Westminster Shorter Catechism (1647), Westminster Assembly

Question 62

What are the reasons annexed to the fourth commandment?

The reasons annexed to the fourth commandment are, God’s allowing us six days of the week for our own employments,a his challenging a special propriety in the seventh, his own example, and his blessing the sabbath day.b

What are the reasons annexed to the fourth commandment?

The reasons annexed to the fourth commandment are, God’s allowing us six days of the week for our own employments,a his challenging a special propriety in the seventh, his own example, and his blessing the sabbath day.b

  1. a. Exodus 20:9

    Exodus 20:9

    20:9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

    20:9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work,

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

  2. b. Exodus 20:11

    Exodus 20:11

    20:11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

    20:11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth and the sea and all that is in them, but on the seventh day He rested. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

Diff style

Changes in The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 67

The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 67

What are the reasons annexed to the fourth commandment?

The reasons annexed to the fourth commandment, are God’s allowing us six days of the week for our own lawful employments, his challenging a special propriety in the a seventh, his own example, and his blessing the Sabbath day.

Westminster Shorter Catechism (1647), Question 62

What are the reasons annexed to the fourth commandment?

The reasons annexed to the fourth commandment are, God’s allowing us six days of the week for our own employments, his challenging a special propriety in the seventh, his own example, and his blessing the sabbath day.

The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 67

What are the reasons annexed to the fourth commandment?

The reasons annexed to the fourth commandment, are God’s allowing us six days of the week for our own lawful employments, his challenging a special propriety in a seventh, his own example, and his blessing the Sabbath day.

The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 67

What are the reasons annexed to the fourth commandment?

The reasons annexed to the fourth commandment, are God’s allowing us six days of the week for our own lawful employments, his challenging a special propriety in the a seventh, his own example, and his blessing the Sabbath day.

Westminster Shorter Catechism (modernized) (1647), Question 62

What are the reasons annexed to the fourth commandment?

The reasons annexed to the fourth commandment are, God’s allowing us six days of the week for our own employments, his challenging a special propriety in the seventh, his own example, and his blessing the sabbath day.

The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 67

What are the reasons annexed to the fourth commandment?

The reasons annexed to the fourth commandment, are God’s allowing us six days of the week for our own lawful employments, his challenging a special propriety in a seventh, his own example, and his blessing the Sabbath day.

Related (2)

Westminster Larger Catechism (1647), parallel to this question

Question 120

What are the reasons annexed to the fourth commandment, the more to enforce it?

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: from God’s challenging a special propriety in that day, The seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: 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.

Question 121

Why is the word Remember set in the beginning of the fourth commandment?

The word Remember is set in the beginning of the fourth commandment, partly, because of the great benefit of remembering it, we being thereby helped in our preparation to keep it, and, in keeping it, better to keep all the rest of the commandments, and to continue a thankful remembrance of the two great benefits of creation and redemption, which contain a short abridgment of religion; and partly, because we are very ready to forget it, for that there is less light of nature for it, and yet it restraineth our natural liberty in things at other times lawful; that it cometh but 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; 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.

Commentaries (9)

  • Joseph Alleine, 1672, A Most Familiar Explanation of the Assemblies Shorter Catechism

    What are the Reasons annexed to the Fourth Commandment? The reasons annexed to the fourth Commandment are, Gods allowing us six days of the week for our own imployment, his…

    Joseph Alleine’s text
  • Thomas Lye, 1672, The Assemblies Shorter Catechism Drawn out into Distinct Propositions

    What are the Reasons annexed to the fourth Commandment? The Reasons annexed to the fourth Commandment are Gods allowing us six days of the week for our employments, his…

    Thomas Lye’s text
  • Thomas Vincent, 1673, An Explicatory Catechism

    What are the reasons annexed unto the Fourth Commandment? The reasons annexed unto the Fourth Commandment, are Gods allowing us six Day of the Week for our own employment, his…

    Thomas Vincent’s text
  • 1675, An Explicatory Catechism

    What are the reasons annexed in the fourth Commandment? The reasons annexed to the fourth Commandment are, Gods allowing six daies of the week for worldly employments, his…

    Its text
  • John Flavel, 1692, An Exposition of the Assembly’s Catechism

    How is the Sabbath to be Sanctified? The Sabbath is to be Sanctified by an holy resting all that day, even from such worldly employments and recreations as are lawful on other…

    John Flavel’s text
  • Thomas Watson, 1692, A Body of Practical Divinity

    EXOD. XX. 8. Remember the Sabbath-Day to keep it Holy. Six Days shalt thou labour, and do all thy Work. But the Seventh Day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt…

    Thomas Watson’s text
  • Matthew Henry, 1703, A Scripture Catechism

    What are the Reasons annexed to the Fourth Commandment? The Reasons annexed to the Fourth Commandment, are God’s allowing us Six Days of the Week for our own Employments, his…

    Matthew Henry’s text
  • Alexander Whyte, 1883, A Commentary on the Shorter Catechism

    his challenging a special propriety in it—“And so a sin, which for the outward act is small, may in regard to the inward of it be a great one. As that act of the man gathering…

    Alexander Whyte’s text
  • Benjamin Beddome, 1752, A Scriptural Exposition of the Baptist Catechism

    On The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 67, which adapts this question

    Hath God allowed us six days to work in? Yes. Six days may work be done, Doth God challenge a special propriety in the sabbath-day? Yes. It is the sabbath of the Lord thy God, Is…

    Benjamin Beddome’s text