ys,
Remember the sabbath day to keep it holy. But the language, both of your
hearts and actions, is, "We will not keep it holy. It is a day given us
for ourselves; and we wish, and we are resolved to spend it as we
please. We do not chuse to be confined, or compelled to hear so much
preaching and praying." Is not this the language of your hearts?
Your conduct too plainly proves it: but, my brethren, let me reason
and expostulate a little with you upon this head.

Consider, what have been the consequences to many who have thus broken
God's commands. I have known, and you likewise have known, those who
have been brought to an untimely and disgraceful end, and who have
dated their ruin from this one evil, the profanation of the Lord's day.
Instead of spending it in the manner which he has enjoined, they kept
bad and profligate company. By this practice, all serious impressions
(if they formerly had any) have been driven from their minds. Their
hearts have become more and more hardened and insensible; till at
length, lost to all prudent reflection, they have regarded neither the
tender solicitations and tears of parents, relations, and friends,
the faithful warnings of ministers, nor the checks and rebukes of their
own consciences. And what has been the event? I need not tell
you, that having given way to their own wicked wills, the advice and
example of their ungodly companions, and the temptations of the devil
(for, be assured, that he is always at the bottom of these mischiefs)
they have, at length, committed some act of depredation and villainy,
which has brought them to an untimely grave.

Such, brethren, have been the free and ingenuous confessions of many of
those unhappy people who have suffered death. And if you were to
speak the sentiments of your hearts, I doubt not, but many of you, who
by the mercy of God are yet living, would make the like acknowledgment;
that breaking the sabbath was the first step towards bringing you
into that pitiable situation, in which you either have been, or still
are suffering. And will you still persevere in the road of misery?
Will you still prefer the chains of your own depraved inclinations, to
the service of God, which is perfect freedom? According to the
Jewish law, a man was stoned to death, for gathering sticks on the
sabbath day [Numb. xv. 32-36.], whereas you are doing a number of things
on the Lord's day, which might as well be done before, or left undone till
afterwards.