The Practical Sabbatarian, Chapter 51
CHAP. LI. A ſecond Decad of Arguments, to re-inforce the ſame perſwaſion, that we would keep holy the Lords day.
IT was not without a myſtery of Providence, that God ſhould give the Decalogue upon Mount Sinai in the Exod. 19. 18.midſt of fire and ſmoak, a terrible appearance; was it not to foretell the ſeverities of God, which he would execute upon thoſe who ſhould gainſay his ten words by neglect, and diſobedience? But he hath corrected the violation of none of them with more ſharpneſs and indignation, then that which relates to the Sabbath, as hath been abundantly diſcovered. But now that I may leave nothing unattempted to court the Reader to a due obſervation of Gods holy day, I ſhall draw the line from another point of the circumference, meeting ſtill in the ſame Center. Other Arguments I ſhall uſe to preſs conſcience to the obedience of Chriſt in a holy 2 Cor. 10. 5.keeping of his own bleſſed day.
Arg. 1 Let us take notice that God hath embroydered this holy day with the riches of grace: Upon this day God hath cauſed Reges nos fecit Chriſtus, tum quia regni ſui adaptavit cohaeredes, tum quia efficit, ut per gratiam ſp. peccatum mortem, Satanam & hoſtes omnes vincamus, tum quia nos ſua membra tandem coronabit. Sacerdotes fecit, ut hoſtias ſpirituales offeramus deo, acceptas per ipſum, quin & ipſos nos in vivam h…ſtiam gratitudinis deo conſecremus. Par.light to ſhine out of darkneſs, and brought many a dead Lazarus out of his grave; and of ſtones hath raiſed up Children to Abraham, Mat. 3. 9. Of Lions he hath made lambs to God, and out of ſinful men hath converted thouſands to the faith of Chriſt. Upon this day God hath made the bland to ſee, the deaf to hear, and dumb to ſpeak, nay, and the lame to walk in the wayes of his holy Commandments. This is the day of Gods wonder-working, the ſphear wherein his free grace ſhines the brighteſt. Whereas the works of the firſt creation were all done upon ſix dayes, and none upon the ſeventh, which was then the Sabbath day; all the works the new creation are ordinarily done upon the Sabbath day, rather then upon any of the ſix dayes. This hath been the Birth day of many ſpiritual Kings and Prieſts, Rev. 1. 6. The Pſalmiſt ſaith, Pſal. 87. 5. And of Sion it ſhall be ſaid, this and that man was born therein: And of the Lords day it may be ſaid, this and that man was born therein. O bleſſed day! Millions of Saints in heaven are now bleſſing this day of God, and bleſſing God for this day. I read of one who curſed the day of his natural birth, Job 3. 3. But I never read of any who curſed the day of his new birth. This is the day of reſcuing the prey from the mighty, the day of opening the Priſon door and ſetting the captive free. This is a day much to be obſerved to the Lord, for bringing Exod. 12. 42.ſouls out of their ſpiritual Egypt, out of the houſe of ſinful bondage. This bleſſed day hath been the wedding day of many ſouls, the day of their eſpouſals to Chriſt, when the knot hath been ſo knit, that it hath not been looſned to eternity.
Thus God hath magnified his own day, and ſhall not we ſanctifie it? Shall he put a beauty, and ſhall we put a ſcar upon it? Shall he proſper, and ſhall we prophane it? His bounty invites our purity, all the badges of honour God puts upon it, only beſpeaks our holineſs: It is a princely day, and we come to Princes with reverence and Veneration. Gods wonderful works on this day, muſt meet with our ſpiritual operations, and our ſerious devotions: For us to ſport jocularly to recreate our ſelves needleſly, or to demean our ſelves ſlightly on that day wherein God acts gloriouſly; what is it, but in effect to ſay, we will not have the Lord of the Sabbath Mark 2. 27.to reign over us?
Arg. 2 The good obſervation of the Lords day may influence the whole week: Uſually the tenor of the week follows the temper of the Sabbath. If we have been conſcientious on Gods day, we will be careful on the week day: But as Reverend Calvin obſerves, If we are vain and frothy, looſe and licentious Calvin upon Deuter. Serm. 5. p. 34.on Gods holy day; it is no marvel if we become brutiſh and abominable all the reſt of the week. Let any man obſerve his own heart, and he ſhall find, that the more he hath let himſelf looſe to carnal liberty on the Lords day, the more looſe his heart will be in all good duties the whole week following. Let men neglect meditation, repetition of Sermons, holy conference, and other private duties, betakeing themſelves after the publick worſhip is over, to vain and worldly diſcourſe, or vainer pleaſures; they ſhall quickly find that the publick ſervice is utterly loſt, and become unprofitable. And on the contrary, as Moſes continued forty dayes with God on the Mount, had his face ſhining with ſplendor and glory, Exod. 34. 30. So he who ſhall this day foreign. Septuag.of God, wholly converſe with God, not only in publick Ordinances, as Moſes in the tabernacle, but likewiſe in private duties, as Moſes on the Mount, ſhall find a ſenſible ſpiritual vigour, and an unexpected ſtrength to carry him through all the occaſions of the whole week following, and a kind of glorious luſtre ariſing from the increaſe of holineſs put upon him, and this ſhall be viſible to the eye and hearts of others.Eccleſ. 3. 1.
He who keeps the Lords day with the moſt ſtrict and and accurate obſervation, ſhall find
1. Moſt bleſſing upon his labours.
2. Moſt holineſs in heart and life.
3. Moſt comfort and joy in his own ſoul.
4. Moſt ſweetneſs in death.
5. Moſt glory and reſt in Heaven, when there remains that Populo dei ſupereſt Sabbatiſmus (i. e.) requies d…i, ad quam quotidiè ſanctus vocatur. Par.everlaſting Sabbatiſm for all the people of God. It is a good obſervation of a learned man, That when the ſpirit cometh effectually to convince of ſin, uſually one of the firſt ſins which the eye of the enlightned conſcience fixes upon, is the neglect of the Lords day: and conviction uſually ending in converſion, one of the firſt duties which the ſoul comes ſeriouſly to cloſe withall, is the ſtrict obſervation of the Lords day, and grace uſually works this way, and doth exceedingly diſpoſe to this duty. Young Converts will be full of meltings on Gods holy day.
And truly, the holy obſervation of the Sabbath much ſpeaks the temper of a Chriſtian. However the week fares as Judg. 12. 6.the Sabbath doth. Good Sabbaths uſher in good weeks, and are the morning ſtars of an approaching day: when we hear truth on the Sabbath, digeſting it by prayer and meditation, when we put up ſtrong cries to God with fervour and devotion, when we enjoy Ordinances, our ſpiritual meals on a Sabbath with appetite and ſatisfaction; this will caſt a chain upon our corrupt hearts, and will be bellows to our future zeal, wil ſupply us with holy meditations, which will be as ſo many bright gleams, and will put a heat upon our affections, and make us every way act the Saint all the enſuing week. As Queen Mary ſaid when ſhe loſt Callais, When I am dead, open me, and you ſhall find Callais written upon my heart: So the Chriſtian who hath been very ſerious on Gods day, you ſhall find Sabbath written upon his heart all the following week. The ſeent of a conſcientious Sabbath is not eaſily loſt, nor is the warmth of it ſo ſpeedily chilled; ſouls drenched in Sabbath Ordinances like veſſels ſeaſoned with excellent liquors, Quo ſemel eſt imbuta recens, ſervabit odorem, Teſta diu.they long retain the taſte. The believer is diſciplined upon a Sabbath, and we do not eaſily forget our Education. A Sermon kindly entertained on the Lords day, will be faithfully improved on the week day. Our beſt Chriſtians were ever ſtricteſt on the Sabbath. Thoſe taſts of love we then ſenſe and guſt, will abide, and not lightly wear off, theſe will lie upon the heart when the Sabbath is over. Let us keep Sabbaths well, we ſhall be better in our ſhops, better in our worldly affairs, better in our families, better in our diſcourſes, better in our converſes, more righteous in our dealings, more exemplary in our walkings, more vigorous in our duties all the week following. After a well paſſed Sabbath, we ſhall more watch our hearts, more keep our ground, and withſtand temptations, and the deceipts of our Calling, which happily Quaeſtus magnus eſt pietas, quia opes ſupernaturales ſecum affert, et amicitiam dei obtinet, qui ſuis opes coeleſtes promittit & praeparat.are quilted into the very nature of it, ſhall not ſo much tempt, as exaſperate and provoke us. The whole week muſt be ſpent holy to prepare us the better for the Sabbath, and the Sabbath muſt be ſpent h…ly, the better to influence the week; as the beginning with God on the morning of a Sabbath, may influence the whole Sabbath; ſo the beginning with God in the morning of the week, viz. The Lords day, may exceedingly influence and proſper the whole week. He 2 Theſ. 2. 10.who on the Sabbath hath been much in the work of heaven, cannot eaſily be much in the droſs of earth, or the dregs of ſin on the time of the week. Ordinances, like clocks, when they have ſtruck leave a ſound and a noiſe for a conſiderable time; nor can a Sermon carefully heard, be preſently ſhaken out of the heart. The word when received in the love thereof, is fire in the bones, Jer. 20. 9. and not heat in the face; an inward warmth which is permanent, and not only a colour which is tranſient: The taſts, the impreſſions, the power and ſpirituality of a well-obſerved Sabbath, cannot without much difficulty, ſtrong aſſaults of Satan, powerful workings of a corrupt heart be diſanulled and eradicated. Hearts ſteeped in holy Ordinances will not ſoon loſe their perfume. It is very true, our ſlight deportment in Ordinances makes them ſuperficial, and ſo ſoon ſlide off; and they who paſs over the Sabbath looſly, will ſpend the week profligately; they who ſpend it formally, will ſpend the week vainly: But a ſerious compoſure of ſpirit on Gods holy day, will blow off the froth of the enſuing week. Ignatius (as hath been ſuggeſted) calls the Lords day, the Queen of dayes; Regis ad exemplum totus componitur O…bis.and according to the example of the Queen, inferiour and ſubordinate days will be compoſed. The endeavour of every Chriſtian ſhould be, that his practices in ſecret, in his calling, in his company on the week day, ſhould be anſwerable to the great priviledges he enjoyed, and to the rich grace he received on the Lords day. One well obſerves, That Religion is juſt as the Sabbath, and it decays or groweth as the Sabbath is eſteemed, it flouriſhes in a due Veneration of the Sabbath, and it pines and conſumes, when the Sabbath is under neglect or contempt. And Dr. Twiſſe takes notice, That the conſcionable obſervation of the Sabbath ever was, & is a principal means to draw us to ſpiritual reſt from ſin, and to fit us for an eternal reſt in glory. In a word, the Sabbath and the week are both embarqued in the ſame ſhip, they both are ſafe or ſink together; if our ſouls thrive upon a Sabbath by our holy deportments upon it, and our careful improvements of it, it will be ſeen in the week; but if by our careleſs behaviour we grow lean upon the Sabbath, like Pharaoh his lean Kine Gen. 41 20.in his Dream, it prognoſticates nothing leſs than a Famine of grace and happineſs.
Arg. 3 We put on our beſt Attire upon a S…b…th, and why ſh…uld we not be in our beſt ſpiritual Dreſs? Shall we deck our Bodies, and neglect our Souls? Shall we ſtand before God on his own day, with Bodies dreſſed with all art and curioſity, Ille Judaeus vere eſt, qui tal… eſt in abſc…dito. Q…i fidem, & …bed…entiam prae…at Chriſto, … h…bet cir…ciſionem c…rdis, conv…rſ…ne cordis ad Deum. Par.but with Souls undreſſed, and unprepared, ruffled with worldly thoughts, unwaſhed by repentance, all things h…nging careleſs and looſe by formality, only painted over, and dawbed with pretence and hypocriſie? The f…rma…iſt on a Sabbath might correct himſelf by his Ga…, and the exactneſs of his Attire. Surely it is an high blemiſh to Religion, to be curious in our faſhion, and to be careleſs in our devotion, and to ſpend more time on a Sabbath, to ſet the D…ſs, … curl the Hair, and to fit the Garment, than to inflame Devotion, to compoſe the Heart, and to trim the Lamp, to meet with the Bridegroom of our Souls: Shall not a piece of Eternity be as richly attired on the Lords day, as a piece of duſt and clay? Why ſhould not the Soul wear the Ornaments of Grace, put on the Jewels of Faith and Zeal, be 1 Pet. 3. 3, 4.dreſſed up with holy thoughts, with heavenly deſires, with ſpiritual aims, with ſteddy reſolutions for further increaſes of grace and ſanctity, as well as the ſinking dying body, a crumbling lump of earth, be adorned with all the gariſh modes of art and bravery? Nothing more uncouth, that when the body is only the plain caſe of a pretious Soul, that it ſhould be decked on a Sabbath, with all the ſetting forth of coſtly and lovely Ornament; but the immortal Soul ſhould want its trimming, to make it look comely in the eyes of its Beloved: when the Body is the fine cover of a deformed Soul, what is this, but to ſhovel dung into a rich Coffer, or to put Pebbles into an Ebony Casket? A ſerious Chriſtian would more mind the trimming of the Lamp, than Mat. 25. 7.the ſetting of the Dreſs; or elſe the ſetting of the Dreſs ſhould more mind him of the trimming of the Lamp.
Arg. 4 Let us conſider what a rare priviledge it is, to enjoy the Sabbath of the Lord: To keep a Sabbath is not our work, but our reſt; not our ſervice, but our liberty; not our task, Pſal. 42. 4.but our triumph. The Sanctuary is the Souls Paradiſe, and Pſal. 24. 4.Ordinances are the Tree of life in this Garden of Eden; O Pſal. 84. 10.then let us not turn this grace into wantonneſs. Kings do not ſpurn their Crowns, nor uſe their Scepters to turn up Turffs in the field. The Mariner makes not uſe of the Deck of his Ship to be a Stage to act on. Thus Antipodes to reaſon and religion do prophane perſons act, when they ſlight over the momentous Sabbath of God: ſhall God honour us with a Sabbath, and ſhall we provoke him on a Sabbath? Great Eſtates amplifie the prodigality of the Heir, and make his ſin more odious and ſhameful. Our Sabbaths are our ſeaſons of grace, our ſpiritual Mart, our Piſgah ſight of Canaan, our Term-time to follow our Suit for glory and eternity, and to prophane and formalize away theſe acceptable days of life and ſalvation; what is it, but to throw Jewels upon Cùm omnibus diebus h…mo ſeſe occupet in negotiis ſuis ne…eſſariis, die ſabbati conſentaneum eſt, ut ſe ſegreget, et quieſcat propter Dei gloriam. Aben Ezra.the Dunghil, and to diſinherit the Soul of its primogeniture, as if its concerns were not conſiderable, and of little importance? How can we do the work of Earth or Hell upon this heavenly day! If we will be working, Let us work out our ſalvation with fear and trembling, Phil. 2. 12. Our Sabbaths are mercy, rich mercy, coſtly mercy, ſoul mercy, the fineſt of the Wheat: Let us then ſolemnly obſerve them, and dextrouſly improve them, remembring that he who had five talents, gained five more, Mat. 25. 20. The Viceroy whoſe truſt is great, and charge more honourable, he is more active Quamquam fidelis ſervus minimè gloriatur, tamen fidelitatem et diligentiam debitam Deo humilitèr commendat. Par. Exod. 20. 7, 8.and vigilant, then every petty Officer whoſe Precincts are narrow and inconſiderable. O that Chriſtians would keep holy Gods bleſſed day: What is it, O devout Souls, but a day-break of eternal brightneſs? And let us not forget, that as God will not hold him guiltleſs, who takes his Name in vain, ſo neither him, who ſpends his day in vain: Thoſe ſurely are fooliſh Children who play by their Candle, and thoſe frantick Chriſtians, who frivolouſly paſs over that holy day, wherein they enter into the ſuburbs of the holy City, and begin that work of praiſing, pleaſing, and enjoying God, which ſhall be the Employment of Eternity.
Arg. 5 In the holy keeping of the Sabbath there is praemium in opere, a reward in the work. What would the Lord have thee to do on a Sabbath, but onelyonly enjoy himſelf? Our ſweat on a Sabbath is ſpent only in hearing from God in the preaching of the word, in flying to God in holy prayer and ſupplication, or contemplating on God in devout meditation, or feaſting with God at his own Table; ſo that in the whole management of a Sabbath, there is more honour than burden, more Opera ſabbati ſunt opera coeli.profit than pain, more delight than diſguſt: The works of a Sabbath, are the works of Heaven; and the Angels are not weary, nor the glorified Saints tired with ſinging Hall…lujahs. On a Sabbath we feed on Manna, and the fat things In noſtrà enim Do…ini… die ſemper pl…it domin… Ma… na de coelo: Coeleſtia namque ſunt eloquia illa verbum lectum et populo praedic…tum. Orig.of the Sanctuary; we drink of the Brook in the way, and of Wine on the Lees well refined, Iſa. 25. 6. we carry Benjamins Sack with the Cup in the mouth of it, Gen. 44. 2. we are ſpiritual Publicans, and take cuſtom of Heaven. All which aggravates Sabbath-prophanation; it would be ſtrange to ſee a Lutaniſt, who hath a rare Lute, and who is dextrous in playing on the Inſtrument, to ſpend his time in breaking the ſtrings of his Lute: What leſs doth the formal, or prophane perſon do, who enjoys the heavenly opportunity of a Sabbath, and loſes his good wind by ſloth or neglect, and ſlights over thoſe rare duties, which like Sampſons Lion, Judg. 14. 18.are ſweet in the ſtrong. Trace a Sabbath-work, and is it any thing elſe but gaining knowledge, treaſuring up truth, wreſtling with God for pardon, grace, and aſſurance, viſiting our Beloved, and driving the great Bargain of Eternity? And for which of theſe good works muſt the Sabbath be prophaned, John 10. 33, foreign.or thrown away? If Philoſophers ſay of Vertue, It is its own reward; is it not much more true, of holy worſhip, ſpiritual communion, converſe with Heaven, and thoſe pleaſing delights, which are the ſweet employment of a Sabbath? Therefore 1 John 1. 3.to pollute this day, or to trifle it away, what is it, but to Numb. 14. 8.bring an evil report on Canaan, a Land flowing with milk and honey?
Argum. 6 And it would be ſeriouſly conſidered, Sabbaths are upon the wing, and they will not long continue to us: We cannot ſay of richeſt Sabbaths, as once Chriſt ſaid of poor perſons, the Sabbaths ye have always with you, Mat. 26. 11. The Lords day is a triumphant, but a tranſient mercy: Now we enjoy theſe bleſſed Sabbaths and holy Ordinances; we know not how ſoon the Songs of Zion may be turned into howling, Lam. 1. 4, 16. And Icha…od may be written upon our weekly jubilies: We know not how ſoon Gods wrath, or John 12. 35.our own death, may hide th…ſe things which belong to our Levit. 26. 43.peace, from our eyes. O then let us improve our Sabbaths, Luc. 19. 42.our ſweet ſeaſons, our Summer-time, our divine Harveſt; for Prov. 6. 6, 7.if we do not gather grace on this day, what ſhall we have Jer. 8. 7.to lay out on the week-day? Or what ſhall we have to ſpend Prov. 10. 5.on a death-b…d, when we are ſtepping into another World? Pſal. 32. 6.We know the Water-man muſt obſerve his wind and tyde, Suus cui que conſtitutus eſt dies certum tempus quo operari poſſit, quo elapſo nihil amplius praeſtare queat. Chemnit.and when they ſerve, then he throws off his Doublet and beſtirs himſelf, left he ſhould fall ſhort of his Creek or Haven. It concerns us to mind Sabbaths, and to ſanctifie them to the Lord; then the gaſes of the Spirit blow fair, then the waters of the Sanctuary run right for the Port to which we are bound: but if theſe heavenly Opportunities ſlide away without our ſerious improvement, we muſt with Eſau Pſal. 115. 17.ſeek the Bleſſing carefully with tears, but it ſhall not accrue Heb. 12. 17.unto us. The Muſician plays his Leſſon, while the Inſtrument is in tune: let us ripen in grace while the Sabbath ſhines, and Sabbath-ſhowers continue. Our Saviour bids us work while it is day, John 9. 4. Surely this principally points at the Sabbath-day, which is the Souls day: It is but a few Sabbaths more, nay, it may be, not one more, and we ſhall go down to our ſilent Graves. Our life is uncertain, not a Sun, but a Vapour, Jam. 4. 14. and can our Sabbaths be ſure and ſteddy? Our Sabbaths are our Tyde for Heaven; and when the Tyde is paſt, there is no rowing to the Port. When the Traveller obſerves the Sun is declining, and draws towards ſetting, then he ſpurs up his Beaſt, and ſpeeds his pace, leſt the Night over-take him. Our Sabbaths are ſetting, and the Goſpel-Sun is low, is ſpeeding to a diſappearance; Let us then keep holy theſe days, and carefully make the beſt advantage of them, let us neither ſtain their beauty by our prophaneneſs, nor detract from their bounty by our neglect and formality, leſt the ſhadows of death over-take us; and then who ſhall remember God, or work for Pſal 115. 17.his Soul in the Pit or the Grave, where we ſhall be lodged, and awake no more till the Reſurrection?
Arg. 7 But though the Lords day be fleet and ſwift as to us, yet it is permanent in its ſelf, and in its duration calls for our devotion. We admire not a Candle ſo much as we do the Sun, Gen. 2. 3.and one reaſon is, becauſe the Candle waſtes, but the Sun endures: The light of our Sabbath is not a tranſient blaze, but a conſtant light, which will continue till the conſummation of all things; and God hath folded up all things in change or diſſolution. Now Permanency is a character of excellency; Gold is only refined in the ſame fire where dreſs is conſumed: The Prieſthood of Melchiſedech was more excellent Melchiſedec 400 annis ſacerdotium Aaroni…u… antec…ſſit, et ejus ſacerdotium Chriſti ſacerdotium repraeſe…tat, quod uſ que ad finem mundi duraturum eſt. Alap.than that of Aaron, becauſe it continued for ever, Heb. 7. 17. So the Sabbath of Chriſtians is more excellent than the Sabbath of the Jews, becauſe that found a grave, but this ſhall find none. To our Sabbath it may be ſaid, in compariſon with all the Jews Sabbaths, They ſhall periſh, but thou remaineſt; they ſhall all wax old as doth a Garment, as a Veſture ſhalt thou rowl them up, and they ſhall be changed, but thou art the ſame, and thy years ſhall not fail. To our Sabbath all the Powers of Earth and H…ll ſhall never put a period; it is a durable, and therefore an honourable Ordinance: And ſhall God honour it, and ſhall we deface it? Shall he promote it, and ſhall we prophane it? Shall he make it a laſting Ordinance, and ſet it up as a Marble Pillar in the Church? and ſhall we write froth and vanity upon it, as if it was a Tombſtone? Our Sabbath is no flying Ceremony, or tranſient Rite, which hath the worm of Judaiſm at the root of it, which will eat it out in time, but it is a ſtable inſtitution which God will have ſanctified with all exactneſs. The Perſians Laws E…h. 1. 19.were irrevocable, and therefore the more venerable; and the tranſgreſſion of but one of them, threw Daniel into the Lions Den, Dan. 6. 8, 12. So the Law of our Sabbath, it is ſolemn and ſolid, not ſubject to decay, or of a periſhing nature, which earneſtly preſſes the ſanctification, and amplifies exceedingly the pollution of it. It is not ſo great … to break a piece of glaſs, as to break a piece of Gold; … …eneſs is the blemiſh of every thing. Leaſes the ſhorter … are, the more inconſiderable. The life of nature is no w…y to be compared with th… life of grace, not only in point of ſweetneſs, but du…ation. Sin upon the Lords day, is not like …raſe upon a picture, which is a fading paint, but like a flaw in a Jewel, it is a more durable blemiſh, and a more praejudicial debaſement. God h…th not only ſtamped his Name upon our Sabbath, but ſomething of his Nature; there is a kind of eternity engraven upon it; and therefore the violation of it Rev. 1. 10.by ſin, neglect, or vanity, muſt needs be a reduplicate impiety.
Arg. 8 Let us likewiſe take notice, that this precious inſtitution of the Sabbath was the firſt-born of Ordinances; it drew its firſt Deus in primâ creatione ſabbatum ſanxit, et hau… dubiè in familiis Patrum ſanctorum ſedulo obſervatum fuit. Par.breath in Paradiſe, (as hath been fully diſcovered already;) this was the Reuben of Gods inſtitutions, the morning ſtar, and the riſing Sun of Divine appointments. Now the Sabbath being the firſt-born Ordination wch enriched the world, it is the more pleaſing and acceptable to the Lord, and the due obſervation of it will aſſuredly be the more gratefull to him. God remembers the kindneſs of Iſraels youth, Jer. 2. 2. the initials of his obedience were moſt pleaſing. We put Sabbatum ab initio mundi, deſtinatum eſt ad cultum dei. Luth.buds into our boſomes. The Sabbath was from the infancy of the world, and therefore our carefull keeping of it, muſt needs delight the Father. The firſt born was alwayes to be dedicated to God; the firſt born of Man, and the firſt born of Beaſts, Exod. 13. 2. The firſt fruit of Corn, Deut. 18. 4. Nay, the firſt of all the fruits of the Earth, Deut. 26. 2. Nay, God will not only have the firſt born of mans perſon, but Sabbatum ab initio mundi obſervatum eſt. Baldw.the firſt fruits of his labours, Exod. 23. 16. And God is ſo pleaſed with the firſt of every thing, that he ordains a feaſt of firſt fruits, Exod. 34. 22. And a ſacrifice of the firſt fruits, God calls a ſweet ſavour unto himſelf, Levit. 23. 17, 18. Sanctifi…atio omnium primogenit…rum, tam hominum, qua… beſt…arum, e…t eorum ſeparatio ab aliis quae inſervi…bant uſ…bus humanis ut deo ſoli cederent; & in e… nallum jus hom…n…s habe…t. Rivet.Nay, ſo gratefull were the firſt fruits to the Lord, that he would not only have the firſt born of the Sons of Iſrael, and the firſtlings of the Herds and the Flocks, Nehem. 10. 36. The firſt fruits of the ground, nay, of the very trees, Nehem. 10. 35. But likewiſe the firſt fruits of the very dough, Nehem. 10. 37. And Chriſt himſelf is called, the firſt fruits of them that ſleep, 1 Cor. 15. 20, 23. And Iſrael his choſen people are called, the firſt fruits of his increaſe, Jer. 2. 3. and converts, the beſt of men, are the firſt fruits of his creatures, Jam. 1. 18. Surely then, the holy Sabbath, the firſt fruits of Divine Ordinances, muſt needs be dear to God; and unholy practices on that day muſt the more provoke him; and holy duties ſincerely acted on that day; muſt the more pleaſe him and holy hearts on this day muſt the more delight him; and holy graces in their moſt vigorous exerciſe on this day muſt the more be acceptable to him: the Sabbath was his primitive inſtitution: nor muſt it be forgotten, the Lords day, Our Chriſtian Sabbath, is the firſt day of the week, and was in time, the firſt day of the world, wherein the light received its production, and the bleſſed heavens their being, Gen. 1. 1, 3. Now then, let this emphaſis which God hath put upon the Sabbath, engage us to a ſtricter and more wary behaviour on it, leaſt the order be inverted, as our Saviour notes, Mark 10. 31. And that Sabbath, which was the firſt in Gods inſtitution, be the laſt in our condemnation, and Mat. 19. 30.this darling ordinance procure a damning ſentence upon us in the general aſſizes of the world.
Arg. 9 The ſanctification of the Sabbath will be profitable to our outward eſtate. For the more conſcionable we are in ſanctifying the Sabbath, the greater bleſſing we may exp…ct from Lev. 26. 9.God; which divine bleſſing, the wiſe man tells us, Prov. 10. Jer. 17. 25.22. maketh rich. This piece of godlineſs gives us right and title to the promiſes of this life, 1 Tim. 4. 4. He who hath Benedictione▪ dei divitiae parantur melius, et meliùs conſervantur, et effi…aci res redduntur ad omnes uſus, ad quos adhibentur; Et Deus ſuâ benedictione piis quaſi ſomniantibus, & de eâ re parùm cogitantibus bona ſuppeditat; exempla ſint Abrahamus, Joſephus, &c. Cartw.been with God upon the Sabbath day, God will be with him on the week day; and he who hath ſanctified God in his heart, when he hath been agitating the affairs of heaven, God will aſſuredly bleſs the works of his hand, when he is providing the things of earth. It is our Saviours own promiſe, If we firſt ſeek the Kingdom of Heaven, I may add, if we begin the week with God, on the firſt day thereof, all theſe outward things ſhall be added to us, Mat. 6. 33. as a ſurpluſage of divine love. The beſt way to get eſtates for our ſelves, is to keep Sabbaths to God, and to enquire after the bleſſing where he hath lodged it, (viz.) in preſerving his Sabbath pure and unblemiſhed, Iſa. 56. 2. It is very obſervable, that when God had perfected the Creation, and put man into his tenement of Paradiſe, he then ordains the Sabbath, to ſhew, that all creature comforts are only attendants on this Gen. 2. 3.holy day; and if Adams ſenſual delight, had given way to his ſpiritual communion, he had neither loſt Paradiſe, nor his poſterity. It muſt be granted, that the ſmiles of Providence uſually accompany the ſincerity of obedience: And Sabbath-holineſs is the Jachin and the Boaz, the pillars of this obedience. 1 Kings 7. 2.To keep that Arke in our houſe, to keep Chriſt 2 Sam. 6. 11, 12in our heart, and to keep the Sabbath in our eye, ſo as devoutly Eph. 3. 17.to obſerve it, makes all we have to proſper, and entails Iſa. 56. 2.a bleſſing upon our ſelves and families. Conſtantine the Great, Euſeb. de vitâ Conſtant. lib. 4. cap. 18.juſtly called ſo, in a Military, in a Civil, and in a religious ſence, was as flouriſhing an Emperour, as ever ſate in the Throne of the Romane Empire, and he took great care for the holy obſervation of the Lords day, and made a ſtatute to oblige both Himſelf and his Subjects ſo to do; and as ſome report, Compoſed Prayers for every one of his Regiments to uſe upon that holy day. Thus Sabbath-holineſs made his Crown flouriſh, and his exemplary ſanctification of Gods bleſſed day, ſhall preſerve his memory more honourably and more durably, then the Walls or Structures of Conſtantinople, a City of his own Name and Erection: However, moſt ſure it is, that as the prophan…tion of Gods day is a Lev. 26. 26, 31.moth and a worm; ſo the holy obſervation of it brings a ſecret bleſſing to our outward eſtates; and when we have been on the Mount with God on his own day, the Lord will make his face to ſhine upon us, Numb. 6. 25. and will be gracious Exod. 34. 35.to us in ſhewing mercy, and ſhowring benedictions upon us on the week day.
Arg. 10 How ſerious are we in obſervation of other dayes. If that ſtorms of Providence drive us to a day of Humiliation, we can with the Jews, Zach. 7. 5. faſt and mourn, and reach Ahab in his deepeſt ſorrows, 1 Kings 21. 27. And if the ſmiles of Providence call us to a day of Purim, Eſth. 9. 26. a feſtival of joy, we can keep that day with ſpiritual rejoycing and gladneſs of heart, Eſth. 9. 22. And we can delight our ſelves in the Lord. As Cambden reports of Queen Elizabeth, when God delivered her and her Kingdom from the Ca…bd. Elizab.Spaniſh Armado, her firſt work was to go to Pauls Church, and there hear a Sermon of praiſe, rejoycing greatly in the God of her, and the Kingdomes ſalvation. Now as one obſerves, The Lords day is the proper feaſt of Chriſtians, our ſpiritual jubilee, though moving in a ſwifter ſphear, and Mr. P. on the Romans.ſhall dayes of the appointment of a ſtate put us upon a more exact compoſure, and find us more hearty in their obſervation, then that ſpecial and bleſſed day, which is the appointment of a God? Or ſhall a paſſage of Providence, the endurance of a loſs, or the gaining of a Victory, or ſome other ſtrok of Gods hand, or ſmile of Gods face, find us more ſerious, foreign Athanaſ.more ſolemn, more devout, then the Reſurrection of a Chriſt, the new birth day of the world, and the ſole foundation of a Chriſtians happineſs? Shall the deliverance from a Spaniſh Armado fill us with more ſpiritual delight in God, then the deliverance from Heli and Deſtruction? Had not Chriſt broke the chains of death, we had everlaſtingly been kept in chains of darkneſs. Our Lords day then glories in a more excellent occaſion, and why ſhould it not be celebrated with a more ſerious Cotenae tenebrarum ſunt. 1 Conſcientiae reatus. 2. Aeternum puniendi decretum. 3. Miſerrima reproborum deſperatio.devotion? One well obſerves, That the Jews thought reverently of, and acted zealouſly on their ſolemn, though ceremonial feſtivals, thoſe bright appearances, which were chaſed away by the riſing of the Sun of Righteouſneſs: therefore to uſe the Apoſtles words, a little inverted, ſeeing all thoſe other dayes of obſervation are and ſhall be diſſolved, what manner of perſons ought we to be in all holy converſation and godlineſs upon our unalterable Sabbath, whoſe leaſe expires not till the 2 Pet. 3 11.death of the Ʋniverſe.