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cumstances of the Israelites, or to the particular 

 relation in which they stood to God as his chosen 

 people. The creation of the world was an event 

 equally interesting to the whole human race ; and 

 the acknowledgment of God as our Creator is 

 a duty, in all ages and countries, incumbent 

 on mankind. 



" The terms of the ordinance plainly describe 

 it as an institution of an earlier age ' Wherefore 

 the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and set it 

 apart,' which is the true meaning of hallowed it. 

 These words express a past time. It is not 

 said, Wherefore the Lord now blesses the seventh 

 day, and sets it apart, but, Wherefore he did 

 bless it, and set it apart in times past ; and he 

 now requires that you, his chosen people, should 

 be observant of that ancient institution. 



fi In confirmation of this fact, we find, by the 

 16th chapter of Exodus, that the Israelites were 

 already acquainted with the Sabbath, and had 

 been accustomed to a strict observance of it, 

 before Moses received the tables of the law at 

 Sinai. For, when the manna was first given for 

 their nourishment in the wilderness, they were 

 commanded to lay by, on the sixth day, a suffi- 

 cient portion for the succeeding day. ( To- 

 morrow,' said Moses, is the rest of the holy 

 Sabbath unto the Lord : on that day ye shall 

 not find it in the field ; for the Lord hath given 

 you the Sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the 



