occafion offers, we fhould difcourfe together on divine fubjects, in order to increase our knowledge of fpiritual things, and to fix upon our minds a more lively fense of God and of our duty.

ift, I fay, we are bound to fanctify this day, by a punctual and devout attendance upon the public ordinances of religion, affembling together in the name of the Lord, to offer up the facrifices of prayer and praise; to hear his word explained and applied; and especially to partake, as often as we have opportunity, of the holy facrament of the Lord's Supper, the memorial of our Saviour's death, and the pledge of his fecond coming. In fuch duties as thefe, did the people of God in former times chiefly employ themselves on the holy Sabbath. Under the old difpenfation, facrifices were offered, and incenfe burnt in the temple, and the law was publicly read and explained, both at Jerufalem and other cities of Judea, where fynagogues were built for that very end. After the refurrection of Christ, the Apostles and primitive Christians met together statedly on the first day of the

week,

week, that they might join in celebrating that great and propitious event, and in performing other acts of focial religion. And ought not we to fanctify the Lord's day in the fame manner? We are blessed with the ordinances of the gospel regularly, and, I hope, purely difpenfed. We have places fet apart for public worship, and are countenanced in the exercise of it by lawful authority; and therefore it must discover a ftrange perverseness of temper, and an unpardonable contempt both of God and man, to withdraw from the place of public worship, and, on any pretence whatsoever, to refufe to bear a part in fuch a becoming and rational service.-But,

2dly, That the public worship may have a greater efficacy, and that our minds may be better difpofed to enter into it, it is the duty of each family apart to spend some time both before and after the public fervice, in reading the Holy Scriptures, and in joining together in prayer and thanksgiving to God. Were this practifed in a serious and devout manner, we might expect to fee better days, and more fruitful and joyful N 2 Sabbaths

Sabbaths than any we have yet feen. A congregation compofed of a number of holy families, just come from converfing with God at home, to worship him together in the house of prayer, would be indeed a lovely fight, and could not fail to be honoured with the special marks of divine favour. We have fome illustrious examples of family-religion recorded in the Old Teftament: but what chiefly ought to engage the attention of Chriftians, is, that our bleffed Lord himself was pleased to become a pattern to us in this matter. In the intervals of his public work, we find him frequently retiring with his little family, praying with them, and teaching them to pray, and inftructing them in things pertaining to the kingdom of God; in this, 'as in all other things, leaving us an example that we fhould follow his fteps. Family-religion, therefore, a duty incumbent on us at all times, must be in a very peculiar manner feasonable and neceffary on the holy Sabbath. It deferves our notice, too, that this command is particularly addressed to heads of families; and as they are exprefs

ly

ly enjoined to fuffer nothing to be done by any under their inspection, which is inconfiftent with the due obfervance of the Sabbath, this injunction plainly implies, that, in their station and character, they ought to employ their natural authority, as well as every other means, to promote the great ends of this holy commandment.—I added, in the

3d place, That as our hearts are naturally indifpofed for fpiritual exercifes, we ought each of us, by ourselves, to make confcience of the fecret `duties of the clofet. There we ought to meditate on the marvellous works of God; on his glorious perfections, as they are difplayed to us, in creation, providence, and redemption; above all, on that great mystery of godliness, "God manifeft in the flesh, juftified in the "Spirit, feen of angels, preached unto the "Gentiles, believed on in the world, re"ceived up into glory." In this facred retirement, we ought to revolve in our minds. the various steps of our Lord's humiliation, from his birth at Bethlehem, to his burial on Mount Calvary. Thence we should proceed to view the triumphs of his crofs,

where he bruifed the old ferpent's head, "finished tranfgreffion, made reconciliation "for iniquity, and brought in everlasting " righteousness." To confirm our faith, and increase our joy, our meditations ought to follow this mighty Conqueror, and to contemplate him breaking the bands of death, and rifing from the grave on this first day of the week, afcending up to heaven in the fight of his difciples, and fitting on the right hand of God the Father; from whence he fhall come, in power and great glory, to judge the world in righteousness, according to this gofpel which is now preached in his name. When, by fuch meditations as thefe, our hearts are warmed and enlivened, we fhould then, with all humility and reverence, approach the throne of grace; imploring those mercies which we need for ourfelves, and begging a divine bleffing to accompany the outward means of grace, that, with our fellow-worshippers, we may be made to taste of the fatnefs of his houfe, and may find his ordinances to be indeed the wifdom and the power of God, "the favour of life unto "life," to our fouls.-The

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