the Letter only, or the Penalty of the Law, that binds the Confcience. Now, that it is the Intention of the Law that every Man, who has an Opportunity, and is not neceffarily hindered,fhould go twice a Day is undeniably evident from its providing an Evening, as well as a Morning Service; which it would not have done, if it had not meant that the People should attend it. If there where no other Obligations, this would be a fufficient one upon all the Members of the established Church, by virtue of That Obedience which is due to Government. To this Argument it may be objected, that it proves too much, because it proves, equally, that there being a Morning and Evening Service appointed for every Day, all People are required to attend twice every Day. By no Means. This Appointment only fhews, that fuch as have an Opportunity, confiftently with the necessary Bufineffes, and ordinary Affairs of Life, fhould attend: But all worldly Bufinefs and Recreations on the Sunday being prohibited, the fame Excufes will not justify. Non-attendance on That Day which will juftify our not attending the daily Service, though we are expected to be as conftant as conveniently we can. -But, If the Legislature hád been neuter in this Cafe, who, that calls himfelf a Chriftian, can think that twice a Day is too often to go to Church on Sundays? What good Chriftian would not readily and joyfully embrace the Opportunity? You, my Brethren, are fo happy as to have the Opportunity; I C

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wish I could fee by your Behaviour, that you are duly fenfible of your Happiness. In order to induce you to be more conftant, I shall briefly remind you of the Object, and the Subject, of your publick Devotions; and a very little Reflection upon them will make you ftand amazed at your own Conduct; that, inftead of neglecting this honourable, this advantageous, this comfortable, and delightful Duty, upon fuch little Pretences, you are not tempted rather to be fuperftitiously pious, at the Expence of Mercy to others, and a proper Regard to your own Health, and Safety. It is impoffible for the most elevated Genius to do Juftice to the infinite Perfections, and peerless Majefty, of that God who is the Object of these our Devotions. He is glorious, in Holinefs, fearful in Praifes, doing Wonders. His Goodness has induced Him, his Power and Wifdom have enabled Him, to create and govern more Worlds than our Imaginations can reach to the Conception of. This is fo grand, fo awful an Idea, that my Flefh trembleth, my Blood runs cold in my Veins, my Mind is overwhelm'd with Terror, while I think of it. And, yet, this is That-It is impoffible for me to exprefs the Fulness of my Thoughts.I can only fay, this is That inconceivably great and good Being, whom we come hither to worship. To have the Liberty of a free Addrefs, nay, to be invited to come boldly to his Throne, and pour out our Hearts before Him, is fuch an Honour as, one would think, fhould excite

excite Ambition in the Meanest, and more than fatisfy the Ambition of the moft afpiring Spirit. -Confider farther, what it is that you approach Him for. We are daily, and hourly, offending this great and good God; and the firft Part of our Business here is, to unite in a joint Confeffion of our manifold Sins and Wickedness, and an humble Supplication for Mercy.If we have a due Sense of our Sins, and of the fatal Confequences of them, shall we not, with the utmost Anxiety and Impatience, defire the Opportunity of joining with our Fellow-Sinners in the Houfe, and upon the Day, dedicated by Himself, to his Honour; in Hopes, that the Sacredness of the Day, and of the Place, and the Force of our united Humiliations, might be, as they certainly are, more powerful with God than any private Acknowledgements in our Clofets?The next Part of our Devotions confifts in Praises and Thanksgivings, in publickly celebrating the adorable Perfections, and wonderful Works of God, especially that stupendous Act of Mercy, our Redemption by Christ Jefus. Praise, to a generous Mind, is a moft joyful A&t; and, whenever there is Gratitude, it is a pleasant thing to be Thankful The remaining Part of our Devotions confifts in fupplicating God to continue to us his Bleffings, to fupply all our Wants. And, what are thofe? The Support of our Being, with all the Neceffaries, Conveniencies, and Comforts of it; Grace here and eternal Glory hereafter. And, Now,

my Brethren, having fairly given you a plain State of the great Importance of our Business at Church, be fo just to yourselves as to Recollect the pitiful Excufes, that often fatisfy you in the Neglect of it. If you be fincere, your Memory cannot Fail you; if you be not, I shall put you out of Countenance, and provoke you, but not convert you, by mentioning them. I fhall only request two very reasonable things of you. The firft is, to confider before-hand how you may order your Affairs fo as not to fubject yourselves to the Temptation of neglecting your Church, for the Sake of your preSent IntereftThe fecond is, when you find yourfelves inclined to ftay at Home, particularly on Sundays, or go Abroad either upon fome Scheme of Bufinefs, or Pleafure, feriously to confider with yourfelves (for it is a very ferious Thing) and compare your Motives for abfenting yourselves, with the strong and weighty Reasons for going to Church; and then, you must be infatuated, if you neglect fuch a Duty for fuch Trifles.

There is but one thing more, neceffary towards your Inftruction concerning the right manner of observing the Sunday, and that is, How we are to spend the remaining Part of the Day? It is a very prevailing, but very erroneous, Opinion, that the Duty of the Day does not begin 'till the Time of going to Church in the Morning, and that it ends with the Evening Service; not confidering, that it is not only a Part of the Day, but the whole Day that

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is appropriated to religious Ufes. As the Sunday was intended to be kept in Memory of the Creation, and of our Redemption, we ought to contemplate upon thofe Subjects at Home, as well as make them the Subject of our Praises and Thanksgivings at Church. As it is fanctified to our Improvement in the Knowledge of the Doctrines and Duties of Religion, we fhould, on That Day, particularly, employ ourselves in reading the Bible, and other good Books (not Romances and Novels; not Plays, or profane Hiftory; not Books relating to worldly and fecular Affairs; the Sunday was not confecrated for fuch Ufes, but religious Books;) in order to know our Duty, and be excited to the Performance of it; and to compare our Lives with the Rule of our Actions, that we may fee where we have been defective; and those who have Families, fhould fee after their Inftruction, as well as their own. Thefe are the Ufes for which the Sunday was intended; and when it is not applied in this Manner, it is profaned. No Body can fay, but that these Things must be done at fome Time, or another; but, unless there be fome Jet Times for doing them, the Generality of Mankind would wholly Neglect them; which fhews how expedient, I might have faid, neceffary, the Inftitution of the Sunday is for these religious Purposes.But, is the whole Day fo abfolutely devoted to Religion, that no Body must make a Vifit, or take any fort of Recreation, even where it can be done without making

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