grees become a faithful Transcript of what he reads. And, having his Eyes ftedfaftly fixed on that unerring Rule, which points the Way to Heaven, he will go on with increafing Comfort and Alacrity, till he arrives at the Place of eternal Reft, eternal Happiness and Glory.

EXODUS XX. 8.

Remember the Sabbath- Day, to keep it holy.

T hath pleafed the Lord, who made

IT

Heaven and Earth, and all that is therein, to require that we appropriate one Day in seven to the public Honour of His Name. He hath commanded us to ceafe from all worldly Bufinefs on that Day, in Acknowledgement of our Dependence on His Goodnefs. For, without His Help and Bleffing, all our Labour and Industry must be in vain.

We are intirely dependent on the bountiful Kindness of our heavenly Father for every Thing, that can in any Way contribute to our Happiness. And His Goodness is illuftriously displayed in the ample Provifion, which He hath

made

made for the Supply of all our Wants. He hath replenished the Earth with inexhauftible Stores for our Support and Comfort. But this is only the smallest Part of His Bounty towards the Sons of Men. For God hath made us for Eternity; and hath put into our Hands the Means of obtaining everlafting Happinefs and Glory. Wherefore the grand Defign of the holy Sabbath undoubtedly is,

by difengaging us from the Business of "this World, to lead us to confider the "more important Things, that relate to "the next Life." We are indeed ftrictly bound at all Times to have the Fear of God b. ore our Eyes; and to maintain a conftant Care that we turn not afide from walking in the Way of God's Laws, which is (as the Pfalmift faith) the Path of Life. But on this Day, which God hath been pleased in fuch a Manner to distinguish, we ought (if poffible) to have no other Care but

that of our Salvation.

It

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It appears from fome Paffages in the new Teftament, and from other ancient Writings, that, as the Jews were accuftomed to refort to their Synagogues on the feventh Day of the Week, to join in the public Worship of God, and to hear the Scriptures read, fo the Disciples of Jefus Chrift, after his Death and Refurrection, thought proper to set apart the first Day for public Worthip and Instruction, and all the edifying Ufes of the original Sabbath. This Alteration was evidently defigned for the Remembrance of the great Event of our Saviour's Refurrection from the Dead: which came to pass on the firft Day of the Week. And that Day hath ever fince been called by Chriftians "the Lord's Day."

No Perfon, who has any serious Apprehenfion of the Importance of Religion, can doubt the Wisdom and Goodness of the Appointment of the holy Sabbath. Since

Since we are created not for the Sake of this World only; fince we are placed here only for a Time, in Order to make us fit for a more perfect and eternal State hereafter an Inflitution calculated to take us off from too clofe an Attention to this tranfiery Scene, and elevate our Profpect towards that Land of Peace, and Reft, and Joy in the Lord.-an Inftitution calculated for this Effect our Reafon plainly affures us is an invaluable Bleffing. This Day, therefore, which the Lord hath made, le us with humble Gratitude refolve fo to employ, that it may answer the important End, for which it was defigned.

One may hope that few of thofe, who call themfelves Chriftians, can be fo inconfiftent, as intirely to overlook the Sabbath which feems to be in Fact disclaiming all Covenant with God, and openly denying the Lord, who bought them. But it is to be feared that many are far

from

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