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SERMON VIII.

FOURTH COMMANDMENT. PART II.

REV. i. 10.

I WAS IN THE SPIRIT ON THE LORD's

DAY.

HATEVER be our opinion concerning the Sabbath, suppose we

WHATEVER

were never bound to keep it, or are set free from it ever fo fully; we may still be fubject to another appointment of a Nature fo far fimilar, as to contain that which was moft valuable in the firft. Our Chri

fian Liberty furely is not a freedom from the worship of Almighty God; nor from all external forms appertaining to it: fince it cannot well fubfift, and cannot at all be publick, without fome of them.

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Even

Hebr. xiii.

15.

Hebr. x.

12.

Even we have a facrifice to offer, that of praife to God continually, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name.

We have that one facrifice, that was offered for fins for ever, to commemorate,

Luke xxii. till he come again who

19.

1 Cor. xi. do in remembrance of me. Lord's death till he come.

26.

I Cor. vii.

19.

offered it: This

Ye do fhew the

Circumcifion indeed is nothing, and uncircumcifion is nothing, but the keeping of the Mark xvi. commandments of God: yet even Christians have a command, not only to believe, but Matth. to be baptized in the name of the Lord.

16.

Acts x 48.

xxviii. 19.

Colof. ii. 16.

In like manner, although no man may now judge us, in respect of the Sabbath; yet mult we be very inattentive to overlook, and highly culpable if we difregard, the great authorities on which the inftitution of the Lord's day is founded, and the many obligations we are under to the obfervance of it.

In

In the first place, this Festival hath been kept by the whole church of Chrift, in all ages: It hath been obferved in every nation where the gospel hath been planted, and can be traced up to the first sources of Chriftianity. It's very antiquity must render it venerable. Is it not natural to regard with respect, that which hath received fo much honour? Are we not afraid to violate what hath been always held facred? at leaft, methinks, till we have well inquired whether the appointment, which has met with fo general an approbation, were not built on great authority, or good reasons?

We shall find, that it was founded upon both. There are not wanting paffages even in the Scriptures, from which it may be inferred, that the religious celebration. of the Lord's Day was ordered by the Apoftles, and authorised by the miraculous prefence of our Lord himself.

John xx.

19.

ver. 26.

The fame day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the difciples were affembled, came Jefus, and food in the midft, and faith unto them, Peace be unto you.

And after eight days, again his difciples were within, then came Jefus, and flood in the midft, and faid, peace be unto you.—I need not obferve to you, that after eight days, in the language of Scripture, means on the fame day of the week following.

Not only at Jerufalem; in other parts at a great distance, the first Christians, we find, had foon adopted this holy feast, in imitation of the example, or in conformity to the directions of thofe who had converted them; and employed it in the celebration of publick worship, and in acts Acts xx. of publick charity. We failed away from Philippi,- and came unto them to Troas:and upon the first day of the week, when the difciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them.

6,7.

Νοτο

I, 2.

Now concerning the collection for the faints, 1 Cor. xvi. as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even fo do ye. Upon the first day of the week, let every one of you lay by him in ftore as God hath profpered him; that there be no gathering when I come.

IO.

I John was in the Ifle that is called Pat- Rev. i. 9, mos, for the word of God, and for the teftimony of Jefus Chrift: I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day. To whatever place the Apostles and first disciples of Chrift went, or were driven by their enemies, they carried this rule of their religion along with them, to remember the Christian Sabbath: their Lord, in commemoration of whofe refurrection they kept it, continued to follow them with tokens of his approbation and prefence; accepting the day, which they had dedicated to him, and had distinguished by his name: I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day.

Nor is it of no moment, that the obfervance

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