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"he rejoices in them more than in all riches," Pfal. cxix. Yea, nothing in the world is fuch 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 such a pleasure and recreation to him, as when he can win above thefe, 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 Chrift, 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 thofe, who of old called Sabbath-work a burden, and said, "when will the Sabbath be gone?" Amos viii. 5. This temper ftands in oppofition to gospel holiness: Therefore I think, J. S. and every gofpel minifter fhould be so far from indulging it, by giving way to carnal recreations and diverfions, that he should 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 awakening seriousnefs, 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 strengthens the disease, and is as bad as the difeafe.

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 mercy 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 thefe 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 exercises, 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 moft unfit for it at fuch occafions. Should any come and speak to them about death and eternity, Christ and their fouls, or propofe 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 ourselves of our lawful liberty.

Object. "We find two of Christ's difciples travelling to Emmaus and back again, on the Lord's day, and Christ 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 difciples, 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 exercises required therein.

SECTION II.

Concerning the pofitive functification of the Sabbath, and the boly exercifes requifue 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 special order, method and manner, wherein these 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 moft fuitable frame and difpofition of foul, which I can recommend for fancifying the Sabbath

day,

day, is that of John the divine, Rev. i. 1o. "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day." It is a most comprehenfive expreffion, and a noble pattern for our imitation; wherefore I fhall enquire into the meaning and import of it. It is probable it may imply fomething extraordinary with refpect to John; he might be in fome fingular fpiritual extafy or tranfport, which ordinary Chriftians cannot attain to: Nevertheless, the expreffion imports fomething attainable, and which ought to be endeavoured by all true Chriftians on the Lord's day.

To be in the Spirit, may be taken either as refpecting the Spirit of God, or our own spirits, or both: For certainly both the Spirit of God, and our own fpirits, are neceffary, and to be much employed, in the fanctification of the Lord's day: Wherefore, taking the expreffion as including both, I conceive, to be" in the Spirit on the Lord's day," imports these things:

1. A fpecial dependence upon God's Spirit, for conduct and affiftance, in order to the right performance of the duties of the Sabbath, and exercise of the graces therein: For, without the Spirit's aid, we can neither pray, praise, hear, read, or do any thing aright.

2. The" ferving of God with our fpirits," as Rom. i. 9. or "worshipping him in fpirit," John iv. 24. and performing the duties of the Sabbath with inward fincerity of heart. "The Lord defires truth in the inward parts. He faith, "My fon, give me thy heart;" not, Give me thy ear, thy tongue, thy lips, thy hands, or thy knees; for thefe may be given without the heart: But the heart can never be bestowed without these as its attendants. This is fo neceffary in all our duties, and approaches to God, that God faith of it, as Jofeph did of Benjamin, " Unless ye bring your hearts along with you, ye shall not fee You may my face." obferve Sabbaths, hear fermons, fing pfalms, put up prayers, &c. but all will be to no purpose, Ifa. i. II. God would rather have the heart without the body, than the body without the heart. Soul-prayer, when it is alone, is accepted; but wo to bodily prayer, if it be alone.

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313. A folemn retiring ourselves from the world, and abftracting our thoughts from earthly things, that we may be fitted for more immediate approaches to God, and intimate converfe with him on his own day, where-b in he ufes to deal more familiarly with his people than at other times..

AA laying ourselves open to the influences and operations of the Spirit of God, waiting for and thank-y fully entertaining his motions, convictions, reproofs, and confolations, when they are allowed to us in the I ordinances; and carefully guarding against every thing that may in the leaft grieve or offend the Holy Spirit.

5. A more than ordinary intenfenefs of heart and affections in the duties of God's worship: On Sabbath days, efpecially, we should be "fervent in fpirit, ferve.g ing the Lord," we fhould call in all our traying o thoughts and affections, praying with the pfalmift, Pfal. lxxxvi. 11. "Unite my heart to fear thy name ;" and ✅ Pfal xxx. 18. “ Quicken us, and we fhall call upon t'y name." This day we fhould put forth our fpiri-2 tual ftrength to the utmoft, perform every duty, and exert every grace, with the greatest intenfenels; we ought to love God with the moft fublime affections, obey him with the pureft intentions, pray to him with the moft fervent importunity, and praife him with the o moit fpiritual elevation of heart: Nay, do it in fome fuitable proportion to the greatnefs of that God," with whom we have to do", "in fo folemn a manner on the Lord's day; for, Pfal. cl. 2. we must not only "praife him for his mighty acts," but "praife him accordingg to his excellent greatnefs," we muft worship him like himfelf.

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6. A willing and chearful performance of Sabbath duties: We ought to call the Sabbath" a delight, holy and honourable and go this day with" joy to draw water out of the wells of a be 66. ells of falvation," and joyful the houfe of prayer." Holy David was not fatisfied this day with a bare approach to the altar, but he muft "go to God as his exceeding joy," Pfal xliii. 4. And t ought not believers under the gofpel more efpecially to i do this on the Lord's day, who have God in human

nature

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