S3£1 Rea SALBATn PEILPETUAL, &C. 1. On the very day of the resurrection of Christ, the disciples were assembled, probably for worship, with the doors shut fer fear of the Jews : This was the first day of the week, and Jesus came and stood in the midst of them ; John xx. 19. and he pro- nounced his peace upon them, convinced them of his resurrection, repeated, his commission to them, breathed on them, and said, receive ye the Holy Ghost; and as he took all occasions to in- structthem, sono doubt he gave them larger instructions and exhortations about the things which concerned his kingdom and gospél on this first christian sabbath, than the short history of the evangelists could well repeat; John xx. 19-23. As soon as the Lord rose from the dead, he became their preacher on this glorious day, and blessed the whole assembly. 2. The very next first day of the week, that is, after eight days inclusively, the disciples were met together again and Thomas was with then, when Jesus appeared to them, gave them farther proofs of his resurrection, with suitable remarks on the unbelief of Thomas. And doubtless, he spite many other words to them, as well as wrought many other signs in their presence, after his resurrection, as in John xx. 30. 3. The apostles and other brethren were met together on the day of Pentecost in one place, when they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with tongues as the Spirit gave there utterance; Acts ii. 1 -4, Now by an easy computa- tionof Pentecost, which is seven weeks, or fifty days from the passover, it is justly supposed by learned men, that this also was the first dayof the week, when the Spirit fell on the disci - pies, and the gospel was preached to great multitudes, and three thousand souls were converted to the faith, as it is recorded in Acts ii. 14, 41. Blessed success of the word preached on that same first day of the week when the Spirit was given ! Thes'e actions and blessings seem to prepare the way for the apostolic appointmentof the first day of the week, though it was not then publicly appointed. 4. We are informed also, that St. Paul observed this clay ; Acts xx. 7. Upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together at Trous to break bread, . Paul preached to them. This coming together on the firstday must probably be an apos- tolic appointment, and is recorded as a customary practice. It is granted indeed, that the apostle went often to the synagogues and placesof worship on the Jewish sabbath, to teach the people the gospel, because that was the chief opportunity that he could have of addressinga great many persons at once, and of giving parti- cular instructions to the Jews, his kinsmen after the flesh ; but when christians who were not Jews, nor judaizing, camé together to worship, it was usually, if not always on the first day of the week, so far as appears in scripture. In this and the following
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