without laying any stress on the priority of man's existence, we may confidently affirm, that the Sabbath was instituted for the benefit,
1. Of individuals —
[It is no small privilege to men that God has appointed them a day of rest, wherein they are to cease from the cares and labours of this world, and to attend to the concerns of another world d. We know by experience how worldly occu- pations affect the mind ; how powerfully they draw us from God, and impede us in the pursuit of heavenly things ; and there is reason to fear, that if no such appointment had ex- isted, we should, long ere this, have been immersed in heathen darkness: we should have been satisfied with the things of this life, and not thought of inquiring after any thing beyond. But on every return of this sacred rest, we are reminded, that there is a God whom we must serve, and that there is an eternal portion which it behoves us to secure. We are led to take a retrospective view of our past lives, in order to see what we have done for our souls, and what prospect we have of attaining that happiness, for which we were created, and for which we were redeemed. In short, this appointment of a Sabbath affords exactly the same occasion for advancing the welfare of our souls, as the permission to labour on the six other days does for the advancement of our temporal inte- rests: as, on the six days, we devise and execute plans for the acquisition of wealth, so, on the seventh day, we are occupied in attaining higher degrees of faith and holiness : and as, in the one case, we frequently cast up our accounts in order to see what progress we have made, so, in the other case, the perio- dical leisure that is afforded us, enables us to ascertain with precision the state of our souls before God.
Who then has not reason to be thankful for an institution which is so replete with benefit to his soul? Well might God number it amongst the highest obligations which he had ever conferred upon his people, the Jewse ; and well may we number it amongst our choicest blessings.]
2. Of the whole community —
[Had no specific time been appointed by God, none could ever have been agreed upon by men : no day would have suited the convenience of all ; nor could human authority have pre- vailed to establish a law that should be universally and irre- vocably obeyed. But God having fixed a day, the whole race of mankind is bound to yield obedience to his command : so that all who acknowledge his authority, wake upon the Sabbath
d Exod. xxiii. 12. Deut. v. 14.
e Neh. ix. 13, 14. Ezek. xx. 12—20.