if we be dead with Him (i. e. with Christ,) we shall also live with Him. If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, he will also deny us. Unto Him, then, that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God, and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

DISCOURSE XII.

THE SABBATH.

Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.-EXODUS xx, 8.

THE extensive and daring profanation of the Christian Sabbath in these United States, cannot be observed with cold indifference by the real friends of God. The more perfectly they understand his will and the more intensely they love his character, the more deeply their feelings are wounded, when any of his institutions are neglected, or disregarded. His interest and honor are dear to their hearts. Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, said the Psalmist, because they keep not thy law. Horror hath taken hold upon me, because of the wicked that forsake thy law. Great peace have they that love thy law and nothing shall offend them. As Christians advance in holiness, so they will increase in zeal, in boldness and in their

endeavors to defend the claims of God. And it may also be remarked, as they advance in holiness, so they will themselves be more and more exact in keeping his commands.

Not a few who occupy the highest places in this nation, and who ought to be examples of moral virtue, treat the Lord's day, themselves, with open contempt, and compel those, who are dependent on them, to profane it. Their opinions must be changed and their lives must be reformed, before we can expect them to make an effort to prevent the desecration of an institution they have not been accustomed to respect.

The time has come, when religious institutions must be defended by an exhibition of arguments, drawn from the volume of revelation and the resources of human reason, made effectual by the operations of the Holy Spirit. In most countries the church is connected with the state, and depends on it for support. The consequence is, the church is subject to the civil power, and by it is, and has been corrupted. We have reason to rejoice that in this country, the church and the state are not united. The church is independent and free. She is dependent for support and success, not on the power of the state, but on the Word and Spirit of God. The law of God is the rule, by which his friends must be governed. He seems now to be thus addressing his church. Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion, put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city; for henceforth there shall no more come into thee, the uncircumcised and the unclean. Shake thyself from the dust; arise and sit down, O Jerusalem; loose thyself from the bands of thy neck,

O captive daughter of Zion. All alliances of the church with the state are degrading, polluting, and injurious. The kingdom of Christ, though apparently poor and feeble, is in reality rich in resources and mighty in power. In Him are hid all the treasures of wisdom, and knowledge. Under the former dispensation, when the people of God trusted in him, however few they were in number, they were delivered from their enemies. But, when they trusted in an arm of flesh, forgetful of God, they were overcome and wasted.

Christians now support the gospel, not because they are required to do this by the laws of their country, but because they believe the ministry of the word to be an institution of God, and intimately connected with that plan God has adopted for the salvation of men. They observe the Sabbath, not because the sword of the civil magistrate is stretched over all, who profane it, but because God has said. Remember the Sabbath to keep it holy.

In every thing pertaining to religion we acknowledge no sovereign but God, no code of laws but the Scriptures. Must not that obedience be most pure, and most acceptable to a holy being, which proceeds from love of his character and respect for his authority? Men have an opportunity to act freely. Desecration of the Sabbath does not expose them to the penalty of the civil law. But human institutions and laws cannot free them from their obligations to obey the divine law. Nothing now appears too great for Christians to attempt, who depend on God for success, and adopt plans, worthy of the approbation of Him, who is the most liberal being in the universe. When they put forth, concentrate, wisely direct, and vigorously

exercise all their powers in the pursuit of an important object; they seldom fail of obtaining it. The greater the advancement of the church in holiness; the more glorious will be the objects of her pursuit, and the greater will be the displays of God's power for her assistance.

In no part of the world, does the maintainance of Christian institutions depend less than in this country on the state. In no part of the world, is the church better instructed, and more free from superstition and gross errors. The church and the state are viewed as independent bodies, not united, but not hostile to each other. It is best that it should be so, that neither should intermeddle with the affairs of the other. Men have an opportunity to express their feelings and opinions with the most perfect freedom, and without fear of being called to account, and of being punished by the civil magistrate. The more perfect the developement of the character of man, the brighter will be the display of the glory of God, when every one is rewarded according to his deeds.

When Christ sent out his disciples to preach the gospel, he did not clothe them with civil or military power. He gave them his word, and it was his Spirit which gave them success. Had men been compelled to submit to the precepts of the gospel, of what value would have been their obedience? Had they been compelled to believe the doctrines of Christianity, of what value would have been their faith? It is the will of God that men should act freely, whether they accept or reject the offers of salvation. Love is the fulfilling of the law. No action can possess any moral excellence, which does not proceed from love of God. Those,

who would now see the institutions of God respected, must boldly and manfully defend them, and rely for success on the invisible operations of the Spirit of God. Christians are the light of the world. It is their indispensible duty to honor God. They can do much by a consistent life, and by an 'exhibition of proper arguments. God looks to them to defend his cause. They must act. A great weight of responsibility rests on them. There is no neutral ground. He that is not for me, said Christ, is against me. God speaks to his church, and through them to the potentates of the earth and the people, over whom they exercise authority.

Now the Sabbath is that institution, on the right observance of which depend the perpetuity and prosperity of the visible church in the world. What we can do must be done to prevent its desecration. Several inquiries demand particular consideration.

1. When was the Sabbath instituted?

2. How does it appear that we are now bound to observe the first day of the week?

3. How does God regard its desecration?

1. The inquiry, when was the Sabbath instituted, will first be considered.

The Scriptures teach us that the Sabbath was instituted immediately after the work of creation was completed. Moses, who wrote as he was moved by the Holy Ghost, having described the works performed during the first six day of the week, particularly noticed the rest of the seventh day. Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work, which he had made; and he rested on the