The divine authority and perpetual obligation of the Lord's day asserted in seven sermons ...

Front matter

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THE ^

I

Preface to the American Edition, . . 13

SERMON I.

Genesis ii. 1 — 3, . . 40

THE INSTITUTION OF A WEEKLY SABBATH IN PAR- ADISE, AND ITS CONTINUED AUTHORITY, UNTIL THE DELIVERY OF THE MORAL LAW.

The importance of the subject, . . .40

The plan of the work announced, ... 43

The direct reasons for believing the Sabbath to have been

instituted at the time when the sacred narrative begins, 45 The just inferences to be drawn from them, . . 49

Traces of the observation of a weekly rest, during* the patriarchal ages, ..... 51 The manner in which the Sabbath was revived before the

commencement of the mosaical economy, . 56

Observe the extreme violence which is done to the Christian faith, by the attempt to explain away the institution of the Christian Sabbath in Paradise, . . 57

Adore and praise the almighty father of all, for the distinct glories shed upon the day of religious repose, 59

Vlll CONTENTS.

SERMON II.

THE AUTHORITY AND DIGNITY OF THE SABBATH UNDER THE LAW OF MOSES.

The INSERTION OF THE LAW OF THE SABBATH into the DEC- ALOGUE, ...... 62

The Sabbath appeared high and distinct above all the

CEREMONIAL USAGES, .... 67

The Sabbath was insisted upon by the prophets, as of

ESSENTIAL MORAL OBLIGATION, and as DESTINED TO FORM

A PART OF THE GOSPEL DISPENSATION, . . 72

Let us give to the holy day of rest that prominency in our esteem, which Moses was instructed to give it in his dispensation, ..... 81

Let us imbibe the spirit of love and delight in the worship of God, which the psalms and prophets display, 82

The awful indignation of Almighty God against the contempt of his name and his day, . . .83

Let us imitate the heroic zeal of Ezra and Nehemiah, in vindicating the sanctity of the Sabbath, . 84

Let us dread the false view of the character of God, and of the nature of Christianity, which are associated with the violation of the Lord's day, . . .85

SERMON III.

THE SABBATH VINDICATED, UNDER THE GOSPEL FROM PHARISAICAL AUSTERITIES, AND SET FORTH IN MORE THAN ITS ORIGINAL DIGNITY AND GLORY.

The recognition of the ten commandments, and of the fourth amongst the number, which our Lord and his apostles make, . .... 89

Our Lord honored the Sabbath on all occasions, and never violated its sanctity, . . . .92

Nothing is abrogated under the christian dispensation, with respect to the Sabbath, but those temporary and figurative enactments, which constituted the peculiarities of the Jewish age, . . 101

The distinguishing promise of the New Testament, has for its object to render the duties of the Sabbath more delightful, and thus increases tenfold their obligation, . . .- . . 104

CONTENTS. IX

Let every one yield to these accumulated proofs, . 109

Let every one shun the ingratitude of making use of the compassion of our Savior to the tacit disparagement of the Sabbath itself, . . . 110

We plead for the christian sabbath, for which the Holy Spirit is especially given, . . . . Ill

SERMON IV

Revelations i. 10. . . 113

THE SABBATH TRANSFERRED BY DIVINE AUTHOR- ITY, FROM THE SEVENTH TO THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK, OR LORD'S DAY.

The preparatory circumstances which lay a probable ground for the change of the day:

1. The prominence given to the proportion of time, both at the first institution in Paradise, and in the wording of the fourth commandment, . . . 114

2. The probability that the computation of time was lost, in the bondage of Egypt, .... 116

3. The freedom and universality of the gospel dispensation, 117

4. The word of prophecy , .... 119

5. A complete revolution actually took place in the whole state of the church, ..... 120

6. The claims which Christ advanced during his ministry,

of legislating for the Sabbath, as its Sovereign and Lord, 123

The MANNER IN WHICH THE CHANGE OF THE SABBATH FROM THE LAST to the FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK, Was

gradually introduced by the divine authority of our Lord and his apostles, .... 126

1. Our Savior, after his passion, began to introduce the actual change tacitly and gently, by his own divine conduct, 127

2. The first day is marked by the gift of the great promise of the dispensation, ..... 129

3. The doctrine and conduct of the apostles will be found to bring in more decidedly the new day of the Sabbath, 130

4. The events of God's wonderful providence completed the change, 5. .... . 133

5. Ecclesiastical historians bear witness to the observation

of the first day, ..... 135

6. A perpetual blessing has attended, and now attends, the Christian Sabbath, ..... 138

Recapitulation of the evidence that all the obligations that can combine to enforce a moral command upon man unite in the case of the Christian Sabbath, . 138

X CONTENTS.

Adore the wisdom and goodness of God in providing for man's religious repose in his first creation, . 140

The changes in the circumstances of the law of the Sabbath, have sprung up from new benefits conferred on man, 141

In proportion as the benefits of the gospel are more exalted, should our hearts receive the intimations of the divine will with more alacrity, and fulfil them with warmer delight, ...... 142

SERMON V.

Ezekiel xx. 12. . . 144

THE PRACTICAL DUTIES OF THE CHRISTIAN SABBATH.

Keep ever in view the great end of the institution, 147

The public and private duties of the Sabbath, 151

We must carry the true spirit of the Christian dispensation into these duties, • - - 158 We must glorify God for those mighty blessings which

ARE APPOINTED TO BE COMMEMORATED On the LORD'S

The conviction which such a discussion should fix in the

minds of the irreligious and unconverted, 164

May we not, all of us, discover topics of humiliation in the discussion?

SERMON VI.

Isaiah Iviii. 1, 2. . . 168

THE UNSPEAKABLE IMPORTANCE OF THE RIGHT OBSERVATION OF THE SABBATH WITH THE EVILS OF THE OPPOSITE ABUSE.

The observation of the Christian Sabbath is a most sacred compact, and the abuse of it the violation of that compact, ...... 170

The observation of the Sabbath bears upon man's temporal

AND SPIRITUAL WELFARE AS A FALLEN BUT ACCOUNTA- BLE CREATURE, ..... 172

It includes, in fact, all the application of the christian RELIGION AND ITS PRESERVATION IN THE WORLD, 175

The Lord's day connects and holds together all the links and obligations of human society, which the violation of it tends to destroy, . ... 180

CONTENTS. XI

The observation of the Sabbath honors almighty God, and brings his favor and blessings upon a people; whilst the profanation of it provokes his highest displeasure, 183

The excuses which men allege in extenuation of a neglect of the day of God, ..... 185

Let US ENTER FULLY AND DETERMINATELY On the religious

duty of honoring God, .... 187

SERMON VII. . . 190

Nehemiah xiii. 17, 18.

THE GUILT WHICH IS CONTRACTED BY CHRISTIAN NATIONS IN PROPORTION AS THE LORD'S DAY IS OPENLY PROFANED.

The charge of guilt against the British nation substantiated ...... 191

The national judgments which we may too certainly dread, ...... 198

The practical measures which each one may adopt to promote a national repentance and return to God, . 201

We have pleaded for the Sabbath because it is a means to

certain ends, ..... 206

Because of the unspeakable value of the soul of man, 207 Because it appeals to the human conscience, . 208

Because it is an indispensable preparation for the heavenly blessedness, . . . . . 209