Moses his choice with his eye fixed upon Heaven, discovering the happy condition of…

Again, we shall see nothing else done by no body else: Here we get together, and sing, and pray, and ¹hear the Word, and this is comfortable; but we see the Sabbath broken by others, and that damps our hearts; but there is a Sabbath coming shall be so kept, as we shall see none break it, but every one we have to deal withal shall keep it: But yet by the way, it is better in a place where it is not altogether so well kept, and is in a rising way, then in a place where it is better kept for the present, but is in a declining way; but though it be a grief to us to see the Sabbath broken, yet know, there is a Sabbath coming that we shall keep, and none shall break it.

1. 15.

Again, the happiness of the Sabbath consists in this, to keep this Sabbath in these high exercises, ¹when so many thousands shall be yelling and roaring under the wrath of an infinite God; they shall consider, we are now in the presence of God, keeping a Sabbath unto him, as the children of the Bridechamber, singing songs of triumph to him that sits upon the throne for ever; whereas others are cast out from God, and are roaring and yelling under the burden of the wrath of an infinite God, and that might have been our portion: This adds to the glory of the Saints; and therefore the Scripture hath this expression, Without shall be dogs: That expression is taken from the manner of the Jews marriages, usually they were in the night, and the Bridegroom and his Bride and their company were taken in with torches and delight into the Bride-chamber, others were without without light, & not taken into the chamber: ⟨p. 596⟩so in Heaven, some shall be taken to be exercised in these glorious things, and others are cast out: as would it not add much to ones happiness, to think thus with ones self; I am now going into a place where I shall have abundance of mirth and joy with my friends; and others in the mean time lie in the cold, starving in the dungeon, and I might have been there as well as they: if a man should go along with the King in triumph, and be at the right hand of the King in glory, and as he goes by, he should hear a company of poor wretches out of a dungeon, crying, yelling, this sets out his glory: so to be at that time, thus exercised in those heavenly employments, when as others shall be cursing themselves, and the time that they were born, and blaspheme the name of God: it is a comfort to a company of gracious hearts when they are got together in holy exercises, to think there are others in the Tavern, drinking and swilling, and blaspheming: what difference is between our condition this day, and their condition? this does mightily refresh ones heart, and enlarge it to praise God for his mercy; and so in Heaven the Saints shall know every instant when they are keeping this Sabbath; others are howling under the wrath of God, and cursing the time they were born.