| Question | What are the reasons annexed to the fourth commandment? |
|---|---|
| Answer | The reasons annexed to the fourth commandment, are God’s allowing us six days of the week for our own lawful employments, 1 his challenging a special propriety in a seventh, his own example, and his blessing the Sabbath day. 2 |
The Baptist Catechism Set to Music
Benjamin Beddome’s Exposition
Hath God allowed us six days to work in?
Yes.
Six days may work be done,
Exodus 31:15
And ought we to work on those six days?
Yes.
There are six days on which man ought to work.
Luke 13:14
Is it highly reasonable then that we should devote a seventh to God?
Yes.
For his commandments are not grievous,
1 John 5:3
Doth God challenge a special propriety in the sabbath-day?
Yes.
It is the sabbath of the Lord thy God,
Deuteronomy 5:14
And is that a reason why we should devote it to him?
Yes.
Render unto God the things that are God’s,
Matthew 22:21
Did God himself observe the sabbath?
Yes.
For the seventh day he rested and was refreshed,
Exodus 30:17
And ought we to imitate him?
Yes.
Be ye followers of God as dear children,
Ephesians 5:1
Did Christ observe the sabbath?
Yes.
He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath,
Luke 13:10
And should we follow his example?
Yes.
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 2:5
Is the due observation of the sabbath attended with many blessings?
Yes.
Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord, and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth.
Isaiah 58:14
Doth it bring blessings upon particular persons and families?
Yes.
To the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, I will give a place in my house, and a name better than of sons and daughters,
Isaiah 56:4–5
And upon the state?
Yes.
If you hallow the sabbath day, and do not work thereon, then shall this city remain for ever,
Jeremiah 17:24–25
And upon the church?
Yes.
Then they shall come from the cities of Judah, and from the plain, bringing burnt offerings and meat-offerings and sacrifices of praise unto the house of the Lord,
Jeremiah 17:26
Will a profanation of the sabbath expose to God’s severest wrath?
Yes.
They greatly polluted my sabbaths, then I said I would pour out my fury on them,
Ezekiel 20:13
Is it in effect a violation of the whole law?
Yes.
They rebelled against me, they walked not in my statutes, they polluted my sabbaths,
Ezekiel 20:21
And may those that break sabbaths expect to lose them?
Yes.
I will cause her sabbaths to cease,
Hosea 2:11
The Westminster Larger Catechism
| Question | What are the reasons annexed to the fourth commandment, the more to enforce it? |
|---|---|
| Answer | The reasons annexed to the fourth commandment, the more to enforce it, are taken from the equity of it, God allowing us six days of seven for our own affairs, and reserving but one for himself, in these words, Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: 1 from God's challenging a special propriety in that day, The seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: 2 from the example of God, who in six days made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: and from that blessing which God put upon that day, not only in sanctifying it to be a day for his service, but in ordaining it to be a means of blessing to us in our sanctifying it; Wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. 3 |
| Question | Why is the word Remember set in the beginning of the fourth commandment? |
|---|---|
| Answer | The word Remember is set in the beginning of the fourth commandment, 1 partly, because of the great benefit of remembering it, we being thereby helped in our preparation to keep it, 2 and, in keeping it, better to keep all the rest of the commandments, 3 and to continue a thankful remembrance of the two great benefits of creation and redemption, which contain a short abridgment of religion; 4 and partly, because we are very ready to forget it, 5 for that there is less light of nature for it, 6 and yet it restraineth our natural liberty in things at other times lawful; 7 that it comesthbut once in seven days, and many worldly businesses come between, and too often take off our minds from thinking of it, either to prepare for it, or to sanctify it; 8 and that Satan with his instruments much labor to blot out the glory, and even the memory of it, to bring in all irreligion and impiety. 9 |