And shall the Sabbath, in this view of it, be ac- counted a day of gloom? No; we shall have far other sentiments of it, if we consider,
III. The benefits we may expect from a due obser- vance of it — Whatever reference there may be in our text to the return of the Jews from their captivity in Baby- lon, we cannot doubt but that the promises here made have a higher and more spiritual import. In them we are assured, that, if we really keep the Sabbath as we ought, we shall be blessed with,
1. Delight in God —
[There is not any thing which God more delights to ho- nour than a due observance of the Sabbath. We may perform the outward duties of that day, and reap no material benefit : but if we truly and earnestly endeavour to honour God in the way before described, God will draw nigh to us, and reveal himself to us, and fill us with joy and peace in believing. And here we confidently make our appeal to all who have ever laboured to spend a Sabbath to the Lord, whether they have not found such a measure of grace and peace flowing into their souls, as has abundantly recompensed their utmost exertions ? Who must not acknowledge that one day thus spent in the courts and in the service of Jehovah, is better than a thousand passed amongst the vain delights of this world e? And where the Sabbath is thus habitually honoured, we will venture to say, that such happiness will at times flow into the soul, as David experienced, when he said, " My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, whilst my mouth praiseth thee with joyful lips f :" yes, " they shall be satisfied with the fatness of God's house ; and he will make them drink of the river of his pleasuresg."]
2. Victory over our spiritual enemies —
[This seems to be the import of that expression, " I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth11:" and it shall be fulfilled to all who conscientiously improve their Sabbaths to the glory of their God. Too many of those who profess religion, are, it must be confessed, scarcely, if at all, advancing in the divine life : their evil dispositions still retain such an ascendant over them, as to make them go on heavily all their days. But, if we were to incpuire how they spent
e Ps. lxxxiv. 4, TO. f Ps. lxiii. 5. 8 Ps. xxxvi. 8.
b Compare Deut. xxxii. 13. and xxxiii. 29.