The Christian Mans Calling, Treatise · Chapter 22
CHAP. XXII. Brief Directions for the Sanctification of the Lords day, from morning to night.
REader, beſide thoſe general directions which I have largely inſiſted on, I ſhall annex here ſome ſhort directions, how thou mayſt ſpend a Lords day from the begining to the end of it, as may be moſt for the honour of God, and the furthering thine own everlaſting good.
1. Be ſure thou takeſt ſome paines with thy heart the afternoon (or evening at leaſt) before, to prepare thy ſoul for the enſuing Sabbath. As our whole life ſhould be a preparation for death; yet the nearer we draw to the night of our diſſolution, the more gloriouſly (as the ſetting Sun) we ſhould ſhine with holineſs; ſo in the whole Week we ſhould be preparing for the Lords day; but the more the day doth approach, the more our preparation muſt increaſe. The bigger the Veſſel is, the more Water may be carried from the Fountain. According to the meaſure of the Sacks which the Patriarchs carried to Joſeph, ſo were they filled with Corn by Joſeph; preparation doth not onelyonly fit the heart for grace, but alſo widen the heart that it may receive much of the Spirit of God. Some Servants when they are to bake in the Morning, put their Wood in the Oven over night, and thereby it burneth both the ſooner and the better. Men make much the more riddance of their work, who being to travail a great journey, load their Carts, or put up their things, and lay them ready over night. If thou art a Chriſtian, thy experience will tell thee, that after thou haſt on a Saturday called thy ſelf to account for thy carriage on the foregoing Week, bewailed thy miſcarriages before the Lord; in particular, thy playing the Truant on former Lords days, when thou ſhouldſt have been learning thoſe Leſſons which Chriſt hath ſet thee in his Law, and haſt been earneſt with God for pardon of thy ſins, and a ſanctified improvement of the approaching Sabbath; I ſay thy experience cannot but teach thee that thy profit after ſuch preparation will make thee abundant amends for thy pains; and that thou haſt the beſt viſits, the ſweeteſt kiſſes, when thy lips, thy heart, are thus made clean beforehand.
2. If the weakneſs of thy body do not hinder riſe earlier on the Lords day then ordinary. When the Iſraelites were encompaſſing Jericho; on the ſeventh day, they roſe early in the morning; and according to many Expoſitors it was on the Sabbath day the walls of Jericho fell down, Joſh. 6.15. One main work which thou haſt to do on a Lords day, is, to batter down the ſtrong holds of ſin, to conquer thoſe Canaanites which would keep thee out of the promiſed land; do thou riſe early for this end. He that riſeth and ſetteth out early, goeth a conſiderable part of his way before others awake. Its ſordid to lie lazing and to turn upon thy bed as a door on the hinges (and never the farther off) upon any day, butmoſt ſad and ſinfull on a Lords day.
3. When thou firſt awakeſt, turn up thy heart to God in praiſe for his protection the night paſt, for the light of another day, eſpecially of his own day; and in Prayer for the light of his countenance, and for aſſiſtance in every duty, and his direction throughout the day. As thou art riſing, if no other more profitable Subject offer it ſelfe to thy thoughts, Meditate how the night is ſpent, the day is at hand; it concerneth thee therefore to put off the works of darkneſs, and to put on the armor of light. When thou thinkeſt on the nakedneſs of thy body, how unſeemly it would be for thee to walk up and down without raiment do not forget the nakedneſs of thy ſoul by ſin, and how uncomely thou art in the ſight of God, without the robes of Chriſts righteouſneſs and the graces of the Holy Ghoſt.
4. When thou art dreſt, let nothing hinder thee from thy ſecret devotion. When thou art in thy cloſet conſider of the price which God hath put into thy hand, the value and worth of a Lords day, the weight and concernment of the duties therein, and the account thou art ere long to give for every Sabbath and ſeaſon of grace. Theſe thoughts, as heavy weights on a clock, would make thee move more ſwiftly in the work of the day. After ſome time ſpent in meditation, in ſome ſhort, yet reverent and hearty petitions, intreat Gods help in the preſent and ſubſequent duties of the day; After which read ſome portion of the Scripture and pour out thy ſoul in prayer. Get thy heart effectually poſſeſſed with this truth, That God muſt work his own work in thee and for thee, or it will never be done; that as the Spirit moved on the waters at firſt, and then the living creatures were formed; ſo the Spirit muſt move upon the waters of Ordinances, before they can produce or increaſe ſpirituall life. Hereby thou wilt be ſtirred up to more fervent ſupplication for, and more importunate expectation of help from heaven; In thy prayers remember all the aſſemblies of the Saints that they may ſee Gods beauty, power and glory, as they have ſometimes beheld them in his ſanctuary. Intreat God to cloath his ordinances with his own ſtrength that they may be mighty through him for the bringing in, and building up many ſouls. In ſpeciall, when thou art at prayer, think of the Preachers of the Goſpel; Conceive that thou heareſt every one of them ſpeaking to thee as Paul to his Romans, I beſeech thee for the Lord Ieſus Chriſts ſake, and for the love of the ſpirit, that you ſtrive together with me in your prayers to God for me, Rom. 15.30. Their work is of infinite weight, it is Godwork, Soul-work, Temple-work; Not one of them but may ſay (with Nehemiah) on a Lords day, upon much greater reaſon, O I am doing a great work. Nehem. 6.3. Their oppoſition is great The Devill will do what may be to hinder them; the world hates them, their own hearts will diſtub them; Their ſtrength is ſmall, their graces are weak; Alas what can they do! O therefore pray for them.
5. After thy ſecret duties thou mayſt (if nature require) refreſh thy body with convenient food. Thy God alloweth thee to cheriſh, though not to overcharge thy outward man, I ſhall ſpeak to thy carriage about eating and drinking in the twenty third chapter, and therefore omit it here.Vide Family duties in Cap. 27
6. In the next place it will be fit that thou call thy family together and enter upon family duties. Namely to read the word of God, to call upon the name of God, and to ſing to the prayſe of God.
7. Let as many of thy family as can conv…enny be ſpared accompany thee to publick Ordinances. Vide more of this in Cap. 27.Remember the command, Thou, thy Son, thy daughter, thy man-ſervant and maid-ſervant, and all within thy gate. Do not pamper their bodies, and ſtarve the ſouls of thy houſhold; It is Recorded of Dr. Chaterton, Mr. of Emannel Colledge, that he never cauſed any of his Servants to ſtay at home on a Lords day, barely to dreſs meat; be able to ſay with Cornelins, (who feared the Lord with all his houſe) we are all here preſent before God.
8. As thou art going to the place of publique Ordinances, conſider with thy ſelf that thou art going to converſe, not with men, but with God; even with that God who ſearcheth the heart, who will not be mocked, and who is of purer eyes then to behold iniquity, that thou mayſt hereby be quickened unto uprightneſs, and ſeriouſneſs, and to dart up ſome ejaculatory prayer to God for aid and aſſiſtance.
9. In every part of publique worſhip, carry thy ſelf with reverence, humility, love, faith, and ſincerity. Hear, ſing, pray, receive the Sacrament as one that doth all in Gods ſight, as one that is working for his immortal ſoul, and as one that within a few days ſhall enter the gates of death, and never have a ſeaſon more for ſuch ſacred duties. Depart not from the Church till all be done. In a Court of civil Judicature, thou willt ſtay till the Court riſeth; If thou wouldſt have Gods bleſſing with thee, do not leave it behind th… As thou comeſt from the Church, meditate on what thou haſt heard, chew that meat which the Miniſter hath put into thy mouth, thereby thou mayſt get much ſpiritual nouriſhment.
10. When thou art come home, uſually let nothing hinder from prayer, either in thy family or cloſet, wherein I would adviſe thee to turn the heads of the Sermon and Chapters read, into Petitions, as alſo to beg pardon of thy wandrings in the Worſhip of God, and beſeech him who with his own hand wrote the Law in two Tables, that he would write the word Read and Preached in the Tables of thine heart.
11. At Dinner take heed of exceſs, whereby thy body will be unfitted to ſerve thy ſoul; yet do not pinch or puniſh thy body, becauſe the day is a day of joy and delight; I would wiſh thee to watch thy heart and tongue all the day long, but eſpecially at meals, that thou mayſt not think thine own thoughts, nor ſpeak thine own words. If thy ſelf or others ſtart any unſeaſonable or earthly diſcourſe at Table, give conſcience leave to ſpeak to thee, as Judas to the Apoſtles, What needeth this waſt? What needeth this waſt of precious time, of ſo rich a treaſure as every part of this day is. Let the firſt diſh at Table be Gods, I mean when a bleſſing is deſired, let preſently ſome ſavory diſcourſe be offered; hereby fin may be prevented; The Jews had two notable defeats on the Sabbath day, becauſe they would not defend themſelves; Ioſephus l. 12. c. 8. & l. 14 c, 8the firſt defeat was by Antiochus, the ſecond by Pompey the Great. Reader if thou wouldſt not have Satan to foil thee on a Lords day, keep a ſtrict watch over thy thoughts, words, and works. After Dinner, as time will give leave, either Sing, or Pray with thy family, or repeat what thou haſt heard, or buſie thy ſelf in Godly conference chiefly about what was Read or Preached that morning.
12. Neglect not afternoon Ordinances. Some Perſons are like ſome Phyſitians, Fore-noon men; they muſt be ſought to in the morning onelyonly, if you would find them about Religious duties. Friend, If thy ſoul ever met thy Saviour in publique duties, thou canſt not but love and prize them at an high rate. In the cloſe of the day ſometimes God ſendeth in the cheif bleſſing of the day. A Sabbath Tide hath brought in many a good draught of Fiſh. Be preſent at, & ſerious in publique Ordinances. As an error in the firſt concoction can never be mended in the ſecond, ſo an error or careleſneſs in publique, cannot be mended by carefulneſs in private.
13. When thou returneſt from publique Ordinances, take ſome time to meditate on the word or Works of God; thou mayſt read over the eighth particular in the twenty one Chapter to help thee therein.
14. Do not leſſen thy ſecret or private duties on that day; let them rather be increaſed then diminiſhed. The Offerings under the Goſpel were Propheſied to be greater then under the Law. Under the Law one Lamb was to be offered; Under the Goſpel ſix Lambs, Numb. 28. Ezek. 46.
15. Call thy Children and Servants to account what they have learned that day, and explain what they underſtand not; hereby thou wilt benefit both thy ſelf and others. Chemnitius obſerveth that our bleſſed Saviour in the 4. of Mark, and 14. of Luke, Examen de dieb feſt.after he had inſtructed the people as a publique Preacher on the Sabbath day, did examine and teach his Apoſtles as a private Maſter of a Family.
16. At Evening, Sing, Pray, and (if thou canſt) repeat (the heads at leaſt of) both the Sermons. Plutarch reporteth of a River which runneth ſweet in the morning, and bitter at night; Let it not be ſaid of thee, that thy Morning was like Nebuchadnezzars Image of Gold, and thy evening like the feet of it, of clay.
17. Before thou goeſt to reſt, examine thy ſelf what thou haſt got or loſt that day. Reflect upon the carriage of thy heart in the ſeveral duties, as alſo what welcome thou hadſt at the Throne of grace; what covered diſhes were brought thee by the ſpirit from Gods own Table; that accordingly thou mayſt beg pardon or return praiſe. If thou haſt been melted with Gods affection, obtained any ſtrength againſt thy corruptions, or received any degree of grace, take heed of aſcribing the glory to thy ſelf; In Juſtinians law it was decreed, That no Work-man ſhould ſet up his name within the body of that building which he made out of another mans coſt. If thou didſt pray, or hear, or ſing, or read, or meditate with any life or delight, ſeriouſneſs or ſincerity, in any meaſure agreeable to his Word and Will, all was from God; there was not a ſtone uſed by thee towards this ſpiritual building, but it was taken out of his Quarrey. As he is the Author, ſo let him have the honour.
18. Be watchful over thy ſelf at the latter end of the day, with all imaginable circumſpection, that the laſt part of the day, may be the beſt part of the day; Some Souldiers prevail in the day, but loſe all again at night, becauſe they are ſlothful when their Quarters are beaten up by their Enemies. Some loſe at night what they got in the day; like Hannibal, they know how to obtain a Victory, but not to improve a Victory. Uſually the Evenings are cold though the days are hot.
19. As Oratours at the cloſe of their ſpeech, uſe all their Art and Skill to move the affections of their Auditors, ſo at the cloſe of the Lords day, put forth all thy grace and ſpiritual ſtrength, to prevail with God for a bleſſing. Say of the Sabbath, as Jacob to the Angel, I will not let the go without a bleſſing.
20. Labour to keep the influence of Lords day Ordinances warm upon thy ſpirit all the week after; let not thy devotion paſs away with the day. Some Children when they put on new Shooes on a Sabbath, are very careful to keep them clean, are unwilling to ſet their feet to the ground for fear of dirt, but in the week days will run up to the Ankles in Water or Mire. O let not childrens play be thy earneſt, but endeavour that thy practices in ſecret and private, in thy calling and in all companies on the Week days, may be anſwerable to the great priviledges which thou didſt enjoy, and the grace which thou didſt receive on the Lords day.
A good wiſh about the Lords day, wherein the former heads are Epitomized.
THe firſt day of the Week being of divine inſtitution, The Introduction.and Baptized by God himſelf with that Honorable name of the Lords day, partly in regard of its Author, This is the day which the Lords hath made; partly in regard of the bleſſed Redeemer, who roſe that day and Triumphed over the Grave, the Devil, the Curſe of the Law, and Hell; it being a day Sanctified for the glory of my Saviour, of which I may ſay as of Jacob, The Lord hath choſen it to himſelf for his peculiar Treaſure, Pſa. 135.4. and a day ſet apart for the ſpiritual and eternal good of my precious ſoul, wherein I may enjoy communion with my God in all his Ordinances, without interruption, I wiſh in general that as the Spirit may be in me in the week days, ſo that I may be in the Spirit on the Lords day, filled therewith, and enabled thereby to have my converſation all the day long in Heaven. O that my care in fitting my ſoul for it, my holy carriage at it, and my ſutable converſation after it, may teſtifie that I had rather be a Door-keeper in the Houſe of my God, then to dwell in the Tents of Wickedneſs; and that I eſteem one day in his Courts, better then a thouſand elſe-where. I wiſh in particular that I may prepare for it, Preparationas for a Wedding day, wherein Chriſt and my ſoul are to be eſpouſed together, and to that end before it cometh, may be careful, ſo to order my earthly affairs that they may not incroach upon this Holy ground; and ſo open the door of my heart, and adorn it with ſpiritual excellencies, that the King of Glory may enter in, and think himſelf a welcome Gueſt in my ſoul: O that I might never give my God cauſe to complain of me, as once of the Jews, Your Sabbaths and ſolemn feaſts I cannot away with, for your hands are defiled. As Nehemiah ſhut the Gates of the City, that no burdens might be carried in on the Sabbath day, ſo let me ſecure the Gate of my heart, that no Worldly things may diſturb me in Sabbath duties. O let me not like Martha be careful, and troubled about many things, but on this day eſpecially, ſit at Chriſts feet, mind the one thing neceſſary, and chuſe the good part which ſhall never be taken from me. I wiſh that I may long more for it then ever a Bride-groom did for his Bride; that when it is come in, I may bid it heartily Welcome, and that as my Saviour roſe early, that morning to juſtifie me, ſo I may riſe early on this day to glorifie him.
I deſire that this holy day may be an high day in my account, both becauſe the Lord of the Sabbath hath ſeparated it to ſacred uſes, and becauſe it is the day of his reſurrection, whence ſo much good cometh to my ſoul. Eſteem the day as a priviledge.By his paſſion he layd down the price of my redemption; but by his riſing again (the Judge of Quick and dead ſending his officer, an Angel, to roul away the ſtone, open the priſon door, and let him out) he manifeſteth to the world that the debt is diſcharged and the law fully ſaatisfied: O of what value ſhould this day be to me! My Redeemers humiliation indeed, was like Joſephs impriſonment, but his delivery out of the grave, like Joſephs enlargement and preferment, whereby he came into a capacity to advance and enrich all his relations.
I pray that I may look on this day as a ſpecial ſeaſon to ſow to the ſpirit in, and improve it accordingly. A price to get and increaſe grace.I believe that my God will not hold him guiltleſs that takes his name or ſpends his day in vain. O let me not like a fooliſh child, play by that candle which is ſet up for me to work by, leſt I go to the bed of my grave in the dark of ſin and ſorrow. Publique Ordiuances to be eſteemed the chiefeſt work of the day.I wiſh that I may not neglect either ſecret or family duties on this ſacred day, but yet that I may ſo perform them, that they may be helps, not hinderances to publique Ordinances; that ſince God loveth the gates of Sion above all the the dwellings of Jacob, I may ſet an high price upon, and have an ardent love to the habitation of Gods houſe, and the place where his honor dwelleth; Delight in itthat as a true child of my heavenly Father, I may love moſt, and like beſt, that milk which is warm from the breaſts of publick ordinances: I wiſh that I may call the Lords day my delight, it being a day wherein I enter into the ſuburbs of the holy City; and begin that work of prayſing, pleaſing, and enjoying my God, which I hope to be employed in to eternity; that it may be my meat and drink to do the Will of my God. O that I might ſo ſavour the things of the Spirit, and ſo taſte the Lord to be gracious, that love may be the Loadſton to draw me to my cloſet, family and to Church; and ſeaſon every ſervice I am called to upon the Sabbath; Sanctifie the whole day.Becauſe every part of this day is of great price, more worth then a whole World, I deſire that not the leaſt moment of it may be ſquandred away, but (as the Diſciples after the miracle of loaves) I may gather up with care and conſcience, the ſmalleſt fragments, that nothing be loſt. My God giveth me good meaſure, heaped up, preſſed down, ſhaken together, and running over; why ſhould I be niggardly to him (to my ſelf indeed, for it is my profit, not his) when he is ſo liberal, ſo bountiful to me. I wiſh in regard the bleſſed God is not onelyonly the Maſter, Communion of God in Ordinances.but alſo the Marrow of his day, that no Lords day may ſatisfie me, without the Lord of the day. Alaſs what is the beſt time, without the Rock of eternity? what is the beſt day without the Ancient of days? what are the Ordinances of God without the God of Ordinances? what are Sabbaths, Sermons, Sacraments, and Seaſons of Grace without the deareſt Saviour, but as broken Ciſterns, glorious Dreams, or guilded nothings? I have read of a good ſoul who anſwered his Friend, Speak to me while you will, no words can ſatisfie, except you mention Chriſt; write to me what you will, it will not ſatisfie, except in your Letters I may read Chriſt. O that in no Sermon I might be contented till I hear Chriſt, and that in no Chapter I might be pleaſed till I can read Chriſt; that as the Needle touched with the Load-ſtone, never reſteth till it turn to the North, ſo my heart may be re… leſs in holy duties, till it turneth to, and hath fellowſhip with the Lord of Heaven. The Lords day is an excellent reſemblance of my future bleſſedneſs, wherein I ſhall enjoy my Saviour fully, and my God ſhall be all in all to me; Lord, let never this day paſs without ſome taſte of thoſe celeſtial pleaſures. Meditation on the Works and Word of my God, being a duty moſt in its prime and ſeaſon on a Sabbath day, I beg that what time I ſpare from publique, private, or ſecret performances, I may imploy to this purpoſe, that I may behold my God to be infinite in wiſdom, power, and goodneſs in his foot-ſteps of creation, and ſtand amazed at that rare Workmanſhip, thoſe curious contrivances of his (which Angels look into with admiration) that appear in his Maſter-peice, that work of Redemption: and for his word, let my heart be able to ſay with David, O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.
I wiſh that I may watch over my thoughts, words, Watchfulneſs.and actions all the day long; in ſpecial, that as when the holy things belonging to the Sanctuary were to be removed, they were covered all over, leſt any duſt ſhould ſoil them; ſo I may cover my heart with ſuch circumſpection that no duſt of ſin may cleave to it. O that I might be ſo wiſe and watchful, that there may not be the leaſt minute of the day wherein I may not either do, or receive ſome good. Lord, let no Sabbath paſs without ſome ſaving good to my precious ſoul.
I deſire Finally, Concluſion of the day.that I may not loſe the heat of the day in the cool of the Evening; I mean, that what good, If gain from my God, through his Ordinances in the day, may not be loſt by my negligence at night; but that as a wiſe Commander, I may then double my Guard, and expect with much importunity ſome evening dews of comfort and grace. O that I might ſo keep the Sabbath of my God, chuſe the things that pleaſe him, and take hold of his Covenant, that I might ſo turn away my foot from the Sabbath, from doing my pleaſure on his holy day, Iſ. 56.4, 5. and 58.13.and call the Sabbath my delight, the holy of the Lord; that I may have (with the Eunuch) within the Houſe of my God, a name better then of Sons and Daughters, even an everlaſting name that ſhall not be cut off. Amen.
A Good Wiſh to the Lords day.
HAil thou that art highly favoured of God, Luk. 1.28.thou map of Heaven, thou golden ſpot of the week, thou Market-day of ſouls, thou Day-break of eternal brightneſs, thou Queen of days; the Lord is with thee, bleſſed art thou among days. I may ſay to thee what the Angel ſaid to Daniel, Dan. 9.23.O day greatly beloved. Pſa. 45.Thou art fairer then all the Children of time, grace is poured into thy lips; God, even thy God hath anointed thee with the Oyl of gladneſs above thy fellows. Of the Jewiſh Sabbaths and other Feſtivals, in compariſon of thee it may be ſpoken, They periſh, but thou remaineſt, and they all wax old as a Garment; Heb. 1.11, 12.And as a veſture haſt thou folded them up, and they are changed, but thou ſhalt (maugre the malice of men and Devils) continue the ſame and thy years ſhall not fail. As the Temple ſucceeded and exceeded the Tabernacle; this was fleeting, that was fixed; ſo doſt thou all former Sabbaths, they were but morning ſtars to uſher in thee, the Sun, and then to diſappear. Other Feſtivals in all their Royalty are not arrayed like unto thee. All the graces triumph in thee, all the Ordinances conſpire to enrich thee; the Father ruleth thee, the Son roſe upon thee, the Spirit hath overſhadowed thee. Thus is it done to the day which the King of Heaven delighteth to honour. Thou haſt not onelyonly a common bleſſing with other days by the law of nature, but a ſpecial bleſſing above all other days, from the love of thy Maker. Let thouſands mark thee for their new birth-day; Exod. 12.42be thou a day (as it was ſaid of that night to the Jews) much to be Remembred, much to be obſerved to the Lord, for bringing many out of worſe then Egyptian bondage; Eſther. 8.16.be thou to them a day of light and gladneſs, of joy and honour and a good day. On thee light was created, the Holy Ghoſt deſcended, life hath been reſtored, Satan ſubdued, ſin mortified, ſouls ſanctified, the Grave, Death and Hell conquered. O how do men and women flutter up and down on the Week-days, as the Dove on the waters, and can find no reſt for their ſouls, till they come to thee their Ark, till thou put forth thy hand and take them in! O how do they ſit under thy ſhadow with great delight, and find thy fruit ſweet to their taſte! O the mountings of mind, the raviſhing happineſs of heart, the ſolace of ſoul which on thee they enjoy in the bleſſed Saviour! They are ſorry when the days ſhorten for thy ſake, they wiſh for thee before thou comeſt, they welcome thee when thou art come, and they enjoy ſo much of heaven in thee, that thence they love, and look, and long the more for their eternal Sabbath. Go forth, O thou faireſt among Women, and be thou fruitful in bringing forth Children to thy Maker and Huſband. Gen. 24.60.Be thou the Mother of thouſands and of millions, and let thy ſeed poſſeſs the Gate of them that hate them. Do thou, like Rachel and Leah, build up the Houſe of Iſrael, do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be thou famous in Bethlehem. Gird thy ſword upon thy thigh, O thou mighty and gracious day, and in thy Majeſty ride proſperouſly, becauſe of meekneſs, righteouſneſs, and truth, let thy right hand teach the terrible things; let thine arrows be ſharp in the hearts ſpiritual enemies, whereby the people may fall under thee. Pſa. 132.The Lord hath choſen thee, he hath deſired thee for his habitation; Thou art his reſt for ever; in thee he will dwell, for he hath deſired it. Let him abundantly bleſs thy proviſion, and ſatisfie thy poor with bread; let him cloath thy Prieſts with ſalvation, and let thy Saints ſhout aloud for joy; lot thine Enemies be cloathed with ſhame, but upon thy head let the Crown flouriſh; let Nations bow down to thee, let Kingdomes fall down before thee; Let all the Kingdomes of the earth become the Kindomes of thy Lord and of thy Chriſt; be thou honoured as long as the Son and moon ſhall endure, even throughout all Generations Thou art like Joſeph a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough, by a Wall whoſe Branches run over the Wall. The Archers have ſorely greived thee, and ſhot at thee (endeavouring to weaken thy morality) and hated thee, but thy bow abode in ſtrength by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob, from thence is the Shepherd, the ſtone of Iſrael; Even by the Lord of Sabbaths who ſhall help thee, and by the Almighty who ſhall bleſs thee with bleſſings of Heaven above, bleſſings of the deep that lieth under, bleſſings of the breaſts and of the womb; the bleſſings of this day have prevailed above the bleſſings of all other day; let them be continued and increaſed on the heads of this holy and honourable day, and on the head of that day which is ſeparate from it brethren. Let them be aſhamed and confounded that ſeek after thy hurt, let them be turned back and put to confuſion that deſire thy ruine; let all thoſe that ſeek thee rejoyce and be glad in thee; let them that love thy ſanctification ſay continually, Let the Lord be magnified who delighteth in the proſperity of his Saints, and therefore hath ſet apart his Sabbath for their ſoul good; Thou (like Jacob) haſt got away the bleſſing from the other days, yea thy God hath bleſſed thee, and thou ſhalt be bleſſed, Bleſſed are they that bleſs thee, and curſed are they that curſe thee; In a word, The Lord be gracious to thee, and delight in thee, and cauſe the light of his countenance to ſhine upon thee; let all thine Ordinances be cloathed with power and be effectual for the converſion and ſalvation of millions of ſouls; Let thy name be great from the riſing of the Sun to the going down of the ſame. Finally, farewel ſweet day, thou cream of time, thou Epitome of eternity, thou heaven in a glaſs, thou firſt fruits of a bleſſed and everlaſting harveſt did I ſay farewel? A welfare I wiſh to thee; but O let me never loſe thee, or take my leave of thee, till I come to enjoy thee in an higher form, to ſee the Sun of righteouſneſs (who early on thy morning roſe and made a day indeed while the natural Sun was behind) face to face, and to know thy Maker and Maſter as I am known of him when I ſhall be a pillar in the Temple of my God, and ſhall go out no more but ſerve him day and night, to whom for the ineſtimable dignity and priviledge of his own day, be Honour and Glory for ever and ever, Amen, Amen.