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OBSERVATIONS

UPON

SUNDAY NEWSPAPERS;

TENDING TO SHEW

THE IMPIETY OF SUCH A VIOLATION OF THE SABBATH,

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OBSERVATIONS,

&c.

CHAPTER I.

On the Origin and Obligations of the Sabbath.

In considering the subject of Sunday Newspapers, it appeared expedient, in the first instance, to show both the divine origin, and the perpetual obligation, of the Sabbath. The formal and elaborate proof of these positions in a more extended form, would, however, hardly interest the generality of readers, while to many persons who have been better taught, such a statement of evidence would happily be wholly unnecessary. At the same time, as it may be reasonably expected, that a writer, whose avowed object is to charge upon any particular practice a peculiar violation of the Sabbath, should more or less make good his foundation, before he proceeds with his superstructure; I have considered it due to my readers to abstract the observations of the excellent and learned Bishop Hopkins on the

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Bishop Hopkins on the Sabbath.

fourth commandment, and to add a few remarks of Archbishop Leighton, Bishop Hall, Sir Matthew Hale, and Dr. Johnson, upon the same point. These authorities (as every one acquainted with the subject will be well aware) might without difficulty be greatly multiplied; indeed the testimonies upon the nature and obligations of the Christian Sabbath which have presented themselves to me in the writings of the best and wisest authors, both in and out of the Church of England, are perfectly overwhelming; but the fear of prolixity has induced me to confine myself to the few references which I have mentioned. It must be obvious, that a transcript of the sentiments of the pious and learned upon such a subject, would furnish materials not for a volume, but a library. I can only regret that the task of a judicious selection had not devolved upon an abler hand.

BISHOP HOPKINS, in reference to the primary institution of the Sabbath in the very infancy of creation *, observes :-"The Sabbath is "but one day younger than man; ordained for him, in the state of his uprightness and innocence, that, his faculties being then holy "and excellent, he might employ them, especially on that day, in the single and spiritual worship of God his Creator.

* Genesis, ii. 2, 3.

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Sabbath of divine and apostolic Institution. 3

"This command was obligatory, even in "Paradise itself, in the state of innocency; and, therefore, contains nothing in it unwor66 thy the state of a Christian.

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"The reasons of the command are all of "them moral and perpetual; and, therefore, "such is the obligation of it to us Christians.

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"As the Jewish Sabbath was sanctified, "because of the finishing of the work of crea"tion, so was the Christian Sabbath, because "of the finishing of the work of redemption; " which is of far greater importance, and there"fore deserves more to be celebrated than the "other. Christ sanctified this day by his re"surrection; and the Apostles confirmed the "observation of it, both by their writings and "uniform practice: and it has such an invio"lable stamp of divinity upon it, that now it "is no more alterable to the end of the world. "We have express places of the Scripture "that the first day of the week is mentioned as "the stated time for Christians to meet toge

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ther, to preach, to hear, and to break bread "in the Holy Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, "and to perform other duties of religion; and "this has been 'the constant and uninterrupted "practice of the Church in all ages, from the "time of man's redemption by the death and resurrection of Christ to this very day.

"When the other six days, like the unre

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