(6.) We are then to remember, that this day is a pledge of our eternal rest with God. This is that whereunto these things do tend; for therein will God glorify himself in the full accomplishment of his great design in all his works of power and grace. And this is _ that which ultimately we aim at. We do at best in this world but
enter into the rest of God; the full enjoyment of it is reserved for eternity. Hence that is usually called our everlasting Sabbath, as that state wherein we shall always rest with God and always give glory unto him. And this day is a pledge hereof on sundry ac- counts :—
[1.] Because thereon God as it were calleth us aside out of the world, unto an immediate converse with himself. Israel never had a more dreadful day than when they were called out of their tents, from their occasions and all worldly concerns, pyoNn NS7P2, “in oc- cursum Jehove,’—to “a meeting with God,” Exod, xix. 17. God called them. aside, to meet and converse with them. But it was unto mount Sinai that he called them; which was “altogether on a smoke, because the Lorp descended upon it infire,’ verse 18. Hence, although
SECT. 10.] OF THE LORD’S DAY. 451
they had been preparing themselves for it sundry days, they were not able to bear the terror of God’s approach unto them. But under the gospel we are this day called out of the world and off from our occasions, to converse with God, to meet him at mount Sion, Heb, xii. Here he doth not give us a fiery law, but a gracious gospel ; doth not converse with us by thunder and lightning, but with the sweet, still voice of mercy in Jesus Christ. And as this requireth due thoughts of heart in us, to prepare us for it, so it is in itself a great and unspeakable privilege, purchased for us by Christ. And herein have we a pledge of rest with God above, when he shall call us off from all relations, all occasions of life, all our interests and concerns in this world, and eternally set us apart unto himself. And, undoubtedly, that it may be such a pledge unto us, it is our duty to take off our minds and souls, as far as we are able, from all occasions of life and businesses of this world, that we may walk with God alone on this day. Some, indeed, do think this a great bond- age; but so far as they do so, and so far as they find it so, they have no interest in this matter. We do acknowledge that there are weaknesses attending the outward man, through the frailty and im- becility of our nature, and therefore have before rejected all rigid, tiresome services; and I do acknowledge that there will be repining and rebelling in the flesh against this duty: but he who really judgeth in his mind, and whose practice is influenced and regulated by that judgment, that the segregation of a day from the world and the occasions of it, and a secession unto communion with God thereon, is grievous and burdensome, and that which God doth not require, nor is useful to us, must be looked on as a stranger unto these things) He to whom the worship of God in Christ is a bur- den or a bondage,—who says, “ Behold, what a weariness it is!”— who thinks a day in a week to be too much and too long to be with God in his especial service,—is much to seek, I think, of his duty, Alas! what would such persons do if they should ever come to hea- ven, to be taken aside to all eternity to be with God alone, who think it a great bondage to be here diverted unto him for a day? They will say, it may be, ‘Heaven is one thing, and the observa- tion of the Lord’s day is another. Were they in heaven, they doubt not but they should do well enough; but for this observation of the Lord’s day, they know not what to say toit. I confess they are so, they are distinct things, or else one could not be the pledge of the other; but yet they both agree in this, that they are a sepa- ration and secession from all other things unto God. And if men have not a principle to like that in the Lord’s day, neither would they like it in heaven, should they ever come there. Let us, then, be ready to attend in this matter to the call of God, and go out to
452 PRACTICAL OBSERVANCE [EXERC. VI.
meet him; for where he placeth his name, as he doth on all his solemn ordinances, there he hath promised to meet us. And so is this day unto us a pledge of heaven. k
[2.] It is so in respect of the duties of the day, wherein the sanc- tification of the name of God in it doth consist. All duties proper and peculiar to this day are duties of communion with God. Ever- lasting, uninterrupted, immediate communion with God is heaven. Carnal persons had rather have Mohammed's paradise than Christ’s heaven. But this is that which believers aim at,—eternal commu- nion with God. Hereof are the duties of this day, in a right, holy performance, an assured pledge; for this is that which in them all we aim at, and express according to the measure of our light and grace. Hereon we hear him speak unto us in his word; and we speak unto him in prayers, supplications, praises, thanksgivings, in and by Jesus Christ. In all, our aim is to give glory to him, which is the end of heaven; and to be brought nearer to him, which is its enjoyment. In what God is pleased hereby to communicate unto our souls, and in what, by the secret and invisible supplies of his grace and Spirit, he carries out our hearts unto, lie and consist those first-fruits of glory which we may be made partakers of in this world, And the first-fruits are a pledge of a full harvest; God gives them unto us for that end that they may be so. This, then, are we principally to seek after in the celebration of the ordinances of God, whereby we sanctify his name on this day. Without this, bodily labour, in the outward performance of a multitude of duties, will profit little. Men may rise early, and go to bed late, and eat the bread of care and diligence all the day long, yet if they are not thus in the Spirit, and carried out unto spiritual communion with God in the services of the day, it will not avail them. Whatever there be, either in the service itself performed, or in the manner of its per- formance, or the duration of it, which is apt to divert or take off the mind from being intent hereon, it tends to the profanation rather than the sanctification of this day.