So far in Packer’s Puritan class, we have been outlining a basic structure (historical and theological) from which to understand the Puritans. Much of this has been review (except for the historical aspect). However, I want to ponder briefly (I think we will spend an entire day on this in the future) about what the Puritans taught regarding the Sabbath. In comparison to the Continental Reformers (Luther, Calvin, et al) the Puritans were much more strict (for better or for worse) regarding Sabbath observance (that is, Sabbath rest). Towards the end of yesterday’s lecture, Packer mentioned two quotes from the Puritans about the Sabbath. I think they are worth chewing on, particularly because we have become so careless in our Sabbath preparation and observance.
The first from John Geree (1646). “The Lord’s day he esteemed a divine ordinance, and rest on it necessary so far as it induced to holiness. He was very conscientious in the observance of that day as the market day of the soul.”
And the second from the classic Puritan commentator, Matthew Henry: “The Sabbath was ordained to be a day of holy rest in order that it might be a day of holy work.”
The Sabbath was not a day to do whatever, nor a day to not do nothing but eat roast beef and mashed potatoes and then, while watching the football game, doze into a food-induced coma. Rather, it seems for the Puritan that the Sabbath was a resourceful day. The “market day of the soul,” the day when we accumulate the supplies that our spiritual lives need to live on. Or as Henry put it, we take a holy rest so that we may attend to our holy work. The Sabbath is not a passive receptivity, but an active time of work.
The Sabbath is the time (and a space I think) where we intentionally hear God speak through the preaching of his word, encourage our brothers and sisters in the faith, be instructed and instruct one’s family, study God’s word, spend time in self-examination and confession, and so forth. I wonder what this could look like in 2007? What could this look like on a practical level?
I know that I need to frequent the marketplace of the soul more often!
