must have brutish delights, sensual pleasures, or else his heart is lumpish and leaden. I am persuaded, that there is no man of David's spirit, no man after God's own heart, that needs any of those ordinary sports and pleasures to cheer him on the Lord's day. Hear what David says; “The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;" and, “sweeter also than honey, and the honey-comb,” Psa. xix. 8, 10. A sanctified heart never finds less need of ordinary recreations than on the Lord's day, when the word of God is plentifully communicated.

Now, when are the Lord's statutes more freely published and unfolded to us than on the Lord's day? And can he want recreation, who finds these to be the rejoicing of his heart, and sweeter than honey, or the honey-comb? The Lord's day is a joyful day with him.

I will a little examine the supposed necessity of these recreations, which some so much desire.

There are some recreations that are indeed simply necessary, as meat, drink, rest, sleep; and what servant has not those? If they are needful for any, it is chiefly for such as are kept in the house or shop, who have some sedentary trade, not occasioning them to stir much. And for these, they are not so absolutely necessary, that for them they should rob God of his day in any part.

But some will say perhaps, that they had rather be without their meat and drink than these. But doth this prove them necessary? So had many an one rather lose his life than his beloved lust: does that prove it necessary? No, that vain desire of yours must be mortified, and you must deny yourself if you would be Christ's disciple. I believe, that the

appetite for quails, as Does that prove that

Israelites had as strong an ever they had for manna. quails were necessary for them when they had manna? Certainly not: manna was for their hunger, but quails they desired for their lust. So those that have not sport on other days, and therefore would have it on the Lord's day, in any part of it, as necessary, it is their lust, and not any true need, which makes it seem so necessary unto them. And yet I would have masters prevent this excuse in servants, allowing them some time for convenient refreshment this way, lest by their greediness they thrust them upon temptations, and become guilty of their sins give them therefore some other time, and let them give up this time to the Lord.

But some will say, that it will keep them from worse exercises.

66

I answer, that such means to prevent sin are to be used as God has sanctified for that purpose. The word of God has been to some a savour of death unto death, but shall it therefore be taken away? that is it which many wish: but it were better they were taken out of the world. Christ himself was a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence" unto many: what wonder then, if that which is good, be made an occasion of evil, through man's corruption and Satan's malice! Does not the apostle show, that the law is an occasion that concupiscence rages and stirs the more? Rom. vii. 8. Yet must the law be preached and pressed.

In a word, what child of God that knows how hard a thing it is to work the word of God into his heart, can find spare time upon this day for sports and vain delights? Are not the most serious thoughts and exercises fittest to give impression to

the word in the heart? Away then with all light, vain sports and exercises, unless we would make a jest and a trifle of religion and salvation. All the business of our calling is but a trifle in comparison of the work of this day; therefore such light exercises are most unfit for this day, of all days of the week.

Therefore, "remember the sabbath day," the whole day, "to keep it holy," not to spend it, or any part of it, in vain sports and pleasures: for it is a day which the Lord requires, and we must not be sharing nor quartering out the day with him. When you have offered up a morning and evening sacrifice in public, do not think that now you have discharged yourself, but hold out in a holy performance of such duties as are answerable to the public. If ever you are serious, let it be now; you never have such important business in hand as upon this day therefore close it up with a serious performance of such duties as best become the duties of the public worship. These things concern your everlasting state.

To these things let me add some cautions, very needful to direct us in the observance of this day.

1. Let us take heed chiefly to the manner of performance of the duties of the day, that we do them in spirit and truth, with life, and affection, and power of the Spirit. Let us take heed that we do not by any means content ourselves with abstaining from worldly discourses, worldly businesses, or recreations. Neither let us think we have done well, when we have spent the day in the outward worship of God, and in private duties: all this we may do, and yet all this while not rightly perform any obedience at all to the fourth commandment. Let the love of God rule in your hearts, that you may in love and

delight give up the Lord's day unto him, that you may with free, cheerful, fervent spirits; yea, with glad hearts, and willing minds, do his holy work upon his holy day of rest.

To this end watch over

your hearts, and observe when your affections begin to hang the wing, and labour by all means to revive and re-enforce them. Look up to heaven, and draw in strength from Christ: yea, in such cases it would be fit to break off for a little space such exercises which require a continual speaking, or attending to that which is spoken, and step aside to refresh your mind with some sweet heart-raising meditation of the gospel, or solace it with a psalm or heavenly song, and then return again with a fresh spirit to this service.

2. Take heed of a deceitful heart herein, lest you should so please yourself in some degree of strictness about the observance of the sabbath, as that you should let loose the reins all the week after to worldliness, vanity, and sin. And consider, that the Lord has given this day for this end, that now you should get light to guide you, and heat to quicken you, and strength to enable you to walk in the way of the Lord all the week after, so much the more holily and spiritually. Consider especially what you have heard on the Lord's day, and be often thinking of it in the week following, knowing it was the special portion of the week, all offered thee of the Lord: and if, by the assistance of the Holy Spirit in the use of the ordinances, public and private, you find your heart raised to a higher pitch of heavenlymindedness, be sure to keep your station, take heed of sinking lower, labour to be more and more established and confirmed in spirit, and endeavour to keep

your heart, that so you may be more raised and quickened.

3. Finally; when you have done all, be humbled, confess your own wants, weaknesses, and neglects, judge yourself, and beg of God to pardon the iniquities of your most holy things. Always think that your best sacrifice has its blemishes, your best offering its uncleanness, and dip it in the blood of Christ, that thy service may be accepted, and the impurity of it done away, and pardoned.

THE END.

London: Printed by W. CLOWES and SONS, Stamford Street.