PHI LOS 0 P H Y . - Classic Works of Apologetics Online

Yio/atiCin of the Christintl Sabbath. 295
tianity, of divine appointment; the resting on that
day from our emr-1oyments longer than we are detained
from them by attendance upon these assem ...
bJj~s, is to Christians, an ordinance of human insti.
tution: binding nevertheless upon the conscience of
every individual of a country in which a weekly
sabbath is establi~hed, for the sake of the beneficial
purposes whkh the public and reguiar observance of
it promotes ; and recommended perhaps in s()me de ..
gree to the divine approbation, by the resembiance
it bears t~ \\·hat God was pleased to make a solemn
part of the law \vhich he deli,rered to the peoiJle of Israel,
and by its subserviency to many of the same uses.
CHAPTER VIII.
BY WHAT ACTS AND 01\fiSSIONS THE DUTY OF
(THE CHRISTIAN SABBATH IS VIOL ... -\TED.
SINCE the obligation upon Chri~tians, to comply
with the reJigious observance of Sunday, arises
from th ~ public uses of the institution, and the au.c
thority of the apostoEc practice, the manner of observ ..
iog it ought to be that which best fulfils these uses,
and conforms the nearest to this practice.
1'he uses, prcposed by (he institution, are :
1. To faciliate attendance upon public worship.
2. 1'0 meliorate the condition of the laborious classp,s
I)f mallkina, by l-egular and seas(Jllable returns of rest.
S. By a general suspension of business and amusement,
to invite aud enable persons of every description,
to apply their time and thoughts to subjects appertaining
to their sa!vat;on.
Vv9
itll the primitive Christians the peculiar, and
probably fi)r sonle tinle the only distinction of the
11rst da)' of the week, was the 110lding of religious as-
~~emblie~ upon that day. We learll, however, from the
te~timony of a very early writer amongst them, that
they also reserved (he day for relig;ous meditations.
UiiU.rquisque 1los/rum, saith lren~u~, Jubbatizat .rpiritual ..
;','er: 71lfditalionf legis gaudem, opijidum Dei l1dmiroru.
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