notice of this injunction. It is a duty greatly to be regarded, and most conscientiously to be observed. Upon the due observance of this, our disposition and ability to observe the other precepts in good measure depends. "Keep it holy;" devote it to holy purposes; spend it in holy exercises; and not only an hour or two, not barely the intervals of private and public devotion, but the day, the Sabbath-day, the whole day. Neither will the whole day be too long, if we make conscience of discharging the several duties of religion, reading and meditation, prayer and praise, teaching our children, and instructing our domestics, examining our hearts, and taking heed to our ways. All these offices, if properly performed, will leave very little, rather no time for unnecessary elopements. And shall we huddle over all these important offices, or totally neglect some of them, only to indulge ourselves in the most unprofitable levities? at once doing an injury to our spiritual interests, and violating the divine precept.

I fear it will be a kind of "crucifying afresh our blessed Master," Heb. vi. 6. This expression we have often read, but think ourselves free from the guilt implied in it, and indeed from the very likelihood of contracting it. But let us be reminded, that we crucify our Lord afresh," when we give others occasion to conclude, that we have very little esteem for him, or gratitude to him; consequently, that he has little or no excellency for which we or others should desire him. Now, what else can the world conclude, when they see us giving into the vanities of a licentious mode on that very day which is sacred to the commemoration of his resurrection? "Surely," might the children of this world say, "if these Christians had any real reverence for their Lord, they would shew it on his own day. They would either be retired to contemplate and adore him, or else come abroad to exalt and glorify him. But they come abroad to be as frothy in their talk, and as trifling in their temper, as forgetful of their

Saviour, and as regardless of his honour, as the most arrant worldling among us all." To afford a handle for such reflections, is to wound the Redeemer in the house of his friends.

It will "grieve the Holy Spirit," Eph. iv. 30. Christians believe that he is infinitely wise, all-gracious, and ever blessed; that he dwells in their hearts, and is the source of all their holiness and all their happiness. Therefore we pray daily in our Liturgy, "that the Holy Spirit may not be taken from us.' On Sunday we commemorate the descent of this divine guest, and are, in a particular manner, to implore his presence, and cultivate his influences. But can this be done by neglecting his express prohibition, and breaking his positive command? by disregarding the examples which he has set before us, and dishonouring that Saviour whom he delights to magnify? Besides, dare any mortal presume to say in his heart, amidst a circle of our polite visitants, "I am now acting in a manner becoming my relation to the eternal Spirit. These sentiments and this discourse are suitable to his dignity, wisdom, and glory; a proper method of celebrating and honouring the day of his miraculous mission ?"

Should any one ask, "What is meant by grieving the Holy Spirit?" It means offending his exalted Majesty, and causing him to act as men commonly act when they are grieved and displeased with any one; they withdraw from his company, and visit him no more. When Samuel was grieved for Saul's misbehaviour, it is written, "He came no more to see Saul." If the almighty Comforter be provoked to deal thus with our souls, alas! what a loss must we sustain ! a loss unspeakable, irreparable, eternal!

So that if this practice were not sinful, it must be exceedingly detrimental, and that not in one only, but in various respects. Have we received spiritual good from the public ordinances? The admonition of Heaven is, "We ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any

time we should let them slip," Heb. ii. 1. By this practice we not only suffer them to slip, but open, as it were, a leak for their immediate discharge. Have we been under edifying impressions from our private exercises? The unerring direction is, "Quench not the Spirit." Stifle not the serious desires which he has awakened; allow them their full scope, till they are formed into gracious habits. By the practice under consideration, we pour water instead of oil upon the feeble flame; we extinguish what we should cherish. Is the heavenly seed sown in our breasts? These dissipating interviews are the ravenous birds which follow the seedsman, and devour the grain, so that nothing takes root. No fruit of faith, of joy, or love, is produced.

Let me only add, that, on a dying bed, the misimprovement of all our time will be most bitterly regretted. How much more the misimprovement of those hours which God himself has hallowed, has set apart for the noblest purposes, and is wont to bless in an especial manner! "While others were seeking the pearl of great price, and gathering those treasures of wisdom and grace which endure to everlasting life, I, alas! was squandering away the precious opportunities in every vanity." To see the curtain of time dropping, to see a vast eternity opening before us, and to have such reflections haunting our conscience; this will cause misery not to be expressed, create anguish not to be conceived.

Object. II. Will it be said, in answer to these considerations, "That company, even trifling company, is a relaxation: We return to the instruction of our families, and to our evening devotion with fresh alacrity, being sick of these triflers?" A strange argument! It should rather be reversed. The objectors might truly say, Being sick of religion and its services, we want such triflers to afford us some relief. The sincere servant of Christ would find no recreation, but feel grief of heart in such interviews. It must be a real affliction to observe his divine Lord

absolutely disregarded; disregarded on the day peculiarly devoted to his honour; every vanity now preferred before him, as Barabbas the robber was formerly. The true refreshment for our souls consists in having our faith increased, our hope elevated, and our views of heaven enlarged; in contemplating the infinite perfection and glory of our Redeemer, the infinite grandeur and fulness of his propitiation, and our complete, I might have said our infinite security from wrath and vengeance, by being interested in his merits.

Object. III. "Sunday is the best part of our time for this purpose; business is suspended, every body is ready dressed, all circumstances invite." Is it the best part of our time? Then let it be devoted to the best of Beings. Who is more worthy of our choicest thoughts, affections, hours, than that divinely compassionate Saviour, who offered himself, in the very prime of his life, a bleeding victim for our sins, that his sacrifice might have every recommending circumstance which could render it acceptable to God, and available for man.

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Object. IV. "It is the universal custom: To discontinue it would render us unfashionable." And cannot you bear to be a little unfashionable for his sake, who was despised and rejected, who humbled himself to death, even the death of the cross, for your sake? Is it the universal custom? Then custom is the idol which we are called to renounce. I must of custom in this case, as Elijah said of Baal, If custom be God, follow its dictates; but if Jehovah be God, observe his precepts. It is written in the Scriptures, Rom. xii. 2. "Be not conformed to this world." To what does this prohibition relate? To such ungodly customs, no doubt. No battery of cannon was ever pointed more directly against a citadel to be demolished, than this text against such customs. In indifferent matters let the Christian avoid singularity; let him dress somewhat like his neighbours; let him make an appearance suitable to

his station; but let him not follow a multitude to profane the Sabbath, or to do any evil." Here religious persons should by all means be singular; should distinguish themselves by a becoming zeal for their God; should set an example, and shine as lights in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation; otherwise they may do, not themselves only, but others also, incredible harm.

Object. V. Some perhaps may start and reply, "If these things are so, to what a degree of sinful negligence is even the Christian world arrived?" With regard to the world called Christian, this is too true; and no measure of sorrow can be sufficient to bewail the deplorable degeneracy. Negligence, or rather obstinacy, in this capital instance, is a melancholy indication of no less disobedience in other respects.

Object. VI. "This will be irksome, will render our religion a burden." I hope no one that pretends to seriousness will offer to make this objection. The sinners in Zion made it; for which reason they are branded, and by the divine Spirit himself, with infamy that will never be blotted out: "O what a weariness is it! when will the Sabbath and its irksome solemnities be gone?" Mal. i. 13. and Amos viii. 5. This discovers a heart alienated from God, that has not tasted the good word of grace, and savours not the things which be of Christ. Otherwise such would be the language, "One day thus employed is better than a thousand," Psal. Ixxxiv. 10. Is it tedious and burdensome to pass a single day in devout exercises? How then shall we pass, how shall we endure the ages of eternity! since we are assured that those happy beings who stand around the throne, clothed with white robes, serve their God day and night, for ever and ever, in his temple. In the regions of immortality they find a heaven, because there they have a never-ceasing and eternal communion with God; because there they have an uninterrupted and everlasting Sabbath.