Afterthought
Puritan Board Senior
The Synod of Dort states concerning the Sabbath day that "This day must be so consecrated to worship that on that day we rest from all servile works, except those which charity and present necessity require; and also from all such recreations as interfere with worship."
Is the intent here to allow room for recreations that do not interfere with worship?
Wed Bredenhof seems to agree with that understanding,(https://yinkahdinay.wordpress.com/2019/05/14/the-synod-of-dort-and-the-sabbath/),
"Finally, we can note that the Synod said that all recreations that interfere with worship are also ruled out. So, as an example, you can go for a walk on Sunday, but you cannot go for a walk when God calls you to be in church."
So recreations that do not intefere with worship could be a whole host of things: kicking a ball around outside, board games, just about anything that doesn't interfere with public worship duties. If, however, "worship" in the Synod of Dort refers to private and family worship also, then it would seem that their position is exactly the same as the Puritan position (which would allow for a walk or nap as a work of necessity or mercy to fit one for worship).
Is the intent here to allow room for recreations that do not interfere with worship?
Wed Bredenhof seems to agree with that understanding,(https://yinkahdinay.wordpress.com/2019/05/14/the-synod-of-dort-and-the-sabbath/),
"Finally, we can note that the Synod said that all recreations that interfere with worship are also ruled out. So, as an example, you can go for a walk on Sunday, but you cannot go for a walk when God calls you to be in church."
So recreations that do not intefere with worship could be a whole host of things: kicking a ball around outside, board games, just about anything that doesn't interfere with public worship duties. If, however, "worship" in the Synod of Dort refers to private and family worship also, then it would seem that their position is exactly the same as the Puritan position (which would allow for a walk or nap as a work of necessity or mercy to fit one for worship).