What is the fourth commandment?
The fourth commandment is, 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 not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor the stranger that is within thy gates; 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.
Proofs
- The fourth commandment is, 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 not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor the stranger that is within thy gates; 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. (Exodus 20:8–11)
Additional Exposition
Section 1
Is labour necessary as well as rest?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Six days shalt thou labour, (Deuteronomy 5:13)
Doth labour tend to plenty?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: The soul of the diligent shall be made fat, (Proverbs 13:4)
And does it add sweetness to our gettings?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: The sleep of the labouring man is sweet, (Ecclesiastes 5:12)
Doth idleness tend to poverty?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: It clotheth a man with rags, (Proverbs 23:21)
And expose to many temptations?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: They learn to be idle, and not only idle but tattlers also, and busy bodies, speaking things which they ought not, (1 Timothy 5:13)
Is it therefore forbidden under the severest penalties?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: This we commanded you that if any would not work, neither should he eat, (2 Thessalonians 3:10)
And doth it hence appear that a multiplicity of unnecessary holy days is both a nuisance and a sin?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Ye observe days and months, and times, and years, I am afraid of you, (Galatians 4:10–11)
Practical response
Should every returning seventh day be set apart to the services of religion?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: From one Sabbath to another shall all flesh come and worship before me, saith the Lord, (Isaiah 66:23)
But should our religion be confined to that day?
Answer: No.
Proof: For every day will I bless thee, (Psalm 145:2)
Must children keep the Sabbath?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, (Exodus 20:10)
And servants?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: That thy man-servant and thy maid-servant may rest as well as thou, (Deuteronomy 5:14)
And our cattle?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: I saw some lading asses on the Sabbath day and I testified against them, (Nehemiah 13:15)
Hath the Sabbath a reference to God’s resting from the works of creation?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: On the seventh day God ended his works, (Genesis 2:2)
Should we therefore on this day remember him in his works?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of water, (Revelation 14:7)
Doth it point out an eternal rest?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: There remaineth a rest, (or the keeping of a Sabbath) for the people of God, (Hebrews 4:9)
Should we therefore keep that rest in view, and labour to attain it?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, (Hebrews 4:11)