proper method of observing it with strictness and holiness.

If the antiquity of a custom has any weight to enforce a continuance of it, there is no act of religious worship that can boast of a more antient date than this. The seventh day has been sanctified from the beginning of the world; it took its rise from the very creation, when the Almighty, having finished his great and stupendous work, rested on the seventh day.

A second occasion of observing it offered itself upon the deliverance of the Jews from the house of bondage upon that day; and though we may not be bound to celebrate it from the same motives which regarded the Jewish dispensation, yet our obligations to obedience ought to rise much higher, as the blessings we commemorate are more valuable.

The Christian Sabbath receives an additional degree of solemnity, by the great seal of our redemption-the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour. This festival has been kept by the whole church of Christ in all ages; it has been observed in every nation where the gospel has been planted, and can be traced up to the first sources of Christianity.-Its very antiquity, therefore, must render it venerable :-for, is it not natural to regard with respect that which hath received so much honour? and are we not afraid to violate what hath ever been held sacred, at least until we have well. enquired, whether an institution so generally approved, was not established on great authority and good reasons? we shall find this to be founded upon both.

The religious celebration of the Lord's Day was ordered by the apostles, and authorized by the miraculous presence of

our Lord himself, as we read in the Gospel of St. John:-"The same day, at " evening, being the first day of the

"week, when the doors were shut, where "the disciples were assembled, came "Jesus, and stood in the midst, and "saith unto them-Peace be unto you."

Again, in the Acts of the Apostles, we find upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them; and St. John saith of himself, in the Revelations: "I 66 was in the spirit on the Lord's day." To whatever place the apostles and first disciples of Christ went, or were driven by their enemies, they carried this rule of their religion with them, to remember the Christian Sabbath. Their Lord, in remembrance of whose resurrection they kept it, continued to follow them with tokens of his approbation and presence, accepting the day which they had dedi

cated to him, and had distinguished by his name.

Thus far we find the observance of the Sabbath Day consistent with, and essential to, all religion; nor will it require any great degree of penetration to discover how agreeable it is to reason also, that one day should be set apart from the rest for the public worship of God.-. Though every day and every hour of our life would be properly employed in the service of the great Author of it; yet we cannot be ignorant, that there are thousands, who, going on in the daily round of their pleasures, would never bestow a single thought on their Creator, much less return him their praises and thanksgivings for the good things they enjoy, were it not for this opportunity of public prayer, this short interval of devotion, which is in a manner forced upon them by the command of Heaven,

for the exercise of those duties, which gratitude alone should excite them to perform.

To convince ourselves of the truth of this assertion, we need only observe the general backwardness in all ranks of men to assist at the service of God in his holy temple.-Any, the most slight pretence, is eagerly embraced to excuse their attendance in this sacred place; as if the business of religion were of less consequence than their worldly concerns; or, that the Almighty would dispense with their attention to his service, on much more trifling considerations than they would admit in their dealings with each other.

Besides those who slight the command of God, by absenting themselves from his holy temple on the Sabbath Day, there are but too many who err in a more