found gathering fticks on that holy day: "All the congregation brought him with❝out the camp, and stoned him with stones, " and he died, as the Lord commanded "Mofes," (Num. xv. 32, 37.). How alarming is that threatening, (Jerem. xvii. 27.), " If

If ye will not hearken unto me to hallow "the Sabbath day, and not to bear a buṛ

den, even entering in at the gates of Je- "rufalem on the Sabbath day; then will I "kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it "fhall devour the palaces of Jerufalem, " and it fhall not be quenched." Accordingly, Nehemiah imputes all the calamities which befel the Jewish nation to this, as one of the principal caufes of God's anger against that people. "Then, (faith

he), I contended with the nobles of Judah, "and faid unto them, What evil thing is “this that ye do, and profane the Sabbath

day? Did not your fathers thus, and did

not our God bring all this evil upon us, "and upon this city; yet ye bring more "wrath upon Ifrael by profaning the Sab"bath." And I am verily perfuaded, that many of the national calamities with which

we

we have been vifited, may justly be attributed to the fame caufe. Nor is it greatly to be wondered at, when we confider, that this fin is not only an act of rebellion against the authority of God, but also a bold and facrilegious invafion of his property, in applying to common ufe that proportion of time which he hath referved for himfelf, and fet apart for the immediate exercifes of his worfhip.

1

But befides this, the abuse or neglect of the Sabbath must be attended with pernicious confequences on feveral other accounts. To this gracious inftitution it is in a great measure owing that any fenfe of God, and of divine things, is preserved in the world. Were this day rendered common, the bulk of mankind would foon fink into Atheism or utter profanenefs. What would become of the lower ranks in fociety, whose fervitude and bodily neceffities oblige them to work hard for daily bread, were it not for this feparated day, on which they are invited and commanded to care for their fouls? I am even afraid, that the tyranny and covetoufnefs of many masters would

0 4

would incline them to deny their fervants any leifure whatsoever, either for the rest of their bodies, or the improvement of their minds, had not God, in mercy, made a law for one day of rest and liberty in the week. In proportion as this law is despised and neglected, in the fame proportion will religion fall into decay, the impreffions of God become feeble and languid; while ignorance, brutality, oppreffion, and all the evils which unrestrained corruption can produce, will prevail, and render this earth the

urbs of hell.

very fub

These are all the arguments which I fhall at prefent use with you, for enforcing the obfervance of the Chriftian Sabbath. The proportion of time is fo moderate, that even upon the supposition that the duties required were painful, there could be no juft caufe of complaint. Yet fo far is this fuppofition from being true, that, on the contrary, the work affigned us on this holy day is most pleasant and delightful; infomuch that were our minds in a right temper, we would count it our happiness to spend our whole time, nay, a whole eternity, in fuch

heavenly

heavenly employment. Befides, the religious obfervance of this holy day is accompanied with many fignal advantages, and is a mean of deriving the bleffing of God, both upon individuals and communities; whereas the profanation or neglect of it, is in every refpect pernicious, both to particular perfons and to focieties.

And if these things are fo, how many who now hear me ought to blush, and be afhamed to lift up their faces either before God or man? But as reformation is the great object which I have in view, I shall spare the reproof which I once intended to give; and instead of upbraiding you for the time past, I fhall rather intreat you, by the meeknefs and gentleness of Chrift, to behave more dutifully for the time to come. And my exhortation fhall be chiefly directed to parents and mafters of families, to whom the commandment feems to be principally addreffed. It is true, the expreffion" within thy gates," may relate to the gates of a city as well as of a particular houfe: and then it would intimate to us this truth, that it is the duty of magiftrates to fecure the obfervance of

this

this day, by the exercise of that power and authority with which their public ftation invests them. But as there would be lefs occafion for the interpofition of civil authority, if parents and heads of families would mind their proper work, to thefe I fhall more directly addrefs what I have to fay. And I must tell you in the name of God, that you are strictly accountable, not only for your own conduct, but likewife for the conduct of all within your houses on this holy day. Hear how the commandment "Remember the Sabbath day to keep "it holy fix days fhalt thou labour and dó "all thy work; but the feventh day is the "Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou "fhalt not do any work, thou, nor thy fon, nor thy daughter, thy man-fervant, nor

runs:

thy maid-fervant, nor thy cattle, nor the "ftranger that is within thy gates." You fee that you are charged with the immediate infpcction, not only of your children and fervants, but likewife of the stranger who fojourns with you, over whom you have no jurifdiction or authority through the rest of the week.