Chapter 48: The Sanctification of the Lord's Day

48-1. “The fourth commandment requireth the keeping holy to God such set
times as he hath appointed in his word; expressly one whole day in seven, to
be a holy sabbath to himself.” (WSC 58).

48-2. God commanded His Old Testament people to keep holy the last day
of the week, but He sanctified the first day as the Sabbath by the resurrection
of the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead. For this reason the Church of the new
dispensation has from the time of the apostles kept holy the first day of the
week as the Lord’s Day.

48-3. It is the duty of every person to remember the Lord’s Day; and to
prepare for it before its approach. All worldly business should be so ordered,
and seasonably laid aside, as that they may not be hindered thereby from
sanctifying the Sabbath, as the Holy Scriptures require.

48-4. The whole day is to be kept holy to the Lord; and to be employed in
the public and private exercises of religion. Therefore, it is requisite, that there
be a holy resting, all the day, from unnecessary labors; and an abstaining from
those recreations which may be lawful on other days; and also, as much as
possible, from worldly thoughts and conversation.

48-5. Let the provisions for the support of the family on that day be so
ordered that others be not improperly detained from the public worship of God,
nor hindered from sanctifying the Sabbath.

48-6. Let every person and family, in the morning, by secret and private
prayer, for themselves and others, especially for the assistance of God to their
minister, and for a blessing upon his ministry, by reading the Scriptures, and
by holy meditation, prepare for communion with God in his public ordinances.