tion, both with respect to things temporal and things eternal, nothing could be more deplorable. But when those means are provided, by the infinite goodness of the Almighty, by which it may be fully informed of what concerns its real interests, surely no excuse can be pleaded for the neglect of making use of them. The mercy of God has sent his only Son to die for us; he has given us, in his holy Word, the rules for our conduct, during our sojourning in this world; and warned us of that judgment, when all our actions will be thoroughly and impartially considered before his unerring tribunal. But, if we despise the admonitions which he has given us; if we wilfully withdraw ourselves from every opportunity of hearing what great things he has done for us; if we stop our ears, and shut our eyes to what he has revealed; what can we expect, but that the heaviest punishment will await our indifference or neglect? Yet they, undoubtedly, expose themselves to this danger, who devote those hours to pleasure and worldly business, which the Almighty has commanded us to employ in serious meditation on what he has vouchsafed to unfold to us. No commandment of the Almighty can be broken with impunity. His precepts, as

they flow from infinite goodness to his rational creatures, are such as, if complied with, would promote their best interests. However we may flatter ourselves that disobedience, or a partial compliance with them, may advance our happiness or our welfare, we must, in this respect, be deceived. Whether, therefore, we are induced to violate the fourth commandment from motives of self-gratification or interest, we shall certainly be disappointed in our expectations. Where we anticipated pleasure, we shall only experience vexation and sorrow. And, instead of reaping any fruits from our unhallowed labours, our riches will become corrupt, our garments moth-eaten, our gold and our silver cankered. We shall only be heaping treasure together for the last day.

Our blessed Saviour compares those who, having heard the Word of God, go forth, and are choked with cares, and riches, and pleasures of this life, and bring forth no fruit to perfection, to the seed which fell among thorns. And he has commanded us "to labour not (only) for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which," says he, "the Son of man shall give unto you."

While, therefore, on the one hand, the

observation of the Sabbath day may, by the blessing of God, be the means of saving us from that destruction which the cares, the riches, and the pleasures of life may bring upon us; it may, at the same time, be the means of providing us with that food which nourishes to eternal life. Next to idolatry, no sin is more reprobated than the violating the Sabbath day. This day was blessed and sanctified by the Almighty, previously to the institution of the ceremonial law under Moses. The observation of it, as a sacred day, was then renewed by a positive command. In consistency with this precept, the immediate followers of our Lord have observed a day of rest, keeping, as a memorial of his resurrection, the first day instead of the seventh. What applies to the observation of the seventh day, or the profanation of it, among the Jews, equally applies, at the present period, to the observation of the first, among the believers in Christ. The same obligation, the same motives for its sanctification, extend

to us.

In conclusion, let me remind you, brethren, in the words of St. Paul, "There remaineth a rest for the people of God;" that is, such a rest as God entered into when he had finished

his work,--a complete, a holy, a happy rest; "for he that is entered into his rest, he hath also ceased from his own works, as God did from his." That we may be partakers of this heavenly rest, let us keep holy the Sabbath day; let us call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; let us honour Him, not doing our own ways, nor finding our own pleasure, nor speaking our own words. "Let us," as the Apostle commands us, “labour to enter into that heavenly rest which God has provided for us;" let us fear, lest a promise being left us of entering into it, any of us should come short of it.

SERMON VII.

MARTYRS.

Take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.-EPH. vi. 13.

It cannot be a subject of surprise that there should exist such an indifference to religion, such a deadness in devotion, and that such a degeneracy of morals should prevail, where the means of that spirituality of mind, which we should cultivate, are so much neglected, or, I should rather say, are by too many totally omitted. What wonder is it, if the gates of hell, though they shall not prevail, should gain a temporary and extensive advantage over the Christian world; if those who profess the name of Christ forget that contest in which they are engaged, cry peace when there is no peace, and, as if the battle were decided, and the victory assured, relinquish, as useless, the arms of their spiritual warfare? The world, the flesh, and the devil,