palsy, Man, take up thy couch, and go into thine house; and he did so immediately, and went into his own house glorifying God." And then when charged with conniving at the profanation of the Sabbath, because he censured not his disciples for plucking a few ears of corn when they were hungry, he states, "that acts of necessity and mercy were sanctioned of heaven on that day-that the Sabbath was made not to punish or oppress man by superstitious rigour and austerities, but to bless him with light, rest, and peace, and that the Son of Man was Lord of the Sabbath."

Christ showed himself Lord of the Sabbath by asserting its true character in opposition to the restrictions imposed on it by the Scribes and Pharisees. Placing religion in outward forms, and sanctification in external ablutions, these hypocrites attached no importance to the state and exercise of the heart. The most needful offices of humanity they avoided as a work which desecrated the Sabbath, and gave to the selfishness and avarice of their conduct the epithet of strict piety. But Christ showed in his conduct his abhorrence of such base scruples, enriched the Sabbath by his lessons and deeds of mercy, and inculcated that the great duty of that day was to go to God as our exceeding joy, and to walk with our brethren in the light of the Lord. An impostor would have laboured to exceed them in austerities, and would have shrunk from the abuse which liberality of conduct would have drawn down on him; but the Lord Jesus disregarded their censures, and delighted to act a part suited to the character of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Christ showed himself Lord of the Sabbath by changing the time of its observance from the seventh to the first day of the week. That this was done by our Saviour is evident from the fact of the meetings for religious worship being held on that day by the early Christians; and this they would not have done without some express intimation of our Lord's will. During the forty days that he continued on earth before his resurrection, this was, doubtless, one of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God which he made known to them; and in their assemblies on that day he came to them, and favoured them with the kindest assurances of his grace. Attached as the apostles and early converts among the Jews were to the letter of the Mosaic law, the adoption of the change so instantaneously and cheerfully, without a scruple, and without a murmur, must have been owing to the full conviction of its divine authority.

The worship of the Sabbath is according to his appointment and regulation. He hath abolished the rites and offerings of the former economy, and hath substituted in its place a service more simple, easy, and spiritual. By his ordination repentance and remission of sin are on this day preached in his name; in that name supplication, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, are made for all men; and in the dispensation of baptism and the Lord's Supper, we are led to the blood of sprinkling, and to that dedication of the heart to his love, and of the life to his service, which is the whole duty of man. He claims all its moments, and he can bless them all; and the services in which they are to be occupied, while they are characterized by a pleasing variety, do all point in their object and spirit to Him who died, rose again, and revived, that he might be the Lord of the dead and of the living.

He has maintained the observance of the Sabbath. When we think how many institutions have passed away which were strongly rooted in public affection, and which were supported by all the influence of

secular power, and how the Sabbath still exists in such veneration and observance, we must be convinced that it abides by aid more than human. Against it the pride, the folly, and the avarice of man have combined all their power to abolish it; persecution hath issued her edicts, filled her dungeons, and raised her scaffolds; infidelity hath poured forth her cavils and sarcasms, and licentiousness hath decked her paths with roses; yet still in all places there are many who call it a delight, the holy of the Lord, and honourable, and we are assured that it will continue as long as the sun. It is most absurd to ascribe its continuance to the temporal power employed to guard it, for that power can exercise no influence on that spiritual worship which is its essence, and. can only check those outrages on its rest and rules which would endanger the peace and welfare of society. It is the influence of religious principle which calls for the repression of such disorders; and that Christianity had a power to maintain its ordinances independently of the elements of the world-nay, in opposition to them when they are marshalled against it-is evident, from its progress and triumphs for so many years in the early times, when the observance of the Sabbath was the mark which directed to their assemblies the feet swift to shed blood, and the day of rest was the special day of martyrdom. While Christians, therefore, may warrantably apply to civil rulers for the prevention of those excesses which are so hateful to the quiet of the land, they must raise their eyes to Christ for that influence without which the help of man is vain, and with which the church is secure against all the art and fury of the gates of hell.

It is this day which he especially blesses. As there are periods and occasions which kings delight to distinguish by their munificence, so the Sabbath is a season in which the king of Zion dispenses his blessings most amply. It is the day on which he most frequently gives to the repenting rebel the assurance of pardon, confers marks of honour on those who have been zealous in his service, loosens the bonds of the oppressed, cheers the hearts of the sorrowful, and strengthens and prepares the faithful for arduous duties. In other times there are drops from heaven, but on this one there are showers of blessing. It is the day of his coronation in the churches, and the day of the gladness of his heart.

He is Lord of the Sabbath, for at his command it will close. It will close to every individual at death. The period hastens on when our last Sabbath will dawn, and our last entrance into Zion's gates shall be made. It will dawn for others, but not on the night of the grave. They will open for others, but it is not to the dead that the call can extend, "Go ye up to the house of the Lord." There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit, nor over time, to retain it; neither hath he power in the day of death to deliver from it, or to retard it. Oh, it would be wise for us to associate the opening grave with the opening sanctuary, and the voice of the gospel with the silence of death!

And at Christ's command the Sabbath shall finally close as to all. It is from him the angel shall receive his mandate, who shall lift up his hand and swear by him that liveth for ever and ever, that there shall be time no longer. Among the seasons of anxiety, the nights of sorrow, the eras of glory which that proclamation will terminate, there are none so important as the Sabbath, and no knell so solemn as that which announces its close.

And he is Lord of the Sabbath, for to him men shall give an account

of the manner in which they have employed it. This will form a most essential theme of inquiry on that day, when God shall judge the secrets of men's hearts by Jesus Christ, according to the gospel. And let us think what shame and tears will fill those who on that day went not beyond bodily service, who spent it in brutish sloth, wasted it in scenes of dissipation, or insulted it in open profanity! Oh, what evidences will deserted closets in their dwellings, their empty seats in the sanctuary, the house of mirth, or the scene of idle saunter or gay display, furnish of their impiety! And what is the doom that awaits them?"They shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation, and shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb." Then the great day of his wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand? But for the purer observers of the Sabbath the sentence of mercy is fixed, the song of salvation is preparing, and an everlasting rest remains. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes."

These remarks should lead us to cherish high impressions of the character of Christ. What mere man, however eminent in office or in piety, ever presumed to call himself lord of any rite of religion, though of lesser importance? Moses never styles himself lord of the ark or tabernacle, or of any of the ceremonies of the most holy place; but Christ calls himself Lord of the Sabbath, and is to be honoured as we honour the Father. It is impossible to explain the high character of Jesus consistently with his humility and with truth, but by admitting his supreme power and Godhead. Let us keep the Sabbath as a monitor of his authority, and as a memorial of his grace.

Let us look to him, as Lord of the Sabbath, for the grace which is requisite for its devout observance. His stores are inexhaustible, and his heart is as kind as these are ample. Let the sanctification of the Sabbath be the first lesson of the young, and its value be the last testimony of the old..

And let us on every Sabbath evening, as we retire to rest, call ourselves to account for the manner in which we have spent it. What conscience condemns let us carefully avoid, and in what it approves let us labour to abound more and more. Unless this is the case, such examination will only aggravate the horrors of our final account. Much reason have we to close our eyes on the Sabbath evening in tears, that of holy time we have lost so much, that with it we have trifled so long. Let us be wise for the time to come, and, when we give in our last account, may we be able to say, "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day," and may the Judge of all find us complete in him!

H. B.

EXTRACTS.

The Sun an Emblem of its Creator.

"There is one circumstance in reference to the sun that has for many years been very instructive and consolatory to my own mind, in

connexion with my Maker, which I do not remember, through all these years, ever to have introduced, and which may yet be very suitably introduced now; and that is-there is this great peculiarity in reference to the sun, that you cannot bear to look at it; you know that it exists; you are sensible of the importance of it to the world; you see its light, you feel its heat, are perpetually enjoying the beneficial effects of itbut you cannot bear to look at the sun itself; if you were to make the attempt it would in a few moments dazzle and blind you; and it is the only object in nature that you cannot bear to look at; you can perceive and enjoy it only in its effects. It appears to me that, in this view, it is a most striking and unique image of its Maker. This is exactly our case mentally and spiritually with respect to God. We are as sure as we are of our own existence that there is a God. The heavens declare his glory.

'A thousand starry beauties there,
A thousand radiant marks appear,
Of boundless skill and power divine.'

We see him in the operations of his hand every where about us; converse with him in his providence and his word; perceive him in ten thousand beneficial influences; but we cannot bear to look directly at God. When we think of his essence-the essence of his nature, as never beginning to be, as every where present, we are confounded, overpowered, buried, and lost in our thoughts. Hence he himself says, 'My face shall not be seen:' 'No man can see my face and live;' Who can by searching find out God?' 'Who can find out the Almighty unto perfection? Looking at the divine essence is gazing at the sun; we are soon blind; and I do think it literally true, that if it pleased God to let loose a full thought of his essence upon the human soul, it would literally crush it, as completely as a globe of adamant, if it were to fall upon the body, would crush that. No created mind can bear a full thought of God."

The Distinguishing Character of Sinners described, and their Ingratitude and Folly remonstrated against.

"If a person were to come to me and say, 'You had two of the kindest parents that ever nourished or loved a child, but your whole business seemed to be to slight them, and break their hearts; and I really believe that your behaviour helped to bring their grey hairs with sorrow to the grave,' I think such a charge, if conscience told me there was foundation for it, would go through me like a dagger; I could hardly bear it. And yet, perhaps, to some here, this charge comes home in a more just and aggravated sense, in regard to one greater, and kinder, and nearer, than the fondest and most affectionate parent that ever breathed.. I mean Him who is the breath of your nostrils, the health of your countenance, and the life of your souis; to whom you owe the mercies of your birth, the tenderness of your parents, and all the blessings of your early days; I mean Him who sent you every penny you ever possessed, every morsel you ever ate, every garment you ever wore, every hour's rest you ever enjoyed, every friend that ever smiled upon you, and every agreeable sensation you ever felt. I mean Him who is constantly about your paths and your bed, has always been the guardian of your sleeping and your waking hours; who has been providentially with you, and blessed you through all the

stages of life, all the changes of life, all the dangers of life, all the trials and sorrows of life, and is now throwing a thousand blessings from the inexhaustible storehouse of his goodness before you and around you. This is the Being I mean, who has sent you instructive parents, praying friends, faithful ministers, interesting providences, regular Sabbaths, and put into your hands the oracles of eternal truth and salvation. I mean Him, my friends, whom you least like to think of; I need not say Him whom you think it the greatest hardship to servethink it a drudgery and task to worship-think much of spending a quarter of an hour in his presence and converse-deem his day a weariness. I mean Him whose enemy you are cherishing in your hearts, and giving to that enemy your time, and strength, and powers, and privileges, and blessings. I mean Him! And, oh! do you then requite the Lord? Has he not been a Father to you? Well might he call upon the heavens and the earth to be desolate, because having thus nourished and brought up children they had rebelled against him."

ON A PARTICULAR PROVIDENCE.

In the Christian Observer for May, there is "A Sketch of the Life of Lord Teignmouth," the late distinguished president of the British and Foreign Bible Society-an office which he held from the origin of that noble institution to the time of his death—a period of about thirty years. In this sketch there are several quotations from papers which his lordship contributed, during a series of years, to the Christian Observer. We extract one on " a particular providence." We shall also be indebted to this sketch, for an account of the closing scene of his lordship's exemplary life.

"A particular providence seems discernible in effects which cannot be traced to visible causes, or which do not appear to correspond with them: as in cases where men act without apparent motives, or from what is called chance; in the preservation of individuals by modes extraordinary, unforeseen, and improbable; in unexpected recovery from sickness, or relief from misfortune; in the prevention, discovery, and punishment of murder, and other atrocious crimes; in the fatuity which makes criminals furnish the means of their own detection, or in the remorse which leads to the confession of their criminality; in the retribution which follows the perpetration of crime under circumstances unconnected with it, and at very distant periods; in the stings of a wounded conscience; in remarkable dreams; in the effects attending profane imprecations; and in the mode in which premeditated evil recoils on the contrivers; of all which, instances might be collected from historians and biographers. We often see a particular providence remarkably exemplified in the preservation of children and of drunkards, as well as of other individuals incapable of providing for their own security.

"It has sometimes happened, that a determination apparently casual, and seemingly of no importance such, for instance, as the preference of one road to another has saved the life of an individual, and has led to great moral consequences. There are cases related, in which the purposes of men have been unaccountably overruled; and occurrences of great moment have sprung from a direction given to the mind, of which it was at the time unconscious. God 'goeth by me, and I see Ch. Adv.-VOL. XII. 2 Q