SERM. our pleasure, if some are capable of a vo

V.

luntary surrender of their freedom, others are not so. In the case of our cattle it is unqualified compulsion, and we may well think it cannot be otherwise than peculiarly atrocious in the sight of God, for, because they have no faculty of remonstrating for themselves, God himself has condescended to be their advocate, and commanded us to grant, what they have no power to ask at our hands. It would be vain to attempt any distinct enumeration of such exigencies as may justify our unreserved employment of our servants and cattle on the sabbath-day; but of this we may be very sure, that all unnecessary interruption of the devotions of the one, as well as all unnecessary abridgment of the comforts of the other, must amount to a gross violation of the law; but if, in addition to this, we so abuse them to answer any unholy purposes, we must needs think so aggravated an affront must call down upon us the just vengeance of an offended Deity. But though these are considerations that seem so obviously to arise

from

V.

from a mere perusal of the commandment, SERM. yet many there are who act as if they never occurred to them. Not content with the abuse of those immediately dependent on them, many, for instance, by wanton and unnecessary journeys in particular, invade most unfeelingly the rights of others, with whom they cannot possibly pretend to have any other connection, than what accidentally arises out of the occasion, an occasion always of their own seeking. Duly considered, I scarcely think a more foul profanation of the sabbath can be devised than this very one that I am alluding to, for such travelling itself is seldom conducted now without great abuses, and most gross violations, both of morality and humanity. And is the Lord's-day, as in too many instances undoubtedly it happens, to be particularly selected for such purposes? Indeed, those who so abuse it cannot be acquitted of a most aggravated offence against Almighty God, and, in addition to their own foul infringement of his laws, must needs be responsible for the many heinous and great abuses consequent thereto. Much

more

SERM, more might be said upon the subject of V. the sabbatical rest enjoined by the fourth

commandment, but, having made an allusion to one of the most glaring abuses of it, I would now rather confine myself to the consideration of the other duty enjoined us, of " keeping the sabbath holy." “Remember the sabbath-day, to keep it holy.” If we could bring ourselves to conform to this part of the commandment, we need not be afraid of infringing the other. For, in this case, both our thoughts and actions would take a different direction: by seeking rest and retirement for our own private devotions and meditations, we should avoid all intrusion on the rest and retirement on others. And this is surely what we ought to do, if we have any proper sense of our own infirmities. The Lord's-day should be (if I may use such an expression) a day of account between God and us. We should eagerly embrace the opportunity of examining into the state of our souls, that we may pray for the support we want, and atone by contrition and repentance for the sins we have committed.

We

We should, in every possible way, endea- SERM. vour to do honor to the day of the Lord, V. by acts of charity, as well as of piety and devotion. We should studiously refrain from evil in our own persons, and discountenance it, to the best of our power, in others. We should punctually attend the appointed services in God's holy temple; as much, perhaps, for an example to others, as for our own private advantage and edification; not to be "seen of men," out of ostentation, but that others, "seeing our good works," may learn "to glo

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rify," as they fhould do, their "Father "which is in Heaven."

It is to be feared, few keep the sabbathday holy in the way I have thus described. Self-examination and self-abasement are exercises of the soul, very seldom attended to in these days. It is almost as much as we can expect, if a few hours shall be given up to the public worship of God. The rest of the day is thought to be our own; not for any purposes of meditation and reflection, but for an unreserved intercourse with the rest of the world; un

reserved

SERM. reserved I call it, for it is too often withV. out any distinction at all; not in the so

ciety of our friends and relatives, but more probably among those least known to us; where the gay and the profligate, the dissolute and abandoned, make their public resort. This is too notoriously the case, wherever opportunity offers; and so habituated is the generality of the world to this mode of flying from all sober thought and reflection, that these opportunities have been purposely multiplied, till scarcely a private place is left for those of a retired disposition. In the mean while, the examples of dissipation in high life are imitated by the lower ranks, in scenes of riot and intemperance, lewdness and profaneness. Few do, in fact, give rest either to their souls or bodies; but much, if not most, of the day is spent in scenes of confusion and distraction, turbulence and noise. But it will be retorted, I know, with eagerness,-Is then the day of the Lord to be a day of gloom?. Is it to be a day of labour and sorrow? I answer yes, of all if necessary, but of none without necessity.