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D SABBATH DUTIES

D IN RELATION

AND SCRIPTURAL GROUNDS,

AND TO

LES OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY.

BY ROBERT COX.

ak as to wise men; judge ye what I say."-St Paul to the Corinthians.

EDINBURGH:

MACLACHLAN AND STEWART;

AND SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, AND CO., LONDON.

MDCCCLIII.

141.4.26.

SABBATH LAWS AND SABBATH DUTIES

CONSIDERED IN RELATION

то

THEIR ́ NATURAL AND SCRIPTURAL GROUNDS,

AND TO

THE PRINCIPLES OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY.

BY ROBERT COX.

"I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say."-St Paul to the Corinthians.

EDINBURGH :

MACLACHLAN AND STEWART;

AND SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, AND CO., LONDON.

MDCCCLII.

141.4.26.

BODI

NEILL AND CO., PRINTERS, EDINBURGH,

PREFACE.

THE circumstances which have led to the publication of this volume, will appear from the "Plea for Sunday Trains" which holds in it the most conspicuous place, but which serves chiefly to introduce a series of dissertations upon subjects of far wider and more permanent interest than its own.

The leading topic here discussed is the Sabbath question; but around it, and for its elucidation, many kindred themes of much interest and importance have gathered. What I have aimed at producing, is a treatise in which the lights of modern science and modern biblical learning should be brought to bear upon the matters in dispute. If by means of those lights it is possible to expose and counteract the unobtrusive errors of some, the disingenuous misrepresentations of others, and the well-meaning sophistry, ignorance, and presumption of a third class of zealous Sabbatarians, the cause of truth may be a gainer by the discussion.

I have endeavoured, moreover, to recal the attention of divines and serious laymen to the much neglected but increasingly fruitful field of Natural Religion. From its diligent culture there is reason to hope for a rich harvest of good to mankind. In particular, we may learn in it more and more how to spend beneficially the leisure of the Sabbath.

Lastly, and above all,-I have embraced so fit an opportunity to enforce those lauded, but imperfectly

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