Glory be to God who hath now given you a sense of this. You now know, this was always designed for a day of blessing. May you never again by your idleness or prophaneness, turn that blessing into a curse! What folly, what madness would that be? And in what sorrow and anguish would it end? For yet a little while, and death will close up the day of grace and mercy. And those who despise them now, will have no more sabbaths, or sacraments or prayers for ever. Then how will they wish to recover that, which they now so idly call away? But all in vain. For they will then find no place for repentance, tho’ they should seek it carefully with tears.
O my friend, know the privilege you enjoy. Now remember the sabbath-day to keep it holy. Your day of life and of grace is far spent. The night of death is at hand. Make haste to use the time you have: improve the last hours of your day. Now provide the things which make for your peace, that you may stand before the face of God [♦]for ever.
[♦] duplicate word “for” removed
A WORD to a
SWEARER.
Swear not at all,
SAITH the Lord God of heaven and earth. Art thou without God in the world? Hast thou no knowledge of God? No concern about him? Is not God in all thy thoughts?
Dost thou believe there is a God? Where? in heaven only? Nay, he filleth all in all? Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar off? Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? Do I not fill heaven and earth?
Whither wilt thou go then from his spirit? Or whither wilt thou flee from his presence? If thou go up into heaven, God is there. If thou go down into hell, he is there also. If thou take the wings of the morning, and remain in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there his hand shall touch thee, and his right-hand shall hold thee.
God seeth thee now: his eyes are upon thee: he observes all thy thoughts: he compasseth thy path: he counteth all thy steps: he is acquainted with all thy ways: by him thy actions are weighed; nor is there a word in thy tongue but he knoweth it altogether.