Richard Cronin
Puritan Board Freshman
Hello all
I've been thinking about the sabbath a lot recently, which I've taken to mean a cessation of worldy work and avoidance of worldly recreations with the exceptions of things that have to be done (necessity) and with exception acts of mercy that also have to be done (e.g. emergencies that cross our path)
But the confession does not word it like that, it says we are to take up the whole time in private and publick acts of worship AND duties of necessity and mercy. Thus I think it's a fair reading that worship and acts of mercy are to be done and the only exception are things that are necessary.
I was put on this idea by the Directory of Public Worship's essay on the Lord's day says
"That what time is vacant, between or after the solemn meetings of the congregation in publick, be spent in reading, meditation, repetition of sermons; especially by calling their families to an account of what they have heard, and catechising of them, holy conferences, prayer for a blessing upon the publick ordinances, singing of psalms, visiting the sick, relieving the poor, and such like duties of piety, charity, and mercy, accounting the sabbath a delight."
I could imagine a congregation or family doing all sorts of merciful things in our world on Sunday, many organisations look for volunteers for help with their good deeds. I'd never considered this as an acceptable way to spend the sabbath.
I'd appreciate your thoughts on this.
R
I've been thinking about the sabbath a lot recently, which I've taken to mean a cessation of worldy work and avoidance of worldly recreations with the exceptions of things that have to be done (necessity) and with exception acts of mercy that also have to be done (e.g. emergencies that cross our path)
But the confession does not word it like that, it says we are to take up the whole time in private and publick acts of worship AND duties of necessity and mercy. Thus I think it's a fair reading that worship and acts of mercy are to be done and the only exception are things that are necessary.
I was put on this idea by the Directory of Public Worship's essay on the Lord's day says
"That what time is vacant, between or after the solemn meetings of the congregation in publick, be spent in reading, meditation, repetition of sermons; especially by calling their families to an account of what they have heard, and catechising of them, holy conferences, prayer for a blessing upon the publick ordinances, singing of psalms, visiting the sick, relieving the poor, and such like duties of piety, charity, and mercy, accounting the sabbath a delight."
I could imagine a congregation or family doing all sorts of merciful things in our world on Sunday, many organisations look for volunteers for help with their good deeds. I'd never considered this as an acceptable way to spend the sabbath.
I'd appreciate your thoughts on this.
R