In answer to a request elicited from a previous post and the comments that followed, I thought it might be easier to make a post listing some good resources on the Sabbath from the traditionally reformed perspective. So here goes!
Firstly, and most readily accessible, I'll list some links to some reading that can be done online:
Obviously the Confessions and Catechisms are a great place to start to get a good summary of the reformed tradition:
The 1689 addresses the issue in Chapter 22 sect 7 & 8:
As it is the law of nature, that in general a proportion of time, by God's appointment, be set apart for the worship of God, so by his Word, in a positive moral, and perpetual commandment, binding all men, in all ages, he hath particularly appointed one day in seven for a sabbath to be kept holy unto him, which from the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ was the last day of the week, and from the resurrection of Christ was changed into the first day of the week, which is called the Lord's day: and is to be continued to the end of the world as the Christian Sabbath, the observation of the last day of the week being abolished.
The sabbath is then kept holy unto the Lord, when men, after a due preparing of their hearts, and ordering their common affairs aforehand, do not only observe an holy rest all day, from their own works, words and thoughts, about their worldly employment and recreations, but are also taken up the whole time in the public and private exercises of his worship, and in the duties of necessity and mercy.
The Westminster LC also addresses the Sabbath in the questions on the fourth commandment (116-121), though the questions on the moral law (91-100) provide a great background on the understanding perpetuity. I find question 121 particularly interesting in asking why the word "Remember" is set at the beginning of teh commandment.
The word Remember is set in the beginning of the fourth commandment, partly, because of the great benefit of remembering it, we being thereby helped in our preparation to keep it, and, in keeping it, better to keep all the rest of the commandments, and to continue a thankful remembrance of the two great benefits of creation and redemption, which contain a short abridgment of religion; and partly, because we are very ready to forget it, for that there is less light of nature for it, and yet it restraineth our natural liberty in things at other times lawful; 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; 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.
Secondly, there is a plethora of writings from Puritans to current theologians available online through sources like Grace Online Library and Monergism.
20th century theologian John Murray, gives a wonderful exposition of the Westminster teaching on the Sabbath.
J.C. Ryle, with his characteristic warmth and pastoral care, gives a solid defense for keeping the Sabbath Day by explaining the authority and purpose of the day, how it should be kept, and then gives a stirring final appeal.
Anthony Hoeksema, in his pamphlet "Proper Sabbath Observance: A Sojourner's Sabbath", focuses on the beauty of the Sabbath for a people that are simply Pilgrims passing through this world, sort of an eschatological view of the Sabbath as we look forward to eternity. An interesting read that should realign our perspective of the blessing of the day.
Thomas Shepard and R.L. Dabney give very sound reasoning for the changing of the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday.
Thirdly, for some listening, you can find Joseph Pipa's teaching on the Lord's Day on sermonaudio.com as well as this message by Ian Goligher preaching from Nehemiah: as well as many many others.
Finally, I'd like to recommend two books in particular that I have found very helpful. Joseph Pipa has a very good book, "The Lord's Day", where he really seeks to pose the question of what we may be missing out on by not keeping the Sabbath in a right manner. He looks at some key texts of scripture.
And of course, probably my favorite book on the subject that I've read, Walter Chantry's little book "Call The Sabbath A Delight". This is a warm read that focuses on how a proper observance is truly a delight to the believer.
This is not at all intended to be an exhaustive list by any means (I have left out the puritans, aside from Thomas Shepard, and excluded the 16th and 17th century which was full and rich with teaching on Sabbath observance), but hopefully these resources will provide enough evidence to root a modern day observance of the Sabbath squarely where it ought to be, a proper understanding of what the Scriptures reveal about God's moral character, His graciousness towards us, and the great blessings that accompany obedience to the means He has ordained.
