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when we are together, concerning Chrift and heaven; or about the fermons we have heard, telling one another what we remember thereof, and that which did mostly edify us.

Godly conference is well pleafing to God; he notices and records all the good words his people do fpeak, Mal. iii. 16. When the two difciples going to Emmaus were about this exercife on the Lord's day, Chrift is so well pleased, that he comes to them, and makes the third man; he entertains them with heavenly discourse, and opens their understandings to know the fcriptures. We fee, when Elijah is fo employed with Elisha, 2 Kings ii. 11. he is taken up and transported gloriously inte heaven. This is a heavenly exercife, and the employ ment of the glorified in heaven; It was Chrift's wark, when he was transfigured on mount Tabor, and met with Mofes and Elias: he conferred with them upon the bleffed fubject of his death and fufferings. O how holy and fruitful was Christ always in his difcourfe? "His lips dropt as the honey comb, and his tongue was as choice filver." He fpiritualized earthly things, and turned them into heavenly inftructions; when he conferred with the woman at the well of Samaria, concerning the water of that well, John iv., he quickly drew her from ordinary water to the water of life. And, when eating bread in the Pharifee's houfe on the Sabbath-day, Luke xiv, he difcourfed of eating bread in God's kingdom: So let all the difciples of Chrift on this day imitate his example: fee that your fpeech be feafoned with grace, and your lips like thofe of the righteous that feed many. Speak much this day to the commendation of Chrift, and invite others to aquaintance with him; and, when you fee it for edification, communicate the experiences you have had of his love; "Come here, all ye that fear God, and I will tell what he hath done for my foul." Pfal. lxvi. and thus one live-coal will help to kindle another.

Upon this day of holy reft, Chriftians should be oft thinking and fpeaking of the everlasting rest above, and conferring together of the way to it, and their meeting there. Do you believe you are going to that reft, and yet never fpeak of it? If two or three of you had en

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fered into an agreement to go to America, and feek the golden mines which are there, would ye never be speaking of that country, or defirous to hear of it before your going? O Chriftians! are ye fhortly to be" caught up together in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, and fo to be for ever with the Lord ?" and will you not " comfort one another with these words!" according to 1 Theff. iv. 17. 18. It hath likewife been the practice in many places, when religion comes to be in efteem, for young perfons to meet together in the evening of the Lord's days for godly conference upon fpiritual subjects, or the fermons they have heard, and for prayer and praifes to their mutual edification. And it is always obferved, that fuch religious meetings on Sabbaths or week days are fet up in parithes where the gofpel begins to thrive, just as naturally as birds draw together in the fpring: young converts are Chrift's " finging birds." Cant. ii. 12. And the feripture affords good ground and warrant for fuch meetings, Mal, iii. 16. Pfal. lxvi. 16. Pfal .cxix. 63. Jer. xxii. 35. Acts. xi. 5. 12. Heb. iii. 13. Heb. x. 24. 25. 1 Pet. 4. 10.

A fourth domestic Duty on the Sabbath, is a holy dare în mafters of families to refrain all profanation of the day bý children and servants, or any within their gates.

The fourth command exprefly requires this. Though you be not magiftrates, yet God has clothed you, who are heads of families, with power and authority in your families, to fee to the honour of this day: Uie it then for God, as ye will be anfwerable. Let none under your charge profane this holy day, by working, fporting or playing; or by idlenefs or neglect of the duties of the day. See that they duly attend public ordinances and family-worthip; fuffer them not to absent therefrom.

O mafters of families, concur frankly with the minifter of the parish, to fupprefs the abutes of this day: you will fee them, and know of them, when minifters cannot. Teftify against them in your stations, and this will make the minifters work the more easy. O what a fad thing is it in many places, to fee minifters left to S 2 fight

fight against fin alone, without having one to join with them, or once open a mouth against it! Hence it is, that many are turned impudent in finning, particularly in Sabbath-breaking, and value not a minifter's rebuke. Alas! have ye neither love to God nor your neighbours fouls? Have ye no concern for God's glory, nor grief to fee him difhonoured? Have you no charity to your near relations, no love to your own children, no concern for your fervants or nearest neighbours, no defire to keep them from falling into everlafting burnings; that you will not speak one word to pervent it, or warn them of their hazard?

Let none fay, with cursed Cain," Am I my brother's keeper?" For God requires you to be doing good to all in your station, and to love your neighbour as yourself. And the fourth command exprefsly makes you accountable for all within your gates.

Object." I have ftubborn fervants, that will not be reltrained by my admonitions or reproofs:"

Anf. You fhould be more careful in the choice of the members of your family, and particularly of your fervante, fince God gives you a free choice in this matter. Confider David's care therein, Pfal. ci. 6. 7. "Mine eyes fhall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me; he that walketh in a perfect way, the fhall ferve me. He that worketh deceit, fhall hot dwell within my houfe; he that telleth lies, fhall not tarry in my fight." Do ye think that he, or the is fit for your fervice, that cares not for God's fervice? Can you expect a bleffing on the work of their hands, who are enemies to God? A godly fervant (though I confess he is rare enough to be found) is a greater blefling than many think he not only works for his master with his hands, but with his prayers alfo, as did godly Eliezer, Gen. xxiv. 12. and to be fure he did his mafter Abraham as good fervice by his prayers as by his prudence.

But, 2. If it be your lot to be concerned with ftubborn and difobedient fervants, let them know that you have authority from God, to oblige them to keep the Sabbath, by attending ordinances in public and private,

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and to restrain them from profaning this day; and, if they will not be reclaimed, to expel them from your houfe: If they neglect or mismanage your work, would y not use your power and authority with them, to caufe them help their faults? And, were you in as good earneft for God's fervice on the Sabbath, as for your own upon week days, I am perfuaded ye might bring your children and fervants to ferve God, and keep this day far better than they do.

Quest. II. What are the fecret duties requifite, upon the Lord's day?

Anf. It is not enough that we worship God this day in conjunction with others, whether in the congregation or in families: The right fanctification of the Sabbath includes fecret duties alfo, fuch as prayer, reading, meditation, &c. That religion is not true, which is all visible to the world; for the life of religion lies in the fecret intercourfes which are betwixt God and the foul, that the eyes of men do not penetrate into. Secret duties are the best trial of our fincerity; the Lord, that feeth in fecret, takes special notice of them, and, if duly performed, he will openly reward them. Let us therefore make conscience of them, and that especially upon God's holy day, which is entirely fet apart for holy duties; And labour to time duties fo this day, as one duty may not justle out another. As you must not let family duties interfere with public duties; fo you muft, take care that fecret duties do not interfere with family ones. But, more particularly.

31. Secret prayer is a duty neceffary on the Lord's eday, both for preparing us to attend the public ordinances, and for improving and reaping benefit by them afterwards. I do not mean, that this duty is to be confined to the Sabbath only: No, it is neceflary every day, according to David's example, Pfalm lv. 17, but that is especially requifice as a part of the worship of this day. Prayer is fo neceffary, that it is put for the whole worship of God, Acts ii. 21. It is the character of a converted foul, "Behold he prays," Acts ix. 11. but it is the mark of an atheift, that he calls not upon God," Pfal. xiv. And, in a fpecial manner, fe

cret

cret prayer is what every carnal man hath an averfion to. The devil can allow men their church prayers, their family prayers; but, for clofet prayers he cannot away with, especially when they are frequent and conftant, because they are too much an argument of fin cerity. A hypocrite takes no delight in fecret prayer, nor in any duty but what is feen of men, and will gain him a name. But, reader, if thou art fincere, thou wilt confider that God's eye is upon thee in private, as well as in public; and therefore wilt feek to approve thyfelf to God in fecret duties, as well as public. As fecret prayer was our Saviour's conftant practice while on cartli, fo it was his special injunction to all his followers, Mat. vi. 6. You need not fear that your fecret prayers will be forgotten. No: God is every where: he has an ear to hear your fecret groans, and an eye to fee your fecrét tears: Yea, he has a bottle to preferve them, fo as a drop of them shall not be loft.

#In our fecret addreffes, which are more ftated and folemn, let us carefully remember the three parts of prayer, confeffion, petition and thanksgiving. Let us confefs the fins we are guilty of, cry for the mercies we want, and thank God for those we enjoy. Let us mind that this is not only a commanded duty, but our dignity and privilege. What an honour is it for duft and ashes to be allowed access to the great God! for a worm to speak freely to its Creator! for a poor beggar to converfe familiarly with the King of heaven? O finner, would not all thy neighbours envy thee, if thou wert fo honoured by an earthly king? Be exhorte ed then to value and make ufe of this liberty,ga torna

2. Confider at what a dear rate Chrift hath bought this freedom for us: How much did it coft him to erect a throne of grace, to which we may repair with confidence? And, will not we make ufe of this privi lege with thanksgiving?

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3. Confider the profit of it: It is like the "merchant fhip, Prov. xxxi. 14. that brings our food from a far." By it we trade with heaven, and bring down Chrift's unfearchable riches: It is a key to open the treafure of God's mercies to us in the morning, and

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