Wesley Corpus

“In six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath-day and hallowed it.” He hallowed it; that is, he made it holy; He reserved it for his own service. He appointed, that as long as the sun or the moon, the heavens. and the earth, should endure, the children of men should spend this day in the worship of Him who “gave them life and breath and all things.” Shall a man then rob God? And art thou the man? Consider, think what thou art doing! Is it not God who giveth thee all thou hast? Every day thou livest, is it not his gift? And wilt thou give him none? Nay, wilt thou deny him what is his own already? IIe will not, he cannot, ‘quit his claim. This day is God’s. . It was so from the beginning. It will be so to the end of the world. This he cannot give to another. O “render unto God the things that are God's,” now; “to-day, while it is called to-day!” For whose sake does God lay claim to this day? for his sake, or for thine? Doubtless, not for his own. He needeth ..not thee, nor any child of man. “Look unto the heavens and see, and behold the clouds which are higher than thou. If thou sinnest, what doest thou against Him? If thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto Him? If thou art-righteous, what givest thou Him? Or what receiveth. He of thine hand?” For thy own sake, therefore, God thy Maker doeth this. For thy own sake he calleth thee to serve him. For thy own sake He demands a part of thy time to be restored to Him that gave thee all. Acknow ledge his love. Learn, while thou art on earth, to praise the King of Heaven. Spend this day as thou hopest to spend that day which never shall have an end. The Lord not only hallowed the Sabbath-day, but he hath also blessed it. So that you are an enemy to yourself. You throw away your own blessing, if you neglect to “keep this day holy.” It is a day of special grace. The King of heaven now sits upon his mercy-seat, in a more gracious manner than on other days, to bestow blessings on those who observe it.