against it all who are under their jurisdiction; and also exhort those who are yet free from this sin, to beware lest they suffer themselves to be betrayed into it by the example of profligate companions; lest the evil communication of the profane should corrupt their good manners. May God grant that every one who has given way to this enormous vice may be brought to a just sense of his duty in this important point, ever remembering, that it is the Almighty himself who has solemnly declared, He will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. SERMON IV. ON THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT. EXODUS, CHAP. XX. VER. 8. Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy. İs there any thing so unpleasing in the idea of setting apart one day in seven to rest from our labours, that we need to be so frequently reminded of this duty, by the express command of God? When we have toiled and laboured for six days in the necessary occupations of life, what be more welcome, or what more natural than to afford our minds and bodies some small relief, by resting on the seventh day. This commandment would meet with no great difficulty in the performance, if it consisted only in ceasing from all manner of work; but, alas! it enjoins us to keep holy the Sabbath day. Few amongst men would scruple to lay aside their daily employments were they permitted to pursue the greater business of life-their pleasure. To that idol all would bow the knee, and cheerfully forego every other concern to flock in unnumbered throngs to her inviting altar. With this prospect before them, men would no longer consider it as a dull and tiresome day of interruption, but wait for its approach with eager expectation to welcome and hallow the seventh day. This general censure upon mankind may appear, at first view, of too severe a cast, and not altogether agreeable to strict justice; but were we to appeal to the conscience of each individual, who would stand acquitted before that all-judging tribunal, and not avow his guilt, and confess how shamefully he has profaned the Sabbath day, even in defiance of this command of God; and how much more would he have neglected the religious observance of it, if he had not been so enjoined to keep it holy? A convincing proof of this we may observe in the practice of those nations, who, by a strange perverting of the sense of the holy statutes, are permitted the licentious enjoyment of every diversion, with the same freedom upon this day, and even in greater abundance than on any other. But having this law of God for our guide, let us first consider the end for which it was ordained, and upon finding it agreeable to all our notions of reason and religion, we may proceed to examine the |