for another occasion, what I have yet to say on the sabbath, more especially, to the poor. Only I would now add, to all masters and mistresses of families, that they have more than others to answer for in this important duty. Yours it is to order what work is done in this day, by all those who dwell under your roof. Yours is the care of children and of servants. And of you it will be required what care you have taken, for their advancement in faith, and in holiness of life. Remember then the sabbath day to keep it holy. Take pains so to order your whole household, that no one shall on this day have any work to do, which either you could possibly spare, or could have had done instead the day before. Take pains so to arrange your hours, that every one shall attend, as often as possible, the worship of God in the church. Take pains that whilst at home they shall be employed, as far as may be, not in ministering to your bodily wants, but in helping forward the saving of their own souls. Let this be your desire in their

M

behalf, that they should be saved. Let this be your object in your plans for this day, that it should turn to their profit in the world that is to come. Let this be the real wish and purpose of your heart; and few difficulties or doubts will perplex you, as to the detail of what you have to order them to do.

Shall you rise, shall you bid them to rise, early, or late? Not later, I answer, than on other days. For laziness is not rest; and sloth helps neither to prayer, nor to meditation on God's word. Not earlier; for refreshment of the body may both signify and promote the preparation of the soul, for the rest of heaven. Shall you invite many friends, or none, to visit you on this day? Not many, for this is sure to make more than common work; and will distract your own thoughts from things heavenly, as well as hinder the edification of your servants. Nor yet none, for there is nothing on earth more like to heaven, than the conference, when it is charitable and spiritual, of the nearest relations and

friends. And such meetings may be so ordered, as to give less of trouble in one house than they make of leisure in the other.

Shall you stay from church yourselves, to let your servants come; or shall you come, and keep them always at home? Both come, and let them come also. Come, once at least, every one of you that is in the house. Come twice every More could do so

one of you that can.

than do now; if they had a mind in good earnest. More would do so than do now; if they loved God's house better than their own, his service more than their own ease, his worship more than their own carnal will and pleasure.

Remember then the sabbath day to keep it holy. Make it not a day of idleness, but of holiness; not of worldly, but of heavenly, pleasure; not of vain conversation, but of prayer, and praise, and spiritual conference, in things" wherewith one may edify another." (Rom. 14. 19.) On all days serve God. On other days, by industry and honesty in your business.

On this, by attendance on his worship. On other days, by doing justice and mercy; by doing all things faithfully unto Christ. On this, by the work of devotion; by continued meditation on his word; by the praise of his goodness, and by the study of his will. Thus remember the sabbath day; and thus keep it holy. Not sad, but holy; not for sport, and merriment, but holy. Thus esteem the sabbath a delight; not as this world counts delight, but as the prophet describes it, as "the holy of the Lord, honourable." (Isai. 58. 13.) Thus feel, as well as say, with the Psalmist, "this is the day which the Lord hath made, we will rejoice and be glad in it."

SERMON XV.

THE SABBATH MADE FOR MAN.

MARK 2. 27.

The sabbath was made for man.

THE Gospel, as we know from our Saviour's own words, was preached, in some sense, most especially to the poor. (See Matt. 11. 5.) The same may be said of the ordinance of the sabbath. To the poor is the sabbath given. For however slight a privilege the sabbath may seem to those, who can employ as they list every day of the week; to those surely who for six days are constrained to work hard, it must be no less delightful in itself, than it is plainly commanded in the word of God. I would speak now therefore chiefly to those who labour with