hofts, and offering themselves, and all their fervices to the King of kings? were there any thing of mifguided zeal in it, even to an excess of loyalty and devotion; yet fhould I count it a very happy mistake, for all the world to be deceived into fuch a religious pofture: and to do that once a week, in more folemn manner, all together, one day, at which they ought to be doing fomewhat apart by themselves every day. And inftead of cenfuring our law-makers, for fhewing a 'more than ordinary concern here to have the Lord's day religiously obferved, I do the more honour the powers ordained of God, that they will fo interpofe, to restrain the libertines; who are for making bold with the day themselves, and alfo for interrupting and hindering others, that have a defire, devotion, and refolution, for its fanctification.

But yet, my foul, I would not have thee to look upon it as all of man, and a mere human inftitution neither: when indeed the very law of nature obliges us to fet apart fome fufficient portion of our time, to recognize and adore the God, in whose hands are all our times. And fure our Lord Jefus 'did not come to destroy that Law. Though the day of God's firft appointing, in memory of the world's creation, is changed; to commemorate now a greater work, in the new creation; yet I cannot think that the thing itself is dropt; and the fabbath quite loft; or that the command which was graven among the rest, in tables of ftone, by the finger of God, is utterly effaced, and nothing but a blank left in its room. No, he bleft and hallowed the Sabbath, and it fhall be bleft and hallowed. For the bleffing and fanctification follows the thing, not the time; nor is it tied to a particular day, but to the Sabbath, wherefoever it falls, by any alteration that appears to be of him. And though the old Sabbath is expired, because the reafon of it is ceafed, by a mightier and worthier production, than that of nature,

yet

yet the gospel, which fignifies to us the abrogation of the feventh day, give us intimations of the next day after it, as heir apparent, fubftituted in its room. I will not offer to be fo wife above what is written, as to tell, what inftruction or commiffion our Lord might give his Apoftles, in those forty days between his refurrection and afcenfion; when he fpake to them of "the things pertaining to the

kingdom of God," Acts i. 3. But it is evident, that they had their religious affemblies on the first day of the week, long before the New Teftament was written; and then, what need to tell, that which none questioned, and every one knew, even as well as the day that went over their heads? or to give new orders for the obfervation of that which was already in practice and poffeffion? and as Ignatius, who lived nearest the Apoftles (and was St. John's scholar) fignified his mind, when he bade (cò φιλόχριςος ἑορταζέτω Κηριακην,) That every lover of Chrift fhould celebrate the Lord's Day, the Prince of days; fo it much determines me, both that it is called, THE LORD'S DAY: which gives a good prefumption, that (like the Lord's Supper) it is of his own appointment: and further, that all the churches of Chrift, ever fince, in all ages, have obferved it: and only here and there, a fingular humorift, or the profane generation are the objectors, who wrangle again that for which they have no kindness: becaufe they had much rather, the world, than the Lord, fhould have them. But even fome of the loofe Writers themselves, can yet commend the care of its pious obfervers. For as it ftands in the midft of the commandments, like the keeper of both tables fo does fad experience fhew us, that even all religion falls together with it; and men run into a Heathenifh wildness, without it: fo that we need not be at pains to difgrace the neglecters and violators of it; who, alas! are fo wretched a comVOL. I. pany,

3.K

pany, that ufe to expose themselves. O what will become of their fouls, who do fo little for them all the week; if they take no more care, but also to lofe this day? if they think not the week wide enough for their worldly works, and their carnal fports; but must be entrenching upon the hallowed season; and grudge one day in seven for him, who giveth all to them?

O my foul! look upon it, as thy own marketday; and beftir thee, to make thy beft pennyworths, and thy utmost advantage of it. Though thou art not tied to the Jewish ceremony and feverity; yet never run into the Latitudinarian contempt and liberty; to make this holy day, even the profanest of all the feven, ftand not all the day idle; to ren der it (lucem ignavam) a play-day, inftead of a day confecrated to the Lord: nor change the honest labour, for wicked loofenefs: as thofe who reft from the common works, only that they may the better have while to ferve their filthy lufts. O bear not this day as a burden; like one out of his element, quite fick of it; till he has got fome vain diverfion, to ease him of the fatigue. But be glad of it, as the joyful day, of meeting with thy God; and converfing with the King of heaven. Delight in it; and make much of it, and lofe none of that moft precious time. Contrive and cater, for the beft helps thou canft compafs; books and fermons, companies and exercises; to fill up the time, with one fort of pious offices after another; reading, hearing, meditation, confeffion, prayer, and praife: fuch a heavenly circuit, and holy variety; as will make thee a happy foul, so to beftow thyself: when thou fheweft, that thou doft not need the world to fupport thee: and canft be very well contented, not only to hold in thy hands and thy feet, but thy tongue alfo, from the common worldly occafions, and frivolous vanities, and find thyfelf fomewhat else to do, much better business, which

not

not only more concerns thee, but goes off fo fweetly with thee that thou art never better pleased, than when fo employed. O count this day better than a thoufand, for the honour it brings to God, and the great good to the world, to keep fin under fome reftraint and difgrace; and to make religion thrive and flourish, and the gofpel prevail and profper; to the gaining of poor finners, and the faving of many fouls.

And if any one afk me, whether I am a careful obferver of the Lord's day? let my answer be fuch, as in primitive times it was, to the fame queflion ; (chriftianus fum; non poffum intermittere.) I am a Chriftian and how then can I neglect it? I fhould miftruft all my allegiance and duty to my Lord, were I not very forward and chearful, to pay him this homage; one day in a week, devoted to his immediate service. Yea I fhould think my own folly never to be excufed; did I no better know what were good for myself, than to decline the heavenly benefit, and fhun the opportunities of doing myself the greatest kindness. O forget not the bleffings and revivings, my foul, which thou thyfelf haft found upon this day: and let this endear it, that thou haft fared fo much the better for it. O pity fuch, as know not what to do with themselves this day, and can find no joy or eafe, but in out-running the holy bufinefs. Ŏ what heaven do they think to find, in fpending a whole eternity with the bleffed God; and living in the enjoyment of him for ever; that cannot abide now to bear him, but for a day, and are all for fhifting away from him, when the invitation is given them, to come to him, and wait upon him. O know thy privilege better, my foul, than to be willing, fo to lofe it. Blefs the God of heaven for it: and fo make thy advantage of it, that thou mayft, by this means, be trained up to blefs and praise him elfe

where for ever.

THE

THE PRAYER.

T is no hard impofition upon us, but the ef fect of thy care and kindness, O Lord, to give "the day of holy reft unto us, and lay fuch an op"portunity, for our fouls advantage, before us. O "how high is the honour, and how great the privi"lege, to approach unto thee, and to be taken "up with thee? may I ever efteem it, and be "pleased with it, and delight in it, as it deferves. "O let me be glad to go into the house of the Lord i " and count a day there better than a thousand. "Fit me, Lord, to perform the duties, and to receive "the bleffings of thy day, and may I fo love and "hallow all the Lord's days, while I am upon earth,

that I may thus be prepared for the glorious being "with my Lord for ever, in the kingdom of hea ven. Amen."

I

MEDITATION XCIII.

Of Profitable preaching.

T is a notion that prevails with fome, (to which I cannot fubfcribe,) that the defign of preaching is but to convert infidels to the faith of Chrift, and when people do but once own and profefs Chrifti. anity, then it is of little or no ufe among any fuch. But though this be one end of preaching, to profe lyte foreigners to the Chriftian belief, yet, fo far is it from being all, that it is of conftant need, even to them that do name the name of Chrift; to build them up in their most holy faith, and to direct and engage them, to all the duties of a suitable life. For,

alas,