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Sabbatical InstitutiollS.
not more than what is sufficient, both for the exter ..
naloffices of Christianity, and the retired, but equal.
Iy necessary duties of religious meditation and inquirv.
It is true, that many do not conven their
)eis~re to this purpose; but it is of moment, and is
all which a public constitution can effect, that to ev.
ery one be allowed the opportunity.
s. They whose humanity embraces the whole sensitive
creation, will esteem it no inconsiderable recommendation
of a wet:kly return of public rest, that
it affords a re!,pite to the toil of brutes. Nor can we
onlit tG reC01Jnt this amongst the uses, \vhich the divine
Founder of the JerdJish sabbath expressiyappointed
a law of the in~ticution. .
\Ve adlnit, that none of these reasons show why
Sunday should be preferred to any other day in {he
week, or one day in seven to one day in six or eight:
but these point~, which in their nature are of arbitrary
deternlination, being establislled to our hands,
our obligation applies to the subsisting e:.rablishment,
so long as we confess, that sonle -such. illstitution is
necessary, and are l1either able, nor attempt to sub­
~titute allY other in its place.
CIIAPTER VII.
OF TI-IE SCRIPTURE ACCOUN1' OF SABBA 1",·
ICAL INS1'Il.,U r l'IONS.
1-'HE subject, so far as it makes any part or
Christian morality, is contained in two questions:
I. Whether the command, by which the Jt~wjsl.,
sabbath was instituted, extend to ChristiaIls?
II. Whether any new command was delivered by
Christ; or any other day sub~tituted in the place of
the Jewish sabbath by the authority or example oi
his Apostles?
In treating of t.he first question, it will be necessary
to collect the accounts, which are preserved of the
institution in the J~wiJh history; for the seeing these