you I was never under any inclination to fanaticism, enthusiasm, or superstition.

In all this time, I have most industriously observed in myself and my concerns THESE THREE THINGS.

First. That whensoever I have undertaken any secular business upon the Lord's-day, (which was not absolutely and indispensably necessary,) that business never prospered or succeeded well with me.

Nay, if I had set myself that day but to forecast or design any temporal business, to be done or performed afterwards, --though such forecast were just and honest in itself, and had as fair a prospect as could possibly be effected, yet I have been always disappointed in the effecting of it, or in the success of it; so that it grew almost proverbial with me, when any importuned me to any secular business that day, to answer them, that if they expected it to succeed amiss, then they might desire my undertaking of it upon that day.

And this was so certain an observation to me, that I feared to think of any secular business that day, because the resolutions then taken would be unsuccessful or disappointed.

Secondly. That, always, the more closely I applied myself to the duties of the Lord's-day, the more happy and successful were my business and employments of the week following; so that I could, from the strict or loose observation of this day, take a just prospect and true calculation of my temporal success in the ensuing week.

Thirdly. Though my hands and mind have been as full of secular business, both before and since I was a judge, as it may be any man's in England, yet I never wanted time, in my six days, to ripen and fit myself for the businesses and employments I had to do, though I borrowed not one minute from the Lord's-day, to prepare for it by study or otherwise.

But, on the other side, if I had at any time borrowed from this day any time for my secular employments, I found it did farther me less than if I had let it alone; and therefore, when some years' experience, upon a most attentive and vigilant observation, had given me this instruction, I grew peremptorily resolved never in this kind to make a breach upon the Lord's-day, which I have strictly observed now for above thirty years. This relation is most certainly and experimentally true, and hath been declared by me to hundreds of persons; and now I declare it to you, to make the better impressions upon you of what I am about to say.

First. Therefore, I would have you rise, upon the Lord'sday, at least two hours before the public worship of God; and when you have performed your private prayers, and read your morning chapter, go to church, rather before than after the beginning of the public service of God, if your health will by any means permit it.

Secondly. If you have a sermon in the morning, in your own parish church or chapel, by an orthodox divine, though, it may be, not of so eminent parts as other divines, yet I would not have you leave your own parish church, for God many times gives a blessing to weak means; and if you

should leave your church when you have the word of God preached, it will discourage your minister, and give an ill example to others. But if you have no sermon on the Lord'sday at your own church, resort to some neighbor church, where there is an orthodox minister preacheth.

Thirdly. Let your dinner that day be moderate; for feasting and invitations are unseasonable upon this day. But a more liberal provision should be made upon this day for the poor, than at any other time.

Fourthly. After dinner is ended, you may walk in the garden till afternoon service begin, and then go early to church. For I reckon we are guilty of a neglect, if we resort not to church this day, twice; namely, once in the morning, and once in the afternoon, either at our own church, or at some neighboring church, if not extremely far distant, and that we are in health and ability to do it.

Fifthly. At church, let your carriage be decent and reverent; sitting at sermon with your hat off, kneeling upon your knees at prayers, and standing up at the creed and Gloria Patri, and at the reading of any part of the canonical Scripture. This hath been my custom forty years, in all times.

Sixthly. After evening-sermon, resort to your chamber, perform your private prayers to God, and read a chapter in the Bible more than you read on other days, and spend the rest of your time, till supper, in reading some good book.

Seventhly. After supper you may walk in the garden, or in the house, till towards bed time; and then having

read a chapter, and performed your prayers, go to bed seasonably.

Eighthly. Through the whole day, be sure you forbear all worldly business, unless it be that which necessity requires. And although private walking after meals for an hour, or some such competent time, may not be unfit, yet I do utterly forbid you all recreations, as cards, tables, dice, cock-fighting, cudgel-playing, wrestling, bowling, riding abroad to take the air, stage-plays, tennis, dancing, or such like; which, though some of them may be seasonable enough at other times, yet none are tolerable upon this day; and, indeed, it is one of the worst kinds of sacrilege. And upon the same account, I do advise you not to make or go abroad to feasts upon this day, nor to use impertinent visits, unless it be to those that are sick. Neither may you read profane histories, much less play-books, or romances, upon this day; for surely if labor in our ordinary secular employments be a thing to be forborne upon this day, much more are we to forbear sports, pastimes, and other divertisements of that nature. And remember, if you defraud the glorious God of this small portion of time, consecrated to his service by the equity of the fourth commandment, and by the command of Christ, how can you expect a blessing upon the week following, or your labors, or employments, or concerns, happening therein ?

There are three kinds of business that may be done this day. 1. Works of piety: as the service of God, both public and private, reading the Scriptures and good books.

2. Works of Charity as visiting the sick, relieving the poor and indigent, healing the sick. 3. Works of necessity : as sending for a physician for one that is sick or hurt, ap. plications of medicines, dressing meat and provision for a family, delivering a man from danger of death, apprehending a malefactor that may otherwise escape, nay, lifting up an ox or sheep fallen into a ditch, and some such-like works, which cannot without eminent and irrecoverable danger be delayed: but we are too apt to form to ourselves, many times, necessities, when they are not; we must therefore be watchful and upright-hearted to our Maker, and that will keep us from dissembling, or dealing falsely with him in his worship, service, or what particularly belongs to him.

THE SABBATH.

WHAT spell has o'er the populous city past?
The wonted current of its life is staid;

Its sports, its gainful schemes are earthward cast,
As though their vileness were at once displayed;
The roar of trade has ceased, and on the air
Come holy songs and solemn sounds of prayer.

Far spreads the charm; from every hamlet spire

A note of rest, and heavenward thought is pealed: