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thor, but as their end; to permit nothing to deprive him of their service, nothing to deprive them of the delight they felt in it; that nothing of an earthly nature must be permitted to steal away their hearts, or deprive God of their affections. In a word, as the Sabbath was to Adam an emblem of a future rest conditionally promised, it was eminently fitted, as the Lord's day is now in respect of ourselves, to put him in mind of his best interests-to forewarn him not to forfeit by sin the promised felicity. Each of these, and such like lessons of instruction, were by this sacred symbol the more impressively taught, as the very first thing after his creation in which Adam was engaged was the sanctification of the Sabbath: for that he was created on the sixth day seems unquestionable. And we say, that while it was highly becoming the wisdom of God that man should be first employed in the service of his Maker, so this arrangement was fitted to teach him, that it behoved him to make his duty to God and his eternal happiness as involved in it, his first, his chief

concern.

In bringing this subject to a close, it may be proper by way of improvement, to remind you, since we have been speaking of the Sabbath as a seal, that in various respects the Lord's day may be considered as sealing to a truly godly man the promise of eternal life. Most likely it was in the observance of the hallowed institutions of this blessed day that he was first convinced of his being a miserable sinner and of his need of a Saviour.

Was it on a Lord's day, and in hearing the 'everlasting gospel,' that the same Spirit who wounded, healed-healed by discovering to you that there was salvation in Christ even for you? How many times since, especially on the Lord's day, particularly in the celebration of public ordinances, has your heart been rejoiced by God's bedewing your soul with drops of heaven!' Sweet moments oft

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may you return, and longer stay!

"O the delights the heavenly joys,

The glories of the place,

Where Jesus sheds the brightest beams

Of his o'erflowing grace.'

At other times in God's house, though less comforted, it may be you are more profited, because more sanctified. Some pungent and heart searching discourse powerfully applied by him who is as well the sanctifier as the comforter of the soul, making our sins and defects, as the harrow does the weeds of the earth, visible, nor not less hateful than obvious. Is there not a needs be for such seasons as these, and for such sermons, although by many despised? O blessed seasons in their importance and design, when the soul is sifted, humbled, and emptied! I say these are auspicious opportunities, for although like chastisements of a different description, they are not joyous, but grievous, nevetheless afterwards (like them) they yield the peaceable fruits of righteousness in them who are exercised thereby.' These are some of the bitter herbs which whet the appetite to relish the Paschal Lamb. Now what

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are we to say concerning such events, enjoyments, and feelings? They are confirmatory seals to the soul of endless felicity, as are likewise all those spiritual affections for the Lord's day and its delightful duties and privileges, of which the truly pious are the subjects. Let us enquire then, each one for himself does the Sabbath thus seal my future happiness? For of by far the greater number of persons in this nation it might be truly said respecting this day, that it proves them to be the heirs apparent of eternal misery. Such is the present sinful state of their heart and practice regarding the Sabbath of the Lord, its duties, and its privileges.

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LECTURE VI.

THE ENTRANCE

OF MORAL EVIL, AND VIOLA

TION OF THE COVENANT OF WORKS.

The subjects we are now to examine are recorded Gen. iii. Especially the first six verses should be attentively read.

Here, I suppose, it will be allowed, we have a topic sufficiently interesting-a subject which requires and deserves great consideration and attention, and which therefore, it is my intention with God's help carefully to discuss. Beginning with the Apostle's remark, 1 Tim. ii. 14, that the woman was the first in transgression,' and yet the mortal sin which brought death into our world and all our woe, is invariably in Scripture ascribed to Adam: by one man sin entered into the world,' says the Apostle, Rom. v. 12. The reason of this, as already observed, is, Adam was the federal head of mankind and not Eve.

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1. But let us here first consider the author of man's apostacy, and the manner and means by which he accomplished his seduction. And on

this subject we must consider what is here said respecting,

1. The serpent who beguiled Eve.

2. Concerning Eve who persuaded Adam.

1. As to the serpent. It is true, as verse 1 says, this species of animal is remarkable for its subtilty; hence the Saviour commands his disciples to be wise as serpents;' hence too those dangerous creatures have in different nations been used as emblems of wisdom or prudence. And if only a small part of what is said of the sagacity of those reptiles be true, it would seem to be remarkable. Their heart being near their head, they are said to wrap it in the rest of their body to keep it safe. They keep their heart with all diligence.'

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is not, however, with the natural history of the serpent our business lies, but rather with the craft and cruelty of fallen angels; for it was doubtless an evil spirit, Satan the prince of devils, who, by means of a serpent beguiled, as the Apostle says, 'Eve, by his subtilty.' Hence Satan is called 'that old serpent which is the devil.' Rev. xx. 2. The serpent was merely the instrument, Satan was the agent. And as he is a tempter still, and for other reasons, it may be fit to sift this his first successful essay on earth, to the bottom. And we need not stay long at the threshold enquiring by what motives Satan was instigated to attempt the ruin of those by whom he had never been injured, and whose innocence and bliss, had he a spark of pity in his nature, would have moved

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