Theses Sabbaticæ, or, The doctrine of the Sabbath wherein the Sabbaths I. Morality, II.…

I could therefore desire to conclude this doctrine of the Sabbath with tears, and I wish it might be matter of bitter lamentation to the mourners in Zion, everywhere to behold the universal profanation of these precious times and seasons of refreshing, toward which, through the abounding of iniquity, the love of many who once seemed zealous for them, is now grown cold: the Lord might have suffered poor, worthless, sorrowful man to have worn and wasted out all his days in this life in weariness, grief, and labour, and to have filled his days with nothing else but work, and minding of his own things, and bearing his own necessary cumbers and burdens here, and never have allowed him a day of rest until he came up to heaven at the end of his life; and thus to have done would have been infinite mercy and love, though he had made him grind the Mill only of his own occasions, & feel the whip and the lash only of his daily griefs and labours, until dark night came; but such is the overflowing and abundant love of a blessed God, that it cannot contain it self (as it were) so long a time from special fellowship with his people here in a strange land, and in an evil world, and therefore will have some special times of special fellowship and sweetest mutual embracings; and this time must not be a moment, an hour. a little, and then away again; but a whole day, that there may be time enough to have their fill of love in each others bosom before they part; this day must not be merely occ• sionall at humane liberty and now and then, least it be too seldom, and so strangeness grow between them; but the Lord (who exceeds and excels poor man in love) therefore ⟨p. 92⟩to make all sure he sets and fixeth the day, and appoints the time, and how to meet, merely out of love, that weary man may enjoy his rest, his God, his love, his Heaven, as much and as often as may be here, in this life, until he come up to glory, to rest with God; and that because man cannot here enjoy his days of glory, he might therefore foretaste them in days of grace; and is this the requital, and all the thanks he hath for his heart-breaking love?

I could therefore desire to conclude this doctrine of the Sabbath with teares, and I wish it might be matter of bitter lamentation to the mourners in Sion, everywhere to behold the universall prophanation of these precious times and seasons of refreshing, toward which, through the abounding of iniquity, the love of many who once seemed zealous for them, is now grown cold: the Lord might have suffered poore, worthlesse, sorrowfull man to have worne and wasted out all his daies in this life in wearinesse, griefe, and labour, and to have filled his daies with nothing else but work, and minding of his own things, and bearing his own necessary cumbers and burdens here, and never have allowed him a day of rest untill he came up to heaven at the end of his life; and thus to have done would have been infinite mercy and love, though he had made him grind the Mill only of his own occasions, & feele the whip and the lash onely of his daily griefs and labours, untill dark night came; but such is the overflowing and abundant love of a blessed God, that it cannot containe it selfe (as it were) so long a time from speciall fellowship with his people here in a strange land, and in an evill world, and therefore will have some speciall times of speciall fellowship and sweetest mutuall embracings; and this time must not be a moment, an houre. a little, and then away againe; but a whole day, that there may be time enough to have their fill of love in each others bosome before they part; this day must not be meerly occ sionall at humane liberty and now and then, least it be too seldome, and so strangenesse grow between them; but the Lord (who exceeds and excels poor man in love) therefore