}

God fill their hearts, they will do all to his glory. When they look at this beautiful world, they will bless him who made it. When they feel the comfort of virtuous friendship, they will thank him for that greatest of blessings. Whatever is perfectly innocent in itself, and does not interfere with the particular duties of the day, may be enjoyed with thankfulness. I hope it is not necessary to say that gaming and excessive drinking are never innocent; and on this sacred day, they must be regarded as doubly sinful. One employment which our Saviour seems to have delighted to perform on the sabbath-day, I earnestly recommend to all; and that is, doing good. This subject shall be particularly mentioned in a future discourse; and I will only observe at present, that the leisure which Sunday affords, can never be filled up more delightfully than in practising the lessons we have learnt at church, and in giving to others what God has given to us. If a poor sick neighbour cannot go to church, a kind friend may read the lessons or say a prayer to him at home; or may tell him the text, and what he can recollect of the sermon. If he is in affliction, a kind friend may share with him the religious consolation he has himself

received. If he is in poverty, and that friend has neither silver nor gold to bestow, he perhaps may spare him a little of his Sunday's meal; or if not, he may at least speak comfort to his soul. He may tell him what he has just heard of Him who for our sakes became poor; who suffered more than ever man did; and who calls us to take up the cross, and follow him through the sorrows of this life to the everlasting happiness of the next. Those who have children, should spend some part of the day in teaching them their duty, and should gladly accept every assistance that is offered by the clergy, or by Sunday Schools. Those who have performed these duties to the best of their power, will sit down with double pleasure to their cheerful meal, and bless GOD for it with a joyful heart. If there be service in the afternoon, they will not need any exhortation to go there, for it will be their delight. In the evenings, I would recommend, what is practised in some places, that there should be a friendly society of those who fear GOD; who may meet together, in order that some one of them may read the Bible, or some good book to the rest; that those who cannot read themselves may have the comfort of

hearing the word of GOD, and spending the evening like Christians.* This will promote friendship, and unite good people to each other: they will enjoy cheerful and innocent conversation, and learn to love each other, as CHRIST has loved them. Such, my Christian friends, should be the employment, such should be the pleasures, of the LORD's day. When you spend it thus, it will be unnecessary that I should remind you to thank GOD for such blessings before you sleep. Your evening song will be a song of thanksgiving. At peace with all the world, and with your heavenly Father, retire to rest; and rise refreshed, and ready to do your duty in that state of life to which GOD has called you. : Then go forth to your six days labour, joyful, and glad of heart; hoping for the blessing of GOD on your honest industry, and looking forward to the return of this happy day, when we may again enter into the courts of the LORD, and meet in the house of GOD as friends. This happy day, which brings rest to the weary, instruction to the ignorant, and comfort to the

* See the Bishop of Durham's Charge, in the year 1797, page 25.-See also a very interesting account of the Friendly Society at Winston, in the Reports of the Society for bettering the Condition of the Poor, vol. ii. p. 82.

afflicted, this happy day, when every good man on earth is called to join with the angels in heaven, in singing, "Hallelujah, for the LORD God omnipotent reigneth." Glory, and honour, and thanksgiving, and praise, be unto Him, for ever and ever. Amen.

SERMON VII.

ST. LUKE xxii. 15.

And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you, before I suffer.

I

PROCEED now to consider the principal

festivals and fasts which our church has ap pointed to be kept holy, and to point out the duties required of us on those sacred days. The example of our LORD, as well as the command of his apostles, and of their successors in the government of his church, binds us to perform these duties. We are told several times in the gospel, that our blessed Saviour kept the solemn feasts of the Jewish church; and it appears from the chapter of which my text is a part, that on