they were not remarkably successful during the subsequent week. And although the sailors at first, when they saw a whale on the Sabbath, could hardly be restrained from making efforts to take it, yet afterwards, they not only were entirely willing to refrain, but were in high glee whenever they saw one on the Sabbath, because, from the facts, they expected afterwards to be greatly prospered.

The owners, instead of giving directions to their captains to take whales whenever they can find them, can say, as men do with regard to other worldly employments, "Sundays excepted." Captains and crews can agree, when they are engaged, not to work on the Sabbath; and all concerned be contented, as in other employments, with what they can obtain in keeping the commands of God. Nor is it by any means certain that they will be out any longer, or be in any respect less successful.

Captain John Stetson, an experienced shipmaster, and late consular agent at the Sandwich Islands, says, "We are far from believing that any man can be a loser by the keeping of the commands of God. We well remember the trial of Captain, after his conversion. He felt the requirements of God to be as binding upon him as upon men on shore. He called his ship's company together, and informed them of his views. They agreed to give up whaling on the Sabbath. The next Sabbath, while Captain was preparing for the forenoon service, a man on deck called out,There she blows!' It was a large whale, which passed near the ship very slowly. They, however, did not lower the boats, but devoted the day to the worship of God. The next day every eye was strained to catch a glimpse of the whale, but in vain. The week passed away, without seeing any. The Sabbath came, and a whale was again seen. Some of the crew were desirous of going in pursuit, but the captain was firm. Another week passed away,

and no whales. The third Sabbath came, and again they saw whales. The crew became clamorous, and almost mutinous; but the captain assured them they were in the path of duty, and went on with his religious services. This was the last trial. They soon obtained all the oil they wanted, and returned in much less time than many who took whales on the Sabbath. A number of other instances might be cited, illustrating the fact that God can and does bless those who keep his commandments.”

An instance is stated by the mate of a whale ship, in which the captain had been out but a short time before he repeatedly saw whales on the Sabbath, seeing none on any other day. He did not attempt to take them. Soon he fell in with other ships that had been out no longer than he had, and yet had hundreds of barrels of oil, much of which was taken on the Sabbath. He had none. After a time he saw

a whale on Monday, and took it. He saw no more whales, after that, on the Sabbath, but was very successful at other times. He filled his vessel, and returned months before those who sailed when he did, and took whales on the Sabbath.

Captain Green, of England, who refrained from taking whales on the Sabbath, stated that he had never seen a whale on that day, when he did not see it again, or some other, on the following day.

A captain from Massachusetts, who long followed the business of whaling, took no whales on the Sabbath. Yet he was considered a very successful commander; and his services were eagerly sought for by owners of ships. His death, which lately occurred, was not only peaceful, but triumphant and glorious. "Never," said an old friend of his, "did I see such a triumphant death before."

As to the reason given, that the Lord would not permit sailors to see whales on the Sabbath, unless it were his will that they should attempt to take them, No. 4.

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they might as well say, that the Lord would not suffer them to see their neighbor's property, unless it were his will that they should steal it. He suffers men to be tempted to do wrong, for a far different purpose than that they should yield to the temptation. "Let no man say, when he is tempted, I am tempted of God, for God cannot be tempted of evil; neither tempteth he any man.” The fact is, whenever a man

does wrong, "he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed." And it is lust, which, when it hath conceived, "bringeth forth sin. And sin," knowingly and presumptuously continued in, will," when it is finished, bring forth death." When Jehovah commanded, "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy," he made no exception with regard to the business of whaling. If men would obey him, and meet his approbation, they must make none, but must rest on the Sabbath, and require all in their employment, and under their control, also to rest from their labors on that day.

It is also needful, in order to enjoy the full benefit of the Sabbath, that persons should not indulge in

SECULAR Reading, conVERSATION, OR CONTEMPLATION. The mind, as well as the body, must rest from worldly employments. It was with reference to the soul peculiarily that the Sabbath was made and given to men; and to keep it in a proper manner, the mind must not be occupied with secular concerns. The merchant may violate the Sabbath as really by the reading of secular newspapers, the planning of successful voyages, or the contemplation of worldly gains, as his neighbor who is selling wheat or goods. The student may violate it by getting his lesson; the lawyer by studying his case, consulting his authorities, or making out his brief. The farmer may violate the Sabbath, by walking out in his fields, and contemplating his crops; the physician, by visiting

his patients; and the clergyman, by riding to a distant town on an exchange, when the case does not require it, the providence of God does not call for it, and the law of God does not permit it.

That there are cases when it may be needful, and be an act of mercy and of piety, for a physician to visit his patient, a man his sick neighbor, or for a minister to ride some distance to preach the gospel, we do not deny. It is not of such cases that we speak, but of cases where the visiting, or the riding on the Sabbath, is not called for by the providence of God, but may be more usefully done on the previous day.

With regard to the practice of some ministers, who ride from town to town on the Sabbath, to EXCHANGE MINISTERIAL LABORS with their brethren, the following thoughts are submitted for serious consideration. Some, when they exchange, go, or return, or both, on the Sabbath; others conscientiously avoid this. When they exchange out of town, they go on Saturday, and return on Monday. Many Christians have expressed deep regret at the practice of the former, and an ardent desire that all would imitate the latter. They think it would be more useful, for the following reasons, among others; namely,

1. It would be more satisfactory to the great body of enlightened and conscientious men. This is evident from their frequent remarks on the subject, the deep regrets which they express at the practice of which we speak, and their desire that it may be changed. They apprehend that it tends to break down the sanctity of the Sabbath in the minds of the people, to lead them less sacredly to regard it, and furnishes occasion to Sabbath-breakers to excuse themselves in going from town to town, to hear a favorite preacher, or to be employed in some other way; while it lessens the influence of the minister in promoting the due observance of the day.

A respectable minister starts on Sabbath morning

from the town in which he lives, to ride ten miles to another town. After proceeding about six miles, he sees a man at his door chopping wood. He is fired with holy zeal, and instinctively turns up his horse, and says, "Friend, have you forgotten that it is the Sabbath day?" "No, sir." "You must be aware that you are doing wrong. It is wicked to employ this holy day in chopping wood." "And pray, sir," says the man, "what are you doing, in journeying on the Sabbath ?” He does not know that the man is a minister, and the minister does not like to tell him; for he might say, "If a minister may ride ten or a dozen miles, and occupy, in this way, two hours of holy time, I may occupy half an hour in chopping wood." However, the minister musters up courage, and says, "I am going to to preach the gospel to those who will otherwise be destitute." "And I," says the man, "am chopping wood for my family, who will otherwise, on this cold day, be destitute.” "But why did you not chop your wood on Saturday?" "Sure enough," says the man; "and why did you not do your riding on Saturday?"

"Had I passed on," said the minister who was once found in a situation like the above, "that man would not have known that I was a minister; and, thinking he was no worse than I, would have felt supported in his Sabbath-breaking." "Yes," said the friend to whom he related this case," and perhaps your telling him that you were a minister did not altogether prevent that effect." "So I thought," said the other; "and I resolved never to be seen again riding from town to town on the Sabbath." Would it not be well for all ministers to make similar resolution; and not to exchange with their brethren in other towns, except in cases where they can go and return without taking for the journey any part of the Sabbath?

A man spent his Sabbaths in tending a ferry, to the