venth Day being a Sabbath, or Day of Gen.ii.3. Reft; according to God's own Institution, who is faid to have refted on that Day, after he had spent the other fix in creating the World. We find frequent mention of Weeks, hoth in the old and new Testament: And the Words by which they are exprefs'd, both in the Greek and Latin, plainly fhew that they are understood to confift of just seven days.

SECT. V.

By DAY S.

Their Days, as alfo their Nights, confifted each of twelve Hours ; but of different Lengths; according as it happen'd to be either Winter or Summer. For their Day began at Sun-rife, and ended at Sunfet: therefore their Hours were longer in Summer, and fhorter in Winter. For John ii. which Reafon our LORD fays, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man

9.

walk in the day be ftumbleth not, because be feeth the light of the world.

* In the Greek "ECdoua. In the Latin Septimana.

More

Moreover, they divided their Days into four principal Parts; which were distinguifh'd by the firft, the third, the fixth, and the ninth Hours. Therefore in the

Parable of the Labourers in the Vineyard; Mat. xx. some are hired early in the morning, which was the first Hour; others, at the third Hour; others, at the fixth, and others, at the ninth and fome, at the eleventh Hour, which was the latest that could be: The fixth Hour being always Midday, and exactly answering to our Twelve o' Clock at Noon.

SECT. VI.

The Daily SACRIFICE.

These Days were all to be obferv'd with religious Worship of one kind or other; fome more, fome lefs. But, as they were allow'd to work on fome, and forbidden fo to do, on others; the former, may, not improperly, be call'd ordinary or Work Days; and the latter, Festival or Holy. For Example, on every Day, as well Work Days, as Festival or Holy, the daily Sacrifice of the Burnt-Offering was

to be offer'd, at the Altar appointed for that Purpose. After Directions are given to prepare and fanctify it, follows this Order; Now this is that which thou shalt Numb. offer upon the Altar; two Lambs of the xxviii. 3. first year, day by day, continually, &c.

Exod.

xxix.38.

ii. 4.

That this Oblation was to be, Morning and Evening, we are told by Solomon, where he acquaints Hiram King of Tyre, with his pious Defign of building the 2 Chron. Temple. Behold, I build an house to the name of the LORD my God, to burn before him fweet incenfe, and for the continual Shew-bread, and for the burnt-offerings, morning and evening, and on the new moons ; To which he adds, This is an ordinance for ever to Ifrael. And when (after their Return from the Captivity) they had erected Ezra. iii. a new Altar, we are told, they offer'd burntofferings thereon, morning and evening; and the continual burnt-offering of the new

3, 5.

moons.

SECT

SECT VII.

The NEW MOONS.

Their New-Moons (that is, the first day of every Month) tho' they did not require a Ceffation of Work, yet were to be obferv'd by Sacrifices of a peculiar Kind. Numb. In the beginnings of your months, ye shall xxviii. offer a burnt-offering unto the LORD; two bullocks, &c. These the Prophet Ifaiah Ifaiah. i. likewife calls the new-moons.

SE CT VIII.

The SABBATH S.

II.

13, 14.

Their Festivals or Holydays, on which they were to do no manner of fervile Work, were several;' firft, every * Sabbath or seventh Day throughout the Year: Concerning the Obfervation of which, there are repeated Precepts. Upon this day they were to do no manner of work; not fo much as to kindle any fire in their habitati- &c.

*Sabbath fignifies a Refting from Labour: And therefore other Festivals, on which no fervile Work was to be done, are often call'd Sabbaths. Lev. xxiii.

K 2

ons

Exod.

xx. 8,

Exod.

XXXV. 3.

ons. But this was not all; they were moreover, to keep it holy: That is, to employ their Minds in religious Exercise, after the best manner, that either divine Revelation or human Wisdom could instruct them.

And more especially, (as the Sabbath was inftituted in Imitation and Commemoration of God's refting on the Seventh Day, after he had been employ'd, the other fix, in the Work of the Creation) to adore and admire his infinite Goodness, Wisdom, and Power, for his fo graciously bringing Mankind into Being; making them capable of eternal Happiness after this short tranfitory Life; and, in the mean Time, furnishing them with all Things requifite to make their living in this World, eafy and pleasurable: provided, they would but do their Part; the Part of rational Creatures; be honestly industrious in the Procurement of them; freely temperate in the use of them; and religiously thankful in the Enjoyment of them; that

* Which probably was the Reafon why God chose to be fo long, and no longer, in creating the World: viz. that it might be a standing Rule for the Sabbath, and an everlasting Subject for Man to contemplate his Attributes by.