858 THE SABBAT« BEBPETUAL, &C. tion by Christ or his apostles in the New Testament, but rather on examples, and probable inferences, and on the reasons and relations of things ; I can never pronounce any thing hard or severe upon any fellow -christian, who maintains real piety in heart and life, though his opinion may be very different from mine on this subject. Nor does any man, who is humbly and sincerely studious of truth and duty, and desirous to find it, de- serve any reproach or censure upon the account of different opinions about meats and clays; unless he assume such haughty airs of assurance, as arise far beyond all his evidence and proof, or indulge a persecuting spirit, and reproach his brethren who differ from him. Whatsoever we do in our distinct practices, on these dubious subjects, let us do it sincerely as to the Lord: If we regard a day, let us regard it to the Lord; and if we neglect it for fear of- superstition let this also be with a desire to honour the Lord ; Rom. xiv. 6. Let religion be maintained in the life and power of it, by every one that names the name of Christ, and let him faithfully pursue those methods, which, according to the clearest discoveries of reason and scripture, will be most successful to obtain this end. While upon a just survey of things I am satis- fied, that the observation of the Lord's-day, as a christian sab- bath, is most for the service of God, for the honour of my bles- sed Saviour and his gospel, and for the increase of true religion and godliness, I am obliged to persist in this practice, though I have not so express and evident a command for it, as for many other things in the christian life : But I ampersuaded, whosoever will take a faithful review of all that is written in this essay, will be inclined to confess, that I have not maintained this my opinion and practice, without some fair and just appearances, both of reason and scripture. There are other questions relating to the Lord's -day, viz. When must the christian begin his sabbath, and when must it end ? What works of labour maybe performed on thisday ? And how should it be spent or improved, &e. For answer to which, " I refer the reader to Dr. Samuel Wright's Treatise one the Lord's-day; and to a sermon a few years ago published on this subject, viz. Sermon xxx>i. at Berry-street, on. the Principal Heads of the Christian Religion."
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