Make no frivolous Objections for Neglecting the Sabbath, or Abstaining from the Means of Grace. Many will plead The want of proper apparel but let not that keep you from hearing the word of God. Go as you are, The salvation of your souls is of more importance to you, than the good will of your neighbours. Besides, others will be attending to something more momentous, than your apparel. However, no good person will despise you, and the bad you need not regard. Poverty is no disgrace. Lazarus is more respected than the. rich man. And you will be more esteemed in your tattered clothes, than an impious noble in his costly attire.-Some may object That many attend, and are no better for it. That may be the case; and it is a case too common; but it is nothing to you. Many go, and are improved by it; and you also may reap advantage. If others abuse their mercies, learn from their error to do otherwise. Because there is a little base coin in circulation, shall we never receive a shilling? And because a few professors of religion, are not what they ought to be, shall we neglect religion altogether?-Others may say, They have attended long to no purpose. This is very doubtful. But if it be true, still go on. The man that waited eight and thirty years at the pool of Bethesda was healed at last. The promise is "He that seeks shall find, and to him that knocks the door shall be opened. Ye shall know the Lord if ye follow on to know him. He that shall come, will come, and will not tarry; therefore wait for him." Heaven will amply repay the man who waits longest to obtain it. To Conclude. Would you see your nation prosper, and your neighbourhood happy; would you be considered loyal subjects of the realm; would you fill your respective stations with honour to yourselves and satisfaction to those around you; would you suppress vice and profligacy, superstition and prejudice; would you have honest, careful, and active servants; do you desire your children to be followers of that which is good, to comfort you in trouble, and to support your declining age; then remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy.-Would you be wise in things of the first importance; would you know yourselves, to whom you belong, and whither you are going; would you understand the purity and rigour of the divine law, how often you have broken it, and the way to escape its anathemas; would you be taught by the precepts and example of Christ, be sanctified by his spirit; prepared for death, judgment, and eternity: sanctify the Lord's day; for he has positively declared "Blessed is the man that keepeth my Sabbath from polluting it." And after all you have done, after all you have said, after all you have thought; finding no merit in yourselves, but all in the adorable Redeemer, let each one conclude in the words of the text: "Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me, according to the greatness of thy mercy.". Amen. INDEX. PAGE. ... 105 ABARBANEL and Aben Ezra, their testimony cited.... 17 Arabians divided their time into seven days. 108 10 21, 36 10 170 Assyrians divided their time into seven days. Attending too much to dress, a breach of the 10 Sabbath 73 Authority for keeping a Sabbath. Bailey's account of the death of a flax-dresser Baxter's advice how to spend the Lord's day.. Beard, Dr. citation from .. Bede, citation from him... Blackstone, Judge, citation from him. Boerhaave, a saying of his cited..... Bohemians, how they sanctified the Sabbath.. 22 30 142 92 23 53 138, 139, 144 38 40 179 170 10 92 Britons, antient, divided their time into seven days....... Cain and Abel offered sacrifices on the seventh day.. 12 Christ changes the day of religious worship Clergy, antient and modern... Correspondence of worship not necessary. 23, 103, 164, 169 44 24 Anjou forbade barbers to work on the Sab. 98 Critical hearers, exposed Cumberland Pacquet; citation from. 76 66. Dingofolinum, a council held at..... ... Disasters, numerous, on the Lord's day PAGE. .169 50 138 ..... 69, 122 64, 120 Eastern and northern nations, how they divided their time 10 Edgar's law respecting the Lord's day... ...... Edict of the Emperor Leo..... Edinburgh much injured for Sabbath-breaking. Employers, how to promote the observance of the Sab. 159 Example of good men, a motive for keeping the S. 36, 168 Fairs held on the Lord's day...... Families injured by Sabbath-breaking.. Farmers, how they break the Lord's day. Forefathers, our, how they sanctified it....... 66 135 96 171 113 Gauls and Germans divided their time into seven days 10 Great and learned, benefited by observing the Sabbath Hair-dressers, how they break the Lord's day...... Harrington, Lord, how he observed the Sabbath. 168 Holy Ghost poured out on the first day of the week 21, 31 Horsley, Bishop, quotation from him..... Idle people, how they break the Lord's day.. Jerusalem destroyed for Sabbath-breaking. Indians divided their time into seven days.. 125, 153, 168, 178 PAGE. Institutions, good, promote the observance of the Sabbath 159 Josephus, citations from him 20 Israelites, their conduct, &c.... Judgments on Sabbath-breakers.. Justin Martyr, citation from him. 8, 15, 36, 142 141 27 Leo the Great, citation from Keeping the Sabbath, a delightful duty King George, the Third, how he esteemed the Sabbath Laodicean council, cited Laws of the land Lawyers, how they break the Lord's day Lectures on the Lord's day eyening, recommended Linus, his testimony cited 185 169 23 43, 173 101 165 23 19 Liquor sold on the Sabbath-day 60, 119 London nearly consumed for Sabbath-breaking 144 49 Mechanics, how they break the Sabbath Morer, citations from best time to prepare for heaven Loyalty, the spirit of, a motive for keeping the Sabbath Magistrates, how they break the Sabbath Majesty of God, a motive for keeping his Sabbaths Maimonides and Manasseh Ben Israel, their testimony Merchants, how they break the Lord's day - Motives for better observing the Lord's day Nation benefited by observing the Lord's day 113, 132, 175 Name of Christians, a motive for observing the Sabbath 183 Newspapers, printed and sold on the Sabbath Non-advantage of Sabbath-breaking 33, 180 77, 81 112 Ordinary work not to be done on the Lord's day - Otaheitans, how they observe the Sabbath 181 172 72 101 30 17 91 153 95 95, 127 100 98 17, 25, 169 85 167 |