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SERMON VI.

ST. LUKE vi. 6.

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And it came to pass also, on another sabbath, that he entered into the Synagogue..

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T is required of every Christian that he should publicly, as well as privately, glorify GOD. It is not enough that he pray to Him in secret, though it is absolutely necessary to do so; but he must also let his light shine before men, and convince them that he thinks it his greatest glory to be the servant of CHRIST. This is to be done by constant attendance on the public service of the church, by religious observance of the LORD'S day, and the appointed feasts and fasts; by never taking the name of GOD in vain, but always mentioning it with the greatest reverence; and by being ready on all proper occasions to testify

openly that he is a Christian. Our blessed LORD has left us an example of all these duties. We are told, that he not only prayed most earnestly in private, but that on the sabbath he went into the synagogue, which was the name given by the Jews to the place of public worship. We find him constant in his attendance there. He went up to Jerusalem to worship at the feast; and immediately before his death, he kept the passover with his disciples. In every word, and in every action, he might truly say to his heavenly Father, "I have glorified Thee on earth.”*

2

As the duties which I now recommend are attended with little difficulty, and much present satisfaction, it is strange that any exhortation to the performance of them can be necessary. 1. The great God of heaven allows us, his poor sinful creatures, formed of the dust, and soon to return to dust again, He allows us to enter into his courts, to assemble in his presence, to beg his assistance and protection, to hear his holy word, and to learn the way to everlasting happiness. He calls us to unite in the bonds of charity, and to ask, in the name of his blessed Son, what is necessary for ourselves, for our friends, for

John xvii. 4.

our country, for all mankind. If we are happy, should we not wish to thank Him who giveth us all things richly to enjoy? If we are in affliction, should we not wish to ask his assistance and protection? And when He tells us that where two or three are gathered together, there He is in the midst, is it possible that any serious Christians should neglect the assembling of themselves together? In the church we are allowed to consider ourselves as in the immediate presence of GOD. Assembled in his house, kneeling at his altar, we confess our sins, and receive his promise of pardon; we sing his praise, we hear his word, we thank Him for all his goodness to us, we are taught our duty, and we receive his blessing. In the church we are all united in the bonds of Christian charity. There we are taught to forgive, as we hope to be forgiven. There all the little distinctions of this life are forgotten, and we learn to love each other as CHRIST has loved us.. There the rich and the poor kneel together to implore that pardon of which all have need. There the rich and the poor look forward to that happiness for which all are taught to hope. There the sorrows of this short state of trial appear not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed.

There we seem to have a nearer view of heaven; while we hear from the minister of CHRIST the consoling words of St. Paul-"Eye hath not seen nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him."* Surely every Christian will cry out with David, “My soul hath a desire and longing to enter into the courts of the LORD." Surely every Christian will think that he never can be sufficiently thankful for the blessing which in this happy country is offered to all. Filled with love and gratitude to GOD, he will go into the house of the LORD, and worship.

The appointment of one day in seven for the performance of this duty seems to have been the first of all religious institutions; for we read in the second chapter of Genesis, that "GOD blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it, because that in it He had rested from all his work, which God created and made;"‡ and as all the creatures of GOD are bound to thank him for their creation, so all mankind are bound to observe a sabbath-day. We have every reason to believe that tчere never was a time when good * 1 Cor. ii. 9. + Psalm lxxxiv. 2. ↑ Gen. ii. 3.

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men did not dedicate one day in seven to the duties of religion; and when God himself was pleased to command the observance of the seventh day from Mount Sinai, it is plain that He spake of a duty which was already known; for He says, "Remember the sabbath-day to keep it holy." GOD would not have required men to remember what they had never been taught. In the Jewish church, the seventh day was observed, in memory of the deliverance out of Egypt; and since our LORD JESUS CHRIST arose from the dead on the first day of the week which we call Sunday, his disciples have constantly observed that day in memory of a greater deliverance wrought for all mankind, when their Saviour burst the bonds of death, and opened to them the kingdom of heaven.

To call your attention to the advantages we derive from this merciful appointment of GOD, I will consider the LORD's day, first, as a day of rest and comfort; and secondly, as a day of religious improvement; and I will conclude with some observations on the manner in which this sacred day should be spent by all Christians. t. If we consider only our situation in this world, Sunday is a day of rest and comfort, and viewing

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