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The Christian Sabbath (With The Nature, Design And Proper Observance Of The Lord's Day) by Robert Lewis Dabney ($0.99)
States that, "Theism is essential to the state" and that "the Sabbath is essential to maintain theism." Upholds the view of the Lord's Day found in the Westminster Confession of Faith concerning this holy day.Digital Download (Adobe PDF) Searchable: Yes. SWRB PDF Index: Embedded, Appended. Pages 58.
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The Sabbath Viewed in the Light of Reason, Revelation, and History, with Sketches of Its Literature (1882) by James Gilfillan ($0.99)
A massive and thorough book which covers so much ground that it is almost impossible to do justice to it in a short book summary. We will simply say that if you are interested in any aspect of the Sabbath question you will almost certainly find much help here.
Major heads include:
- "Sketches of Sabbatic Controversies and Literature"
- "Proofs, From Reason and Experience, of the Excellence and Divine Origin of the Sabbath"
- "Testimony of Revelation to a Sacred and Perpetual Sabbath"
- "Evidence from History for a Weekly Day of Rest and Worship"
- "The Sabbath Defended Against Opposing Arguments, Theories, and Schemes"
- "The Claims of the Sabbath Practically Enforced"
Includes a general index and an index of texts. Digital Download (Adobe PDF). Searchable: Yes. SWRB PDF Index: Embedded, Appended. Pages: 648.
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The Works of Thomas Shepard (volume 3 of 3) Theses Sabbaticae ($5.97)
On the morality of the Sabbath, the change of the Sabbath from the seventh day to the first, the beginning of the Sabbath, and how the Sabbath is to be sanctified by God's people. A major Puritan work.
Thomas Shepard became a minister whose sermons and Puritan ways drew the ire of Church of England Archbishop William Laud, and he was forbidden to preach. Following the death of his eldest son, he left England in 1635 with wife and younger son on a difficult voyage for Massachusetts in colonial America. Shepard was regarded as one of the foremost Puritan ministers of his day, esteemed in the company of individuals like Richard Mather and John Cotton. Digital Download (Adobe PDF). Searchable: Yes. SWRB PDF Index: Embedded, Appended. Pages: 535.
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The Day of the Sabbath (1883) by Original Covenanter Magazine ($0.99)
Defends the first day of the week as the Apostolic (Christian) Sabbath. Digital Download (Adobe PDF). Searchable: Yes. SWRB PDF Index: Embedded, Appended. Pages: 10.
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The Ten Commandments (Exposition of the Shorter Catechism Drawn Up By the Westminster Assembly) by Thomas Watson ($0.99)
Contains an excellent section on the fourth commandment.
In this book Thomas Watson (c. 1620-1686) continues his exposition of the Shorter Catechism drawn up by the Westminster Assembly.
Thomas Watson was one of the most popular preachers in London during the Puritan era... The series of three volumes, of which this is the second (Thomas Watson's A Body of Divinity Contained in Sermons Upon the Westminster Assembly's [Shorter] Catechism is the first and Watson's, The Lord's Prayer [also on the Westminster Shorter Catechism] - ed. is the third -ed.), makes an ideal introduction to Puritan literature.
There are few matters about which the Puritans differ more from present-day Christians than in their assessment of the importance of the ten commandments. The commandments, they held, are the first thing in Christianity which the natural man needs to be taught and they should be the daily concern of the Christian to the last.
In this book Thomas Watson examines the moral law as a whole as well as bringing out the meaning and force of each particular commandment. In view of the important function of the law in Christian life and evangelism, this is a most valuable volume (backcover).
Digital Download (Adobe PDF). Searchable: Yes. SWRB PDF Index: Embedded, Appended. Pages: 248.
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Commentary on the Westminster Shorter Catechism (Volume 2 of 2) by Thomas Boston ($3.97)
Two large volumes of over 1300 pages! Boston's work is the most comprehensive reference set ever penned on the Westminster Shorter Catechism. Contain an very useful section on the fourth commandment.
Concerning the Westminster Shorter Catechism, A.F. Mitchell states,
...it is a thoroughly Calvinistic and Puritan catechism, the ripest fruit of the Assembly's thought and experience, maturing and finally fixing the definitions of theological terms to which Puritanism for half a century had been leading up and gradually coming closer and closer to in its legion of catechisms (The Westminster Assembly: Its History and Standards).
The Westminster Shorter Catechism is the "king of the catechisms" for shear power of expression, combining logical cogency with succinctness. Thomas Boston's exposition is unrivalled; there is nothing else like it. Here you have the cream of Puritan catechisms married to the cream of clear Puritan exposition!
This is likely Thomas Boston's most important work. A set that will meet numerous needs, ranging from use in family worship, Christian education and personal study, to sermon preparation -- and for help in settling debated questions on the Presbytery floor. A one-of-a-kind set of books that will serve your family for generations to come!
Volume 1: Contains Thomas Boston's exposition of questions 1 through 35 of the Westminster Shorter Catechism.
Volume 2: Contains Thomas Boston's exposition of questions 35 through 107 of the Westminster Shorter Catechism.
Media: Digital Download (Adobe PDF). Searchable: Yes. SWRB PDF Index: Embedded, Appended. Pages: 1,346.
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Commentary on the Larger Catechism (2 Volumes) A Body of Divinity: Wherein the Doctrines of the Christian Religion are Explained and Defended. Being the Substance of Several Lectures on the Westminster Assembly's Larger Catechism by Thomas Ridgeley ($5.97)
Originally entitled: A Body of Divinity: Wherein the Doctrines of the Christian Religion are Explained and Defended. Being the Substance of Several Lectures on the Assembly's Larger Catechism, we have re-titled it to better reflect its contents for contemporary readers.
Consisting of over 1300 pages, this massive and extensive two-volume commentary on the Westminster Larger Catechism is unrivaled in scope or extensiveness.
It also contain a splendid section on the fourth commandment.
Ridgeley himself notes, in "The Author's Preface" (p. ix),
The work is large, but the vast variety of subjects will render it more tolerable.... especially since it is rather designed to be read in families than committed to memory...
The editor of this edition, John Wilson, pronounces Ridgeley's work as "the best book of its class," stating,
no book in the English language, or, so far as I know, in any other, will serve so efficiently the purposes of a daily companion to a reflecting Christian in his inquiries into Divine truth, or a guide to a candidate for the Christian ministry in introducing him to his theological studies (p. xi)... In 1731 appeared the first edition of Mr. Ridgeley's great work -- that in connection with which chiefly his name lives in history, and whose influence, as an instrument of good, will probably render him celebrated and useful for generations to come... (p. xxii).
Moreover Wilson writes,
a taste, however, for the racy and substantial theological writings of the days of Britain's moral giants has of late revived; and it will scarcely fail to adopt, as one of the richest dishes of its multifarious banquet for the intellect and the soul, Dr. Ridgeley's Body of Divinity (p. xxi).
Additionally, Wilson concludes his "Life of the Author" with these words,
His method of reasoning he has adapted to the capacities of those who are unacquainted with the abstruse terms made use of by metaphysicians and schoolmen, and when introduced into subjects of theology, have a tendency rather to perplex than to improve the mind. His scheme of divinity is evidently Calvinistic; but; then, he has explained his subjects with so much moderation and latitude, as to obviate many of the objections raised against the system of doctrines that passes under that name. Upon the whole, it is probable that the English language does not furnish a work of this nature that, for perspicuity of language, extent of research, accuracy of judgement, and judicious description of the numerous subjects that fall under examination, any way equals this work of Dr. Ridgeley... he was accounted one of the most considerable divines of his age (emphasis added, p. xxiii).
Volume 1: Contains Thomas Ridgeley's exposition of questions 1 through 60 of the Westminster Larger Catechism.
Volume 2: Contains Thomas Ridgeley's exposition of questions 61 through 196 of the Westminster Larger Catechism.
Digital Download (Adobe PDF). Searchable: Yes. SWRB PDF Index: Embedded, Appended. Pages: 1,350.
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THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT
(ON THE LORD'S DAY, HOLY DAYS, etc.)
FREE REFORMATION RESOURCES
.................................................................................................
"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, 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." - Exodus 20:8-11
"For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous." - 1 John 5:3
"If ye love me, keep my commandments."
- The Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:15)
A search for "Lord's Day," using the Master Search Index (on the Puritan Hard Drive) returns 4,515 results in 592 documents, all available in the context of one line (and listed alphabetically by book title, including the author of each book). Also, if you click on any of these individual Master Search Index results for " Lord's Day," the Puritan Hard Drive opens the book to the correct page and highlights "Lord's Day"! Just think of all the ways these search results can be of benefit to you, and to those you love and minister to, in growing closer to the Lord Jesus Christ.
There are also 112 Reformation resources (books, MP3s and videos) under the category "Holy Days (Lord's Day, Christmas, Easter, etc.)" on the the Puritan Hard Drive, 77 Reformation resources (books, MP3s and videos) with the word "Lord's Day" in the title and 101 Reformation resources (books, MP3s and videos) with the word "Lord's Day" in the resource descriptions on the Puritan Hard Drive. Many other searches could also be accomplishment on related words and topics.
"Check it out for yourself and you'll find, I believe, that it's one of the best Christian software libraries yet developed and its price and convenience make the Puritan Hard Drive a truly appealing resource."
- William Nopper on the Puritan Hard Drive
"The Puritan Hard Drive is literally a must have resource, period! There are plenty of resources available to today's Bible student but none contain the treasures of the Puritan Hard Drive."
- Dr. Kenny Rhodes on the Puritan Hard Drive
FREE REFORMATION RESOURCES ON THE
FOURTH COMMANDMENT
(THE LORD'S DAY OR CHRISTIAN SABBATH)
by Jonathan Edwards, Thomas Watson, Greg Price, Thomas Boston, Dr. Francis N. Lee, David Dickson, Dr. Steven Dilday, David Steele, Charles Hodge, John Murray, the Reformed Presbytery, Greg Barrow, James Bannerman, Brian Schwertley, Thomas Shepard, J.C. Ryle, et al.
(Free MP3s, Books and Videos)
The five free MP3s sermons below, by Greg Price, are the best audio series on the Lord's Day (fourth commandment) of which we (SWRB) are aware.
Remember the Sabbath Day (Fourth Commandment) 1/5 by Greg Price
Remember the Sabbath Day (Fourth Commandment) 2/5 by Greg Price
Remember the Sabbath Day (Fourth Commandment) 3/5 by Greg Price
Remember the Sabbath Day (Fourth Commandment) 4/5 by Greg Price
Remember the Sabbath Day (Fourth Commandment) 5/5 by Greg Price
The Joy of the Sabbath Versus Legalism (Mark #13) by Greg Price
Sanctifying the Sabbath (Mark #14) by Greg Price
The Perpetuity And Change Of The Sabbath (1 of 3) by Jonathan Edwards
The Perpetuity And Change Of The Sabbath (2 of 3) by Jonathan Edwards
The Perpetuity And Change Of The Sabbath (3 of 3) by Jonathan Edwards
The Fourth Commandment (4 of 10, God's Law) by Dr. Francis N. Lee
"The reason that so many people feel it (the Lord's Day - ed.) as a burden is partly that we have so much leisure, we don't feel the need for the sabbath rest; but more important, I think, is the fact that not many people really enjoy what God intended us to enjoy on the sabbath, namely, himself. Many professing Christians enjoy sports and television and secular books and magazines and recreation and hobbies and games far more than they enjoy direct interaction with God in his Word or in worship or in reading Christian books or in meditative strolls.
Therefore, inevitably people whose hearts are set more on the pleasures of the world than on the enjoyment of God will feel the sabbath command as a burden not a blessing. This is what John says in 1 John 5:3, "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome." The measure of your love for God is the measure of the joy you get in focusing on him on the day of rest. For most people the sabbath command is really a demand to repent. It invites us to enjoy what we don't enjoy and therefore shows us the evil of hearts, and our need to repent and be changed."
- John Piper, "Remember the Sabbath Day to Keep It Holy" (emphases added)
The Sabbath, Reformed Theologians and the Change of the Day of Rest (1/2) by Dr. Francis N. Lee
The Sabbath, Reformed Theologians and the Change of the Day of Rest (1/2) by Dr. Francis N. Lee
Commentary on the Westminster Confession of Faith (10 of 12) by David Dickson
A Puritan Reformed Discussion of Holy Days (Lord's Day/Christian Sabbath, Christmas, Easter, etc.) by Greg Barrow
History of Holy Days (1/7) The Christian Sabbath/Lord's Day, Christmas, Easter, Antichrist And Removing Monuments To Idolatry by Dr. Steven Dilday
History of Holy Days (2/7) The Christian Sabbath/Lord's Day, Christmas, Easter, Antichrist And Removing Monuments To Idolatry by Dr. Steven Dilday
History of Holy Days (3/7) The Christian Sabbath/Lord's Day, Christmas, Easter, Antichrist And Removing Monuments To Idolatry by Dr. Steven Dilday
History of Holy Days (4/7) The Christian Sabbath/Lord's Day, Christmas, Easter, Antichrist And Removing Monuments To Idolatry by Dr. Steven Dilday
History of Holy Days (5/7) The Christian Sabbath/Lord's Day, Christmas, Easter, Antichrist And Removing Monuments To Idolatry by Dr. Steven Dilday
History of Holy Days (6/7) The Christian Sabbath/Lord's Day, Christmas, Easter, Antichrist And Removing Monuments To Idolatry by Dr. Steven Dilday
History of Holy Days (7/7) The Christian Sabbath/Lord's Day, Christmas, Easter, Antichrist And Removing Monuments To Idolatry by Dr. Steven Dilday
"It is not an accident that the great decline of Lord's-day observance has occurred at the same time that unbelief, apostasy and wickedness have permeated western culture. [168] The love of God and of His day go hand in hand. When the love and fear of God no longer exist, His day is not honored.
"If we did indeed love God as we ought, with all our heart, and soul, and mind, and might, we would not say, when we have been attending upon him two or three hours in public worship, 'Now we have surely done enough for this day,' when we are invited, encouraged and appointed still to continue our communion with him, -- still to feast upon his holy word, and repeat our addresses at the throne of his grace in our closets and families. Would we be so soon weary of an intimate conversation with a friend we love and take pleasure in? No; with such a friend we contrive how to prolong the time of converse, and when the hours of sitting together are expired, we stand together, and, as those that are loath to part, bid often farewell, and we add to this a walk together for further discourses; is this thy kindness to thy friend, and wilt thou say of communion with thy God, 'Behold what a weariness is it!' and contrive excuses to contract it, to break it off, or cut it short?" [169]
May God increase our love toward Him and thus enable us to sanctify His day as we ought. "The stream of all religion runs either deep or shallow, according as the banks of the sabbath are kept up or neglected."
- Brian Schwertley, Christian Sabbath Examined, Proved, Applied (emphases added).
Many useful articles on the fourth commandment and the Lord's Day are at A Puritan's Mind
Of the Fourth Commandment by Thomas Boston
Sanctifying The Lord's Day - Thomas Watson
Theses Sabbaticae or The Docrine of the Sabbath by Thomas Shepard
The Fourth Commandment by Charles Hodge
The Covenantal Sabbath by Francis Nigel Lee (Online Book)
The Christian Sabbath and Ecclesiastical Holidays (Church of Christ Vol. 1, #18) by James Bannerman
John Murray on the Sabbath - The Sabbath as a creation ordinance for all time.
The Fourth Commandment: According to the Westminster Standards by John Murray
THE CHRISTIAN SABBATH OR LORD'S DAY HOMEPAGE at covenanter.org
The Sabbath - Genesis Commentary #10 by Dr. C. Matthew McMahon
The Ultimate Eschatological Destiny of the Sabbath (The Best of Dr. Francis Nigel Lee 10 of 10)
Sermons on Deuteronomy - On the Sabbath Part I by John Calvin
Sermons on Deuteronomy - On the Sabbath Part II by John Calvin
Rules for a Profitable Sabbath
Sabbath Keeping Ordinance by the Mayor to the Aldermen of the Several Wards in London.
An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons Assembled in Parliament for the better observation of the Lords Day.
James Chrystie's Article on The Lord's Day, The Christian Sabbath.
David Steele's Article on Sabbath, or Sunday.
Thomas Melville Slater's Tract on Nicknaming the Sabbath: A Protest Against Using Other than the Scriptural Names for the Lord's Day.
The Sabbath by David Steele
A Testimony & Warning Against Some Prevailing Sins and Immoralities by The Reformed Presbytery
J.C. Ryle: The Sabbath is a Day to Keep (How to keep the Day holy.)
God's Law for Modern Man (293 KB) by Brian Schwertley
The Christian Sabbath Examined, Proved, Applied (254 KB) by Brian Schwertley
The Sabbath and Modern Civilization: A Critique of Gary North's "The Economics of Sabbath Keeping" (28 KB) by Brian Schwertley
Views of the Reformers regarding the Sabbath by Patrick Fairbairn
WILLIAM NOPPER REVIEWS AND RECOMMENDS THE PURITAN HARD DRIVE
Fantastic Product: The Puritan Hard Drive
My hat is off to the folks at Still Waters Revival Books -- you've put together something special that will benefit all the purchasers and recipients!
Purchasers of the Puritan Hard Drive will find at their fingertips a truly awesome collection of writings and video, eminently convenient in the pocket sized drive.
It's my prayer (which I see already being fulfilled) that users around the world can search these documents to great benefit as they prepare sermons, write papers, study for a deeper understanding of history and theological development, and share with friends.
It makes a generous gift, too.
Check it out for yourself and you'll find, I believe, that it's one of the best Christian software libraries yet developed and its price and convenience make the Puritan Hard Drive a truly appealing resource.
- William Nopper IV,
Graduate of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and Bible study lay leader.
"In the history of extra-biblical study and research tools there has never before been a resource as useful as the Puritan Hard Drive. Having the Puritan Hard Drive is like owning the largest Puritan and Reformed Library in the world along with a full time research assistant with his PhD in Puritan Studies from Oxford or Cambridge. With the click of a button, you can easily do ten hours worth of research in just seconds! Imagine not only owning the largest Puritan and Reformed library, but having a full-time team of world-class research assistants at your beck and call. It is almost as if God is saying, 'Here is a tool that will lead you to more truth faster than ever before. Make the best possible use of it and bring much glory to My Name.' (2 Timothy 2:15, Ephesians 5:16). The Puritan Hard Drive is a tremendous blessing." - Pastor Paul Washer, HeartCry Missionary Society (click here to see Paul Washer's full review of the Puritan Hard Drive)
"In the history of the church's sanctification
(mortification and vivification - ed.) I don't believe there has been a more valuable extra-biblical resource and tool than the Puritan Hard Drive." - Dr. C. Matthew McMahon, A Puritan's Mind
"To have that much information from a consistent, biblical, orthodox, and gospel-centered point of view is simply astonishing. Anyone who admires the Puritans simply must have the Puritan Hard Drive."
- Dr. Voddie Baucham, Jr., Voddie Baucham Ministries
"The Puritan Hard Drive has been such a superb blessing to me personally and for my ministry, that I lack words to adequately praise the Lord! " - Richard Bennett (former Roman Catholic priest who now preaches Reformation truth), Berean Beacon
MANY MORE PURITAN HARD DRIVE REVIEWS (Click Here)
"As a member of the HeartCry Missionary Society, I am witness to the great needs of Christians throughout the globe. Possibly the greatest need is sound Christian literature. Even though many Third World pastors read English, they have very few good books available to them. Even if we could afford to buy each indigenous minister a small library, the cost of shipping would be astronomical. With the Puritan Hard Drive we can provide pastors throughout the globe with one of the most complete Puritan and Reformed libraries at a fraction of the cost." - Pastor Paul Washer, HeartCry Missionary Society (click here to see Paul Washer's full review of the Puritan Hard Drive)