The Jews made a great stir about reverencing the Temple: they tell us, that they were not to go in with a staff, nor shoes, nor to spit in it: nor when they went away, to turn their backs upon it, but go sidelong. But doubtless the great thing God points at, and expects from his peoples hands on this day, is, that they do worship him with inward reverence, seriousness and spiritualness. All other Worship abstracted from this, will neither pleasure God, nor profit us, 1 Tim. 4. 8. For bodily exercise profiteth little. Oh labour ⟨p. 249⟩to be very spiritual in all the duties of this day. Christ the 1Lord of the Sabbath was spiritual in his conception, in his life and conversation, in his death and passion, in his resurrection and ascension: he was spiritual in his words, in his works, in his ways, and in his worship; and therefore let us labour to be very spiritual in all we do on that day. Again, all the Ordinances of the day are spiritual, viz. the Word, Prayer, Sacraments, singing of Psalms, &c. and therefore we had need to be spiritual in all the services of that day. Again, the ends for which the Lords Day was appointed, are all spiritual: viz. the glory of God, the illumination, conversion, and salvation of sinners, and the edification, confirmation consolation of Saints: And therefore we had need be spiritual 2in all the duties of the day. Again, the grand enemies that we are to encounter with on this day, are spiritual, sin within and Satan without; and therefore we had need be spiritual in all we do. For there is no way to conquer spiritual enemies, but by spiritual weapons, and by spiritual 3exercises. Again, grace thrives most, and flourishes best in their souls, who are most spiritual in their duties on the Lords Day. Again, the more spiritual any man is in his duties on the Lords Days, the more secured and armed he will be against all spiritual judgments, which are the sorest and dreadfullest of all judgements. Again, the more spiritual any man is in the duties of the Lords Day, the more that man acts like the Angels in Heaven, and like the Spirits of 4just men made perfect. Again, this will d•fference you from hypocrites, formalists, and all profane persons. An external observation of the Sabbath, will difference you from Heathens; but a spiritual spending of the Sabbath, will difference you from hypocrites.
The Jews made a great stir about reverencing the Temple: they tell us, that they were not to go in with a staff, nor shoes, nor to spit in it: nor when they went away, to turn their backs upon it, but go sidelong. But doubtless the great thing God points at, and expects from his peoples hands on this day, is, that they do worship him with inward reverence, seriousness and spiritualness. All other Worsh•p abstracted from this, will neither pleasure God, nor profit us, 1 Tim. 4. 8. For bodily exercise profiteth little. Oh labour ⟨p. 249⟩to be very spiritual in all the duties of this day. Christ the 1Lord of the Sabbath was spiritual in his conception, in his life and conversation, in his death and passion, in his resurrection and ascension: he was spiritual in his words, in his works, in his wayes, and in his worship; and therefore let us labour to be very spiritual in all we do on that day. Again, all the Ordinances of the day are spiritual, viz. the Word, Prayer, Sacraments, singing of Psalms, &c. and therefore we had need to be spiritual in all the services of that day. Again, the ends for which the Lords Day was appointed, are all spiritual: viz. the glory of God, the illumination, conversion, and salvation of sinners, and the edification, confirmation consolation of Saints: And therefore we had need be spiritual 2in all the duties of the day. Again, the grand enemies that we are to encounter with on this day, are spiritual, sin within and Satan without; and therefore we had need be spiritual in all we do. For there is no way to conquer spiritual enemies, but by spiritual weapons, and by spiritual 3exercises. Again, grace thrives most, and flourishes best in their souls, who are most spiritual in their duties on the Lords Day. Again, the more spiritual any man is in his duties on the Lords Dayes, the more secured and armed he will be against all spiritual judgments, which are the sorest and dreadfullest of all judgements. Again, the more spiritual any man is in the duties of the Lords Day, the more that man acts like the Angels in Heaven, and like the Spirits of 4just men made perfect. Again, this will d•fference you from hypocrites, formalists, and all prophane persons. An external observation of the Sabbath, will difference you from Heathens; but a spiritual spending of the Sabbath, will difference you from hypocrites.
- 1Luke 1. 35, 36. Matth. 3. 16. John 1. 32. Chap. 6. 36. Heb. 7. 26. Chap. 9. 14. 1 Tim. 3. 16.
- 2Ephes. 6. 12.
- 31 Cor. 10. 13.
- 4Heb. 12. 22, 23.
