I'^TTst, It would melt us in tears for our Rpirituai unkiiulnesf es, — that we should sin against so sweet a Saviour,— that we should be lio more aflectcd with his love, but re- quite evil for good, like the Athenians, who, notwithstanding all the good ser^^ce Aristides had done them, banished him out of their city, — that we should grieve Christ with our pride, rash anger, our unfruitful - ness, animosities, strange factions. Have we none to abuse but our friend ? Have we nothing to kick against but the bowels of our Saviour? Did not Christ suffer e- nough upon the cross, but we must needs make him suffer more ? Do we give him more ' gall and vinegar to drink ?' O if any thing can dissolve the heart in sorrow, and broach the eyes with tears, it is disin- genuity and unkindness offered to Christ ! When Peter thought of Christ's love to him, how he had made him an apostle, and revealed his bosom-secrets to him, and ta- ken him to the mount of transfiguration, and that he should deny Christ, it broke his heart with sorrow; " he went out and wept bitterly," Mat. xxvi. 75. What a blessed thing is it to have the eyes drop- ping tears on a sabbath ! And nothing would sooner fetch tears, than to meditate on Christ's love to us, and our unkind re- quitals.
Secondly, The meditating on a Lord's day morning of Christ's love would kindle love in our hearts to Christ. How can we look on Christ's bleeding and dying for us, and our hearts not to be warmed with love to him ? Love is the soul of religion, — the purest affection ; it is not rivers of oil, but sparks of love that Christ values. And sure, as David said, « While I was musing the fire burned," Ps. xxxix. 3., so, while we are musing of Christ's love in redeeming us, the fire of our love will burn towards Christ; and then is a Christian in a blessed sabbath-frame, when he is like a sera])him burning in love to Christ.
4'. On a sabbath-morning meditate on the glory of heaven. Heaven is tl»e extract and quintessence of happiness. It is called a kingdom. Mat. xxv. 34. A kingdom for its riches and magnificence ; it is set out by " precious stones, gates of pearl," Rev. xxi. There is all that is truly glorious, —
transparent light, — perfect love, — unstained honour, — unmixed joy : and tliat wliich crowns the joy of the celestial ])ara<lise is eternitv. Suppose earthly kingdoms were more glorious than they are, — their foun- dations of gold, — their walls of pearl,— their windows of sapphire, — yet they are corruptible : but tlio kingdom of heaven is eternal, — those rivers of pleasure " run for evc'rmore," Ps. xvi. IL And that wherein the essence of glory consists, and makes heaven to be heaven, is the imme- diate sight and fruition of the blessed God, Ps. xvii. 15., " When I awake I shall be satisfied with thy likeness." O think of this Jerusalem above ! This is proper for a sabbath !
L The meditation of heaven would raise our hearts above the world. O how would these things disappear and shrink into no- thing, if our minds were mounted above the visible orbs, and we had a prospect of glory !
2. How would the meditation of heaven make us heavenly in our sabbath-exercises ! It would quicken affection, — it would add wings to devotion, — it would make us to be " in the Spirit on the Lord's day," Rev. i. 10. How vigorously doth he serA^e (iod who hath a crown of glory always in his eye !
HI. We dress our souls on a sabbath- morning, by prayer. Mat. vi. G,, " When thou prayest, enter into thy closet," &c. Prayer sanctifies a sabbath.
1. The things we should pray for in the morning of the sabbath. — Beg a blessing upon the word which is to be preached, — that it may be a savour of life to us, — that by it our minds may be more illuminated, our corruj)tions more weakened, our stock of grace more increased ; pray that God's special presence may be with us, — that our hearts may burn within us while God speaks ; pray that we may receive the word into meek, humble hearts, James i. 21., — that we may submit to it, and bring forth the fruits of it. Nor should we only pray for ourselves, but for others.
First, For him who disj)enseth the word : that his tongue may be touched with a coal from (lod's altar ; that God would warm his heart who is to help to warm others.
OF THE FOURTH COMMANDMKNT. Yonr prayers may be a means to quicken
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the miiiisttr. Some complain, tliey find not that benefit by the word preached : perlia|>s tliey did not ju-ay for their minis- ter as they slionid. Prayer is like the wliet- ting and sharpening of an instrument, which njakes it cut the better.