feel the weight of the curse, but it will have a double weight to despisers of the gospel. 5. Lastly, It will be an eternal weight, Matth. xxv. 41, " Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire." There is an eternal weight of glory for the saints in the promise; and an eternal weight of wrath for sinners in the curse, which they shall for ever lie under, and never get clear of. Let these motives then excite and induce you to flee from the curse of the broken covenant of works, unto the covenant of grace, where life is only to be found. Secondly, Believers in Christ, delivered from this covenant, (1.) Be thankful for your deliverance, as a deliverance from the curse. Let the warmest gratitude glow in your breasts for so great a deliverance; and let your soul, and all that is within you, be stirred up to bless your glorious Deliverer for this unspeakable blessing. (2.) Walk holily and fruitfully in good works, since the bands of death are removed, and your souls are healed. Be holy in all manner of life and conversation; adorning the doctrine of God your Saviour in all things. Let the whole tenor of your lives testify that you are not under the curse, but that you inherit the blessing of eternal life, by living to the praise and honour of Christ, who hath delivered you from the wrath to come. (3.) Turn not back to the broken covenant of works again, in legal principles, nor in legal practices. The more the temper and frame of your spirit lies that way, the more unholy will ye be; and the more your duties savour of it, the less savoury will they be unto your God. It is only by being dead to the law, that ye will live unto God. A MEMORIAL CONCERNING AND FAMILY FASTING. PERSONAL AND ZECHARIAH Xii. 12, “And the land shall mourn, every family apart—their wives apart.” CHAPTER I. OF PERSONAL AND FAMILY FASTING AND HUMILIATION IN THE GENERAL. RELIGIOUS fasts, kept in secret, by a particular person apart by himself, and by a particular family apart by themselves, concerning which this Memorial is presented both to saints and sinners, are not indeed the stated and ordinary duties of all times, to be performed daily, or at set times recurring; such as prayer, praise, and reading of the Word are: but they are extraordinary duties of some times, and to be performed occasionally, as depending entirely, in respect of the exercise of them, on the call of providence, which is variable. They are authorised, and enjoined us, in the Word of God; and therefore, when we shall have performed them, we must say, are unprofitable servants, we have done that which was our duty to do;" and must abhor the least thought of meriting thereby. we The particular seasons of them are determined by providence. Wherefore they who would be practisers of them must be religious observers of providence; otherwise God may be calling aloud for weeping and mourning, and girding with sackcloth, while they, not heeding it, are indulging themselves in joy and gladness, Isa. xxii. 12, 13; a dangerous adventure! Ver. 14, "Surely this iniquity shall not be purged from you, till ye die, saith the Lord." Hence the most serious and tender among knowing Christians, will readily be found the most frequent in these exercises. It is on the pouring out of the Spirit, that the land is to mourn, every family apart and their wives apart, Zech. xii. 10, 12. Paul was a scene |