A supplement to The Morning-exercise at Cripple-Gate, or, Several more cases of conscience practically…

4. Carnal pleasures leave a defilement on the spirits, and so do totally unfit the soul for communion with God. That Character, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God, how fully doth it agree to such kind of profaners of the Sabbath? Pleasures draw off the mind from God, and justly cause God to withdraw from the soul; how totally doth this indispose to Sabbath work! In heaven they cease not day and night saying, holy, holy, holy, &c. Oh Christians never think of reconciling carnal pleasure and Communion with God together: it is impossible.

¹[Not speaking thine own words.]

1. 17th Obs.

The Sabbath is polluted by words as well as by works. Christ will judge men in the great day for their words: and by them will he either justify thee for sanctifying the Sabbath, or condemn thee for profaning of it. I am afraid it is the great controversy God hath with this nation: not only profane, but even professors, are all guilty of not sanctifying the name and Day of God in their talk and discourses upon the Sabbath Day. If Jesus Christ should join himself to our Tables, ¹or lesser companies, as he did with the two Disciples going to Emmaus, and ask us, what manner of communications are these which ye have one with another; how might the question fill our faces with paleness and strike us speechless?

The Sabbath is polluted by words as well as by works. Christ will judge men in the great day for their words: and by them will he either justifie thee for sanctifying the Sabbath, or condemn thee for profaning of it. I am afraid it is the great controversie God hath with this nation: not only profane, but even professors, are all guilty of not sanctifying the name and Day of God in their talk and discourses upon the Sabbath Day. If Jesus Christ should join himself to our Tables,