,transcriber's note3    ,italics is     
represented with underscore  7italics7  
and small caps  with ,,all ,,caps4 ,the 
following correction has been made3     
p4 #i3 members of one famliy famliy     
changed to family4    ,everything else  
is retained as printed4                 
,,the          ,,sabbath ,,at ,,home4   
,,by ,,the          ,,rev4 ,,silas ,m4  
,,andrews4            ,,philadelphia3   
,,presbyterian ,,board ,,of             
,,publication4        ,,james ,,russell1
 ,,publishing ,,agent4        #ahdj4    
,entered according to the ,act of       
,congress1 in the year #ahcf1 by ,a4 ,w4
  ,,mitchell1 in the office of the      
,clerk of the ,district ,court for the  
,eastern ,district of ,pennsylvania4    
,,the ,,sabbath ,,at ,,home4      ,it is
 not proposed to dwell1 in the following
 pages1 upon the arguments  that might  
be brought forward to prove that the    
,sabbath is a ,divine  institution1     
established and sanctified by the       
,creator on the seventh  day1 after all 

his works were finished1 and renewed to 
,israel on the  descent of the manna4   
,nor shall ,i attempt to show1 from the 
,scriptures1  that the ,sabbath is a    
,christian institution1 as well as a    
,jewish  ordinance2 or call your        
attention to the satisfactory reasons we
 have  for observing1 as holy time1 the 
first day of the week1 and not the      
seventh4 ,no controversy will be        
maintained with any who object to the   
,sabbath as commonly acknowledged by    
,christians4 ,he who sincerely seeks    
for instruction1 has no need of such    
argument2 he already believes the       
,sabbath is the ,lord's1 and that it is 
to be sanctified by a holy  resting all 
the day4    ,the design of this ,tract  
is to point out and illustrate the most 
profitable manner of spending that part 
of the ,lord's day which is not         
employed in the public exercises of     
,divine worship4    ,that your family1  
in each of its members1 may profitably  
spend the  ,sabbath at home1--    ,i4   

,by ,saturday evening have your worldly 
business arranged to keep the  ,sabbath4
    ,few families pursue their business 
or trade1 the same on the ,sabbath as   
on any other day4 ,but there are many   
who do not keep it as a sacred  rest4   
,if they do not plough and sow2 if the  
sound of the anvil and the  saw is not  
heard in their shops2 if they do not1   
with open doors1 buy  and sell1 and get 
gain2 there is another species of       
worldly business to  which they do      
attend1 which1 though not so much       
noticed by others1  properly belongs to 
the six days in which work may be done4 
,such persons may be said to make       
arrangements1 not to keep1 but to       
profane the ,sabbath4 ,this matter need 
not be attended to now1 while  other    
things press upon us--it may be         
postponed until ,sunday4 ,that  journey 
must be performed--that plan laid with  
my neighbour--that  errand accomplished 
next ,sabbath1 or it will interfere with
 the  business of the week4    ,to      

persons who thus feel1 and who can thus 
act1 ,i do not propose to  address      
myself2 they do not desire information2 
they have no wish to be  instructed how 
they may more profitably spend the      
,sabbath4 ,they would  like best to hear
 of some new plan of retaining the      
,christian name1  while they drive on   
their own trades and find their own     
pleasures4 ,no  argument would be more  
pleasing to them than one which might go
 to  prove that because the ,sabbath was
 made for man1 therefore man may  use   
the ,sabbath according to his own       
pleasure4 ,but to you1 my readers1  who 
,i trust are desirous of being taught   
your duty1 and are willing to  be       
exhorted that you may enter upon its    
performance1 ,i would say1 on  ,saturday
 arrange your worldly business to keep  
the ,sabbath4 ,it must not  be          
forgotten1 that this is much more easily
 done in some families than  in others4 
,it depends upon the number of the      
household1--upon the  occupation of the 

different members1--whether they all    
think alike on  the sanctification of   
the ,sabbath1 and are disposed to unite 
in  bringing their worldly affairs to   
such an issue1 that they may have  all  
the following day for holy rest4 ,with  
some1 ,saturday evening is a  time of   
more leisure than any other of the week2
 while with not a few1  it is a time of 
more hurry and pressure of              
business1--collecting debts1  paying    
bills1 fulfilling promises of the shop  
or store1 than will again  be           
encountered until ,saturday returns4    
,the cares of the week will press  us1  
until steadfastly resisted4 ,this       
resistance ought to be made with  holy  
resolution1 and sufficiently early to   
secure the ,sabbath from  being         
profaned4    ,the arrangements of the   
shop1 the labours of the farm1 and the  
business  of the office or counting     
house1 must be closed on ,saturday      
evening1 or  in vain we wake early the  
next morning to enjoy the ,sabbath4 ,did

 we  look no further than to success in 
this world's affairs1 a maxim of        
prudence and economy would be1 to bring 
our plans1 as far as possible1  to a    
close once every week4 ,it promotes     
order in the transaction of  business4  
,it gives efficiency to our labours4 ,we
 finish more1 which  is the same as     
saying we do more1 than if our business 
were suffered  to run on without        
interruption the year round4 ,we must   
also take into  account the vigour of   
both body and mind1 which an entire day 
of rest  from care and labour imparts4  
,and who that reads his ,bible1 will    
think  it strange for me to say1 that   
the blessing of the ,lord is upon him   
who  sacredly regards the ,sabbath8 ,if 
thou turn thy foot away from the        
,sabbath1 that is1 do not impiously     
trample upon it1 from doing thy         
pleasure on my holy day1 and call the   
,sabbath a delight1 the holy of  the    
,lord1 honourable2 and shalt honour him1
 not doing thine own ways1  nor finding 

thine own pleasures1 nor speaking thine 
own words1 then  shall thou delight     
thyself in the ,lord1 and ,i will cause 
thee to ride  upon the high places of   
the earth1 and feed thee with the       
heritage of  ,jacob thy father1 for the 
mouth of the ,lord hath spoken it4 ,isa4
  lviii4 #ac1 #ad4 ,what was the        
heritage of ,jacob8 ,the favour of ,god1
 with  the richest productions of the   
field1 and an increase of every worldly 
possession4    ,we may appeal to        
observation4 ,the influence of the      
,sabbath upon the  rich is not so easily
 discerned4 ,but among those1 who1 in a 
peculiar  manner1 receive day by day    
their daily bread1 it may be seen4 ,and 
unless ,i greatly err1 it will be found1
 that those families who observe  the   
,sabbath1 and attend upon its public and
 private duties1 with desire  to be     
profited1 have1 in comparison with those
 who do not thus regard  the day unto   
the ,lord1 more peace of mind1 more     
family comforts1 and  are better        

prepared to meet the demands which every
 year brings against  them4 ,can a man  
rob ,god and prosper8 rob ,him1 who can 
withhold our  common blessings1 or1 as  
he has threatened1 can curse them after 
given6  ,mal4 ii4 #b4 ,then1 from       
consideration of both temporal and      
spiritual  interest1 let the ,sabbath be
 regarded as a day of holy rest from the
  morning to the evening4 ,and that we  
may attain to this1 let us  previously  
arrange all that pertains to our        
respective occupations1  that we may    
wait upon the ,lord without distraction 
of mind4    ,another matter that has an 
important bearing upon the              
sanctification of  the ,sabbath1 you    
will permit me to mention4 ,though the  
institutions of  ,moses are not1 as a   
system1 binding upon ,christians1 yet   
from them we  may often infer what is   
important in regard to the proper       
observance of  that which is given us in
 their stead4 ,among other commands to  
,israel  for the profitable keeping of  

the ,sabbath1 they were required to     
abstain1 on the seventh day1 from all   
work1 except the preparation of  their  
necessary food4 ,how this command was to
 be understood we learn  from ,exod4    
xvi4 #bc4 ,on the descent of manna1     
,moses said to the people1  ,to-morrow  
is the rest of the ,holy ,sabbath unto  
the ,lord2 bake that  which ye will bake
 to-day1 and seethe that ye will seethe2
 and that  which remaineth over1 lay up 
for you1 to be kept until the morning4  
,i  am not about to say1 that no family 
observes the ,christian ,sabbath1 who   
does not fulfil the letter of this      
command4 ,but may ,i not safely say1    
that the more nearly it is observed1 the
 more profitably the day may be  spent8 
,if our tables are provided for on      
,saturday2 if we bake that  which we    
must bake1 and seethe that we must      
seethe1 and lay them up for  the morrow1
 will not those members of the family1  
who attend public  worship1 have more   
time to devote to the reading of the    

,scriptures1 to  meditation1 and other  
duties of ,sabbath morning8    ,what    
shall we say of those whose lot it may  
be to remain at home part  of the day8  
,why1 it is commonly answered1 that as  
they have nothing  else to do1 they may 
as well prepare dinner for those at     
church4 ,but  have they nothing to do8  
,have they no ,bible to read8 ,no       
,scripture  lessons to prepare for      
,sabbath ,school8 ,no ,catechism1 that  
may be most  conveniently committed to  
memory by them when left alone8 ,is     
meditation1 and is prayer the duty of   
those only who are privileged  with     
attending public worship8 ,have persons 
who labour in our families  for hire1 no
 need of one day of rest in seven8 ,if  
fasting1 as all  ages and good men of   
every country have acknowledged1 is     
promotive of  the devotion of the heart1
 denying the appetite in some small     
degree  cannot be injurious4 ,and why   
should it be thought unreasonable that  
persons in our employment1 and our      

children1 who early notice the          
character of our religion1 might receive
 some good impression1 as to  the nature
 of the ,sabbath1 by seeing us deny     
ourselves what on other  days is        
innocent and right8 ,i am not pleading  
that the ,sabbath be made  a day for    
afflicting our souls1 but that we should
 not permit our  sensual desires to     
interfere with our spiritual delight4   
,on days of  unusual political interest1
 we count it no sacrifice to be deprived
  of a regular meal1 or to take of that 
which comes to hand1 because our        
delight is elsewhere4 ,let the same     
interest be felt in the ,sabbath1 and   
we shall be equally loth to permit that1
 which might be done on  ,saturday1 to  
interfere with our enjoyment and        
spiritual profit4 ,if each  family      
would1 on the preceding day1 prepare1 as
 far as practicable1 for  their table on
 the ,sabbath1 would not much time be   
redeemed for the  appropriate duties of 
the ,lord's day8    ,to mention every   

thing that might1 with advantage1 be    
attended to on  ,saturday1 bearing upon 
the ,sabbath1 would be to recount the   
events of  each family--they all        
influence our profiting1 though1 when   
viewed  separately1 they seem hardly    
worthy of notice4    ,i have known the  
men of more than one family to spend the
 best part of  ,sabbath morning1 in     
making such alterations in their        
carriage and  harness as were necessary1
 in order to attend meeting2 which      
changes  might much better have been    
made the evening before4    ,in other   
households you will find the apparel    
appropriate to the  ,sabbath1 must be   
subjected to certain emendations and    
improvements1  before the family can be 
prepared for public worship4 ,by this   
time the  morning is gone1 but the      
,sabbath of holy rest has not yet begun4
 ,how  much more profitable1 that all   
which pertains to our persons1 from a   
thread to a shoe-latchet1 should be set 
in order before the ,sabbath  arrives1  

that as we have but one holy day in     
seven1 we may enjoy it  all4    ,a full 
answer with many1 is1 ,if ,i do nothing 
worse than these1 ,i  shall have little 
cause for alarm2--to which ,i will only 
reply1--,this  is not the language of   
one seeking to be instructed1 and       
desiring to  honour ,god4 ,it is not the
 spirit of the fourth commandment1 which
 is1  ,remember the ,sabbath day1 to    
keep it holy4 ,six days shalt thou      
labour  and do ,,all thy work3 but the  
seventh is the ,sabbath of the ,lord thy
  ,god3 in it thou shalt not do ,,any   
work1 thou1 nor thy son1 nor thy        
daughter1 nor thy man-servant1 nor thy  
maid-servant1 nor thy cattle1  nor thy  
stranger that is within thy gates4 ,it  
is not according to the  example and    
instruction of our pious fathers1 who   
taught us that the  ,sabbath is to be   
sanctified1 by a holy resting all that  
day1 even from  such worldly employments
 and recreations as are lawful on other 
days2  and spending the whole time in   

the public and private exercises of     
,god's worship1 except so much as is to 
be taken up in the works of  necessity  
and mercy4    ,,ii4 ,that you may       
profitably spend the ,sabbath1 let all  
the members of  your family1 as far as  
practicable1 be at home on ,saturday    
evening1 and  there pass the following  
day4    ,this will promote peace of     
mind1 of parents especially4 ,if members
 of  your household are from home1 you  
know not to what dangers they are       
exposed1 or into what temptations they  
may be led4 ,but if they be with  you1  
under the same roof1 this anxiety is in 
a great degree prevented4    ,it        
conduces to the good order of a family1 
for all its members to be at  home4 ,if 
the parents are absent1 there is danger 
of the house becoming  a scene of noise 
and disorder1 that does not well comport
 with the  solemnity of the ,sabbath4   
,if there was nothing more to be said in
  favour of families never being        
deprived1 on the ,lord's day1 of their  

presiding members1 we might reasonably  
plead1 that much evil would be          
prevented by the restraint of their     
presence4 ,but there are not  negative  
advantages only2 there are positive ones
 also1 which shall  soon be mentioned4  
,in every well ordered family1 where    
industry and economy are found1  there  
are certain duties assigned1 by custom  
or common consent1 to each  member of   
the household4 ,these are attended to by
 the persons on whom  they devolve1     
during the week1 much to the            
facilitating of business1  and the      
prevention of trouble or confusion4 ,now
 if such be found a  measure of         
expediency during days of labour1 we may
 safely presume upon  its utility when  
applied to the ,sabbath4 ,if it is      
important to save  moments of six days1 
it cannot be less desirable to secure   
the  remnants of one day4 ,but if part  
of your family are from home on         
,sabbath morning1 a double portion of   
necessary duties devolves upon  those   

who remain2 and as the duties they are  
called to perform in the  place of the  
absent members1 are not their own       
regular share of  domestic cares1 much  
additional time and attention will be   
demanded  properly to fulfil them4 ,it  
requires scarcely a trial1 to convince  
us  that the whole morning may thus be  
lost1 in performing what devolves  upon 
others2 and that when the hour of public
 worship arrives1 the mind  is hardly   
composed sufficiently to determine      
whether you can attend  meeting or not4 
,in addition to the quietness and good  
order secured by the presence of  the   
parents or heads of the family on the   
,sabbath1 it is important that  they be 
at home all the day1 that their         
household may not be left  without      
family instruction4 ,we all know that   
the best children need  frequently to be
 reminded of their books1 and encouraged
 and aided in  their lessons4 ,if the   
parents are from home1 little will      
probably be  done in the reading of the 

,scriptures1 or learning the ,catechism4
  ,besides1 there is great danger that  
the children will be suffered to  pass  
without examination1 or any systematic  
instruction in the  doctrines and duties
 of religion1 if the heads of the family
 are not at  home all the day4 ,for the 
reason just given1 there will be no     
lessons  for catechising3 the parents   
may very probably be from home at the   
stated hour for family instruction3 or1 
when they return1 may feel too  much    
wearied to attend to the duty2 so that  
there is no way of securing  to the     
children that teaching which they must  
have1 but for the parents  to be at home
 on the ,sabbath4    ,to secure the same
 desirable end1 it is no less necessary 
that all the  children spend the day in 
the bosom of the family4 ,if they are   
not  present1 and put themselves in the 
way of instruction1 they cannot be      
taught4 ,for all the family to be at    
home on the ,sabbath1 is one of the     
best preservatives against temptation4  

,is it possible for young people  of    
different households1 to associate on   
the ,lord's day1 and not be led  into   
the sin of light and vain conversation8 
,can the world be shut out  of such     
company1 no matter how strict the       
injunctions of parents1 and  sincere the
 resolutions of those going from home8  
,this leads us to speak of another      
matter1 which ought not to be passed    
over1 because it unavoidably1 and to a  
degree of which many are not  aware1    
interferes with the profitable          
sanctification of the ,sabbath4 ,i      
refer to ,sunday visiting2--not that    
which commonly passes under the  name1  
when several members of one family go   
and spend the day with  their friends1  
as they would any afternoon in the week4
 ,surely1 none  calling themselves      
,christians1 and acknowledging that we  
have a  ,christian ,sabbath at all1 can 
approve of such a manner of spending the
  day4 ,nor is allusion made to visits  
to the sick1 put off from day to  day1  

that they may be paid without loss of   
time on the ,sabbath1  crowding the room
 of the patient1 and instead of         
conferring a kindness1  often inflicting
 an injury of many days' continuance4   
,the custom to which ,i refer is        
different in character from both of     
these1 but perhaps not less hurtful4 ,it
 is the connecting of visits  with an   
attendance upon public worship4 ,i      
should be exceedingly sorry  to wound   
the feelings of any one1 whose age1 or  
distance from meeting1  may render it   
difficult both to go and return home the
 same day1  without rest or refreshment4
 ,the duty of such is to accept of the  
kindness of their friends1 either on    
,saturday night or after sermon on  the 
,sabbath4 ,religion requires us to      
afford such entertainment to those  who 
labour under disadvantages that do not  
lie upon us4 ,but is it not  very common
 for ,christian families to form their  
plan for visiting  their friends1 not   
during the week1 but on ,saturday       

evening1 to  accompany them to meeting  
in the morning2 or to go with them from 
public worship and spend the afternoon  
in their family8 ,how many such  visits 
are made profitable8 ,in whose family   
does not the conversation  become       
worldly and of little worth8 ,in what   
visiting circle are the  nature of      
religion1 and the experience of the     
heart1 the subjects upon  which all     
unite profitably to pass the time8 ,the 
difficulty with us  all1 of answering   
such questions without confusion1 ought 
to lead us to  ask1 ,is there not       
something wrong in such visits8 ,when we
 engage in  them1 we are from our       
families4 ,but home is our place on the 
,sabbath4  ,we put ourselves in the way 
of temptation1 before which1 repeated   
trials have shown that we must fall4    
,the family that receives the visit  is 
deprived of as much of the ,sabbath as  
we spend with them2 for a cold  family  
dinner1 such as best adorns the         
,sabbath1 is altogether out of          

character when our friends become       
guests2 and to spend much time in       
reading even the ,bible1 while visitants
 are sitting by1 would be  thought      
strange indeed4 ,the various            
conversation1 the communicating and     
receiving of neighbourhood intelligence1
 leaves the minds neither of  those who 
pay1 nor of those who receive the visit1
 in a state properly  to spend the      
remaining part of the ,sabbath4 ,while1 
therefore1 it is  easy to make what we  
esteem duty a burden1 and we may hastily
 lay down  rules which a few weeks will 
show us are no aid in religion1 but a   
,pharisaical hinderance1 yet1 between   
this and the opposite extreme1 of       
making the ,sabbath a day of sociability
 and feasting1 there is a wide  field4  
,the difficulty of determining upon     
duty1 lies in this2--,sunday  visits are
 not wholly wrong2 some of them are     
right2 it would be sin  not to visit the
 sick and dying4 ,how then shall we     
determine when it  is right1 and when   

wrong1 to visit on the ,sabbath8 ,what  
rule can we lay  down8 ,general rules   
are of little worth2 each case has      
something  peculiar in it1 so that the  
mere letter of a law may be set aside4  
,but  let an enlightened conscience1    
governed by the fear of ,god1 direct us4
  ,we are not to ask1 ,what is          
fashionable8 ,do not many ,christian    
families  pay social visits on the      
,sabbath8 ,will it be considered        
inconsistent  with my profession of     
religion to spend a few hours from home1
 or only  twenty minutes with my friends
 at the next door8--,rather ask1 ,is it 
right8 ,shall ,i gain spiritual strength
 by doing so8 ,will my example be  happy
 in its influence upon my children and  
others8 ,is this the way1  that1 above  
all1 ,i would recommend to persons      
seriously asking1 ,how may  ,i most     
profitably spend the ,sabbath day8      
,,iii4 ,in order profitably to pass the 
,sabbath at home1 we must imbibe  and   
cherish the impression that it is a holy

 day4    ,it is in vain to form         
resolutions1 until conscience be set    
about her  work4 ,our promises will last
 only until some worldly enjoyment      
bribes  us silently to set them aside4  
,public sentiment is of little weight in
  favour of the profitable observance of
 the ,sabbath2 because it is of  every  
possible shade4 ,this holy day may be   
spent almost as we please2  the laws of 
the land1 to save it from profanation1  
being1 as in all  times past1 a dead    
letter2 prevailing custom allowing of   
almost every  kind of recreation1 if not
 of labour4 ,each denomination of those 
calling themselves ,christians1 having  
their own views and claiming the        
indulgence of their own practice4 ,while
 some are more strict1 others  will     
hardly admit that the ,sabbath is more  
sacred than any other day4  ,spend the  
time as you please1 you will be in      
character3 you will be  sustained4 ,you 
may search the ,scriptures1 and engage  
with your family  in pious conversation1

 and no one has a right to murmur4 ,you 
may spend  the day in idleness and      
sleep1 or in conversation about worldly 
business3 the professional man may      
arrange the papers and books of his     
office1 ready against ,monday morning2  
we may wander over the fields1  or visit
 our next door neighbours1 or ride out  
in the afternoon1 and  who dare         
seriously complain8    ,a store keeper  
may post his books2 another may load his
 wagon for  market2 a printer may set   
his types2 young people may spend the   
day in  reading novels2 ,i may go into  
my study and work problems in           
navigation1  or for literary            
improvement1 read ,latin and ,greek in  
heathen authors1  and we shall none of  
us be disturbed2 we may quietly pursue  
our  respective courses the year round4 
,spend the time as we may1 we are  still
 in character1 and will be sustained by 
the popular voice4  ,besides1 that      
influence which is derived from the     
regard we have for  what others think or

 say of us1 will not control us in the  
bosom of our  own families4 ,we are     
there withdrawn from public view4 ,the  
more retired  we are1 the more          
independent we feel1 of either the      
approbation or  ridicule of others4     
,though a regard for the character of   
our families  may influence us1 in some 
considerable degree1 to sanctify the    
,sabbath1  while there is no inducement 
to the contrary2 yet when we most need  
it1  such help fails us4 ,neither our   
own reputation1 as respecters of        
religion1 nor the influence we might    
exert for the honour and happiness  of  
our families1 will be sufficient to     
overcome strong temptation4    ,but let 
the mind once come under the control of 
the belief1 that the  ,sabbath is the   
,lord's1 and that it is to be observed  
in holy rest all  the day1 and we have  
advanced farther in the sanctification  
of the  ,sabbath1 than if we had matured
 a score of rules1 and solemnly bound   
ourselves to keep them every one4    ,do

 we find it difficult to rise as early  
on that day as during the  week1 that   
with the morning we may commence our    
duties8 ,let conscience  speak1 and we  
shall wake early4 ,let our love to ,god1
 and his service1  only be as strong as 
our attachment to the things of the     
world1 and no  more of the ,sabbath will
 be wasted in slumber1 than of ,monday  
morning4  ,men who labour through the   
week1 contend for this indulgence2 that 
they  are wearied and need rest3        
besides1 that the ,sabbath is given for 
rest4  ,but1 no reader of the ,bible can
 say1 that it is the rest of indolence  
and spiritual inactivity4 ,the worship  
of ,god does not commonly demand  the   
labours and exercise of the body2 the   
mind only is called into  healthful     
action2 and this is also refreshing to  
the body4 ,in answer to  the plea1 that 
being worn down with the cares of the   
week1 and its  toils1 we may1           
consistently with duty1 lie later on    
,sabbath morning  than any other1 it may

 be asked1 ,have we a right to expend   
our strength  during the week1 so as to 
unfit us for the duties of the ,sabbath 
when  they arrive8 ,if we found         
ourselves disinclined early to seek the 
,lord1  last ,sabbath1 are we not bound 
to guard against such languor1 when this
  holy day shall again dawn8 ,is not    
duty plain1 that we ought to relax  our 
labours on ,saturday1 that we may not   
lose the most precious hours  of the    
,lord's day8 ,were we our own1 we might 
exercise our pleasure4  ,but we are not4
 ,man's chief end is1 to glorify ,god1  
and enjoy him1 in  this world1 as well  
as hereafter4 ,suppose you hire a man1  
to labour for  you--you have a right to 
all his time2 but you give him five days
 in  the week for his own employment on 
condition that he will devote  himself  
wholly to your work on the sixth4 ,has  
this man a right1 so to  arrange his    
business1 and expend his strength1      
during the five days he  labours for    
himself1 that when the sixth day        

arrives1 he cannot rise  until late1 nor
 commence his work until the morning be 
nearly past8    ,again1 there are many  
things about which we perhaps have no   
difficulty1  as respects ourselves2 we  
may perform them or not1 on the         
,sabbath1  without injury4 ,but the     
influence we may exert upon others1 is  
with  every conscientious man a serious 
consideration4 ,in cases of  difficulty1
 how shall we determine what is right8  
,not by expediency1 or  custom1 or      
inclination1 or a spirit of             
independence4 ,these cannot be  safely  
trusted4 ,let us call to mind1 that the 
,sabbath is the ,lord's2  and that we   
are bound to glorify him1 both in our   
conduct and our  influence2 and we shall
 not probably find much difficulty in   
deciding  at once1 what it is our duty  
to do4 ,the same rule will also apply to
  cases of doubt1 in respect to         
ourselves4 ,our reputation1 or interest1
  or feelings give us their counsel1    
while other considerations may be       

placed over against these4 ,neither the 
one nor the other affords us any        
certain aid in determining upon what is 
our duty4 ,but if the fear of  ,god rule
 in our hearts1 and his holy day be very
 precious to us1 and  its honour dear1  
the question1 before so perplexing1     
becomes a very  plain one4 ,what must ,i
 do1 in the observance of the ,sabbath1 
to  promote the glory of ,god8 ,if we   
will allow conscience to speak1 her     
voice may be heard2 if we attend to her 
admonitions1 guided by the  light of    
,scripture1 we shall not commonly1 we   
shall not often1 be left  in doubt what 
is duty4 ,for example1 you may feel much
 wearied with the  exercises1 public and
 private1 of the morning2 and the       
recreation of a  walk for half an hour  
in the afternoon1 would be very         
refreshing to  your exhausted system4   
,but there are considerations to be     
weighed  against this4 ,as to profit in 
the street1 or upon the frequented road1
  that is out of the question4 ,equally 

vain would be the attempt to keep  the  
thoughts from wandering upon all that   
tempts the eye and ear4 ,and  then the  
effect that may result to others1 must  
be taken into the  account1 and the     
light in which your conduct will be     
viewed1 as  connected with the          
sanctification of the ,sabbath4    ,the 
question is now easily decided1 because 
duty appears plain4 ,a great  advantage 
also1 attending this manner of solving  
difficulties is1 that  the decision is  
final2 there remains no cavilling1 when 
the  determination is once made1 in the 
fear of ,god4 ,if you wish to keep  the 
,sabbath profitably1 and with enjoyment 
to yourself and family1  labour to      
attain to1 and cultivate the impression1
 that it is the  ,lord's day1 and1      
therefore1 to be kept holy4    ,,iv4    
,attendance1 as far as practicable upon 
the public duties of  religion1         
contributes much to the profitable      
observance of the ,sabbath  at home4    
,the language of ,scripture would lead  

us to this4 ,six days shall work  be    
done2 but the seventh day is the        
,sabbath of rest1 and holy  convocation2
 ye shall do no work therein2 it is the 
,sabbath of the ,lord  in all your      
dwellings4 ,lev4 xxiii4 #c4 ,the        
,sabbath at home is well  united with   
the holy convocation of the people of   
,god1 in the public  ordinances of      
religion4 ,if we consult the history of 
the ,church1 we  shall find this to have
 been the opinion of the pious in every 
age4 ,the  ,jewish nation1 ,christians  
in the time of the apostles1 and the    
professing people of ,god in all        
countries since their day1 have weekly  
assembled themselves together4          
,public worship promotes the observance 
of the ,sabbath at home1 by  affording  
that instruction which is necessary to  
the proper performance  of our duty4    
,though comparatively little time is    
spent on the ,sabbath1  in teaching     
publicly the doctrines of religion1 and 
the duties that  flow from them1 yet    

there will be found a very great        
difference in the  views of those who   
regularly hear the gospel1 and of such  
as never  enter a worshipping assembly4 
,this does not wholly arise from the    
public instructions of the              
,sabbath1--those who hear the gospel are
  constrained to search for themselves1 
and to use other means to learn  the    
duty which ,god requires of man4 ,among 
other things1 they will soon  learn that
 the ,sabbath is to be sanctified1 by a 
holy resting all the  day1 and that if  
they mean to do what is right1 they must
 perform this  duty also4    ,but we may
 come to a knowledge of our duty1 and   
yet have no inclination  to do what is  
required4 ,we need to be exhorted and   
encouraged4 ,this is  enjoined upon     
those who preach the gospel4 ,they are  
commanded1 not only  to reprove and     
rebuke1 but also to exhort2 to help such
 as are  discouraged1 and to strengthen 
the feeble4 ,and here1 again1 it will be
  found1 that notwithstanding the       

multitude who hear the word preached1   
but observe not the ,lord's day as a    
holy rest1 they1 who in any  community  
sanctify it1 are those who on that day  
attend public worship4  ,i much question
 if a family1 neglectful of public      
worship1 can be  found1 that sanctifies 
the ,sabbath at home4    ,again1 the    
assembling of ourselves together1       
regularly on the ,sabbath1  greatly     
contributes to preserve that holy day   
from the danger of being  profaned4 ,all
 persons feel the confinement of the    
,sabbath4 ,nature seems  to demand some 
recreation1 both of body and mind4 ,this
 is afforded us  in public worship4 ,the
 preparing of ourselves to              
assemble1--the ride1  or walk1 if we    
live near2--the variety in the exercises
 of the  sanctuary1--the reading1       
singing1 prayers1 and sermons1 are      
exceedingly  refreshing to such as have 
a heart to enjoy them4 ,they send us    
home  better prepared for spending      
profitably the remainder of the day1    

than  if all the time had been passed in
 our own dwellings4 ,the remark of one  
who was deprived of preaching an entire 
day1 we have probably all found  true in
 our own experience1--,that a ,sabbath  
without public worship1  when we have   
all the time to spend in duties at home1
 is no gain to the  reading of the      
,scriptures4 ,for want of variety in our
 duties1 we become  languid1 and profit 
but little4    ,attendance upon public  
worship is favourable to a profitable   
spending  of the ,sabbath at home1      
because it promotes religion generally4 
,it is  in the house of ,god that we are
 taught what we must do to be saved1 and
  how we are acceptably to serve our    
,creator4 ,parents and children are     
taught their relative duties1 and are   
dismissed with pressing  exhortation not
 to defer the paying of their vows4 ,it 
is in the  worshipping assembly1 that   
the affections are moved1 and interested
 for  the glory of ,god4 ,here it is1   
that our consciences most closely press 

us with the important question1 ,what   
must ,i do to work the works of  ,god8  
,in the ministry of reconciliation1     
dispensed to the assemblies of  the     
,sabbath1 sin is pointed out and        
reproved2 negligence in duty            
reprimanded2 the honour of religion     
defended2 the sanctification of the     
,lord's day pleaded for2 the feeble     
strengthened1 and the wavering mind     
confirmed2--every ,christian grace1 in  
its order1 becomes the subject of       
special consideration1 and every duty1  
according to our station in  life1 is1  
with arguments to its immediate and     
constant performance1  explained and    
pressed upon us4    ,then1 let every    
one1 who would profitably observe the   
,sabbath at  home1 conscientiously and  
faithfully attend public worship4 ,this 
will  save him and his family from many 
temptations to profane the ,lord's  day1
 and will afford him instruction1       
strength1 and encouragement for  the    
performance of his duties4    ,v4 ,let  

the time not spent in public worship1 be
 past at home in  exercises becoming the
 sacredness of the ,sabbath4    ,parents
 will permit me here to remind them of  
the duties they owe their  households4  
,not to suffer the day to pass without  
important instruction  to their         
children4 ,it may very properly1 and    
indeed ought to be various  in its      
character1 to suit the youthful mind2   
but all bearing upon the  spiritual     
welfare of both parents and children4   
,after returning from  meeting1 make    
inquiry about the text2 what subject was
 treated in the  sermon2 particularly if
 any thing was said to children or the  
younger  members of the family3 whether 
any thing sinful in them was pointed    
out1 and any good thing recommended for 
them to do4 ,how much better  would be  
the influence1 upon our families and    
ourselves1 of this  course1 than what   
must arise from a critical spirit1 which
 often1 not  only keeps possession of   
the heart while we hear1 but dictates   

all that  is said of the sermon after we
 have returned home4    ,children ought 
to be taught their catechism on the     
,sabbath1 and aided  in their ,sunday   
school lessons4 ,the old ,presbyterian  
method was1 to  devote ,sabbath evening 
to instruction out of the ,scriptures1  
and the  reciting of the ,shorter       
,catechism4 ,a means of grace so        
important1 ought  not to be suffered by 
any family to fall into decay4 ,it is of
 moment  also1 that not only in the     
conduct of the parents1 the younger     
members  may see the sacredness of the  
,lord's day1 but that they should be    
instructed in the nature of the         
,sabbath2 by whom it was appointed1 and 
for what purposes2 how it is to be      
sanctified2 what we may do1 and from    
what we must refrain4 ,this would make  
children intelligent1 and would  stir up
 parents also to acquaint themselves    
more perfectly1 through the  aid of the 
excellent standards of our ,church1 and 
other sources of  correct interpretation

 of the ,scriptures1 with what they may1
 from want  of incentives to attention1 
but partially understand4    ,children  
ought to receive1 at times1 that        
instruction which is  exclusively       
religious2 ought to be conversed with   
affectionately  about their souls1 and  
the truth prest home to their hearts4   
,if this be  attempted1 in the hurry of 
business during the week1 though the    
seed  may prosper1 yet it is not        
probable4 ,the ,sabbath is the most     
encouraging time4 ,the mind of the      
parent is then in a favourable  state2  
the solemnities of the day contribute   
much to success1 and  prepare the hearts
 of your children to receive some good  
impression4  ,those ,sabbath evening    
exhortations1 though without even       
apparent effect  at first1 will follow  
your children1 when your anxiety can no 
more  watch over them1 and may lead them
 to salvation1 after your souls have    
gone to enjoy it in glory4    ,reading  
is an exercise that ought to be         

particularly attended to on  the        
,sabbath4 ,we would do well to converse 
intimately and constantly  with pious   
men in their writings1 when we are not  
called to other  duties4 ,the great     
variety of journals and semi-romances1  
with which the  professedly religious   
presses teem1 has1 at least1 a          
questionable  effect upon intelligent   
and vital religion4 ,if the ,sabbath    
were more  devoted to the study of such 
books as ,doddridge's ,rise and         
,progress1  ,scougal's ,life of ,god in 
the ,soul1 ,flavel on ,keeping the      
,heart1 ,owen on  the ,spirit1 and      
,baxter's ,saints' ,rest1 we would feel 
in ourselves1  and others would see in  
us an increase of grace1 which it is to 
be  feared we do not enjoy from the food
 prepared to our fastidious  palates4   
,above all1 let the ,bible be the book  
that is to be read on the ,sabbath4     
,the day is holy1 the book is also holy4
 ,in the hurry of business  through the 
week1 we often feel that we are deprived

 of both enjoyment  and profit in       
searching the ,scriptures4 ,but on the  
,lord's day we have  leisure4 ,all      
around us is quiet4 ,the solemnities of 
the day give  additional interest and   
sacredness to what we read4 ,we can read
 much  more at once than during the     
week1 and profit by noticing the        
connexion  of one passage with another4 
,many persons complain that they have   
little time to read1 during the six days
 of labour4 ,such ought to  devote1 ,i  
was going to say1 all the ,sabbath1 to  
the study of the  ,scriptures4 ,this was
 very much the method of our fathers4   
,as they had  few books1 the ,bible     
claimed their attention on the ,sabbath4
 ,and the  nature of their religion1 and
 their eminent piety1 may well recommend
  to us their example4    ,members of   
the same family ought1 on the ,sabbath1 
to converse together  on the state of   
their souls4 ,much may be done for their
 comfort and the  promotion of religion1
 by thus communing together4 ,we may    

speak in  public of experimental        
religion1 make the exercises of others  
the  subject of remark2 we may talk to  
,christians of other families about     
religion2 but if our children and       
members of our household never hear  us 
speak of these things1 when only our own
 little circle is around us1  they will 
very readily infer that it is not a     
subject greatly  interesting to us4     
,that which possesses our hearts we love
 to dwell  upon in conversation with our
 own family4    ,meditation1 though a   
difficult duty1 is essentially necessary
 to a  healthful state of mind1 and is  
suited to no day more than to the       
,sabbath4 ,the cares of the world are   
then shut out1 and every thing  seems to
 constrain us to turn our thoughts      
within4    ,prayer is the duty of the   
,christian1 the duty of every one1 at   
all  times4 ,our ,saviour said1 men     
ought always to pray and not to faint2  
and  ,paul exhorts us to pray without   
ceasing2 praying always with all        

prayer4 ,but there are certain times1   
when this duty can be performed  with   
more profit1 and in a manner more       
comforting to ourselves1 than at        
others4 ,above all seasons1 the ,sabbath
 is appropriate for communion  with     
,god4 ,and he who most frequently and   
devoutly converses with  ,jehovah on his
 mercy-seat1 through ,jesus ,christ1 on 
the ,lord's day1  will commune most with
 him during the week1 will most         
profitably  observe the ,sabbath1 and be
 most thoroughly furnished for every    
good  word and work4 ,he will not only  
enter into rest here on earth1 but will 
daily become conformed to that better   
world1 where there remaineth a  ,sabbath
 of rest to the people of ,god4    ,we  
must all admit that the sanctification  
of the ,sabbath is an  important part of
 practical religion4 ,the cause of piety
 declines where  the ,sabbath is not    
remembered to be kept holy4 ,but in what
 does the  sanctification of the ,lord's
 day chiefly consist8 ,we have seen that

 it  is in observing the day in our own 
dwellings4 ,this secures the            
performance of all its public duties4   
,in a pre-eminent sense1 the  ,sabbath  
which ,god approves1 is the ,sabbath at 
home4    ,no separate argument is then  
called for to prove that it is the duty 
of  all to promote the observance of the
 ,lord's day4 ,it is the common cause   
of every government1 of good morals1 and
 of religion4 ,let no one excuse        
himself from contributing his part to   
this good work4 ,we may each aid  much  
in the sanctification of the ,sabbath4  
,it is in the power of the  humblest    
member of your family to do more to     
render the ,lord's day  profitable1 than
 he can now believe4 ,on the other hand1
 an entire  household may be thrown into
 confusion1 and compelled to waste the  
day1  through the perversity or neglect 
only of a child4 ,you have a servant  in
 your employ1 to whom certain duties are
 assigned1 but he neglects on  ,saturday
 evening to perform them4 ,through his  

omission1 the whole  family may be      
thrown into confusion on ,sabbath       
morning4 ,one boy of five  years old1   
who will play in the street1 can disturb
 all the families  of the neighbourhood4
 ,a noisy child of three years can      
effectually  prevent1 either parent1    
brother1 or sister1 from profitably     
spending  the ,lord's day4 ,a little    
girl was dressed for church1--she       
disobeyed  her mother1 and went out to  
play2 her clothes were soon unfit to be 
seen in a worshipping assembly4 ,the    
mother was fretted and distressed1  and 
the child had to remain at home1 while  
the parent went to meeting1  not in a   
state of mind to be much profited by the
 exercises of the  sanctuary4 ,the sound
 of one axe1 in cleaving as much wood as
 will make  one fire1 can annoy1        
throughout the fourth part of a village1
 all who  wish to keep holy the ,sabbath
 day1 and to see it hallowed by others4 
,what is more common1 in cases of slight
 indisposition1 or than in the          

commencement of disease1 to omit sending
 for the physician until  ,sabbath1 thus
 compelling him to spend holy time1 not 
in ministering to  the relief of actual 
distress1 but in sacrificing to sheer   
neglect1 and  contempt of the command of
 ,god1 what ought to be his privilege1  
with  all other men1--the undisturbed   
enjoyment1 both public and private1 of  
the ,lord's day4    ,thus we may in     
different ways1 and various degrees1    
contribute to the  sanctification of the
 ,sabbath1 or compel others1 however    
reluctant1 to  spend the day without    
profit4 ,this power is vested in no one 
exclusively1 but in each member in      
particular4 ,each may contribute to  the
 sanctification of the ,sabbath2 each   
may prevent the entire family  from     
enjoying and profitably spending the    
day4 ,would we do good both to          
ourselves and others8 ,let us every one 
remember the ,sabbath day at  home1 to  
keep it holy4    ,by this we may be     
aided in judging of our preparation for 

heaven4 ,the  ,sabbath on earth is a    
type of the ,sabbath above4 ,if we find 
no delight  in the holy duties of the   
day1 as now enjoyed1 and feel the       
sacrifice  of sanctifying it to be too  
great1 how can we hope to enjoy it in   
the  purity and holiness of heaven8 ,but
 if it is our delight1 and its sacred   
retirement from worldly cares refreshes 
the soul1 we can discern some  degree of
 conformity to the inheritance of the   
saints in light4 ,it is  our duty and   
our privilege1 then1 to comfort         
ourselves with the  expectation of yet  
enjoying an eternal ,sabbath1 where     
there are no  temptations to profane it1
 no despisers of religion to interfere  
with  its quiet sanctification--no      
ignorance1 through which we may fall    
into  sin1 and thus impair our          
enjoyment1--no disinclination of mind to
 hold  communion with ,god1--where no   
weariness in duty1 or languor in        
devotion  can make the season appear too
 long4            ,,the ,,end4