g. The eternal Sabbath, the cessation from sin and occupation in holy employments, which shall take place in heaven and continue for ever. DOCTRINES SEPARATED AND PROVED. 1. The ministry of the gospel and the schools must be maintained. Deut. xii. 19-Take heed to thyself that thou forsake not the Levite as long as thou livest upon the earth. 1 Cor. ix. 11 and 14-If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?-Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. 2 Tim. ii. 2—And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Tit. i. 5; 1 Tim. iii. 14 and 15. 2. It is our duty, especially on the Sabbath day, diligently to frequent the church of God. Heb. x. 25-Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another, and so much the more as ye see the day approaching. Isa. lxvi. 23-And from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord. Acts ii. 42 and 46; 1 Cor. xiv. 19, 29, 31 Lev. xxiii. 3. 3. We are diligently to frequent the church of God on the Sabbath, to hear God's word. Acts xiii. 42 and 44-The Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.- -And the next Sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God. Acts xvii. 2-Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three Sabbath days reasoned with them out of the Scriptures. 4. We are diligently to frequent the church of God on the Sabbath, to use the sacraments. Acts xx. 7-And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow. 5. We are diligently to frequent the church of God on the Sabbath, publicly to call upon the Lord. Acts i. 14-These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication. 1 Tim. ii. 1-I exhort, therefore, that first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men. 6. We are diligently to frequent the church of God on the Sabbath, to contribute to the relief of the poor, as becomes a Christian. 1 Cor. xvi. 2-Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. 7. In connection with our observance of the Sabbath, we must all the days of our lives cease from our evil works. Isa. lviii. 13 and 14-If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable; and shalt honor him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words; then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord. 8. In connection with our observance of the Sabbath, we must yield ourselves to the Lord, to work by his Holy Spirit in us. Exod. xxxi. 18-Verily my Sabbaths ye shall keep; for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you. Ezek. xx. 12-Moreover also I gave them my Sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify them. 9. We are thus to cease from evil works and yield ourselves to the Lord, in connection with our observance of the Sabbath, in order that we may thus begin in this life the eternal Sabbath. Heb. iv. 9-11-There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. Isa. lxvi. 23. EXERCISES. What is the one hundred and third question? Repeat the fourth command? What answer is returned to this question? Into how many parts is the answer divided? How many particulars are included in the first part? [Six.] What is the first particular? What do you mean by the ministry of the gospel? (a.) What by the schools? (b.) How do you prove that the ministry of the gospel and the schools must be maintained? (1.) What is the second particular contained in the first part of the answer? What do you mean by the Sabbath? (c.) How do you prove that we, especially on the Sabbath day, are diligently to frequent the church of God? (2.) What is the third particular con tained in the first part of the answer? How do you prove that we are diligently to frequent the church of God on the Sabbath, to hear God's word? (3.) What is the fourth particular contained in the first part of the answer? How do you prove that we are diligently to frequent the church of God on the Sabbath, to use the Sacraments? (4.) What is the fifth particular contained in the first part of the answer? What do you mean by publicly? (d.) How do you prove that we are diligently to frequent the church of God on the Sabbath, publicly to call upon God? (5.) What is the sixth particular contained in the first part of the answer? What do you mean by contribute? (e.) How do you prove that we are diligently to frequent the church of God on the Sabbath, to contribute to the relief of the poor, as becomes a Christian? (6.) What is the second part of the answer? How many particulars are contained in it? [Three.] What is the first? What do you mean by the expression all the days of my life? (f.) How do you prove that in connection with our observance of the Sabbath, we must all the days of our lives cease from our evil works? (7.) What is the second particular contained in the second part of the answer? How do you prove that, in connection with our observance of the Sabbath, we are to yield ourselves to the Lord to work by his Holy Spirit in us? (8.) What is the third particular contained in the second part of the answer? What do you mean by the eternal Sabbath? (g.) How do you prove that we are thus to cease from evil works and yield ourselves to the Lord, in connection with our observance of the Sabbath, in order that we may thus begin in this life the eternal Sabbath? (9.) XXXIX. Lord's Day. Q. 104. What doth God require in the fifth command? A. That I show all honor, love and fidelity to my father and mother, and all in authority over me, and submit myself to their good instruction and correction with due obedience; and also patiently bear with their weaknesses and infirmities, since it pleases God to govern us by their hand. EXPLANATIONS. a. All in authority over me, our superiors; such as teachers, elders, magistrates, guardians, and aged persons. b. Correction, chastisement; that which is intended to rectify faults. c. Infirmities, imperfections; defects. DOCTRINES SEPARATED AND PROVED. 1. We must show all honor to our father and mother and all in authority over us. Eph. vi. 1-3---Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honor thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. 1 Pet. ii. 17-Fear God, honor the king. Lev. xix. 32-Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honor the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the Lord. 1 Tim. v. 17; 1 Tim. vi. 1; Mal. i. 6. 2. We must show all love to our father and mother and all in authority over us. Matt. x. 37-He that loveth father and mother more than me, is not worthy of me. 1 Thess. v. 12 and 13-And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you, and esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. 3. We must show all fidelity to our father and mother and all in authority over us. Prov. xxviii. 24-Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression; the same is the companion of a destroyer. Tit. ii. 9, 10-Exhort servants to be obedient to their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; not purloining, but showing all good fidelity. 4. We must submit ourselves with due obedience to the good instruction of our father and mother and those in authority over us. Prov. i. 8-My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother. Prov. vi. 20-22My son, keep thy father's commandments, and forsake not the law of thy mother; bind them continually upon thy heart, and tie them about thy neck. When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee. Col. iii. 20— Children, obey your parents in all things; for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Heb. xiii. 17-Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves; for they watch for your souls, as they that must give an account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief. Rom. xiii. 1-Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. Prov. xv. 5; Eph. vi. 1; Col. iii. 22. 5. We must patiently bear with the weaknesses and infirmities of our father and mother and those in authority over us. Prov. xxx. 17-The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it. Prov. xxiii. 22Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old. 1 Pet. ii. 18-Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. Gen. ix. 24-26. 6. It pleases God to govern us by the hand of our father and mother and those in authority over us. Eph. vi. 4—And ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath; but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. 1 Pet. ii. 13 and 14-Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king as supreme; or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do well. Rom. xiii. 1, 2-Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist, shall receive to themselves damnation. Col. iii. 19, 21. EXERCISES. What is the one hundred and fourth question? Repeat the fifth commandment. What answer is returned to the question? Whom do you mean by all in authority over me? (a.) How many duties which we owe to father and mother and all in authority over us, are specified in this answer? [Five.] What is the first? How do you prove that we must show all honor to father and mother, and all in authority over us? (1.) What is the second duty specified in the answer? How do you prove that we must show all love to father and mother and those in authority over us? (2.) What is the third duty specified in the answer? How do you prove that we must show all fidelity to our father and mother and those in authority over us? (3.) What is the fourth duty specified in the answer? What do you mean by correction? |