S28 THE SABBATH PERPETUA, &C. in this life ; yet he ought sometimes to enjoy restfrom his earthly labours, and sometime pay worship to the God of heaven." Both these are taught es by the light of reason. There will be some seàsons wherein the ánimal nature of man andbeast requiresome rest from their toil, and that besides the mere sleep of the night. Constant and unceasing toil and labour, from morning to even- ing, thoughout our whole life, would wear out natures madeof flesh and blood too fast, and this would Cot be dealing well with our bodies, our servants, or our cattle. There must be somesea- sons also, wherein God our Creator must have worship paid him by his creature man ; and as he is a creature made for society, he ought to acknowledge God in societies, and to pay him some public worship ; and there must be some certain times appointed fór this purpose. This also the light of reason requires. Let it beobserved further, there is some natural connection between these two, viz. rest and worship ; for when man is at rest from his own labours, he is more at leisure for religion, and the service of God : And when he performs worship to'God, he must rest fromhis common labours. A vigorous employment of the headand hands, in the works of the natural life, is not con- sistent at the same time with such devotion as God requires of` men, either in public or private, which I shall have occasion to mention again before I conclude. II. " The light of nature and reason loth not evidently teach us what part of time, or how much should be devoted to bodily rest, and to divine worship." Can we absolutely deter- Mine, whether some part of every day is sufficient and most pro- per for both these purposes, or whether we should separate on this account one whole day out offive or ten, seven or seventeen ? Who can assign the just medium between toomuch and too little ? Uhlman prudence indeed, and common experience will teach us in the main, that since social or public worship should be per- formed to God by Many persons or families at once, it seems to be more convenientthat a whole day should be separated now and then, rather than tomake perpetual interruptions of the business of life, by separating a small part of every day for this purpose; and prudence will also teach us, that this whole day should be publicly known and appointed, at least by consent, and common 'agreement. But there would be endless differences of opinion what day this should be, and how often it should return, if it Were left merely to the fancies, conveniences, and agreements of men. Some of a covetous and cruel temper would scarce allow one day in twenty for rest to their servants or cattle : some havé so little love to religion; that theywould'thürk one in forty enough for God. Others of a diflhrent make would perhaps incline to one day in four or five : And thus there would be probably a con- tinual confusion in this matter, and neither the seasons of rest, nor of worship, well proportioned to the days of labour.
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