the laws of nature, the law of periodicity. So far as my observation has extended, those persons who are in the habit of avoiding worldly cares on the Sabbath, are those most remarkable for the perfect performance of their duties during the week. The influence of a change of thought, on the Sabbath, upon the minds of such persons, resembles that of the change of food upon the body. It seems to give a fresh spring to the mental operations, as the latter does to the physical. I have a firm belief that such persons are able to do more work, and do it in a better manner, in six days, than if they worked the whole seven. The breathing of the pure and sublime atmosphere of a religious Sabbath refreshes and invigorates the spirit. It forms an epoch in our existence from which we receive a new impulse, and thus constitutes the best preparation for the labors of the following week."

Gilbert Smith, M. D., late president of the College of Physicians in the city of New York, says, "I have read with much satisfaction Dr. Farre's testimony, and unhesitatingly subscribe to his views."

The opinions of the above and many other distinguished medical gentlemen are abundantly confirmed by facts. Men who labor but six days in a week are more healthy and strong than those who labor seven. They do more work, and live, upon an average, to a greater age. This has been strikingly exemplified in numerous cases. Eight respectable physicians of Rochester, New York, viz., F. Backus, M. D.; J. E. Elwood, M. D.; M. Strong, M. D.; J. W. Smith, M. D.; J. Brewster, M. D.; J. H. Hamilton, M. D.; E. W. Armstrong, M. D.; and M. Long, M. D., have given the following testimony: "We fully concur in the opinions expressed by Drs. Farre and Warren. Having most of us lived on the Erie Canal since its completion, we have uniformly witnessed the same deteriorating effects

of seven days' working upon the physical constitution, both of man and beast, as have been so arly depicted by Dr. Farre." They are more sickly than others, bring upon themselves, in great numbers, a premature old age, and sink to an untimely grave. Nor is it true that men who labor six days in a week, and rest on one, are more healthy, merely, and live longer than those who labor seven; but they do more work, and in a better manner. The experiment was tried in England upon two thousand men. They were employed for years, seven days in a week. To render them contented in giving up their right to the Sabbath as a day of rest, that birthright of the human family, they paid them double wages on that day, eight days' wages for seven days' work. But they could not keep them healthy, nor make them moral. Nor can men ever be made moral, or kept most healthy in that way. Things went badly, and they changed their course employed the workmen only six days in a week, and allowed them to rest on the Sabbath. The consequence was, that they did more work than ever before. This, the superintendent said, was owing to two causes, viz., the demoralization of the people under the first system, and their exhaustion of bodily strength, which was visible to the most casual observer. Such a course will always demoralize men, and diminish their strength.

It was tried on the northern frontier of the United States, during the last war. When building vessels, making roads, and performing other laborious services, the commander stated that it was not profitable to employ the men on the Sabbath, for it was found that they could not, in the course of the week, do as much work.

In the year 1839, a committee was appointed in the legislature of Pennsylvania, who made a report with regard to the employment of laborers on their

canals. In that report, they say, in reference to those who had petitioned against the employment of the workmen on the Sabbath, "They assert, as the result of their experience, that both man and beast can do more work by resting one day in seven, than by working on the whole seven." They then add, "Your committee feel free to confess, that their own experience as business men, farmers, or legislators, corresponds with the assertion."

The minister of marine in France has addressed a letter to all the maritime prefects, directing that no workman, except in case of absolute necessity, be employed in the government dock-yards on the Sabbath. One reason which he gives is, that men who do not rest on the Sabbath do not perform as much labor during the week, and, of course, that it is not profitable to the state to have labor performed on that day. Another reason is, that it is useful to the state to promote among the laboring classes the religious observance of the Sabbath. This is, no doubt, the case. And one way to promote among the laboring classes the religious observance of the Sabbath is, for functionaries of the government to suspend their secular business, and religiously observe the day, themselves. Let the distinguished classes of society set an example of keeping the Sabbath, and others may be expected to follow it. And let employers in no case unnecessarily deprive those whom they employ of the rest and privileges which God has provided for them, and the enjoyment of which would promote the mutual good of all. The policy which seeks to gain by the violation of the laws which infinite wisdom and goodness have established, is selfish, short-sighted, and defeats its own end.

The experiment was tried in a large flouring establishment. For a number of years, they worked the mills seven days in a week. The superintendent

was then changed. He ordered all the works to be stopped at eleven o'clock on Saturday night, and to start none of them till one o'clock on Monday morning, thus allowing a full Sabbath every week. And the same men, during the year, actually ground thousands of bushels more than had ever been ground, in a single year, in that establishment before. The men, having been permitted to cleanse themselves, put on their best apparel, rest from worldly business, go with their families to the house of God, and devote the Sabbath to its appropriate duties, were more healthy, moral, punctual, and diligent. They lost less time in drinking, dissipation, and quarrels. They were more clearheaded and whole-hearted, knew better how to do things, and were more disposed to do them in the right way.

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This, under similar circumstances, will always be the case. Men who labor six days in a week, and rest one, can do more work in all kinds of business, and in all parts of the world, and do it in a better manner, than those who labor seven. Sabbath was not designed, and it is not adapted, to injure men, even in their business for this world, but to benefit them; and those who will not keep it reject their own mercies.

It has been said that those who manufacture salt by boiling must violate the Sabbath, because it will not do to let the kettles cool down as often as once a week. But a gentleman tried the experiment, who said that, if he could not keep the Sabbath, he would not make salt. He had thirtytwo kettles. He allowed the fires to go out, and all the works to stop, from Saturday till Monday. His men attended public worship on the Sabbath. In the course of the season, they boiled seventyeight days, and made, upon an average, over two hundred bushels of salt a day—in all fifteen thou

sand eight hundred and seventy bushels; and at an expense, for breakage and repairs, of only six cents. At the close of the season, he told his Sabbathbreaking neighbors how much he had made; but it was so much more than they had made themselves, that they could hardly believe him. Their expenses for breakage and repairs had been much greater than his. Not a man, with the same dimension of kettles, had made as much salt as he. Resting on the Sabbath does not, on the whole, hinder men in their business. It helps them both as to the quantity and the quality of their work. Even fishermen abroad on the ocean, who fish but six days in a week, ordinarily prosper better than those who fish seven.

A gentleman who resides in a fishing town, and who has made extensive inquiries, remarks, "Those who fish on the Sabbath do not, ordinarily, take any more, during the season, than those who keep the Sabbath. They do not make more money, or prosper better for this world. They are not more respectable or useful, nor are their families. Their children are not more moral, and it seems to be no better for them, in any respect, than if they fished and did business only six days in a week.

"One man followed fishing eight years. The first four he fished on the Sabbath., The next four he strictly kept the Sabbath, and is satisfied that it was for his advantage in a temporal point of view. Another man, who was accustomed, for some years, to fish on the Sabbath, afterwards discontinued it, and found that his profits were greater than before. Another man testifies that, in the year 1827, he and his men took more fish by far than any who were associated with them, though he kept the Sabbath, and they did not. It was invariably his practice to rest from Saturday till Monday. Though it was an unfavorable season for the fisheries, he was greatly prospered in every way, and to such an