| Question | What is the fourth commandment? |
|---|---|
| Answer | 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. 1 |
The Baptist Catechism Set to Music
Benjamin Beddome’s Exposition
Is labour necessary as well as rest?
Yes.
Six days shalt thou labour,
Deuteronomy 5:13
Doth labour tend to plenty?
Yes.
The soul of the diligent shall be made fat,
Proverbs 13:4
And does it add sweetness to our gettings?
Yes.
The sleep of the labouring man is sweet,
Ecclesiastes 5:12
Doth idleness tend to poverty?
Yes.
It clotheth a man with rags,
Proverbs 23:21
And expose to many temptations?
Yes.
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?
Yes.
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?
Yes.
Ye observe days and months, and times, and years, I am afraid of you,
Galatians 4:10–11
Should every returning seventh day be set apart to the services of religion?
Yes.
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?
No.
For every day will I bless thee,
Psalm 145:2
Must children keep the Sabbath?
Yes.
Thou, and thy son, and thy daughter,
Exodus 20:10
And servants?
Yes.
That thy man-servant and thy maid-servant may rest as well as thou,
Deuteronomy 5:14
And our cattle?
Yes.
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?
Yes.
On the seventh day God ended his works,
Genesis 2:2
Should we therefore on this day remember him in his works?
Yes.
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?
Yes.
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?
Yes.
Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest,
Hebrews 4:11
The Westminster Larger Catechism
| Question | Which is the fourth commandment? |
|---|---|
| Answer | The fourth commandment is, Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, 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, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy 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. 1 |