September 25 — On keeping holy the Lord's Day

Consider, first, that divine precept. Remember thou keep holy the sabbath day, (Exod. xx, 8;) and reflect how just it is, that, next to the capital duties of acknowledging one only true and living God, and paying due respect to his name, we should also set aside one day at least in the week, to be sanctified to him, and to be sfient in his divine worship. The particular appointment of the seventh day as the day of God’s rest, and x\ie figure of our eternal rest, after the six days’ labours of this transitory life, was but a part of the ceremonial law, which is no longer obligatory under the new covenant of Jesus Christ; and therefore the day has been changed into the first day of the week, to honour the resurrection of the Son of God, by which he put, as it were, the finishing stroke to the great work of our redemption, and the glorious promulgation of his law, by the coming down of the Holy Ghost. But the precept itself, as to its substance, and as to the obligation of dedicating, in a more particular manner, a competent portion of our days to the worship of him, who, in all reason, might justly claim them all, is unchangeable, indispensable, and eternal; and is here enforced with that wonl Remember, not found in any of the other commandments, to inculcate the utmost importance of our strict observance of it. O, it is true that the religious keeping of these days, agreeably to the ordinance of God and his church, is the sovereign means to bring Christians, after their short labours here, to their true and everlasting Sabbath.

Consider, secondly, that on these days (which we are commanded to keep holy) all servile works, and profane employments, are forbidden to Christians, lest their attention should be taken off from the worship of (Jod, or their application to religious duties interrupted by their worldly occupations. But, then, if these kinds of works, which are otherwise commendable in themselves, and even obligatory at other times, are strictly forbid on these days, as hinderances of God’s worship; how much more are all such criminal diversions as are lawful at no time, and all those works of darkness and sin, which are servile in the very worst of senses, because by them men serve the devil, and are far more taken off by them from their application to God, than by any other labours whatsoever! But, O, how common are these sinful profanations of the Lord’s day! How many seem to hare no other intention, in resting on this day from their usual eniplo)inents, than to dedicate this holy time to vanity, sloth, luxury, or some other criminal passion, without giving any part of it to God 1 See, my soul, this be never thy practice; but, if thou givest the other days of the week to the world, to the business of thy calling, to working for thy temporal livelihood; give God his day, to be employed in his service, in the business of eternity, and in working for thy eternal salvation.

Consider, thirdly, that all Christians are obliged on these days to attend to the public worship of God, in his church; and in particular to assist at the divine sacrifice, in which we solemnly celebrate the death and passion of the Son of God. Here we are to join with him, and with his whole family, in paying adoration, praise, and thanksgiving to the Divine Majesty. Here we are to bewail our sins in his sight, and crave mercy for them, through Christ’s precious blood, here offered to God. Here we are to present, through him, our prayers and supplications, both for ourselves and for the whole world, before the throne of grace. We are also on these days to dispose our souls to receive, either sacramentally, or at least spiritually, the body and blood of Christ, to attend to the word of God, to read devout books, to meditate on divine truths, and to employ a good part of our time in these spiritual exercises. Alas! how very little are these important duties thought on by too many Christians 1 How many will neither sanctify these days, in a proper manner, themselves, nor suffer their servants, or others that are about them, to sanctify them I And what a strict account must they give for all these abuses another day?

Conclude to make it thy business, that thou, at least, and thy house, may give to God what belongs to God, by duly serving him on his own day. This diligence will entitle thee and thine to his blessing; and thy sanctifying his day shall be a powerful means to sanctify thee.