Why? Because He would have them cease from observing it ?-No; but because He would correct their false views on this, as on so many other occasions, when they "made the word of God of none effect through their traditions." Adding to the letter of the law, by their own foolish inventions; breaking the spirit of it continually, by their unconverted hearts. Our Lord maintained the lawfulness of doing good on the Sabbath days. And, moreover, when His disciples were accused of profaning it, by an innocent action, which satisfied their hunger, He gave it as a proof of His own greatness, that the Son of Man is Lord, even of the Sabbath day. (Matt. xii. 8.) Jesus Christ honoured the Sabbath day, and remembered it, to keep it holy.

Instead of feeling that the Sabbath day was to cease under the Christian dispensation, we may rather see in it, an institution which all along looked forward to Gospel times, in order to be seen in all its glory. Here, as in all other ways in which God has revealed His

mind and will to man, Jesus Christ is the object to which He would direct us: it is Jesus Christ who is to be glorified. "All things were created by Him, and for Him. And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist." (Col. i. 16, 17.) Him "hath

God appointed heir of all things," and by Him, "He made the worlds." (Heb. i.) By Jesus Christ hath a work been accomplished and finished in the world greater than even the work of creation; that work is, the work of redemption. This He came into the world to do, and truly when His work was done, "behold it was very good." In His life and death it was accomplished, and when God raised Him from the dead, and thus powerfully declared Him to be His Son, and that His work was accepted for His people-then did Jesus rest from His work, and His resurrection did indeed sanctify and bless the day on which it took place. If then the day be changed from what we call the last day of the week, to the first-this makes no change, either in God's will, or in the duty which that

will puts upon us. Still have we a day-a seventh day-the Lord's day-a day of God's rest, (for Jesus is God over all blessed for ever,)—a day therefore which all God's people will see to be a holy day; not, (as we have said,) because they make it so, but because God hath made it so.

How then will God's people keep this day holy? Let us consider the words before us, which tell of its first institution. God blessed the day, and pronounced it holy, because that

in it He rested from all His work, which God created and made. For what had God made all things?-For His own glory. And what was man, the noblest part of the creation, (man, so different from all things else, because made in the image of God,) what was he to be? Even the priest of the world, he who in the midst of creation was to know and honour the Creator. Had man continued innocent, surely his life would have been one of holy activity through the week, (for without activity we cannot conceive of happiness,) whilst each returning seventh day would be employed in sounding forth "the high praises of God," from hearts overflowing with love, delighting in the service-which would be darkened by no iniquities in holy things, and hindered by no infirmity, whether of body or soul. But man becomes a sinful, defiled being, far off from God in affections and in will, till as one of the redeemed he is brought near by the blood of Christ, by His finished work. What will the Lord's day be to such an one? Will it not be a day of rejoicing in that work of "the Lord our righteousness," and especially in that which marked its glorious accomplishment and acceptance on his behalf-even the resurrection of Him who "died for our sins, and rose again for our justification ?".

Yes, the Christian's Sabbath is the day for entering into Christ's rest; rejoicing in Him, the risen Saviour. Christ is the first object in the heart of every one who is 'taught of God," to keep holy the Sabbath day. On this day, Christ is sought in the house of prayer, and is found fulfilling His sure word of promise, that where two or three are gathered together in His name, there is He in the midst of them. On this day Christ is preached. His name is sounded out by every faithful minister, and His people do indeed find that name to be as "ointment poured forth," in its preciousness. to their souls. In secret Christ is sought, both in His word, and by prayer. And, in short, we may truly say, that the believer prizes this holy day, just so much as it is made the means of revealing more of Christ, and of his interest in Him-just so much as he feels Christ is honoured by being "believed on in the world." The Sabbath is no day of bondage to the Christian: it is not that he puts himself under the law, and thus "observe days." Nay, but God hath revealed His mind in His word; it is the first expression of God's will found in the Bible, and it is the believer's choicest privilege to hold communion with his God, when thus permitted to do so.

It is a sign

Moreover, the Lord's day is still “a sign between Him and His people. that "there remaineth a rest for the people of God;" and "His rest shall be glorious." It is a sign that God who made man the inhabitant of this lower world, made him for Himself, and that one day His people shall be with Him where He is, and behold His glory. It is a sign that though by sin man hath died, there is by man a resurrection from the dead, and that Christ is become the first-fruits of them that sleep. It is a sign that yet this world shall enter upon the enjoyment of an eternal Sabbath; when "there shall be no more curse," but when Christ shall take to Him His great power, and reign over "a new heaven, and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." When there shall indeed be "the days of heaven upon earth."

Surely then we cannot err in saying, how great a test of our spirituality is afforded us by the Lord's day. Surely, all who love the Lord, will love the Lord's day. For what is the state of the Christian on earth? Compelled to live amongst earthly things, having his calling and his duty in the very midst of them; surrounded by things of sight, and in perpetual danger of forgetting the things which are unseen and eternal. Finding in himself a