and had as fair a prospect as could be expected, yet I have always been disappointed in the effect of it, or in the success of it. So that it almost grew proverbial with me, when any importuned me to secular business on that day, to answer them, that if they expected to succeed amiss then they might desire my undertaking it on that day. "3. That always the more closely I applied myself to the duties of the Lord's day, the more happy and successful were my business and employments of the week following. So that I could, from a strict or a loose observance of that day, take a just prospect and true calculation of my temporal success in the ensuing week. Though my hands and mind have been so full of secular business, both before and since I was judge, yet I never wanted time in my six days to ripen and fit myself for the business I had to do; though I borrowed not one moment from the Lord's day to prepare for it, by study or otherwise. But on the other hand, if I had at any time borrowed from this day any time for my secular employments, I found it did further me less than if I had left it alone." The sabbath is a sacred day of quiet for man and beast. Society closes its stores, puts out its furnaces, dismisses its toilers, and the hum of industry, the clamour of six days ceases, while in its stead arise anthems of praise. Man abides at home. It is the day for all the members of a household to come together, and enjoy the sweets of domestic comfort. It is the day for the father, who is necessarily absent on other days, to gather the children about him and learn what they have done during the week. Then he should observe the progress they have made in good or evil. Then should the Bible be read, and all should engage in that reading. Sabbaths thus spent may be rendered cheerful, and become the happiest days of the week for the family. It need not be a matter of surprise, that a disregard for the sabbath is like the letting out of the waters of sin. It is often the first step in a course of wickedness. One who was conversant with prisoners for more than thirty years, stated that he found in all his experience, both with those who had been capitally convicted and with those who had not, that they referred to the violation of the sabbath as one chief cause of their crimes. Like the use of intoxicating liquors, it greatly increases public and private immorality. Men forsake God, and he for sakes them. He takes away the restraints of his providence, and they are filled with the fruit of their own doings. A murderer stood upon a scaffold and said to a great crowd assembled before him, "My friends, you have come to see a man die. Let me advise you to take warning by me. The beginning of my ruin was sabbath-breaking. This led me into bad company, from bad company I went to drinking, from drinking to robbing gardens and orchards, from this to house-breaking, and from this to murder. Thus I have been brought to my sad condition. Many of you are young; in an especial manner let me warn you to beware of sabbath-breaking." The common excuse is, "I am at work all the week, and the sabbath is my only day for pleasure." Can a law of God be broken with impunity, in order that we may enjoy ourselves? On this ground every species of wickedness may be palliated, and men may boldly break any precept of the decalogue, pleading as an apology their own pleasure. Is our gratification more to he regarded than a command of God? But a sabbath spent according to the Divine appointment will afford the purest and highest enjoyment. In the sanctuary, and in religious duties, we shall secure the richest pleasure, such as will not leave an aching head, nor a wearied frame, nor shameful remembrances. Who awakes on Monday freshest, and most invigorated for the week's work, the sabbath-breaker or the sabbath-keeper? Let every young man form an unalterable resolution to obey this commandment. Let no temptation of moneymaking draw him into an occupation which violates the sanctity of the Lord's day. Not even the persuasion or demands of an employer should move him from this fixed purpose. It is better to obey God than man. When Nicholas Biddle was president of the United States Bank, and possessing immense influence, he requested a young clerk to do some writing on the sabbath. The youth respectfully replied, that he could not without violating his conscience. This answer so provoked Mr. Biddle, that he told the clerk, if he did not comply with the order he must leave his situation. He remained firm, and went home with a heavy heart to his sisters and widowed mother, who were depending on his earnings. But he and they were sustained in that dark hour by the belief, that it was better to suffer for doing right, than to enjoy the fruits of sin for a season. The next week Mr. Biddle was asked whom he could recommend as cashier for a neighbouring bank. At once he spoke of this young man, and mentioned the occurrence of the preceding week, adding, "You can trust him, for he would not work on Sunday." This shows, not that such adherence to the right will always be so soon rewarded, but that ungodly men are constrained to respect and confide in those who will not violate the Lord's day even for gain. How is the sabbath to be kept? Probably a better answer cannot be given than that contained in the shorter Catechism of the Westminster divines: "The sabbath is to be sanctified by a holy resting all that day, even from such worldly employments and recreations as are lawful on other days; and spending the whole time in the public and private exercises of God's worship, except so much as is to be taken up in works of necessity and mercy." It is to be spent as a day of rest, and of worship. This is the Christian's choice day. He longs for its coming. He welcomes its quiet morning. He loves the retirement from the din of worldly business, and the inroads of worldly men; and rejoices in the opportunity it furnishes him for prayer, religious reading, and meditation. We must refrain from all secular duties. Among the worldly employments from which we must rest on the sabbath are" ploughing, sowing, reaping, bearing burdens, buying and selling, working at one's ordinary calling, reading newspapers or profane history, studying the arts and sciences, writing letters about worldly business, making up bills or accounts, unnecessary journeying on this day, seeking diversion or pleasure, conversing about trade, bargains, profits and losses, feasting and visiting, and unnecessary preparation of food." "The sabbath was made for man;" therefore, as our Saviour teaches, there are works of necessity and mercy to be performed on that day. But this necessity does not extend to working during harvest. For however we may argue about the allowableness, lest grain or hay be spoiled, God has solved the question in an injunction laid upon his own Israel, who were an agricultural people: "Six days shalt thou work, but on the seventh day thou shalt rest; in earing [ploughing] time, and in harvest thou shalt rest," Exod. xxxiv. 21. And the lesson to all of whatever occupation is, that we must observe the sabbath in the busiest season of the year. Travelling may not be included among works of necessity. Even on a long journey, we should rest on the sabbath, if possible; and in setting out, we should make our arrangements in reference to this. While John Quincy Adams was President, he was stopped at Boston by a heavy fall of snow, when on his way to his family. The roads became passable for the first time on the sabbath. He was then only twenty miles from home. And in the opinion of some pious men, the circumstances of his detention, and the sickness of his family justified his travelling on that day. Mr. Adams thought differently and said, "The justifiable occasion in this case would not prevent the bad influence of my example on those who might see me travelling without knowing the cause." He therefore waited until Monday. We are to avoid as violations of this commandment, whatever tends to interrupt the quiet of the sabbath, and prevent attendance on public worship: anything by which additional work is imposed on others, and the Lord's day is made a scene of confusion: anything, in short, which would in any measure or degree interfere with the religious character of the day. THE SHARK'S FIN. One day, WAS once sailing on the broad Pacific. when the sea was very calm, in looking out upon the water on the Mexican coast, I saw what seemed to be a long, sharp-pointed knife, rising above the surface and cutting the water, while it kept along with the ship for an hour or more. On looking narrowly, I saw that it was the fin of a shark rising from his back. This creature was following us, ready to catch any one who might fall overboard. It was very large, and had cold, murderous eyes. Thus it was gliding noiselessly along, watching for a chance to do some awful work of blood. So I thought that great enemy of souls, Satan, follows men, hoping to seize them in some unguarded moment, and drag them down to destruction. He is in the waters of sin; however pleasant they may seem, it is dangerous to try them. There is no safety anywhere, only as one keeps on the good stanch ship of Christian integrity. THE COLPORTEUR'S SONG. N through woodlands dark and dreary ON woodlangs and Climbing now the mountains weary, Night to me can bring no terror, Lonely hearts a friend have found. How it charms the listening ear! Nor in vain to bosoms thirsting, Weary pilgrim, seeking rest, Wear these jewels on your breast. Thus with hymns and heavenly musing |