious portion of time of this day, and may be as well done to-morrow. IV. As for the fourth, What is proper, fit, or neceffary to be done, in order to the fanctification of this day, I will fet down particularly; for generals feldom produce any great effect, because every man is apt to conftrue them according to his own mind and liking. 1. I would not have you meddle with any recreations, paftimes, or ordinary work of your calling from Saturday night, at eight of the clock, till Monday morning. For though I am not apt to think that Saturday night is part of the Chriftian Sabbath, yet it is fit then to prepare the heart for it. 2. Rife at least three hours before morning fermon; and when you have made yourfelf fully ready, and washed, and fitted yourself for the folemnity of the day, read two chapters in the Bible, and then go folemnly to your private prayer, and defire of God his grace to enable you to fanctify his day: and, after your private prayer, read another chapter, and let your reading be with attention, obfervation, and uncovered on your head. 3. When you are in the public worship and fervice of God, be uncovered all the while of reading, pray ing, many things that might have been fit to be inferted, yet you must confider that I had but a small portion of time allowed me to write while I lay at an inn, and upon that day wherein I have performed thofe duties which I now enjoin you. Let the original be laid up fafely for your brother R. and every of you take copies of it, that you may thereby remember the counfels of OCTOBER the 20th, YOUR LOVING FATHER. LETTER II. DIRECTIONS TOUCHING RELIGION. DEAR CHILDREN, I INTENDED to have been at Alderly this Whitsunt tide, defirous to renew thofe counfels and advices which I have often given you, in order to your greatest concernment; namely, the everlasting good and welfare of your fouls hereafter, and the due ordering of your lives and converfations here. And although young people are apt, through their own indifcretion, or the ill advice of others, to think these kind of entertainments but dry and empty matters, and the morofe and needlefs interpofitions of old men; yet give him leave to tell that you, well knows what he fays, thefe things are of more im portance and concernment to you, than external gifts and bounties (wherein) nevertheless I have not been wanting to you, according to my ability. very This was my intention in this journey; and though I have been disappointed therein, yet I thought good, by letters and meffages, to do fomething that might be done that way for your benefit, that I had otherwife intended to have done in person. Affure |