please mix well your preparations with a proper amount of law and gospel. After dosing out law, until your hearers are in a state of despair, introduce them to the banqueting house of corn and wine, and oil; let them feast to their heart’s content, until “Old things have passed away, and all things become new.” XVII. KEEP THE SABBATH DAY HOLY. The laws of God are not arbitrary. Every commandment is as reasonable as it is divine. _Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandments holy, and just, and good_; having as much regard to the well-being of man, as to the honor and glory of God. Their tendency in every instance is evidently beneficial; and he who breaks them, not only sins against God, but wrongs his own soul. They enjoin nothing but what is conducive to man’s happiness, nor prohibit anything but what would ultimately injure him, so that the observance of every command of God, is as much our interest, as our duty. The Sabbath is a great blessing to mankind. It is well adapted to his fallen condition. It gives him rest from labors, and anxiety, and affords him time to acquire a knowledge of his Author, and destination, and to prepare for that Eternal rest which is at God’s right hand. _Therefore remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy: six days thou shalt labor and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God, in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man servant, nor thy maid servant, nor thy cattle, nor any stranger that is within thy gate._ There are many ways in which we may break the Sabbath. It is not confined to buying, or selling goods, running cars, or vessels, cheese factories, or patronizing any of these on God’s holy day; neither is it confined to blacking boots, shaving, getting up extra dinners, polishing stoves, or knives and forks. Truly in these God is dishonored, and his laws broken. We are not to visit on the Lord’s day, except in a _real_ cause of _mercy_. If to help the sick, or to relieve the needy, it is right; but if we neglect the sick on week days, _because we cannot afford the time_, or practice a little self denial, and take the Sabbath for this purpose, _we are guilty before God_.