Monday 6 March 2017

George Swinnock on the Christian Sabbath

Swinnock in Volume 1 of his Works is one of the best writers on the Christian Sabbath that I have ever come across. Read two excerpts below.

Esteem the public ordinances the chief work of the day, and let your secret and private duties be so managed that thy soul may be prepared for them, and profited by them. Duties in your closet and family are of use and have their blessing; but to put God off with these, and neglect the public worship, is to rob God of a greater sum, to pay him a lesser. The sacrifice of the Jews on that day was double; they offered sacrifice in the tabernacle, besides their lambs for the daily sacrifice.
It is worth your observation, that the Sabbath and public service are by God himself joined together, and therefore let no man put them asunder [divide them]: “You shall keep my Sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the LORD”, Lev. 19:30. They that despise God's sanctuary, cannot observe God's Sabbath.


I would wish you, therefore, to be present at, and to continue to the end of public ordinances. David would be a door-keeper in the house of God; because a door-keeper is first in and last out. Friend, if thou were feasting with some noble person, you would not rise from table, unless necessity forced you, before all were taken away, and thanks returned. I must tell you, that when you are feeding with the blessed Potentate, it is much below good manners to turn your back upon him, without his leave and blessing.


If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day of the LORD honourable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly; then you shall take delight in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

Matthew 12:8: "For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath”.

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