HenryWSC 60

Matthew Henry’s Westminster Shorter Catechism Commentary on Question 60

Show Catechism Question

Must we rest on the sabbath day? Yes: six days may work be done, but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest,
Ex. 31:15
. Must we rest from worldly employments? Yes: ye shall hallow the sabbath day, to do no work therein,
Jer. 17:24
. And from recreations? Yes: not finding thine own pleasure,
Isa. 58:13
. Is this to signify our being dead to this world? Yes: for he that is entered into his rest has ceased from his own works,
Heb. 4:10
. And to awaken us to think of’ leaving it? Yes: for here we have no continuing city,
Heb. 13:14
. Must this rest be dedicated to God? Yes: it is a holy day, a sabbath of rest to the Lord,
Ex. 35:2
.
Must we spend time on that day in the public exercises of God’s worship? Yes: for it is a holy convocation,
Lev. 23:3
. Must we do so every sabbath, as we have opportunity? Yes: From one sabbath to another shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord,
Isa. 66:23
. And must we not absent ourselves from public worship? No: Not forsaking the assembling of yourselves together,
Heb. 10:25
. Must we spend time on that day in the private exercises of religion? Yes: It is the sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings,
Lev. 23:3
. Did the disciples of Christ thus spend the first Lord’s day? Yes: for on the first day of the week the disciples were assembled,
John 20:19
.
Must we prepare for the sabbath day beforehand? Yes: It was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on,
Luke 23:54
. Must the sabbath be a day of holy joy? Yes: We will rejoice and be glad in it,
Ps. 118:24
. Must it be a day of praise? Yes: the psalm for the sabbath day begins, It is a good thing to give thanks to the Lord,
Ps. 92:1
. Must we be spiritual in the duties of the day? Yes: I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day,
Rev. 1:10
. And must we take pleasure in them? Yes: Call the Sabbath a delight,
Isa. 58:13
.
Are works of mercy and charity proper for a sabbath day? Yes: Ought not this woman to be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day,
Luke 13:16
. And may works of necessity be done on that day? Yes: Do not you on the sabbath lead your ox, or your ass, to watering,
Luke 13:15
.
HenryWSC 60