the ten commandments to nine; produce confusion in all human affairs; abridge the glory of God, and diminish the comfort of those people who keep the Sabbath of the Lord and reverence his sanctuary.

(4.) From the Example of all Good Men. We have worthy examples, First, In the Antient Israelites. Among them, on this day, peculiar rites were attended to, and extraordinary ceremonies were performed; then was there a holy convocation; Moses and the prophets were read in every synagogue; appropriate psalms were sung; prayers were offered; and the people were blessed: then good people repaired to the prophets; and then, says one, "I went with the multitude to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holy day" while at the same time no meat was either baked or boiled; no ordinary work was to be done; no needless fire was to be kindled; no victuals were to be sold; no burdens were to be borne; there was to be no idle wandering through the camp a general cessation from secular concerns was to take place, and all was to be holiness to the Lord. /

Secondly, In the Apostles and Primitive Believers.-The first followers of Christ hailed the return of this day with delight; and, though subject to the ridicule of the vain, the control

/ Num. xxviii. 9, 10.-xxviii. 25.-Acts, xiii. 27.-Ps. xcii. Title.-2 Kings, iv. 23.-Ps. xlii. 4.-Ex. xví. 23.-xvi. 29. --XXXV. 3.-Neh. x. 31.-Jer. xvii. 21.

of the great, and the cruelty of a furious and misguided rabble; with pleasure they commenced its sacred services. On this day they assembled for religious worship; then they preached the gospel of Christ; administered! the sacraments; entered into the spirit of religion; and often continued their devotions! a considerable time: they also made collections? for the poor; and healed the wounded; and many other pious works must they have done, in connexion with these, which are not written in this book. m-Nor were the Primitive Believers less attentive to this hebdomadal rest.' As an example, it is expressly recorded that the pious women, who followed the body of Christ to the sepulchre, deferred anointing it for more than a day, that they might not appear to profane the Sabbath by doing it then. n

Thirdly, In the Antient Churches.-Justin Martyr, who flourished about the middle of the second century, says, "That on this day, which heathens call Sunday, all who live in cities and villages, meet together in the same place; where the writings of the apostles and prophets are read and we all assemble; it being the day when God finished the work of creation, and Jesus Christ our Saviour arose from the dead." The younger Pliny, who flourished near the end of the first century, tells the emperor Trajan, "That the christians

m Acts, xx. 7-12.—Rev. i. 10.—Acts, xx. 7.—1 Cor. xvi. 2: -Acts, xx. 10. n Luke, xxiii. 56.

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of his time were accustomed to meet on a stated day before it was light, and, by turns, to sing a hymn to Christ as to God; to bind themselves by an oath not to do any wickedness, nor to break their word, nor to deny their pledge all of which was concluded by, what he terms, a harmless meal, meaning either their feast of charity, or the sacrament of the Lord's supper. The venerable Bede, speaking of bishop Tuda, says, "That in his time, on the Sabbath, the people flocked together by multitudes, in the church or monastry, not to refresh their bodies, but to learn the word of God. And, if a preacher happened to come into any village, the people presently assembled, and anxiously sought from him the word of life.” And in the third century, when persecution raged so much against the church, it is well known that christians distinguished themselves by observing devoutly the Lord's day; and which all men considered a badge of Christianity.

(5.) From the Designs of its Appointment. -And, First, The Sabbath was appointed for the Glory of God. o The antediluvian, patriarchal, and jewish Sabbath, commemorated the marvellous exploits of creation and. providence. p It brought to mind a series of events, the remembrance of which aroused the admiration, excited the affections, and inspired the song, of many an illustrious Jew; and which still awakens the astonishment, • Isaiah, lviii. 13. p Deut. v. 15.

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warms the heart, and tunes the lyre, of every pious and contemplative mind. The christian Sabbath was ordained to celebrate the signal and glorious triumph of the Son of God over satan, sin, and the grave; to be an eternal memorial of the Spirit's descent; and to call our attention regularly to the various pleasing, pious, and improving ordinances of the christian ehurch. "This is the day which the Lord has made, whereon to be exalted among the people and glorified by all his works. Praise ye the Lord."

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The Sabbath was appointed, Secondly, for the Good of Mankind. q For his Temporal Welfare.-For the Rest of the Body. It is ordained, in the fourth commandment, That, during six days, men shall be diligent in their business, in order to provide for themselves and their families. Now, as labour naturally wearies the man and wears out his constitution, God has, in the same commandment, mercifully counteracted the evil, by appointing every seventh day for recruiting his strength, and re-animating his spirits for his next week's engagements. Nor is this rest to be confined to man, but is also to be afforded to the beasts of draught and burden; since they are exhausted with too much exercise as well as ourselves. r-For Domestic Happiness. The man, who, by his particular calling, is separated from his friends during the week, now returns to the bosom of his family, to enjoy the

✔ Mark, ii. 27. r Ex. xxiii. 12.—xx. 10.

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pleasures of domestic life, and to obtain that comfort at home which the world denied him abroad, To-day, in the well regulated family, every thing is clean and neat; the people have little to do, but to comfort and to enjoy one another. Every child, with its Sabbath dress, puts on its Sabbath looks; and a joy pervades the good man's cottage, which makes it inviting when away, and happy when there.For National Advantage. Judge Blackstone, remarks, "That the keeping of one day in seven holy, as a relaxation and refreshment, as well as for public worship, is of admirable service to a state; considered merely as civil institution. It humanizes, by the help of society and conversation, the manners of the lower classes; which would otherwise degenerate into a sordid ferocity, and savage selfishness of spirit; it enables the industrious workman, to pursue his occupation in the ensuing week with health and cheerfulness; it imprints on the minds of the people, that sense of their duty to God, so necessary to make them good citizens; but yet which would be worn out and defaced by an unremitting continuance of labour, without any stated times for recalling them to the worship of their Maker."'

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For his Spiritual Advantage.-For Public Worship. It was an admonition of Paul to the Hebrews, "Not to forsake the assembling of themselves together" and of those Godfearing people who often spake one to another,