and acknowledged their expected Messiah, and have worshipped, instead of reproaching and perfecuting him.

14. Afterward Jefus findeth him in "the Temple, and faid unto him, Behold "thou art made whole: fin no more, left a "worse thing come unto thee.”

That the Almighty does frequently fend down his judgments on offending mortals, in the form of ficknefs, the lofs of wealth, of station, or the still greater trial in the deprivation of friends or children, we learn from authors both facred and profane. Sometimes indeed they seem intended merely to perfect us in the virtues of patience and refignation; at others, for the gracious purpose of withdrawing us from the paths of vice, by calling us to reflection. In the first book of Kings (chap. xvii. verse 18.), we find the hospitable widow who received the prophet Elijah, addreffing herself to him in these words: "What have I to do with thee, O thou

man of God? Art thou come unto me "to call my fins to remembrance, and to flay my fon ?"

Thus the Almighty dealt with David; who, by humbling himself before the Lord and truly and fincerely repenting him of his fins, received a gracious pardon, and was restored to the favor of his God. Neither was the forrow he expreffed for the fickness of the child, and his apprehenfion for its life, displeasing to God. We are not commanded to overcome our feel

ings, but only to keep them within the

bounds of reafon.

It might have been expected from the exceffive love which David bore his child, that he never would have taken comfort, nor been able to furvive it; and this is a feeling which we are too apt to indulge upon fo melancholy an occafion; not confidering that the hand which smote, both can and will, if we receive the judgment as we ought, fupport us under our fufferings, and in time heal our wounded minds.

"15. The

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15. The man departed, and told the Jews, that it was Jefus which had made "him whole.

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· 16. And therefore did the Jews per

fecute Jefus, and fought to flay him, be"cause he had done these things on the fabbath-day."

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The seventh day God rested from his work of creation, which he therefore fet apart and ordained to be kept holy throughout all future times. We are not to fuppofe, from this expreffion, that God is fubject to fuch frailties as are attendant upon us; that he could not be wearied, or that he required a length of time to perform the work of creation in: he could have produced the whole by a fingle word, in like manner as he is so beautifully defcribed creating light: "Let there be

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light, and there was light." These and fimilar expreffions which we meet with in fcripture, as that " God was angry;" that "he repented," &c. are only employed to fuit our confined capacities: how could

human

human ideas reach the infcrutable ways of an infinite and fpiritual being.

The advantages of the institution of the fabbath, both in a religious and temporal light, are too evident to require much discuffion; I fhall therefore only briefly touch on them. So prone are mankind to forget the benefits they receive, and to suffer their worldly interests to swallow up every other confideration, that, I am perfuaded, it is to this inftitution, (which by the suspension of their daily occupations, recals the thoughts of men to fublime meditations) we are indebted for the little religion which remains in the world: this day being fet apart for the express purpose of worship, and proper places appropriated for the performance of it in every civilized country, as well as perfons appointed to instruct and affift us in the manner of it, it is impoffible it should be overlooked. Its advantages, in a temporal light, are numerous : amongst others, it gives a respite to the labors of those who are obliged to proDd vide

vide for themfelves and families by their own exertions, without which it would be in itself impoffible for them to continue their necessary labors; it is a day in which they have not only the advantage of being inftructed in those points which diftinguish them from the inferior creation, but in which they have the opportunity of enjoying the chearful and innocent fociety of their families; which, conftant labor and confequent fatigue, on other days, fcarcely render poffible. And here I cannot help calling your attention to the wonderful goodness of our God! who makes our duty and true intereft infeparable: this is evident in all the Commandments, and in every ordinance and prohibition of our religion; but in none more fo, than in that we are now confidering.

To a ftrict obfervance of the fabbath, we are called by every thing we hold binding-it is our duty to God, to ourfelves, and to mankind in general. Let us not, however, miftake the mode of honoring it, and suppose, as some do, that