sdom judged sufficient. Had more
been requisite, more would have been consecrated by divine order. But
not a hint of any other holy day is to be found in the New Testament. +

* * * * *

+ Neither the day of Christ's birth, death, resurrection or ascension
appear to have been regarded as holy time, or any way distinguished
from the other days of the year, during the apostolic age. The former
of these is not marked in the scriptures. Whether it happened on the
twentyfifth of December, or at some other season is uncertain. So are
the times in which the apostles and primitive Christians suffered
martyrdom. These events are veiled. Divine providence hath hidden them
from mankind, probably for the same reason that the body of Moses was
hidden from Israel--to prevent its being made an object of idolatrous
worship--or for the same which is supposed to have occasioned our
Lord's seeming neglect of his mother, and his severer reproof given to
Peter, than to any other of his disciples--"Get thee behind me Satan;"
namely, that idolatrous honor, which he foresaw would be afterwards
paid them by some called Christians.

Easter is once mentioned in our translation of the New Testament; but
it is not found in the Greek original. The word there used is "Pasxa,"
the Passover. It is mentioned only to note the time in which Herod
intended to have brought forth Peter and delivered him up to his
enemies. *

* Acts xii. 4.

* * * * *

Occasional calls there may be to fasting and thanksgiving; and we
have scripture warrant for attending them in their seasons. But fixing
on certain days of the year, or month, statedly to call men from their
secular business to attend to religion, and requiring the consecration
of them to religion is adding to the book of God. However well
intended, it goes on mistaken principles, and however specious in
appearance, is affronting the wisdom and authority of heaven.

Most of the errors referred to above, are found among Pagans or
Catholics; but is nothing of the same kind chargeable on Protestants?
"Are there not with us sins against the Lord our God?" And of the
same nature with those we have been contemplating? The knowledge of
other's errors in ay be for our warning; but the knowledge of our own
is requisite to our reformation. Where then are we directed of God,
religiously to observe Christmas, Lent, or Easter? Where to attend the
eucharist only twice or thrice a year; and never without one, or more