morality stands or falls with the keeping or neglecting the sacred day.

5. IT might be well to guard our thoughts on the sacred day; for if our thoughts are employed in matters of trade, or any worldly avocations, we are real sabbath breakers, though we should be in the house of God from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same. And I do not think the enemy is wanting at those seasons to bring the world, and the things of the world to the mind at the same time; and as long as there is the tinder of corruption in the human heart, the sparks of the enemy will kindle the flame, and if we are on our knees all the day, if our thoughts are in the world what will it avail? It might be well to remember this on a sabbath morning, and lay it feelingly before the Lord. Beg of him to bring every thought into captivity to his blessed will. This also shews the necessity of being careful in our conversation; for worldly conversation is sure to beget worldly thoughts. There is the greater need to be careful herein; for thoughts are concealed from all but God and ourselves; our words are heard, and our actions are seen; but who can accuse you of thinking? or, who can say, they saw your thoughts, in the shop, or in the field, or wandering to the ends of the earth?

6. LET the day be properly closed as becometh the day of the Lord. Many

think when public duty is over the sabbath is over, and very likely all they have heard or read is over, or quite forgotten; and, if so, how is it likely to bring forth the fruit of good living? If the seed is devoured, by the fowls of the air, as soon as it is sown, there is little hope of a fruitful harvest; or if the seeds of all pernicious weeds are plentifully mixed with the pure grain, the husbandman can tell you which is like to be the most plentiful crop. Excellent is that divine prayer," Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify thy holy name."

Guard well thy thoughts,

Our thoughts are heard in heaven.

"I HATE vain thoughts," said the psalmist," but thy law I do love.' "Wash thyself, O Jerusalem! how long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee ?". We may form a little idea of the state of our mind by attention to the current of our thoughts; for where our treasure is, there is our heart also.. Let no one rest till he can say, My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed, I will sing and give praise!

UPON the whole, we have abundant cause to bless God for the christian sabbath, it is a barrier against infidelity; it is a standing memorial, that God is the creator of the universe, and that nothing created itself, or came by chance. Indeed, all his

works praise him; for in wisdom he made them all. They are all calculated to answer the end of their creation, viz. the glory of the creator, and the happiness of the creature; so that every believer may sweetly sing,

Part of thy name divinely stands,

On all thy creatures writ;

They shew the labour of thy hands,
Or impress of thy feet.

THERE is not a flower that buds, there is not a bird that sings, but all proclaim the divine creator, and all glorify him as the fountain of existance, and his wisdom and goodness appear in all; yea the heavens, and all their shining train are as so many shining lamps, to point us to their glorious maker. Their magnitudes and utility are as so many flaming heralds of the glory, majesty and honour of the ever blessed God;

"For ever singing as they shine,

"The hand that made us is divine:"

ACCORDING to the tenor of the foregoing discourse, the sabbath reminds us of our glorious redemption, which indeed is more wonderful than that of creation; it is "Creation more sublime; it is the labour of the skies." When Jehovah made the world," he spake and it was done, he commanded and it stood fast;. the morning stars sang together, and the sons of God shouted for joy." God said, let there be light, and light issued from its radiant

shrine, "Chaos heard his voice, and wild uproar stood ruled." But in redemption, it was labour, pain and reproach; it was torture and death to redeem a lost world. His soul was made an offering for sin; it was there he felt the smart, the wormwood and the gall. In all the painful process which his sacred body underwent, we never find that it extorted a word of complaint, or even a groan; but his righteous soul was exceeding sorrowful, even unto death. But this sacred day reminds of his triumphant resurrection. O yes, he burst the barriers of the tomb, as a proof that he had paid the mighty debt, and of course, both the bondsman and the poor insolvent debtor are honourably free. Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the floods clap their hands, and the trees of the wood break forth into singing, Salvation to our God, for he hath redeemed us by the blood of his cross. Let the sabbath sun never set without this being deeply impressed upon our hearts!

He

LET the sacred day lead us to meditate deeply, and sweetly upon that rest which the Redeemer hath purchased for us. hath entered into that eternal rest as our forerunner, and in his own right hath taken possession for us poor sinners, and there he is making intercession for us. He hath overcome the sharpness of death, and rests from all his works, and opens the kingdom to all believers. There he reigns till all his

enemies shall become his footstool; the last enemy, which is death, shall be destroyed, and the mediatorial kingdom given up to the Father, and the human nature absorbed in the divine, and Jehovah is all in all. Trumphant day! blessed and eternal jubilee, when every knee shall bow and every tongue confess Christ Jesus to be all and in all, to the everlasting praise of God the Father. Seeing the Almighty hath laid so weighty an injunction upon keeping the sabbath, and in its own nature is calculated to remind us of such important concerns as our creation, redemption, and eternal life; how inexcusable are all the neglectors of the sacred institution!" Yea, how lamentable that the day of the Lord should be turned into a day "of reveling and frantic mirth!" that there is more drunkenness and other kinds of profligasy carried on in that day, than in all the six days besides. "Shall I not visit for these things? saith the Lord." And among such as profess to pay some attention to the sacred institution are ready to cry out, what a wearisome day it is, when will the new moon end and the sabbath be over, that we may return to our secular employments! How shameful! what will these people do in heaven? How irksome must the everlasting praises of God and the Lamb be to such? O let us count it an high day of glad tidings, a happy prelude to the eternal sabbath with the infinite Jehovah, his saints and angels for evermore.