their Sabbaths, and what efforts they made to glorify God in their public, private, and social duties, we should soon find the reason of their slow progress. As our Lord said of some particular evil spirits, " These go not out, but by prayer and fasting," so we may say of the evils which are predominant in many professors of religion, ' They do not give way, because such slight efforts are made upon the Sabbath to subdue them.' If that day were truly and entirely devoted to the Lord, Satan would no longer retain the ungodly as his vassals, nor be able to exert so much influence over those who have professedly cast off his yoke.]
3. The full possession of the heavenly Canaan —
[That land which was given to Jacob for his inheritance, was typical of the Canaan that is above, which truly " floweth with milk and honey." And it may be safely affirmed, that no person who has conscientiously employed his Sabbaths here, ever did, or ever can, fall short of the heavenly rest. Thousands who have perished by the hand of the public executioner, have traced their shame and misery to a neglect of the Sabbath: but never was an instance known of one who duly improved his Sabbaths being left to die under the dominion of his sins. Indeed the services of the Sabbath cannot possibly consist with indulged and wilful sin : on the contrary, they are both a pre- paration for heaven, and a foretaste of it : on earth the saints behold their God by faith; but in heaven they will behold him face to face : on earth they, as it were, learn and rehearse their parts ; but in heaven they will join the full chorus of saints and angels in everlasting hallelujahs to God and to the Lamb.]
See hence,
1. How reasonable are the requirements of God in his Gospel !
[Had God required six days out of the seven to be spent in such exercises, it would have been highly reasonable that we should obey him : how much more when he gives us six for earthly business, and requires only one to be consecrated entirely unto him ! If the services of that day were ever so painful, they might well be claimed by Him who has done such great things for us : and how much more when they are so delightful and so profitable ! Grudge him not then that day, nor any portion of it ; but let it be wholly and unreservedly devoted to his service.]
2. How just will be the condemnation of those who disobey them !
[A person who has attained to fifty years of age, has had above seven years of Sabbaths. O what blessings might not