us, whether on land or on water, the men knew that their labor would cease, and that the day would be given to them. Such of them as had an inclination, had the further opportunity of hearing a portion of the Scriptures read, or expounded, or of uniting in other devotional exercises. It may, perhaps, be thought that the giving up of one seventh part of the time employed on a public expedition in a remote region, and with many men to subsist, must have, in this ratio, increased the time devoted to the route. But the result was far otherwise. The time devoted to recruit the men replenished them with strength. They commenced the week's labors with renewed zest. And this zest was in a measure kept up by the reflection that the ensuing Sabbath also would be a day of rest. It was found, by computing the whole route, and comparing the time employed with that which had been devoted on similar routes in this part of the world, that an equal space had been gone over in less time than it had ever been known to be performed by loaded canoes, or by light canoes, before." The Sabbath was not designed, and the keeping of it holy is not adapted, on the whole, to hinder men, but to help them, in the prosecution of their worldly business.

was a

19. THE FATHER AND HIS SON. - Mr. man distinguished for his disregard of the Sabbath. He often employed his men to carry on his business as on other days. On a certain Sabbath morning, he had laid out his business for the day; but while eating his breakfast, a bone lodged in his throat, and caused his death. His son followed his example. He visited his farms, examined the state of the cattle, and in various ways desecrated the Lord's day. One Sabbath morning, as he was on his way to his farm, an assassin waylaid and killed him. Not long before this, he was visited by a Sabbath-keeping friend, who,

observing the wickedness of his people, asked him why he did not build a church, and have his people attend public worship, adding, "I should be afraid to live among them, lest they should murder me.

Not long after, he was murdered, and the assassin was hung. Thus were two men ushered into eternity for want of that moral influence and Christian instruction which the Sabbath day, with its means of grace, is adapted to impart; and for the want of which, multitudes, every year, are brought to an untimely grave.

AND CRIME. - A

distin

20. SABBATH-BREAKING guished gentleman of the bar, who has long been extensively engaged in the business of courts,- himself a member of no Christian church, but exemplary in his deportment, and free from all outward vices,-remarked that he did not recollect a case of a criminal, found guilty in a court of justice, who was not an habitual Sabbath-breaker. He knew of no one thing in which criminals were so universally agreed, as in their disregard of the Sabbath. And he added, "There is no moral integrity in a Sabbath-breaker."

A distinguished police officer, of long experience, in determining in his own mind whether persons suspected of crimes were guilty or not, was accustomed, he says, to inquire, first of all, "How do they spend the Sabbath?" If he found that they spent it in dissipation and amusement, he prosecuted his inquiries with vigor, expecting, from extensive observation, that he should find them to be guilty. What, then, are the men doing who break the Sabbath or induce others to do it? Undermining their moral integrity, increasing their liability to the commission of crimes, and warring against the great interests of man.

21. FIFTEEN YOUNG MEN.-At a respectable boarding-house in New York, a number of years ago,

were fifteen young men. Six of them uniformly appeared at the breakfast table on Sabbath morning, shaved, dressed, and prepared, as to their apparel, for attendance on public worship. They also all actually attended, both forenoon and afternoon. All became highly respected and useful citizens. The other nine were ordinarily absent from the breakfast table on Sabbath morning. At noon, they appeared at the dinner table, shaved and dressed in a decent manner. In the afternoon, they went out, but not ordinarily to church; nor were they usually seen in any place of public worship. One of them is now living, and in a reputable employment; the other eight became openly vicious. All failed in business, and are now dead. Several of them came to an untimely and awfully tragical end.

It

Many a man may say, as did a worthy and opulent citizen, "The keeping of the Sabbath saved me.” will, if duly observed, save all. In the language of its Author, "They shall ride upon the high places of the earth," and he will feed them with the heritage of his people.

A man

22. AFRAID TO FOLLOW THEIR EXAMPLE. asked his neighbor why he did not follow the example of certain persons who had ceased to support the gospel, and withdrawn from public worship. He said, “I am afraid to do it." "Afraid! What do you mean by that?" "I have for a long time," said he, "been accustomed to observe the condition of the men who take that course; and when I see how generally and rapidly, from that time, they go downward, I am afraid to follow their example." "Them that honor me I will honor, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed." (1 Samuel 2: 30.)

23. THE RECKLESS MAN.

- A man who was reck

less with regard to the means of grace, professed to

believe that it was not wicked to disregard the Sabbath. One time, when he heard of a person being killed by lightning, while at work on this day, he was particularly profane, and defied the Almighty to try his lightning on him. He was afterwards at work in the woods, and there came up a thunder shower. He started for home, and as he came out into the field, the lightning struck him, making two holes through his hat, scathing in a shocking manner his breast and different parts of his body, and passed off at his feet. He fell to the earth, and for a time was senseless. He afterward revived, and was able to get to his home. "There," said a distinguished and excellent man, who gave the writer this account, "I saw him: he is still alive. But whenever a thunder storm is coming, he begins to feel a burning sensation throughout his body, which, as the storm increases, becomes so intense, that they are obliged to keep him covered with water, till the shower subsides, in order to mitigate his torment."

24. CHEATING THE LORD. A man in Massachusetts, regardless of the Sabbath, had been engaged on this day in gathering in his grain. He afterwards remarked to his neighbor, that he had fairly cheated the Lord out of one day. But on Tuesday of that week, his barn was struck with lightning, and with its contents was consumed.

It is not so easy to cheat the Lord as some men imagine; nor is it in the end so profitable. He who made the eye, shall he not see? he who made the ear, shall not he hear? and he who has the universe at his disposal, shall he not maintain his rights and vindicate his honor? If not now, will he not hereafter? Though for a time he let his enemies prosper, though they set their mouth against the heavens, and say, "Where is the promise of his coming?" yet in due time will he come. And for every idle word which

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men have spoken, he will call them to give account. (Matt. 2: 36.)

25. LISTEN TO HIM. In a seaport town, notice was given that a distinguished preacher would deliver a discourse on the observance of the Sabbath. A large congregation assembled, and the preacher, after the usual introductory exercises, named his text, and seemed about to proceed, when he suddenly leaned down upon the pulpit, and remained silent. The audience supposed that he was unwell. But he soon rose up, and said, "Before entering on my discourse, I will relate an anecdote. It is fifteen years since I was last in this place of worship. The occasion was then the same which has now brought us together. Among those who then assembled were three young men, who came for the purpose of insulting and abusing the preacher. They had stones in their pockets to throw at him, as he stood in the pulpit. They listened for a time, when one of them said, 'Throw.' 'Stop,' said another; 'let us first see what he will make of this point.' His curiosity was soon satisfied, and he said, Confound him, it is as I expected: now throw.' But the third interposed, and said, they had better give up their design, and not do any thing, At this, the other two took offence, and left the house. This one remained to the close of the service. Now, mark," said the preacher, with strong emotion, "what was the fate of these young men. The first was hanged for forgery. The second is now lying in the jail, in this city, under sentence of death for murder. The third," said the preacher, as he wiped the great drops from his face, is he who is, about to address you. Listen to him."

Must not every heart in that immense congregation have been ready to echo, "Listen to him"? One is taken and others are left; and prominent among the