for they were liable to the fame infirmities that are in cident to us

3. I frankly allow what refreshment is neceffary for fupporting nature, and for the better performance of the duties of the Sabbath: But, for the forefaid carnal diverfions, they are fo far from being neceffary for furthering the work of the Sabbath, that they are great hindrances thereto.

4. If labouring people need recreation for their bodies, then let them have fome time on week days for it.▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬If for their minds, I know no fuch fit recreation as the joyful commemoration of the love of Chrift, and our redemption from hell and wrath through his blood, and the cheerful finging the praises of our Maker and Redeemer, which is the very work of the Sabbath. Is it not a recreation for Christ's fheep to feed in his green pastures, and to be led by him befide the still waters? to behold the waters of life, clear as cryftal, flowing betwixt the banks of ordinances? to get a pleafant profpect from mount Nebo, of the prɔmifed land? Is it not a recreation for a condemned man, to come and hear his pardon pronounced? for a hungry man, to get pleafant food and heavenly dainties? for a fick man, to get all his difcafes healed? Muft it not be a carnal and stupid heart, that will call thefe a burden or wearinefs? There are many who weary not to spend whole days at markets, in buying and felling; nay, whole days and nights in gaming and drinking: And, will you ca'i a day fpeat in fuch pleafont and refrethful work a tod, which is the higheft privilege of a rational ctenure? Surele, no workman can be to glad of a day's cate tom his före labour, as a belever ihon 'd be to have a day's releafe from his worldIr buncis, that de mar freely and entirely converfe with his God and Savior, and retice in his bounty and redeeming lowes

5. Der Sicbich we meet with many unavoidable ེས། མ, མ ke #se? from the duties of God's wondta, though we go not to contrive unneOLTURE GAGĜons and rectalen for this end. There is præd. of creme Subords great sa pe pureng food, dref

fing and feeding our bodies, going to the church, and returning from it, attending children, cattle, &c. O how many are our avocations and intermiflions in ferving our Creator and Redeemer on the Lord's day, which we cannot fhun! And fhall we think the rest of the day too much for this important work, that we must go feek carnal diverfions to drive it away?

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6. I grant, the best are ready to grow weary of duty, because of the averfion of our corrupt nature to that which i gcod; but carnal recreations will never cure this averfion, nor overcome that wearinefs, but will certainly indulge and increafe the fame. The beft way to cure wearinefs (next to the grace of God) is practice. and experience in religion, and fincere wrestling and friving against it. Refifting overcomes it; but giving way to it doth increase it.

7. The Lord knows the carnality and weariness that our hearts are naturally prone to in the work of the Sabbath; wherefore, for remedy thereof, he hath gracioufly appointed variety of exercises on the Sabbathday, that, when we weary of one, another may be our recreation. Are you weary of hearing? then recreate yourselves with prayer: : If of that, then recreate yourfelves with finging of God's praifes: If of that, then recreate yourselves in reading God's word, and other good books: If of that, then recreate yourselves with meditations: If you weary of that, then recreate yourfelves with Chriftian conference, repeating the fermons, inftructing your families, &c. If you weary of public duties, then go to private; if of thefe, go to fecret duties. Is there not here a delightful variety of pleasant fpiritual employments, fuflicient to recreate ourfelves with for one day, without needing the help

of

any fenfual diverfion, to put off the precious time of this bleffed day? How think you to fpend a whole eternity in fpiritual exercifes, when you weary fo much of one day? Whatever carnal men think, I am fure a godly foul will be far from counting this work a burden: Hearing and reading the fcriptures is a far lefs burden to him, than recreations and paftimes would be; for God's " teftimonies are his delight, and

"he rejoices in them more than in all riches," Pfal. cxix. Yea, nothing in the world is such a burden to him on the Sabbath as his ill heart, his little delight in the Sabbath, and fhortcomings in the duties thereof; and nothing fuch a pleasure and recreation to him, as when he can win above these, and get his heart lifted up in the ways of the Lord.

I am fure, it is no unpleasant work that God calls us to on the Sabbath; who, but a wicked man, will count it a wearifome thing to think on Christ, and his dying love to hear the fweet meffages of free grace, and rejoice in the forefights and foretaftes of his everlasting love. You know the black character of those, who of old called Sabbath- work a burden, and faid, “when will the Sabbath be gone?" Amos viii. 5. This temper ftands in oppofition to gofpel holiness: Therefore I think, J. S. and every gofpel minifter fhould be fo far from indulging it, by giving way to carnal recreations and diverfions, that he fhould do what lies in his power to reprove, difcourage and remeid it. And if minifters would be at pains to preach and pray with life and a wakening seriousness, and afford their people a pleasant variety of wholesome difcourfe concerning Chrift and eternity, it would be a far better way to cure their wearinefs, than to prefcribe carnal recreations on the Lord's day For this is a cure that both ftrengthens the difeafe, and is as bad as the disease.

Object. VIII. "But walking in the fields on the Lord's day feems to be a harmless practice; why will you not allow of that?"

Anf. Whenever the works of piety, neceffity or mer cy do require it, it is allowable; but to do it idly for putting off the time, or for worldly employments or recreations, is what the word of God condemns. It is not only lawful, but dutiful to walk abroad, if it be for attending public ordinances, vifiting the fick, or other Sabbath duties; for then it is not for finding our own pleasure, which is difallowed by Ifa. lviii. 13 Exod. xvi. 29. And, by the fame rule, I cannot condemn tender perfons walking abroad, or taking the air, if their health truly require it; for the Lord loves mercy

rather

rather than facrifice. Nor do I condemn a perfon's going to fields this day, to have opportunity (like Ifaac) in the evening for fecret meditation and prayer, when he wants conveniency for it within doors; for a walk thus improved, may be a walk to heaven, and is very confiftent with walking with God. Only take these two cautions;

1. If you walk abroad this day, chufe to do it alone as much as poffible; for people going in troops to the fields occafions idlenefs, vain talking, fporting, and mifpending precious Sabbath-time. The fociety of vain perfons helpeth to embolden one another in fin and folly, and maketh them more incapable of Spiritual exercifes, than when fingle and apart. Yea, I am perfuaded, that these companies of people, who fo commonly go a walking together on the Lord's day, do not fo much as pretend to be fpiritually employed. Alas! they who know them beft, can tell that they are most unfit for it at fuch occafions. Should any come and fpeak to them about death and eternity, Chrift and their fouls, or propose any ferious question concerning the fermon they have been hearing, I fear he might expect to be mocked and laughed at by them for his pains.

2. Let your walking abroad, in any of the forefaid cafes, be fo ordered, that it may not give fcandal, nor infnare others: Study to do it fo privately, that others may not be hardened or encouraged in their loose recreations, on this day by your example: For even these things which are lawful, and otherwife neceffry in themselves, are not to be done when they may prove a scandal or temptation to others to fin; for, in fuch cafes, we ought to deny our felves of our lawful liberty.

Object." We find two of Christ's difciples travelling to Emmaus and back again, on the Lord's day, and Chrift met with them, and did not reprove them for it," Luke xxiv.

Anf. This was the first Lord's day of all, and was not then fully inftitute, or, at least, made known to the difciples; for they were not then affured of Chrift's re

furrection..

furrection. Again, walking abroad this day, for pro moting the works of piety, for declaring God's glory, or preaching the gofpel, is not unlawful: And fuch was this walking of our Saviour, and his two disciples, their return to Jerufalem this day.

Now, having fully handled this point, of the negative fanctification of the Sabbath, or the holy reft requifite upon it; I proceed to treat of the pofitive fanctification of the day, and of the holy exercifes required therein.

SECTION II.

Concerning the pofitive fanctification of the Sabbath, and the boly exercifes requifite upon it.

THE

HE reft of the Sabbath is not a lazy idle reft: No; it is a holy active fort of reft that is required upon it. Though we ceafe from works of one kind, yet we must be diligent in works of another kind. What I have to fay on this head may be fummed up in the following directions.

1. Concerning the difpofition and frame of the foul, needful for fanctifying the Sabbath.

2. Concerning the holy duties requifite upon the Sabbath.

3. Concerning the fpecial order, method and manner, wherein thefe duties are to be performed.

4. Concerning thofe particular fins, whereby the fanctification of the Sabbath is hindered, or the Sabbath profaned.

DIRECTION I.

Concerning the Frame of Spirit fit for Sanctifying the Lord's

Day.

THE most fuitable frame and difpofition of foul, which I can recommend for fanctifying the Sabbath

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