Solitude Improved by Divine Meditation, Chapter 14
CHAP. XIV. Of the Sabbath, and Lords day.
THere now remains but one thing more to be added to what hath been ſaid concerning daily Meditation, namely, the Meditation relating to that eminent day of God, firſt the ſeventh day of the week, now in the New Teſtament times changed to, and called the firſt day of the week, and the Lords-day.
1. As to the riſe, nature, ends, and advantages the Sabbath in the Old Teſtament, and the Lords-day in the New, it is the beſt day that ever the world ſaw, or ſhall be ſeen on this ſide Heaven.
2. It was and is that day wherein the infinite Glories and Excellencies of a God, have ſhined brighter and warmer on the ſpirits of men, than in any other days beſide; namely his infinite Wiſdom, Power, Love, Goodneſs, Mercy, and Riches of free Grace.
3. The Sabbath, as ſome judge, had its riſe ſo early as in Paradiſe, or when man was in ſtate of innocency; it muſt then be of very great Antiquity, and a rarity of great worth. And,
4. Then it muſt be that only holy day which man in ſtate of innocency had; and poſſibly, if he had ſtood, ſhould ever have had afterward.
5. After the firſt inſtitution it had the moſt glorious and tremendous promulgation and ſanction, ſuch a delivery and ratification, as no other Law (except thoſe that were ſpoken at the ſame time) ever had, namely, by Gods ſo wonderful and moſt aſtoniſhing appearance on Mount Sinai, in the ſight of ſix hundred thouſand perſons: There it was one of the ten words ſpoken by Gods own mouth, by God firſt ſpoken in the ears of all that ſo prepared and awakened numerous multitude, and after in the Mount was written with the finger of God, written on the firſt Table of Stone, before the ſix Commandments of the ſecond Table. This Commandment thus written, was with the others reſerved in the Golden Ark or Cheſt, made purpoſely by Moſes from Gods Command to keep the Tables, and then by Gods Appointment was to be preſerved in the glorious Tabernacle made by Moſes, and there it was to be with higheſt honour prefer'd to be kept in the Holy of Holies.
6. Though ſome yield it not, yet others judge the Sabbath had its change, from the ſeventh to the firſt day of the week, by the Lord of the Sabbath, Chriſt himſelf, or at leaſt by his Apoſtles from his Authority.
7. However it be changed, yet it is lookt upon as grounded on that ſo amazing part of our Redemption, Chriſts ſo glorious Reſurrection on the third day after his Paſſion.
8. The Sabbath formerly was the Old Teſtament Churches fixed time, to behold as in a mirrour the glory of God the Creator, his Eternal Godhead, Power, Wiſdom, Goodneſs, and moſt glorious Excellencies, in the ſo admirable frame of Heaven and Earth, and the ſo various and curious pieces in it, all moſt exquiſitely wrought and finiſht.
It was the peculiar time for ſetting up the Ladder of the Creatures by Contemplation to climb from Earth to Heaven with.
But now changed into the firſt day of the week, it is the Chriſtian Churches time for beholding as in a mirrour, the glory more peculiarly of God the Redeemer; now not in his Humiliation, but in his appearing and begun Exaltation in that his glorious Reſurrection from the dead, that his concerned people might joy with higheſt and moſt heavenly rejoycing, for this riſing of the Sun of Righteouſneſs, to be under the warmeſt and moſt vivifical beams of his infinite love.
9. Let me Meditate of this day, as the time afforded for largeſt ſpiritual advantages, no day being ſo eminent for me and my Soul as this day.
10. Let me Meditate of this day as that happy ſeaſon, wherein the Ordinances of Chriſt do run in a fuller higher, and ſtronger current.
More is offered me on this great ſoul-mart day than on other common Market-days, other weekday opportunities; it is the day whereby in ſome reſpects I have far better Ordinances, the Publick; in Communion with Chriſt, in the midſt, among thoſe that are gathered together in his Name.
And then by the Publick I have better advantages for the Private, to perform them better. Private Duties having a better time and better helps, I muſt thereby be minded of my better performance.
11. It is the eminent day of meeting with God in his upper walks of more ſolemn Ordinances.
12. The day of days for our beſt ſpeaking with our God, and of higheſt familiarity with him.
13. It's the great time of our hearing from God, and having him moſt eminently to ſpeak to us: There be no hearings from God like this days hearings, no ſuch voice, no ſuch efficacy can be expected as on this day.
14. It is the day wherein God ſits out, and is moſt to be ſeen; the great day of ſeeing Gods goings in the Sanctuary, ſeeing his Power and his Glory: No ſuch day for this as the Lords own day. Pſ. 63.2.
15. A day of feeding more on the Feaſt of fat things full of Marrow, Iſa. 25.6. Of being brought into the Kings Banquetting-Houſe, having the Banner of Chriſts love ſpread more amply over us, than at other times, it being the day wherein the higheſt flamings up of his unſpeakable love appeared, in that he not only died, but roſe again from the dead, without which all his other labour and ſufferings had been loſt, and our ſouls been alſo loſt, 1 Cor. 15.
16. It is a day dropt down from Heaven, may ſerve to give a taſte of the Sabbath and day kept there, and to ſet a Copy for us here to write after, in our holy reſtings and actings, attended with heavenly refreſhings.
God that made all things, when he had finiſhed his work, he then reſted on the ſeventh day, and with his example of reſting, gave the precept of ſanctifying the ſeventh day to the Church of the Old Teſtament.
And the Lord of the Sabbath, Chriſt Jeſus, reſting from his work, and riſing the firſt day of the week, gives the Example, and with the Example the Precept of reſting and keeping holy the firſt day of the week to the Church of the New Teſtament, as ſome think, which therefore, Rev. 1.10. they ſay is called the Lords day, as the Ordinance of the Supper is called the Lords Supper, as inſtituted by him.
17. It is the day of reſting the body from labour, of reſpiteing the mind from worldly thoughts and cares, and of refreſhing the ſpirit with heavenly Manna, which rains down now on this day more plentifully; and with water of life that runs more abundantly in the pure Channels of holy Ordinances.
18. Meditated on it ſhould be, as the ſeaſon of the beſt reciprocations, mutual actings between Earth and Heaven, wherein the ſoul hath the advantage of acting higher and more vigorouſly, to glorifie and pleaſe God, Pſal. 24.5. and wherein God commands the bleſſing more, and affords aſſiſtances more uſually than on any other days, as experiences prove.
19. Its a time to come from ſweeter and fuller communion with God in Chriſt (whoſe bleſſed day it is) to come with our faces ſhining and hearts flaming, made better to be on Earth, fitter to live in Heaven: And hereupon
20. To leave upon the ſpirit a more eager longing fully to enjoy the Lord of the Sabbath, and have time turned wholly into Eternity.
Theſe or ſuch like Meditations may be ſutable and quickening for improving the great opportunity of this day of Chriſt, and we cannot think too much, or too ſeriouſly for this great occaſion.
Having in ſome meaſure thus endeavoured to open and illuſtrate this point of daily Meditation, both that which may be ſutable for the ſix days, and for the Lords day, I paſs to the next ſort, Occaſional Meditation.