it is sown in corruption: it shall be raised in incorruption." (a):

I APPREHEND salvation will not be compleat till the bodies of the saints are raised out of their graves, and in their glorified state united to their glorified souls, and then will be brought to pass the saying, "Death is swallowed up in victory." Yes,

Now salvation, long expected,
See in solemn pomp appear;
All his people once despised,
Now shall meet him in the air.
Happy Mourners, &c. &c.

Lo! on clouds, He comes, He comes.

THE sabbath now begins which shall never end. This blessed state of glory is unchangeable, it will suit the saints, and they shall be prepared for it. Every one will have an exercise suited to their wish and capacity. One star will differ from another, but none will either despise or envy another. No, every vessel will be full; yea all, "all will be filled with all the fulness of God."

SECONDLY, how is the christian sabbath to be sanctified? How kept holy?

1. IT is assuredly necessary to prepare for it before-hand. We read of the " preparation for the sabbath," that is, they so ordered and disposed their affairs that they might have as little to do as possible of

(a) 1 Cor. xv. 42—44,

U

worldly matters.

To be sure, there are numbers who cannot adjust affairs as they would; such shops as deal in eatables are obliged to be up late on Saturday night; also farmers, are under an absolute necessity of attending their cattle, milking their cows, and disposing of the same, cleaning their vessels on the Lord's day. Such as go to sea must be attentive to their busines, on the sacred day. But even these might so contrive matters as to have much less to do than they generally have. But there are multitudes who are not so circumstanced, who are all hurry and bustle on Saturday evenings, which might be prevented by a little timely care; the consequence of which is, they lie in bed much longer on the sacred day than they do on others, nor are their minds impressed with that solemn reverence which it ought to be. We see how men of the world act, how they will scheme and contrive against the market, or a fair, that they may have as little as possible to do, and by that means have little to interrupt or hinder; and why should not christians act in the same way upon a nobler principle? The matter is, the men of the world are alive to their work, their hearts are fully engaged in it, and many professors sleep over their work, or look upon it as a sort of by-business, which may be done in a sort of desultory manner, when nothing stands in the way. And what is that but "offering the lame and the blind unto

God!" With such sacrifices God cannot be well pleased.

2. AVOID all carnal company and needless visits, or receiving visitors on the solemn day. Many err in this matter most shamefully. In so doing there are several evils; there is generally more done in the way of cooking than ought to be, or otherwise would be, and that is creating more work than ought to be. The Jews were forbidden even so much as to light a fire on the sacred day. The good old puritans were very conscientious in that particular; they were very sparing in the business of the kitchen on the Lord's day, usually preparing what they deemed necessary the night before. Besides, when on the visiting plan, there is a temptation to indulge the appetite more than is consistent with that temperance becoming the christian at all times, but more especially on that sacred day. Some persons will take the sabbath to visit their friends, on purpose to save the time taken up on another day; but certainly it is wrong; "Will a man rob God?" Hath the Lord given us six days to provide for the body? And can we not give him one day out of seven? Then shun every thing which would interfere or mix with the service of God.

3. LET as much as is possible be spent in the service of God, both in public and in private. Not that I would advise the running from one place of worship to

another from morning to the evening. I fear some place a great part of religion in running up and down. But let not one duty clash with another, let every exercise have its proper time and place. Let private duty have its due share of time and fervency, both in prayer, reading and meditation; not neglecting the house of God.Let the whole day be filled up with such exercises as are suited to the solemnity thereof. Acts of mercy to either man or beast are necessary, and therefore lawful; and therefore such as have not time on other days, may very properly and profitably spend an hour or two in visiting the sick and praying with them, or waiting on them; for the Lord delights more in mercy than in sacrifice; but all other visits should be avoided.

4. AVOID worldly conversation, such as upon trade or traffic, or politics, the dearness and cheapness of markets. Six days are surely enough for matters of that sort. What end can such converse answer? only to bring deadness and stupidity upon the mind, and render it dull and unfit for that reverence becoming the Lord's service and the house of the living God. It is very common for even professors of religion to forget themselves, and let their conversation grovel, which shews where the heart is; for "from the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." It is one of the conditions which the Almighty lays down, which he required of

his church in the days of old. “If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath from doing thy pleasure on my holy day, and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable, and shalt honour him not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words, then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord, and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of thy father Jacob; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it." (a) And again," Blessed is the man that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth is hand from doing evil. For thus saith the Lord unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant. Also the sons of the stranger that join themselves to the Lord to serve him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant. Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer." (b) On the other hand, how highly is the Lord displeased with such as made light of his sabbaths, wishing them to close that they might return to their worldly traffic.

IN short, a considerable part of true

(a) Isa. lviii. 13, 14.

(b) Isa, lvi. 2-7.