Christian ethics -- Fiction; Christian fiction; Conduct of life -- Fiction
First, He could not endure the {28a} Lords Day, because of the Holiness
that did attend it; the beginning of that Day was to him as if he was
going to Prison, (except he could get out from his Father and Mother,
and lurk in by-holes among his Companions, untill holy Duties were
over.) Reading the Scriptures, hearing Sermons, godly Conference,
repeating of Sermons, and Prayer, were things that he could not away
with; and therefore if his Father on such days, (as often he did,
though sometimes notwithstanding his diligence, he would be sure to
give him the slip) did keep him strictly to the observation of the day,
he would plainly shew by all carriages that he was highly discontent
therewith: he would sleep at Duties, would talk vainly with his
Brothers, and as it were, think every godly opportunity seven times as
long as it was, gruding till it was over.
Atten. This his abhorring of that day, was not, I think, for the sake
of the day itself: for as it is a day, it is nothing else but as other
days of the Week: But I suppose that the {28b} reason of his loathing
of it, was, for that God hath put sanctity and holiness upon it; also
because it is the day above all the days of the week that ought to be
spent in holy Devotion, in remembrance of our Lords Resurrection from
the dead.
Wise. Yes, ’twas therefore, that he was such an enemy to it, even
because more restraint was laid upon him on that day, from his own
ways, than were possible should be laid upon him on all others.
Atten. Doth not God by instituting of a day unto holy Duties, make
great proof how the hearts and inclinations of poor people do stand to
Holiness of heart, and a Conversation in [h]oly duties?
Wise. {29a} Yes doubtless; and a man shall shew his Heart and his Life
what they are, more by one Lords-day, than by all the days of the week
besides: And the reason is, because on the Lords-day there is a special
restraint laid upon men as to Thoughts and Life, more than upon other
days of the week besides. Also, men are enjoyned on that day to a
stricter performance of holy Duties, and restraint of worldly business,
than upon other days they are; wherefore, if their hearts incline not
naturally to good, now they will shew it, now they will appear what
they are. The Lords Day is a kind of an Emblem of the heavenly Sabbath
above, and it makes manifest how the heart stands to the perpetuity of
Holiness, more than to be found in a transient Duty, does.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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