than any others, and therefore endeavoured to infuse them in all their institutions.-No man ever had a greater desire to see a pure gospel church, and no one ever made greater exertions to accomplish the object. When we consider the embarrassments to which he was subjected, in the want of precedents, in the prejudices of his mind from recent sufferings, in the natural libertinism inherent in new settlements, we are astonished at the wisdom of his designs, the success of his efforts. While he labored with fidelity, the blessing of heaven attend sentiments were very similar to those of the most eminent divines in New England in latter times. Both in Holland and America he bore a firm testimony against the administration of baptism to any infants but those of visible believers. He wrote and published upon that subject, with great ability. He considered experimental religion a necessary qualification for church early formed to habits of study, and his constitution, naturally sound and formed by those habits, would bear an unusual degree of application. He pursued an extensive range in science, so as justly to merit the appellation of a universal scholar; yet his favorite study was theology, in which he arrived to great attainments. Amid the complicated cares of his station, he spent much time in his study.-He was a man of unshaken integrity, adhering inflexibly to the dictates of duty undiverted from his object by the allurements of favor, or the alarms of fear. He sought after truth with persevered his labors.-His religious ing efforts, but, when obtained, it could not be taken from him. He possessed a commanding gravity of demeanor, was reserved in his deportment, bearing in his aspect a solemn sense of a present God, the witness of all human conduct. Possessing a constitution suited to care and labor, with great calls for exertion, he was very diligent in the improvement of time, devoting very little to relaxation.-membership. The doctrine of He was a most faithful patriot. the Millennium which was geneHe engaged with the sincerest rally exploded in the middle intentions in the service of the ages, was fully believed by Mr. New England colonies, the dif- Davenport, though he was alficulties which arose never mov- most singular in his sentiment. ed his constancy, discourage- He published a small treatise ments never shook his resolu- on this subject, in which he tion, neither obstacles or success expresses a clear belief of the relaxed his exertions. Though future peace of the church for a his personal reputation was par- thousand years, and the restoraticularly connected with his own tion of the Jews.-Mr. Davencolony, there is no evidence port was a very accomplished that he pursued the interests preacher. He wrote out a great of that, to the prejudice or the portion of his sermons, though neglect of the others. He knew he did not, commonly, use his that the precepts of Christiani- manuscript in public. His serty were better suited to the mons were full of sentiment, of welfare of a civil community the most solemn, weighty in it is only a day of rest from secular employments, not from religious duties. It is a holy day, to be spent in holy services. The duty of observing such a day could never have been discovered by the light of nature, and much less the duty of observing it once in every seven days. Though the light ought to worship their Creator, Preserver and Benefactor; yet it does no teach them, that they ought to worship him in a social and public manner, once in seven days. This would not have been their duty, had not God positively appointed the Sabbath as a holy ordinance. struction. To what has been said, it is almost unnecessary to add, he was a man of eminent piety. A sense of a present God, of his holiness and purity; of his own need and dependence, was evinced in all his conduct. The glory of Christ and the prosperity of his earthly kingdom were always the first objects of his heart, and, for their attain-of nature teaches men, that they ment, he deemed labours and suffering as of small account. He was much in prayer, particularly, in frequent constant ejaculatory prayer, which he often recommended, as highly necessary for the maintenance of the Christian life.-But few of his writings have been published. In addition to those already mentioned, he published a valuable and pious treatise entitled, "The Saint's Anchor-hold."Another of his publications, was an able discourse entitled, “A demomstration of our blessed Jesus to be the true Messiah." | He also published a treatise on the power of Congregational churches. Some smaller tracts of his have been printed. He left a large volume of elaborate sermons on the Book of Canticles, but they have never been published. The posterity of Mr. Davenport have been considerably numerous. Several of them, as ministers and magistrates, have been highly respectable and useful. [To be continued.] 1041 0. The Divine institution and benefits of the Sabbath. T Accordingly we find, that he did not leave this duty to human discovery, but immediately after he had made man, he made the Sabbath for him."And on the seventh day, God ended his works which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it; because that in it he had rested from all his work.” This was a divine and sacred It was divine, as inordinance. stituted by God; and sacred, as it was appointed for a sacred, holy, and religious purpose. It is true, the peculiar duties of this holy day are not mentioned, in this brief account of the institution of the Sabbath. But when it was renewed at Mount Sinai, and placed among the ten commands, the special duties of the day were distinctly enjoined. So that the Sabbath, with all its peculiar duties, is a divine ordi HE Sabbath properly sig-nance enjoined upon all mankind, nifies a day of rest. But for their benefit. There was a peculiar propriety, therefore, in given, why it should be appointChrist's saying, "The Sabbathed for men in one age or one was made for man." It was part of the world, rather than made, by a divine ordinance, or for all men in all ages and in all appointment, a holy and sacred places. The Sabbath is suited day. But since none, who be- to the nature and circumstances lieve the Bible, pretend to call of all mankind in this world, in question the original institu- and therefore we may presume tion of the Sabbath, it is un- it was designed to continue to necessary to enlarge upon this the end of time. And this leads head. me to observe, in the second place, That the Sabbath was notabolished, when other positive institutions were set aside. The apostle expressly informs us, that the rites and ceremonies of the Mosaic dispensation were superseded by the gospel, and became null and void, after the death of Christ. But none of the inspired writers of the New Testament, give the least inti being abolished. And if it were not abolished in the apostle's days, we know it could not be abolished since. It must be, therefore, a divine ordinance, which is still binding upon mankind. It was not a typical or The Sabbath is a standing ordinance and of perpetual obligation. Many of the divine ordinances before the gospel dispensation were temporary, and ceased when that dispensation commenced. The passover, instituted in Egypt; and the sacrifices, rites, and ceremonies, instituted at Mount Sinai, were all abolished by the gospel. They were all temporary ordinances.mation of the weekly Sabbath But the Sabbath was designed to be a standing ordinance from the beginning to the end of the world. This will appear from various considerations. In the first place, our Saviour says "it was made for man;" that is, for all mankind without exception.dinance, and so could not cease The appointment of sacrifices was not made for all men, but only for those men, who lived before the death of Christ. The appointment of the passover was not made for all men, but only for one nation. The rite of circumscision was not made for all men, but only for the seed of Abraham, until the promised Messiah appeared. But the Sabbath was made for all men in all ages, because they would always stand in need of resting one day in seven, and of employing it in the special service of God. The very design of the Sabbath argues its perpetuity. There is no reason to be by the appearance of an antitype, as the typical sacrifices, rites, and ceremonies ceased, by the appearance of Christ, whom they pre-figured. There has been no substitute instituted in the room of the Sabbath, to supersede it. In short, there is nothing said in the New Testament, that affords the least reason to doubt of the perpetuity of the Sabbath. Besides, thirdly, the practice of Christians from the apostle's days to this time, is a plain, positive evidence that the Sabbath is a divine ordinance of perpetual obligation. We have an account of the pri mitive Chistians meeting to It gether on the Sabbath for reli- benefit of mankind. This our gious worship. We cannot pos- Saviour plainly intimates when sibly account for the uninter- he says, "the Sabbath was made rupted observation of the Sab- for man, and not man for the bath for nearly two thousand Sabbath." This is setting the years, unless it has been founded Sabbath in a much more favoraupon the first and original insti- ble and amiable light, than the tution of it, for the purpose other inspired writers set the which Christ mentions. If it rites and ceremonies of the Mowas made for the benefit of man, saic dispensation. These they then this reason of its continu- call a yoke of bondage, and ance has remained from the weak and beggarly elements. creation of the world, and will In themselves considered, they remain to the end of it. Besides were a burden, rather than a new reasons for its continuance benefit, to those upon whom have occurred since its first ap- they were enjoined. But the pointment. It was then design- Sabbath is a peculiar privilege ed to be a memorial of the and benefit to all mankind. creation of the world, and after is calculated to promote, and not that it became a memorial of to abridge their present, future, the deliverance of Israel out and eternal happiness. Its naof Egypt; and since that period, ture, design and tendency all reit has become a memorial of the commend it to the esteem and resurrection of Christ, and con- approbation of every individual nected with a sacrament, insti- of the human race. It is directtuted to commemorate his deathly and eminently calculated to until the great and last day.— promote their own good, in vaThe Sabbath is as inseparably rious ways. For, connected with the gospel, as 1. It gives them a very desiit was with the law, and must rable opportunity to rest from all therefore continue as long as their worldly and laborious em the gospel itself continues.ployments. They were originThere is as much ground to be-ally formed for labor, and labor lieve the perpetuity of the Sab- is the indispensable duty of evebath, as the perpetuity of the ry individual who enjoys mental Lord's supper. Accordingly we and bodily strength. It is true, find, that none have denied the indeed, that all men are not callperpetuity of the Sabbath, but ed to the same kinds of labor; those who have denied the per- but all are bound to be active petuity of all the gospel ordi- and diligent in one employment nances. We may be assured, or another; either public or pri that the Sabbath which was vate either mental or bodily; made for man, will continue as all of which require rest. This long as it can be of any benefit God knew, who formed men for to man, which will be as long the labors and fatigues of the as the human race shall contin- present life. And where is the ue in this probationary state. It person, who has not often felt now remains to show, That this the peculiar privilege of the Sabstanding ordinance is designed bath, as a day of rest, from the and calculated to promote the labors of the week? There is, perhaps, no lawful calling, which can be pursued with proper activity and diligence, that does not render the Sabbath both desirable and necessary, as a day of rest. And it has been found, by the painful experience of those souls, who have been denied the benefit of leisure on the Sabbath, that both their bodies and minds have been greatly injured. If, then, health and strength, and even life itself are highly valuable, the Sabbath, as a day of rest, is no less valuable and important. Thousands and millions in the Christian world, rejoice every week, at the return of this day of rest from their laborious employments. the noisy, busy, and tumultu- very different to all persons, in every Sabbath day, view the world very differently from what they do every other day of the week, and how many serious resolutions do they form on the Sabbath, which have a greater or less influence upon them through the week. The Sabbath is a most precious season for the most necessary, and the most agreeable, as well as the most pleasant reflections and meditations, as it is the most sacred, so it is the most profitable day in the week, for such laborious creatures as mankind are. 2. The Sabbath gives men a happy opportunity for serious reflections and meditations. There is no secular employment can be properly and diligently pursued, without engrossing much of the attention of the mind; 3. The Sabbath affords men though some are more friend- a happy opportunity for that ly to serious reflection, than oth- social intercourse, which is for ers, and some kinds of secular their mutual benefit. Mankind business seem to leave no room are formed for society with each for attention to any other ob- other, and cannot be happy in jects. It is a great benefit, there- a lonely and solitary state. Mufore, to this laborious world, to tual intercourse serves to hu be allowed one day in seven, to manize and civilize them, and lay aside all their secular con- awaken all their social feelings, cerns, and to banish all secular which render them amiable and thoughts from their minds, and respectable to each other. This to fix their whole undivided and desirable effect, the Sabbath has uninterrupted attention upon sa- never failed to produce wherecred, religious, and divine ob-ever it has been observed. How jects. All men are capable of differently do those feel and reflecting upon things past, of conduct towards one another, meditating upon things present, who usually meet together every and of anticipating things fu- Sabbath, and apparently unite ture. And it highly concerns in the services of the sanctuary, all persons of every age, char- from those who neglect the acter, and condition, to pause, | Sabbath and only see one anothponder, consider, and reflect, er occasionally, as their business, while they are passing through inclination, or necessity may re |