have been so explicit in describing the manner in which the Sabbath is to be observed, were now to put this question to us: Is every rational pleasure, every quiet and innocent domestick recreation, unlawful, after one has strictly spent the Lord's Day, in the manner aforesaid, we will fearlessly and candidly give this answer-That, as we find nothing in the Gospel which authorises us to decide that question, with a degree of severity worthy only of a Jesuit; if we were to do so, it would be going beyond the prescribed limits of our sacred ministry: It would be keeping men from Christ, instead of bringing them to Him, who is the way, the truth, and the life:* it would be creating disgust against a religion which is the friend of man, and his only solace in the midst of the troubles and miseries of this world. We cannot, indeed, be constantly engaged in prayer, deep meditation, and serious reading: it is impossible for the human soul, while it is united with the body, to be always soaring in the ethereal regions; or to be constantly employed in the contemplation of spiritual objects: Moreover, it would be repugnant to the goodness, and even the justice of God, to require from us such an

*John xiv. 6.

éxaltation of piety as He has not made us susceptible of pure and perfect piety does not belong to this world, where we are placed only to fit us for those sublime sentiments which distinguish the celestial hierarchy: holiness is to be attained only in Heaven: the practice of a more humble piety is our task here below.

Besides, it must not be forgot, that even under the Mosaic Law, however rigid it was, the Sabbath, far from being a day wholly consecrated to devotion, was also a day, in which it was usual for the Israelites to testify, to the Supreme Being, their feelings of gratitude, for the benefits received at his hand... by those innocent demonstrations of joy, which a sound and well understood religion never condemned God forbid, then, that under the new law, which is much less ceremonial than that of the Hebrew legislator, we should interdict to Christian liberty, or rather to human weakness, something of a similar nature: but, what we must very particularly remark, is, that our recreations, whenever we take any, should never precede the duties of the day, nor interfere with its principal object, namely, publick worship; or be injurious to the edifying of our neighbour, or to the fruits of our devotion.

Let me then, before I proceed further, let me

ask again those who are deluded respecting the observation of the Sabbath, to say, whether a more holy or becoming observation of the Lord's Day can be enjoined, than that which has been now developed and explained? Would to God only that their principles, sentiments, and deeds, were more in conformity with those rules of duty we have shown to be purely evangelical; instead of slandering, as too many do, those whose conduct and example they have not the virtue nor courage to imitate.

If those Ultra-sabbatarians confess to themselves, that what has been said, in the foregoing pages, is true—that greater ignorance has never existed on any subject, than that displayed on their observation of the Lord's Day,... what will they say presently, when they see that we go still much beyond their religious code, not indeed in the same way, but in what is most material and important to observe on the subject, and the justice and truth of which cannot be denied.

We have just mentioned, that we ought not, in the observance of the Lord's Day, allow ourselves to do any thing that might prove injurious to the fruit of our devotion: But what must that fruit be?-Amendment; virtue. It is with this most important reflection, that we shall conclude.

We think it manifest, from the whole tenor of

our liturgical service, and our duty as prescribed in the Gospel, that to limit the practice of religion, to the observation of the Lord's Day: and the observation of the Lord's Day, to the hallowing of that day alone, is doing very little... unless it be carried into all the other days of the week; unless it has an influence on the whole of our conduct, in every station of life, in every relation we maintain, in society; unless it make us better masters and servants, better husbands and wives, better fathers, mothers, and children, better friends, and better citizens ;*

* We have heard it often remarked, and alleged as a cause of the little moral improvement of people... "the neglect of ministers to preach, develope and urge those relative moral duties; and their presenting to their hearers, only such general reflections, as from their lax and vague nature, do not come home to the hearts." How far that remark is just and correct, we do not pretend to say, as we have no opportunity of forming a judgment. We will then merely observe, that, although the doctrinal part of religion be highly important to be propounded as being the basis of the true Christian morality, yet it is much to be apprehended, that if produced over and over again, this cannot be done, without diminishing that interest and attention which the awfully grand and solemn dogmas ought to keep awake, if seasonably treated; and without leaving behind the exposition of those duties, the practice of which is so essential to the moral progress of society, in general, and the spiritual welfare of families, in particular. Christian festivities, and other like circumstances naturally lead to the consideration of the first momentous truths which

in short, more just, temperate, and charitable; more peaceable, less anxious for worldly gain, and more solicitous about things which relate to our future happiness. This is the literal explanation of our Ultra-sabbatarianism.

Some of the other Ultra-sabbatarians have advanced, in different pamphlets, that the principal cause of the publick calamities, is the nonobservance of the Sabbath. Fortified, however, by holy writ, we will say to them: It is not so much the non-observance of the Sabbath, which produces the evils complained of, as it is the observance of the Sabbath...without reformation : -Without reformation of manners, all religious observances, or which have the appearance of religion, are absolutely nothing: They are a would then have a greater effect on the mind and heart of the congregations, than if loosely propounded every Sunday—or, what seems to us still a better plan, as embracing at the same time, an increase of faith, and morality, is a more frequent explanation of the whole, or part only either of the epistle, or of the gospel of the day, in which both, is always found such an abundant matter of fundamental doctrine, and of moral duties, united together as to afford instruction to the mind; improvement to the heart; and useful rules for our conduct in all the affairs, and transactions of life. -Read only the admirable sermon of our Saviour, on the Mount; and his declarations respecting the last judgment, (Matth. 25-) You will see that what we have just observed is founded on his example-and that He is to be the model of ministers in particular, as the model of Christians in general.