542 THE SABBATH PERPETUAL, &C. estrange it from God and things heavenly, more than the com- mon labours of life. Again, letit be considered, what multitudes there are among mankind, who have very little relish for religion, and have as little opportunity of retirement from the world, and meditating on the things of God and eternity. On the six days of the week, they are ever labouring. How very necessary then is the cessa- tion from earthly affairs, to allow them due leisure to mind the important concerns of religion ? Cut off the sabbath's-hours of rest and leisurefrom them, and you cut off both opportunity and encouragement from godliness : And under such disadvantages, it must be some very extraordinary influences from God, that must change such poor, earthly and sensual creatures to a spiri- tual and heavenly temper of soul, must bring them to the saving knowledge of God, and Jesus Christ his Son, and make them his disciples. As had as the world is now, it would be much worse, if there were no observation of a sabbath-day, or weekly rest, no Lord'sday among us, even though there were a weekly sermonor two preached in public assemblies. I might even venture to leave the decision of this contro- versy to the consciences of all that are truly religious in our nation : Blessed be God ! there is a day separated by the ruling powersof this kingdom from the businesses of this life, and that earthly labours are not suffered to intermingle themselveswith the work of religion, so as tb prevent or destroy the chief design for which that day is appointed. Tell me, ye devout souls, even ye best of christians, tell me, how difficult a matter do you find it to cast off all the cares and concerns of this world entirely, when you come into the presence of God, to celebrate his public worship ? Though the whole day be appointed for God and re- ligion, yet how hard is it to shake off all the dust of this earth, and to disengage yourselvesfrom the bonds and burdens of it, 'when you would ascend to heaven indevotion ? Though you have bid farewel to your secular concerns the night before, and have had a long interval of sleep to divide your thoughts from this vain and busy life, yet how dothe crowding cares of it press in upon you, and hang continually upon your spirits, or the trifles and amusements of it hover and play about your souls, and how wretchedly do they divert your hearts from the exercises of god- liness, and sadly interrupt those very acts of worship iii which you are engaged ? Though you have a day allotted for this very purpose, and time to compose your thoughts before-hand, yet how very difficult a thing has it been to secure to your souls one hour together of complete absence and abstinence from all that is carnal and earthly ? But how much harder would it be to fulfil the duties of the sanctuarywith any good success, to improve public worship to
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