the people in mercy, that they might rest from labour, serve the Lord, and enjoy his ordinances. It was a sign of God's faithfulness to them, and their obedience to him. It was to teach them his love to them, his care of them, his right to them and all they had, especially of their time, though he only claimed a part. It was to remind them of their deliverance from Egypt, of the promised rest, that God was in covenant with them, that they were reconciled to him, and in friendship with him, and that God had put a difference between them and others. It was in order, that observing it, they may show their love to God, their loyalty to their king, and their concern to please God. That The Sabbath of the Jews was appointed to show that God had separated them from all the nations of the earth, and claimed them for his own. That he had prepared them to be a special people unto himself. That he expected them to be a holy people. as he had sanctified them, they should glorify him. It was the only command of the ten, that was introduced with a "REMEMBER, because it had been forgotten in their past history, and was liable to be forgotten again. Its observance was strictly required, and the manner of it particularly pointed out. was binding on the Israelites always, and every where; being part of the law written and engraven on stone, not like other ordinauces-on perishing skin, or parchment. It Beloved, the Lord's day is a gift to us. It is a most merciful provision. But for the Lord's day, how little rest would many of the Lord's people have, and how few opportunities of meeting together for worship and fellowship. It is also a sign to us, a sign that Christ has finished his work, and has entered into his rest. Yes, all that Jesus undertook to do, is accomplished, his labours are ended, and he is set down on the right hand of the majesty on high. Adam kept his sabbath in God's finished work as a creator, in his beautiful and lovely Eden; we are to keep our sabbath on the finished work of Christ as a Redeemer, entering into the holiest by his precious blood. God rested, and man rested, on the first sabbath. Jesus rests, and we rest on the Lord's day. He is at peace with us, and we are at peace with him. We meet together, to honour him, and he meets with us to bless us. We look up to him with longing eyes, and loving hearts; and he looks down on us with complacency and delight. It is to bring before us too, the triumphs of the Lord Jesus. He has not only finished his work, but he has conquered his foes. Satan, death, and hell, are all conquered. The serpent's head is bruised. The grave is perfumed, and left empty. The conqueror is risen, and has ascended to his Father, and our Father, to his God, and our God. It calls upon us therefore to rest: no worldly toil, no money getting, no carnal pleasures should be attended to on the Lord's day. We should rest, nor only rest, but rejoice. Rejoice that our ransom is paid, our deliverance effected, and our salvation secured. Nor only rejoice, but obey. Obey his precepts, who requires us to meet together for prayer, for praise, for the publication of the gospel, for the administration of his ordinances, and to edify one another. The Lord's day is not appointed that we may slumber on our pillows, take carnal pleasure, indulge in pride, feast the appetite, or take medicine to save loss of time on other days; but that we may serve God, enjoy his ordinances, instruct the ignorant, visit the sick, relieve the poor, and carry out God's purposes of love to the utmost of our power. Thine earthly Sabbaths, Lord, we love, No more fatigue, no more distress, No rude alarms of raging foes; Thine earthly Sabbaths, Lord, we love, TRUST IN THE LORD, AND BE SAFE. Trust How often we are exhorted to trust in the Lord, in his word; and how many precious promises are made to them that trust in him. Our trust, brings the Lord under an obligation, and binds him by his faithfulness, to be gracious unto us. grows out of knowledge, and is one very important form of faith. To trust, is to lean upon, to depend on, or to commit to; if therefore we lean upon the Lord, if we depend on his holy word, if we commit ourselves, and our affairs to the Lord, we shall be safe.. More than once in Scripture the testimony is borne, He is a shield unto them that put their trust in him."-PROV. XXX. 5. Happy then, thrice happy, are the people who trust in the Lord! 66 Our warrant to trust in him is found in his word. Some look within, and think if their hearts were tender, if their love was fervent, if their devotion was deep, and if they were certain of their adoption, then they might trust in the Lord. But these things, however they may encourage us, would give us no warrant to trust in God. His word does that, and his word alone. If he makes a promise, then I may trust, for he is faithful, just, and true. The occasion of our trusting him, is found in our own deficiencies, and trying circumstances. I must trust the Lord to do, for I cannot. I must trust in the Lord to provide, for I cannot. I must look to the Lord to appear for me, for he only can still the tempest, conquer my foes, relieve my distresses, or give me peace. The cause of our trusting him, is found in the work of the Holy Spirit, and in that alone. Human nature would rather depend on any one than God. Men would rather do any thing, than simply trust in the Lord. Our pride or our fear would be sure to prevent it. If therefore our trust is to be placed in God, if we are to rest ourselves and our concerns on him, if he is to be our sole dependence, then the Holy Spirit must strip us of pride, divest us of our carnal fear, and generate a simple trust in God. Our encouragements to trust in the Lord are many, but they principally arise from two sources, the well known character of God, and the testi mony of his people. God is true, and may be believed; God is love, and may be applied to; God is faithful, and may be depended on. He cannot deceive us, he will never fail nor forsake us. All his people bear this testimony, that no one ever trusted in the Lord, and was confounded. They all |