The Doctrinal Heading for this section of questions (Q43-62) is The Means of Grace: The Commandments: The First Table. (see Harmony Index)
WSC Q62. What are the reasons annexed to the fourth commandment?
What are the reasons annexed to the fourth commandment? This is our next question of study. To begin, let’s pause to consider the word annex. In essence, it means to add or attach something, to join, unite, or incorporate another element to a larger object; for example, territory might be added to an already established state or country. That which is annexed might be physical material, or it might be a quality, consequence, or condition. So we see in this and other questions about the Ten Commandments that apart from the obvious meaning of the fourth commandment, there are additional reasons attached to the commandment.
May the Lord open our understanding and appreciation for the reasons listed, for our instruction and faithful obedience.
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Westminster Shorter Catechism Q62
Illustrations by John Whitecross – #6 of 7: (John Whitecross gives us 7 readings on this question. The 6th is rather long, but well worth the reading. – JLG)
#6. In the city of Bath, during the eighteenth century, lived a barber, who made a practice of following his ordinary occupation on the Lord’s-day. As he was pursuing his morning’s employment, he happened to look into some place of worship, just as the minister was giving out his text, ‘Remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy.’ He listened long enough to be convinced, that he was constantly breaking the laws of God and man, by shaving and otherwise attending his customers on the Lord’s~day. He became uneasy, and went with a heavy heart to his Sabbath task. At length he took courage, and opened his mind to the minister, who advised him to give up Sabbath work and worship God. He replied that beggary would be the consequence; he had a flourishing trade, but it would almost all be lost. At length, after many a sleepless night spent in weeping and praying, he was determined to cast all his care upon God, as the more he reflected, the more his duty became apparent. He discontinued Sabbath work, went constantly and early to the public services of religion, and soon enjoyed that satisfaction of mind, which is one of the rewards of doing our duty, and that peace of God, which the world can neither give nor take away. The consequence which he foresaw actually followed. His genteel customers left him, as he was nicknamed a Puritan or Methodist. He was obliged to give up his fashionable shop; and in the course of years became so reduced, as to take a cellar under the old market house, and shave the common people. One Saturday evening, between light and dark, a stranger from one of the coaches, asking for a barber, was directed by the ostler to the cellar opposite. Coming in hastily, he requested to be shaved quickly, while they changed horses, as he did not like to violate the Sabbath. This was touching the barber on a tender chord: he burst into tears, asked the stranger to lend him a halfpenny to buy a candle, as it was not light enough to shave him with safety. He did so, revolving in his mind the extreme poverty to which the poor man must be reduced. When shaved, he said, ‘There must be something extraordinary in your history, which I have not now time to hear. Here is half-a-crown for you: when I return, I will call and investigate your case. What is your name?’ ‘William Reed,’ said the astonished barber. ‘William Reed!’ echoed the stranger: ‘William Reed! by your dialect you are from the west?’ ‘Yes, sir; from Kingston, near Taunton.’ ‘William Reed, from Kingston, near Taunton! What was your father’s name?’ ‘Thomas.’ ‘Had he any brothers?’ ‘Yes, sir, one, after whom I was named; but he went to the Indies, and as we never heard from him, we suppose him to be dead.’ ‘Come along, follow me,’ said the stranger; ‘I am going to see a person, who says his name is William Reed of Kingston, near Taunton. Come and confront him. If you prove to be indeed the man whom you say you are, I have glorious news for you; your uncle is dead and has left an immense fortune, which I will put you in possession of when all legal doubts are removed.’ They went by the coach, saw the pretended William Reed, and proved him to be an impostor. The stranger, who was a godly attorney, was soon legally satisfied of the barber’s identity, and told him that he had advertised for him in vain. Providence had now thrown him in his way, in a most extraordinary manner, and he had much pleasure in transferring a great many thousand pounds to a worthy man, the rightful heir of the property. Thus was man’s extremity God’s opportunity. Had the poor barber possessed one halfpenny, or even had credit for a candle, he might have remained unknown for years; but he trusted God, who never said, ‘Seek ye my face in vain.’
John Whitecross – 1828
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WSC Q62. What are the reasons annexed to the fourth commandment?
A. The reasons annexed to the fourth commandment are, God’s allowing us six days of the week for our own employments[a], his challenging a special propriety in the seventh, his own example, and his blessing the Sabbath day[b].
[a] Ex. 20:9; 31:15; Lev. 23:3
[b] Gen. 2:2-3; Ex. 20:11; 31:17
Question 62 asks what are the reasons attached to the fourth commandment, and answers that the reasons for the fourth commandment are these: God allows us six days of the week to take care of our own affairs; he claims the seventh day as his own; he set the example; and he blesses the Sabbath.
Comments and considerations:
Our fathers chose to use the word challenging in the phrase his challenging a special propriety in the seventh. It is an interesting selection because it means to “contest or claim a right; to demand as something due or rightful.” We understand the word as it is used to issue a legal challenge or a challenge to battle or a contest of skill or strength. But here we see God’s special propriety in the seventh day ordinance, established on day seven of the creation week, and his own example of rest and blessing. To see that day in any other way is to challenge his wisdom, purpose, and authority in calling that day his own—his propriety.
The Westminster Larger Catechism Q120 parallels this Shorter Catechism Question, and gives a more extensive statement. It reads:
“The reasons annexed to the fourth commandment, the more to enforce it, are taken from the equity of it, God allowing us six days of seven for our own affairs, and reserving but one for himself in these words, Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: from God’s challenging a special propriety in that day, The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: from the example of God, who in six days made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: and from that blessing which God put upon that day, not only in sanctifying it to be a day for his service, but in ordaining it to be a means of blessing to us in our sanctifying it; Wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.”
Thus, these are reasons annexed to the fourth commandment, a day intended to be a blessing for God’s people in ceasing from their worldly employment. Let us honor him and be glad for his propriety over it. “This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Ps. 118:24).
Training Hearts and Teaching Minds Questions:
- Read Gen. 2:8-10, 15. What is described in this passage, and what is the purpose defined in verse 15? What are the implications of the circumstance, when someone entrusts the care of property into the hands of another person?
- When we think of the fourth commandment, our thoughts naturally gravitate to Sunday Sabbath keeping. But the Sabbath is only one part of the commandment. What is the other significant element of the fourth commandment?
- Read Ps. 139:15-16 and I Pet. 1:17-19. Who gives us our days, both as human beings and as believers? What should our attitude be toward those days?
- Read Luke 4:16 and Is. 56: 6-7. What are some of the reasons for honoring the Lord’s Day?
- Read Is. 58:13-14. What is this passage about, and what blessing is proclaimed?
Harmony of the Standards: WSC Q62, WLC Q120 and 121
WSC Q62. What are the reasons annexed to the fourth commandment?
A. The reasons annexed to the fourth commandment are, God’s allowing us six days of the week for our own employments[a], his challenging a special propriety in the seventh, his own example, and his blessing the Sabbath day[b].
[a] Ex. 20:9; 31:15, 16; Lev. 23:3
[b] Gen. 2:2-3; Ex. 20:11; 31:17
WLC Q120. What are the reasons annexed to the fourth commandment, the more to enforce it?
A. The reasons annexed to the fourth commandment, the more to enforce it, are taken from the equity of it, God allowing us six days of seven for our own affairs, and reserving but one for himself in these words, Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work[a]: from God’s challenging a special propriety in that day, The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God[b]: from the example of God, who in six days made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: and from that blessing which God put upon that day, not only in sanctifying it to be a day for his service, but in ordaining it to be a means of blessing to us in our sanctifying it; Wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it[c].
[a] Exod. 20:9
[b] Exod. 20:10
[c] Exod. 20:11
WLC Q121. Why is the Word Remember set in the beginning of the fourth commandment?
A. The word Remember is set in the beginning of the fourth commandment[a], partly, because of the great benefit of remembering it, we being thereby helped in our preparation to keep it[b], and, in keeping it, better to keep all the rest of the commandments[c], and to continue a thankful remembrance of the two great benefits of creation and redemption, which contain a short abridgment of religion[d]; and partly, because we are very ready to forget it[e], for that there is less light of nature for it[f], and yet it restraineth our natural liberty in things at other times lawful[g]; that it cometh but once in seven days, and many worldly businesses come between, and too often take off our minds from thinking of it, either to prepare for it, or to sanctify it[h]; and that Satan with his instruments labours much to blot out the glory, and even the memory of it, to bring in all irreligion and impiety[i].
[a] Exod. 20:8
[b] Exod. 16:23; Luke 23:54, 56; Mark 15:42; Neh. 13:19
[c] Ps. 92:13-14 (title, A psalm for the Sabbath-day.); Ezek. 20:12, 19-20
[d] Gen. 2:2-3; Ps. 118:22, 24; Acts 4:10-11; Rev. 1:10
[e] Ezek. 22:26
[f] Neh. 9:14
[g] Exod. 34:21
[h] Deut. 5:14-15; Amos 8:5
[i] Lam. 1:7; Jer. 17:21-23; Neh. 13:15-23 (See in Question 117.)
Question(s) for further study:
How does the Larger catechism’s teaching here expand our understanding; what might we learn from our fathers use of the word “equity” in Q120; and how does “remembering” as described in Q121 set the tone in our approach in observing the Lord’s commandments and personal piety?
