QQ THE LQIjeD9S-DAY, 'OR rCjI$ISTIAN SA$$A.¡'}t. {S$RM. V!. employed in secular affairs as to exclude the whole day from its proper business, that is, religion, or devotion, unless. in-the cases of necessity before mentioned. I think it may be maintained ingeneral, that as whatsoever tends to destroy or nullify the great designs of religious worship should he omitted on the Lord's day, so some lesser labours which tend to make the performance of religion more easy, chearful and regular to ourselves and to great numbers of others, may safely be performed on this day without a sinful violation of it. But wheresoever the conscience is. doubtful, it is best to chuse the safer side. " Happy is he that condemneth not himself in what he alloweth ;" Rom. xiv. 22. And 1 would take leave to add here also, that as it is a day of sacred rest and refreshment, we are not called to draw out the duties ofworship to such unreasonable and tiresome lengths, nor to be so incessant and uninter- rupted in works of religion on this day, as would over- much fatigue the spirits, and overpress animal nature. This does not tend to the edification of men, or the ho- nour of God ; but it has a certain and evident tendency to prejudice younger persons against the observation of the Lord's-day, ifwe render the services of it too irksome and tedious. According as our constitution is more or less healthy, or our circumstances in the world, as servants or masters, as poor or rich, callus more or less to necessary works on this day, so we are to employ ourselves in the affairs of religion at such hours, and with such itervals of release and refreshment, as that the sabbath of the Lord may be a pleasure to us, and may not overtire fee- ble nature instead of giving it rest. We should all em- ploy this day to the designs and ends appointed, to the honour of God and our risen Saviour, not with Jewish rigors and superstitious abstinences, not in indulgence of the flesh and lazy idleness, not in sports and pastime, but with christian wisdom improve our time for religious purposes according to our capacities and stations, know- ing that we are in a state of gospel liberty, freed from a -state and spirit of bondage,, and rejoicing in idle Lord our Deliverer and Saviour. This leads me to .some practical exhortations. I. " Delight in the Lord's-day as a high privilege be- stowed upon you : make it the matter of, your holy joy."
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