DISCOURSE I. 535 in the institution of their sabbath, or of the restoration of it to that people. But the design of God herein was not that the Jews should wear away the day in lazy idleness; but since they rested and were released from common work, there were other sacred ser- vices appointed them ; they were obligedto celebrate the worship of God: it was a day of holiness: Remember the sabbath-day to keep it holy. God ordained on thatday there should be a holy convocation or assembly; Lev. xxiii. 3. The seventh day is a sab- bathof,rest, a holy convocation; and therein the people were required to meet together for religious purposes, that is, to offer _ up prayers and praises to God. Thus, saith the Lord, in Isa. Ivi. 6, 7. Every one that keepeth my sabbath from polluting it, I will make themjoyful in my house of prayer. And in Acts xvi. 13. On the sabbath we went to a river-side, where prayer was wont to be made. And the xcii. Psalm, wherein God is greatly praised, is called a Psalm or Song for the Sabbath-day. The law also wasto be read and explained on the sabbath, and all this not only at the tabernacle or temple, but in every place where they dwelt: Lev. xxiii. 3. It is a holy convocation, ye shall do no work therein, it is the sabbathof the Lord in all your dwellings. And the scripture nures us, in following times this was constantly done ; Luke iv. 16. Jesus went into the syna- gogue, as his custom was, and stood up to read. - Verse 31. He taught them on the sabbath-days. Acts xiii. 21. The prophetsare readevery sabbath-day ; and xv. 21. Moses of old time Katie in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogue every sabbath-day. And this practice was perhaps more ancient than some learned men allow for it. Ps. lxxiv. 4, 8. there is men- tion made of synagogues more than once. There were also several sacrifices prescribed on that day' expressly by Moses; Numb. xxviii. 9, 10. whereas there was one lamb offered morning and evening, every day, as a continual burnt-offering: On the sabbath-day two lambs of thefirst year, and two tenth deals offlour and oil for a meat-offering, and drink-offering: This is the burnt-offering of every sabbath, besides the continual burnt offering with its meat and drink-offering. Thus it is sufficiently proved, that both rest and worship were included among the designs of the sabbath, as renewed to the Jews byMoses. VI. " The Jestish sabbath had many peculiarities in it, or a peculiar Judaical holiness, which did not belong to a sabbath, before or after the Jewish dispensation, and which made' it a special part of their covenant at Sinai, or the po- litical or national covenant between God and that people, which belonged to them chiefly, if not to them only. Exod. xxxi. 13-17. " Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep, &c.
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