SERMON L. 101 rest which some men would have allowedeither to themselves or their servants, probably would have been short and few enough, if God had not always devoted one day in seven to these purpo- ses. It is evident in common experience and by observation madeupon persons andchurches and nations,that whereno sabbath is observed, where one day in seven is not separated to God by a rest from the usual labours of life and a dedication'to his ser-. vice, religion is in a very decaying state, and in great danger to be lost. As it is a common confession of persons who fall into the vilest crimes andare executed by the public justice of the magistrate, that their disregard of the sabbath was the be- ginning of their guilt and ruin, and led the way to all iniquity ; so a careful observation of one day in seven for religious purpo- ses has been the, great spring and support of virtue and piety amongst mankind, and the constant guardian of it in its purity and power. Now if all these considerations put together will but go so far as to make it highly probable that one day in seven has been always the proportion of time which God has appointed for a sabbath, that is, for rest from labour and divine worship, this probability as to the time and manner of a duty should go for evidence, where no farther evidence can be procured, and where the duty itself is clear and certain : And- since some rest from labour, and some seasons for worship are necessary, we cannot do a more reasonable thing than to separate that pro- portion of time which the wisdom of God has certainly separated in some of his dispensations to men, and most probably in all of them. Before we proceed, it will be necessary to answer a few enquiries. Question I. " Why was the first day of the seven appoint- ed for christian worship rather thanany of the others ?" Answer. When God rested from his work of creation he 'appointed the seventh day for the ancient sabbath, to keep in mind the Creator of the world and his work ; and so when Christ rested from his works of redemption, he appointed the <first day, even the day in which he arose from the grave, as most proper to keep the great work of our redemption in me- mory. That the first day of the week was observed by the apos- tles and first Christians in honour of the resurrection of Christ, and the finishing of their redemption, is evident from several hints of scripture, and many plain expressions in the history of the primitive church*. * There llave been some very great and learned men who suppose that the apostle Paul in the fourth chapter to the Hebrews builds a Christian sabhath on this principle. Ss verse 4. He spoke in a certainplace of the seventh day on this wise, a3
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