SERM. there are one sect of Christians, the RoII.

man Catholics, who appear to infringe it grievously; they certainly make to themselves images, and bow down before them. Some parts, however, of this commandment deserve our notice: God says" I "am a jealous God;" i.e. I am very ten

der of my honour; I bear neither partner

nor competitor in those duties which pro

perly belong to me.' This jealousy does not only imply a strong dislike, but a fierce displeasure, against the breakers of this law what reason, then, is there to guard against it! "Who can stand in God's sight "when he is angry!" Who can support the effects of his displeasure!

The conclusion of this commandment is remarkable; God represents himself as visiting the sins of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate him, and shewing mercy unto thousands in them that love

him

II.

him and keep his commandments." Men SERM. have usually a great affection for their posterity, and a great anxiety about them, and therefore, the more to deter them from gross sins, God affirms here that he will not confine his rewards and punishments to the good man or sinner himself, but extend them likewise to his descendants.

This

seems particular, perhaps, and almost unaccountable, but yet in fact it is what is constantly happening. Do we not every day see children, and even children's children, enjoying the rewards of their ancestors' prudence and virtues, or suffering grievously in consequence of their ancestors' crimes? This, indeed, is the course of nature; but remember, that the course of nature is under the direction of God. Observe, however, the difference between God's proceeding in the way of severity and in the way of favour! He only threatens to visit the iniquities of disobedient parents on the third

and

SERM.

II.

The fourth commandment enjoins the exact observance of the Sabbath; all kinds of labour were prohibited to the Jews on that day. We are not so strictly bound, but that we may attend, as occasion demands, to works of absolute necessity : let us not, however, abuse this Christian liberty, by carrying it too far; let the hours of divine service in particular be esteemed sacred; and let us, from charity and humanity, as well as reverence to God's laws, grant every reasonable and possible remission from their labours to those who depend upon us. The poorer part of mankind, forced to incessant and uninterrupted toil, to procure themselves the necessaries of life, have little time, during six days in the week, for the consideration of religious subjects; and if they perform their morning and their evening sacrifice of prayer and thanksgiving, it is all, perhaps, which they are able to do: but on Sunday, if they

be

II.

be not prevented by hard or inconsiderate SERM. masters, they have opportunity as well as leisure to think of another world; to assemble themselves together with their brethren to worship their God, and to be instructed in their duty, and reminded of a day of judgment and a world to come.Permit me to call on those who have de-. pendants under them, to do all in their power to render this excellent institution of the Sabbath effective and useful: not only to free, as much as possible, from their usual employments, those who live under the same roof with them, but to make those arrangements and settlements, with all who depend upon them, before the Lord's Day, which, when they are delayed till then, are gladly seized by the idle as an excuse for not attending public worship; while they are sincerely lamented by the well-disposed, as the real cause of their absence. The accounts of the poor are

soon

SERM. soon settled, the recompence of their la

II.

bours for the week past is not long in adjusting. Let it not then vexatiously be delayed; nor occupy with earthly cares those hours which ought to be solely devoted to God. Consider the inestimable importance, to the poor, of Sunday well employed; consider that the certain consequence of their time being taken up, on that day, with earthly cares, must be total irreligion. Reflect how shocked you will be, and how heavy will be your account, if any of your dependants should plead at the last audit- But for my master's inconsi

deration I should have been regular at church, should have worshipped my God, ⚫ and have learnt and practised my duty!' Assembling on the Lord's Day, to serve the Almighty, together with his brethren, is no light part of a Christian's duty, or which he is in any degree at liberty to omit. Too many bad people, I confess,

do