the proud reasoning philosopher an humble teachable Christian. It Does our reason inform us that of all changes, this would be the most desirable? Does our experience shew us, that where this change has been made, man is the most happy? Let us then use those ordinances with thankfulness, which the goodness of God has provided to effect it. At this time I shall assume it as a known truth, that the christian sabbath draws within its circle every duty the best calculated for the present or future welfare of mankind. is this which hath preserved the christian religion to this day in the world, and is the greatest security of its being safely and happily transmitted to posterity. What' was the first step which a nation of philosophists took to carry into effect a grand conspiracy against the civil and religious' interests of thousands? They extirpated their teachers, shut up their churches, and abolished the sabbath. 66 "Were it not for that rest which is appointed on the first day of the week, and "the solemn meetings which then take "place N 4 46 place for the purpose of social worship "and religious instruction, the labours of "the common people, that is, of the " greatest part of mankind, would be un"supportable; most of them would live "and die in utter ignorance, and those "who are remote from neighbours would "become barbarians: Bad as the world is, "there is reason to think that it would "be a thousand times worse, if it were "แ "not for this institution; the wisdom. "and humanity of which can never be sufficiently admired; and if it were as strictly observed as it is positively com"manded, would operate with singular "efficacy, in advancing public prosperity as well as private virtue *" The division of time into weeks is more than a probable evidence in favour of christianity, as it was in days of old, of the religion of the Jews. Unless we consider the Mosaic history of the creation as authentic, how can we account for that ancient, and almost universal practice of * Beattie's Elements of Moral Science, Vol. II. p. 86. dividing dividing time into portions of seven days? The computation of time by days, months, and years, has a foundation in nature; alternate light and darkness form a visible. period; we behold too the varied phases of the moon, and observe the apparent revolution of the sun. But there is no principle that I know of, which directs or suggests a regular period of seven days in the ordinary occurrences of human life. For this we must look to the original record of that important moment when God blessed the "seventh day and sanctified it, because "that in it he had rested from all his ""work." "The Syrians, Egyptians, and most of "the oriental nations, appear to have used "this division of time from all antiquity "though it did not get footing in the west, till christianity brought it in: the "Romans reckoning their days not by "sevenths but by ninths, and the ancient "Greeks by decads or tenths; [which last σε computation has been adopted by their "imitators, the modern directors of France.] "The use of weeks among the heathens "of N 5 "of the cast is supposed to be a remain "of the tradition of the creation which they had still retained with divers others. "This is the opinion of Grotius, who "likewise proves, that not only throughout "the east, but even among the Greeks, "Italians, Celta, Sclavi, and even the "Romans themselves, the days were di"vided into weeks, and that the seventh "day was in extraordinary veneration *." Whatever may have been the practice of ancient nations, whatever may be the practice of modern ones, let us hold it as an incontrovertible opinion, that the observation of the sabbath is an indispensable obligation of a Christian, and that to him it is attended with peculiar and discriminating advantages. In addition to the important motives of the Jews, he possesses a superior object of attention, an object not of contemplation only but of adoration in him" who was Lord also of the sabbathday." That we might never want a moment of leisure to contemplate the great import * Encyclopedia-Rees. Verb week: and Bishop Patrick on Gen. c. ii. v. 3. 6 ance On ance of redemption by Jesus Christ, the day of rest was changed by the general practice of the disciples of our Lord, influenced, no doubt, by the Spirit of God, to a day of still superior obligation, the day on which he triumphed over death and the grave, by a glorious resurrection from the dead. that day was our redemption completed; we received, as it were, a new creation; we were rescued from more than Egyptian bondage, and were made children of God, being children of the redemption. This, therefore, is a never-failing subject of a Christian's meditation on the Lord's day: "that like as Christ was raised from the "dead by the glory of the Father, even so 66 we also should walk in newness of life." It is on the return of this day in all christian countries, that all the springs of religion are set in motion: and a chearful day it is to every sincere disciple of Christ. ̈ The good pastor instructs his flock, the good master his family, the good parent his beseeching offspring. Friend meets friend with chearful countenance: enmities are forgotten, and enemies are reconciled. N 6 The |