vernors and subjects, masters and servants, husband and wife, parent and child, neighbour and friend. He has given to us sympathies, affections, and feelings, conformable to these mutual relations: and offered to us his grace, to assist us in the performance of all the duties arising out of them. And, finally, He has spread before our eyes life and death everlasting, as the reward or punishment of fulfilling or neglecting these duties.

Let us, then, humbly but earnestly endeavour to second, "as much as in us "lieth," God's holy, wise, and benevolent intentions, in his rational creation. Let each and all of us, in our respective vocations, glorify Him, by striving to perform conscientiously the duties connected with our appointed place in his great social family.

Let him that ruleth," or to whom any degree of power is committed, exercise his rule with a due regard to the rights, feelings, and welfare of those over whom it extends. 64 Let him that serveth" be obedient to his master according to the "flesh, with good-will doing service as to "the Lord, and not to men." "Let him "that showeth mercy," or endeavoureth to alleviate, in any manner or degree, the wants or sufferings of his fellow-creature,

do it "with a cheerfulness," which will prove that his duty is his delight. Let us manifest sympathy with all around us, by "rejoicing with them that do rejoice, and "weeping with them that weep. Let us evidence humility, by "not minding high

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things, but condescending to men of low "estate." Let us avoid presumption, by not being "wise in our own conceit." Let us spread around us confidence, concord, and good-will," by "recompensing no man' " evil for evil, but contrariwise, blessing;" and by "living, if it be possible, peaceably "with all men." And, lastly, let us aim to attain that perfect form of the christian character, which "abhors all that is evil," and' "cleaves" only" to that which is good."

Regulating our actions, or, at least,' seriously endeavouring to regulate them, by these evangelical rules, and adorning our lives with these christian graces, we' shall testify, in the sight of God and man, that our grateful feelings are not transient emotions, but rooted principles in our souls;" that our language of praise and thanksgiving is not unmeaning and unsubstantial profession, but the audible expression of inward holiness: we shall make the best return in our power (infinitely inadequate, indeed, but through mercy acceptable) for our

creation, preservation, redemption, and all their incalculable blessings. And, at "the "latter day," when this grand material frame of visible nature, with all its wonders and all its glories, shall "perish" in the final flame, our souls, saved by the goodness of God, through the merits and mediation. of Jesus Christ, shall be called to inhabit those "new heavens, and new earth," wherein dwell righteousness and truth, holiness and peace, for ever and ever. Amen.

DISCOURSE II.

Subject. THE SANCTIFICATION OF THE SABBATH.

THE HOLINESS OF THE SABBATH-DAY. THE USES AND ENDS FOR WHICH IT WAS INSTITUTED. THE MANNER IN WHICH IT IS TO BE OBSERVED. MORAL INFERENCES.

GENESIS ii. 3.

And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it; because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

F the sanctity and importance of a law

are to be estimated, by the dignity of the legislator, the solemnity with which it has been delivered, the clearness and repetition with which it has been prescribed, and the awful sanctions by which it is enforced; we must allow, that the ordinance which sanctifies the Sabbath-day is of a peculiarly sacred character; and the keeping holy of that day, or dedicating it to the

worship of God, is one of the first of human duties.

The Author of this Law is no less a being than the Almighty himself: who, at the conclusion of his amazing work of blended power and love, the CREATION of the universe, beheld what he had wrought, and seeing that it was "very good," rested," or ceased from this particular exertion of his omnipotence; and "blessed,” hallowed, or stamped with his seal of everlasting holiness, the day of its cessation.

The circumstances which attended the sanctification of the Sabbath-day, were no less striking. The original blessing upon it was pronounced at the very moment when universal nature exhibited perfection, and first experienced repose; and when a reasonable soul had been created, to admire the one, and enjoy the other; and the second declaration of its holiness (included in God's eternal moral Law, written "with his finger," on the tables of stone) was uttered from the midst of thunderings and lightnings, on the trembling top of Sinai, by the Deity himself.

The terms, also, in which the law has been promulgated to us, are as clear, forcible, and binding, as language can supply-" Re"member the Sabbath-day, to keep it holy;