things richly to enjoy? If we are in affliction, should we not wish to ask his assistance and protection? And when He tells us that where two or three are gathered together, there He is in the midst, is it possible that any serious Christian should neglect the assembling of themselves together? In the church we are allowed to consider ourselves as in the immediate presence of GOD. Assembled in his

house, kneeling at his altar, we confess our sins, and receive his promise of pardon; we sing his praise, we hear his word, we thank Him for all his goodness to us, we are taught our duty, and we receive his blessing. In the church we are all united in the bonds of Christian charity. There we are taught to forgive, as we hope to be forgiven. There all the little distinctions of this life are forgotten, and we learn to love each other as CHRIST has loved us. There the rich and the poor kneel together, to implore that pardon of which all have need. There the rich and the poor look forward to that happiness for which all are taught to hope. There the sorrows of this short state of trial appear not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed. There we seem to have a nearer view of heaven; while we hear from the minister of CHRIST the consoling words of St. Paul-"Eye hath not seen, nor ear

heard, nor have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him." Surely every Christian will cry out with David, "My soul hath a desire and longing to enter into the courts of the LORD." Surely every Christian will think that he never can be sufficiently thankful for the blessing which in this happy country is offered to all. Filled with love and gratitude to GOD, he will go into the house of the LORD, and worship.

The appointment of one day in seven for the performance of this duty seems to have been the first of all religious institutions; for we read in the second chapter of Genesis, that "GOD blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it, because that in it He had rested from all his work, which God created and made;" and as all the creatures of GoD are bound to thank him for their creation, so all mankind are bound to observe a sabbath-day. We have every reason to believe that there never was a time when good men did not dedicate one day in seven to the duties of religion; and when God himself was pleased to command the observance of the seventh day from Mount Sinai, it is plain that He spake of a duty which was already known; for He says, "Remember the sabbath-day to keep

* I Cor. ii. 9. † Psalm lxxxiv. 2. ‡ Gen. ii. 3.

it holy." GOD would not have required men to remember what they had never been taught. In the Jewish church, the seventh day was observed, in memory of the deli verance out of Egypt; and since our LORD JESUS CHRIST arose from the dead on the first day of the week which we call Sunday, his disciples have constantly observed that day in memory of a greater deliverance wrought for all mankind, when their Saviour burst the bonds of death, and opened to them the kingdom of heaven.

To call your attention to the advantages we derive from this merciful appointment of GOD, I will consider the LORD's day, first, as a day of rest and comfort; and secondly, as a day of religious improvement; and I will conclude with some observations on the manner in which this sacred day should be spent by all Christians.

If we consider only our situation in this world, Sunday is a day of rest and comfort, and viewing it in this light only, it must be regarded as a wise and merciful institution. Such is the impatience to get money, and such the cruelty of mankind, that thousands would be worn out with labour, if there were not an appointed day of rest; many condemned to work in the mines would never see the light of the sun; many would never know the com

fort of cleanliness, of a few cheerful hours with the friends, or of a walk in the fresh air, and would pass a miserable life of continual hardship. But now, whatever be the sufferings of the other six days, Sunday will bring some relief, wherever it is observed as it ought to be. All worldly cares being then laid aside, every man is at liberty to enjoy such pleasures as his situation affords. He is clean, he has time to see his family and friends; he breathes the fresh air of the country, which thousands can never do on any other day. He sees the beauties of nature, and the kind looks of a friend, and he feels himself free and happy. Even the poor beasts have reason to rejoice in the rest which that day affords, and by which they are prevented from sinking under constant and excessive labour.

But secondly, if we consider the LORD'S day as the season of religious improvement, we shall know how much reason we have

to bless GOD for it. Six days we may devote to worldly business; many of us indeed must do so, to provide the necessaries of life; but the seventh is the sabbath. On that blessed day we are permitted to lay aside all our cares; and we are taught to support all our sorrows, by fixing our thoughts on GoD, and the happiness which He has promised to

all who love Him. On that blessed day we may worship Him in the assembly of his servants, we may read his holy word, and we may sanctify the innocent pleasures of life by uniting them with religion.

In order to make this sacred day more useful to us, allow me to make a few observations on the proper manner of spending it.

The fourth commandment tells us that we must do no manner of work; we must lay aside such employments as relate only to this world. The business of the farm, and the shop, must be suspended, as well as those public amusements which are too often made the business of the rich. Indeed I wish they were as attentive to their duty in this parti cular, as their poor neighbours; and that they would as constantly give up their journeys, and their meetings for pleasure, as the shopkeeper does his gain, and the labourer his work. But though many of the rich are much to be blamed in this particular, Lam not at present addressing myself to them; and the poor are not always as obedient as they should be to the commands of Gov, in regard to this sacred day. Though a man does not open his shop, he may offend GOD, by taking that day to settle his books. Though a woman does not spin, or work at her needle, yet if she neglect her duty, to