Logan
Puritan Board Graduate
I have a question that I've been pondering for a bit, more of a historical curiosity and I wondered if anyone had come across something that would be helpful.
Generally, for much of the world's history, places were far apart and to cross them one would have to deal with a Sabbath while journeying. For example, many people traveled back and forth from the Americas by ship, which too several months. Sometimes a minister was with them, perhaps other times informal services were held.
Another example is Calvin's traveling from Geneva to Strasbourg and back. I don't know what towns were in between but a trip of nearly 400 km (240 miles) would certainly have taken more than a week.
Is there any evidence as to how they handled such situations? Private devotions? Resting? Planning the route so they could span the Sabbath in a local congregation?
Additionally, although these journeys may have been important, it could be argued that they weren't strictly necessary. I wonder if historically there were people who were so convicted that they were essentially bound to never travel more than a six-day's journey. Surely in a time when travel times were so long, there must be some discussion of this somewhere, but I am unaware of any. Or where someone wanted to travel to a location but was unable to because there was no congregation to worship in along the way. Has anyone here come across any accounts or discussion? I didn't recall Bownds, Durham, or Calvin specifically covering "necessary travel" or "long journeys".
Generally, for much of the world's history, places were far apart and to cross them one would have to deal with a Sabbath while journeying. For example, many people traveled back and forth from the Americas by ship, which too several months. Sometimes a minister was with them, perhaps other times informal services were held.
Another example is Calvin's traveling from Geneva to Strasbourg and back. I don't know what towns were in between but a trip of nearly 400 km (240 miles) would certainly have taken more than a week.
Is there any evidence as to how they handled such situations? Private devotions? Resting? Planning the route so they could span the Sabbath in a local congregation?
Additionally, although these journeys may have been important, it could be argued that they weren't strictly necessary. I wonder if historically there were people who were so convicted that they were essentially bound to never travel more than a six-day's journey. Surely in a time when travel times were so long, there must be some discussion of this somewhere, but I am unaware of any. Or where someone wanted to travel to a location but was unable to because there was no congregation to worship in along the way. Has anyone here come across any accounts or discussion? I didn't recall Bownds, Durham, or Calvin specifically covering "necessary travel" or "long journeys".