DISCOURSE I. 539 particular we justly suppose the Greek words pox 'MY MCCall.); to signify the first day of the week. But if it should signify what some would have it, the' first of the two sabbaths, thence it is evident that there were two claysaccounted sabbaths; the seventh day by the Jews and judaizing christians, and the first by the pure and more complete christians : And as the Jewish converts were very hardly brought off from every judaical rite and cere- mony, there was a connivance or permission during the standing of the temple and Jewish polity, to indulge many Mosaical rites as part of their civil or political law : so that the Jewish chris- tians might have two sabbaths, viz. the seventh day and the first; though the first only for the,pure christians. 5. St. Paul gives order concerning a collection for the saints, upon the first day of the week ; at least, that every one should lay by him in store according as God had prospered hire; and this same order he gave to the churches of Galatia ; 1 Cor. xvi. 1, 2. Now their public meetings on this day gave them More conveniency of gathering their charity, than on any other. Be- sides, the word 8a0"ave4011. may intimate a weekly collection; for it was designed to prevent collections when Paul carne. And it, was on the old sabbath or seventh (lay on which collections were made in the Jewish synagogues ; for the giving of alms was ever reckoned a proper duty for the sabbath; and the apostle seemeth hereby to transfer the duties of the Jewish sabbath to the first day of the week. 6. The religious observation of the first clay of the week among christians was so general andwell known, thatso early as in the days of the apostle John it acquired a honourable title, and was called the Lord's-day. This name of honour was given in scripture to nothing else, but the Lord's-sapper, and Lord's- ' day. 'Then it was also that John was favoured with the pro- phetic spirit; Rev. i. 10. I was in the Spirit on the Lord's-day, and lie had the visions of Christ in his glory, and the discovery of things to come. This is called the Lord's-day, as relating to the honour of Christ, and to his appointment, as the Lord's- supper, obtained that name, from its reference to the appointment and honour of our blessed Saviour ; 1 Cor. x. 21, 22. and xi. 20. I-íere it may be proper to enquire, what good reason can be given, why in all these appearances of Christ, and meetings and transactions before-mentioned, there should be such particular notice taken by the holy writers, on what clay of the week they were done, if it were not to point out a christian sabbath to us? We do net find the third 'or fourth, fifth or sixth day of the week mentioned for worship, or any other transactions in the New Testament, as I remember; nothing but the Lord's -day,- or the Jewish sabbath are specified ; one when the Jews worshipped, and the other whets the christians met for worship.
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