God's wrath has not broken forth against us, and cut us off in the midst of our transgressions. Let us know how to estimate the forbearance we have experienced ; and let " the goodness of our God lead us to repentance."] 2. For holy vigilance — [The ceremonial part of the Sabbath is done away ; so that there certainly is a greater latitude allowed to us than was given to the Jews. We acknowledge also that works of neces- sity and of mercy supersede even those duties which are yet in force on that day. Our Lord himself has taught us to inter- pret in this view those memorable words of the prophet, " I will have mercy, and not sacrifice." But the moral part is as strongly in force as ever. To have the mind exercised on spiritual subjects, and occupied in advancing the interests of our souls, is our bounden duty. It was the work of the Sab- bath even in Paradise ; and therefore must continue to be our duty still. If it existed two thousand years before the cere- monial law was given, it can never be vacated by the abrogation of that law. Would we know distinctly the duties of the Sabbath, the prophet Isaiah has, negatively at least, informed us : " Thou shalt call the Sabbath a Delight : thou shalt delight thyself in the Lord, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words V We are to lay aside all the cares and pleasures of the world, and to seek all our happiness in God, and in his imme- diate service. Even common conversation should as much as possible be put aside, that the mind may be wholly occu- pied in the service of our God. Now this requires much care and vigilance. The more decent amongst us are ready to think, that, if they attend the house of God once or twice, they have done all that is required of them : from a regard to the prejudices of mankind they abstain from some particular amuse- ments ; but they are not at all solicitous to make a due im- provement of their time. But this by no means comes up to the injunctions of the prophet ; nor will it ever be regarded by God as a just observation of the Sabbath. The instructing of our families, the teaching of poor children, the visiting of the sick, and many other exercises of benevolence, may find place on this day : but in a peculiar manner we are called to secret meditation and prayer : we should study the Holy Scriptures, and examine our own hearts, and endeavour to keep ourselves in readiness to give up our account to God. Let the considera- tion of the gtult which we contract by spending our Sabbaths in another way, put us upon this : and let every Sabbath that shall be continued to us be so improved, that it may advance our spiri- tual state, and help forward our preparation for our eternal rest.]
h Isai. lviii. 13, 14.