[3.] The rest of the day is also a pledge of our rest with God. But then this rest is not to be taken for a mere bodily cessation from labour, but in that extent wherein it hath before been at large described.
These are some of the rules which we are to have a respect unto in our observation of this day. .A due application of them unto particular occasions and emergencies will guide us through the diffi- culties of them. Therefore did I choose rather to lay them thus down in general than to insist on the determination of particular cases; which, when we have done all, must be resolved into them,
according to the light and understanding of them who are particu- —
larly concerned.
4
SECT. 11, 12. OF THE LORD’S DAY, 453 >
11. It remains that we offer some directions as to the duties themselves wherein the sanctification of this day doth consist. And this I shall do briefly. It hath been done already at large by others, so as that from thence they have taken occasion to handle the nature of all the religious duties, with the whole manner of their perform- ance, which belong to the service of this day; which doth not pro- perly appertain unto this place. I shall therefore only name the duties themselves which have a respect unto the sanctification of the day, supposing the nature of them and the due manner of their performance to be otherwise known.
Now these duties are of two sorts;—I. Preparatory for the day; and, II. Such as are actually to be attended unto in tt.
12. I. There are duties preparatory for it; for although, as I have declared, I do not judge that the preceding evening is to be reck- oned unto this holy rest as a part of it, yet doubtless it ought to be improved unto a due preparation for the day ensuing. And hereby the opinion of the beginning of the sabbatical rest with the morning is put into as good a condition, for the furtherance of the duties of piety and religion, as the other about its beginning in the evening preceding. Now, preparation in general is necessary,—
(1.) On the account of the greatness and holiness of God, with whom in an especial manner we have to do. The day is his; the duties of the day are his prescriptions; the privileges of the day are his gracious concessions ;—he is the beginning and ending of it. And as we observed before, on this day he calleth us aside unto a converse with himself; and certainly some special preparation of our hearts and minds is necessary hereunto. This belongs to the keeping of ° our foot when we go to the house of God, Eccles. v. 1,—namely, to consider what we are to do, whither we are going, to whom we make our approaches, in the solemn worship of God. The rule which he gives, Lev. x. 3, is moral and perpetual or everlasting: “TI will be sanc- tified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified.” He loves not a rude, careless rushing of poor sinners upon him, without a sense of his greatness and a due reverence of his holiness. Hencé is that advice of our apostle, Heb, xii. 28, 29, “Let us have grace,” be graciously prepared in our hearts and minds, “ whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: for our God is a consuming fire.” And this will not be an- swered by mere bodily postures of veneration. Hence there is a due preparation necessary
(2.) It is so from our own distractions and entanglements in the businesses and occasions of life. I speak not of such who spend the whole week in the pursuit of their lusts and pleasures, whose Sab- bath rest hath an equal share in profaneness with all other parts of
454 PRACTICAL OBSERVANCE [ EXERC. VI.
their lives; but we treat of those who in general make it their de- sign to live unto God. The greatest part of these I do suppose to be engaged industriously in some calling or course of life; and these things are apt to fill their minds, as well as to take up their time, and much to conform them to their own likeness. Much converse with the world is apt to beget a worldly frame in men, and earthly things will taint the mind with earthliness. And although it be our duty in all our secular occasions also to live to God, and whether we eat or drink to do all things unto his glory, yet they are apt to un- frame the mind, so as to make it unready unto spiritual things and heavenly contemplations. There is a command, indeed, that we should pray always, which at least requires of us a readiness of mind to lay hold of all occasions and opportunities for prayer; yet none will deny but that there is great advantage in a due preparation for that and all other duties of religion. To empty, therefore, and purge our minds of secular, earthly businesses, designs, projections, accounts, — dependences of things one on another, with reasonings about them, as far as in us lieth, is a duty required of us in all our solemn ap- proaches unto God. And if this be not done, but men go full of their occasions into religious services, they will by one means or other return upon them, and prevail upon them, to their disturbance. Great care is to be taken in this matter; and those who constantly exercise themselves unto a good conscience herein, will find them- selves fitted for the duties of the day to a good success.