Watts - BX5200 .W3 1813 v.2

IQÓ Tnr LORD'S DYA. them. Take largesteps towards theheavenly world on that day, and see that you be not drawnbackagain by the allurements or the toils of this mortal state. Maintain that savour and relish of divine things, that holy nearness to God and heaven, as far as possible amidst the business of life, which you have gained amidst the ordinances of the sanctuary. Thus you will have a sort of sanctification spread over all your earthly affairs, and you will walk with God in them all. V. " Take notice what relish and satisfaction you find in the duties or services of the Lord's-day, and let that be a test whereby you may judge of thesanctification of your souls, and your preparation for heaven." I grant those who are fatigued and overpressed with the laboursof this life, may be wellpleased with a dayof rest from labour, from mere principles of nature, and the desire of easeor idleness : But do they love the work of a Lord's-day? Do they delight in christian worship? Do they rejoice to remember a risen Saviour? 'Do they take pleasure in the remembrance of Godin his glorious works of creation and redemption, and converse with him with a holy satisfaction in prayer, in praise and other religious exercises ? Let us enquire, my friends, how it stands with us in this respect ? Are we glad of a-day of rest and release from the business of this life, that we may be more at leisure' for God? Or could we be well enough pleased- if there were no sabbaths ? Are the ordinances of worship our delight ? Do we take pleasurein devotion and practical god- liness? Do the things ofinward religion relish well with us ? Are they our pleasure and our joy ? What shall we do in heaven if we are not possessed of this temper, if our spirits are neither suited to the blessedness nor bu- siness of it, and if this world with the cares and pleasures of it be our chiefdelight ? And how can we expect to be ever fit for hea- ven, which is a state of everlasting separation from the businesses of this world, and the perpetual enjoyment of God, and Jesus the Saviour, if we do not make some advances towards tkis tem- per on every Lord's day that returns, which separates us from the world, and is designed to bring us toward God ? In the last place,Iwould add, as Let everyLord' -day, every Christian sabbath, lead your meditations, your faith and hope onward to the eternal rest in heaven, and the glorious worship of that world." Amidst all the fatigues and cares of this life, amidst all the interruptions you feel in your devotions here, and the inroads that are made upon your religious employments and joys, even on God's own day, yet still rejoicein the view and hope ofthat state whereyou shall find everlasting rest, a sabbath which *ever ends, and be forever employed in divine exercises without the weariness of flesh or spirit. Alas ! how soon are our souls

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=