arrived in her destined port a number of days before the others. They sold her cargo to great advantage, loaded again, and returned in safety. The others, not arriving till the market was partially supplied, could not do as well. They, however, sold their cargoes, and loaded again. But on their return, they were both taken by the enemy. The owner of the other vessel, in relating the above to the writer, expressed a strong conviction, after many years' experience, that men are not ordinarily losers by keeping the Sabbath. Extended and long-continued

observation has led multitudes to the same conclusion. If no vessel left a harbor on the Sabbath, it would, it is believed, greatly promote the benefit of all.

43. THE FARMER AND HIS MEN.. A wealthy farmer was accustomed to send his hay to market by water. When his sloop returned, the latter part of the week, he would, if possible, have her loaded so as to start on the Sabbath. He seemed to make his calculations in order to keep his men at work. For a time he prospered, and acquired property. It, however, afterwards began to diminish. One thing after another worked against him, and occasioned losses, till, without any great calamity, or surprising judgments, he became poor. He strove with all his might to avoid poverty; but it came upon him. He laid out great plans, but they did not succeed; while his neighbors, with apparently fewer facilities for the acquisition of property than he had, but who confined their efforts to the time which God had made for this purpose, continued to prosper. "The blessing of the Lord maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it." (Prov. 10: 22.)

44. "YOU WERE RIGHT, AND I WAS WRONG." A gentleman at the south had engaged a New England mechanic to build him a carriage. Before it was

done, the gentleman came into the town where the mechanic lived. On Sabbath morning, he sent him a note, saying, that, as he must leave early on Monday morning, he wished to see him, and make some arrangements about the carriage. The mechanic, knowing that he was a high-spirited man, apprehended that if he should not see him, he would be offended; and that he might not take the carriage. As he was a man of great wealth and influence, he might injure his business in the part of the country where he lived. He, however, had adopted and acted on the principle of not attending to any secular business on the Sabbath. He therefore determined to adhere to his former practice, and risk the consequences. He sat down and wrote the gentleman a note, acknowledging the receipt of his, and informing him that it was not his practice to transact business on the Sabbath, and that he could not see him for that purpose, but that he would see him as early as he might wish on Monday morning. Early on Monday morning, the gentleman called. But instead of being angry, as the mechanic feared, he met him kindly, and politely apologized for his troubling him with the note on the Sabbath, saying, "You, sir, were right, and I was wrong." He did his business, took the carriage, and became his special friend. He was a man of discernment, and he evidently respected the mechanic the more for his principles, and his decision in doing what he thought to be right. The mechanic prospered, and became a man of wealth.

"Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed." (Psalm 37: 3.)

it

45. THEY ALL FAILED. In the town of was customary for the men who were engaged in certain kinds of business to continue their operations

through the Sabbath. They contended that it was necessary, and that the good of the community required it. The business was lucrative; and yet every man engaged in it failed. Many lost not only their property, but their character. Several of them abandoned their families, and absconded. One went on board a steamboat, which took fire and was consumed. Most of the passengers were lost, and he was never afterwards heard of.

46. THE POWERFUL YOUNG MAN. A young man of great bodily strength, intellectual vigor, and capacity for business, was so eager to get rich, that he engaged in a concern where, in his own estimation and that of his employers, it was needful to work on the Sabbath. For a time he prospered, and his profits answered his expectations. But he broke his leg very badly, and was for a considerable time confined on expense. He, however, recovered, and returned to his business. He prosecuted it with industry and skill, till he obtained property enough to become a partner in the concern. But not long afterwards, the company failed, and he lost not only all that he put in, but, being responsible for the debts, he lost his whole estate, except a little which he contrived to turn into money. He then removed to a new and distant part of the country, bought a farm, and commenced life again. It was suggested to him, by a friend, that perhaps some of his calamities had come upon him in consequence of working on the Sabbath, and that, as he was now beginning in a new place and a new employment, he had better change his habit. But, as many others do, he ridiculed the idea, and continued, as before, to work on the Sabbath. He was industrious and economical. His property again increased; but in one year, his finest cow and six other cattle died. Two of his horses were killed. Afterwards, owing, it is supposed, to his

great and unremitted exertions, he lost the use of his limbs; and he now sits from day to day helpless, not able even to feed himself, and dependent upon his friends for his daily bread. He looks back with regret upon the course which he has pursued, and acknowledges that in his calamities God is just.

47. NOT READY. - A man who had no special need of any extraordinary amount of property, was nevertheless exceedingly anxious to obtain it. He labored with uncommon diligence and success. When he

thought he could be a gainer, he did not scruple to Occupy the Sabbath. In the midst of life, health, and prosperity, a friend admonished him of the evil of his course, and urged him to abandon it.

His

He said he knew that it was wrong to work on the Sabbath, that he had often thought of it, and that he meant to give it up. friend replied, that he had better give it up now. But he was not ready. And before he got ready, he was attacked with a violent disease, and suddenly died. What became of his property is not known, but it is plain that his Sabbath day gains were to him of no lasting advantage.

A man

48. QUI FACIT PER ALIUM FACIT PER SE. in large business was accustomed regularly to rest on the Lord's day, and to attend public worship. But he as regularly kept a number of men at work, who were engaged in his employment. He was reproved for his inconsistency, and told that he was doing great injury to his fellow-men. He acknowledged that it was not right, and gave encouragement that he would change his course. He, however, still continued, till his affairs became very much embarrassed; and, finally, his whole establishment, houses, lands, and all, were sold to pay his debts. Men are accountable, not merely for what they do themselves, but also for what they lead others to do, who are

under their control. Owners of steamboats, directors of railroads, agents of manufactories, who themselves rest on the Sabbath, and sit quietly in the house of God, but who permit others, in their employ, to run their conveyances, or pursue their business, are as really guilty, and expose themselves to divine rebuke as much as if they did this business themselves. Though they may escape the condemnation of men, they cannot escape the righteous retribution of God.

49. NINE STAGEMEN. We have the names, says a writer, of nine stagemen, all of whom, except one, have pursued their occupation in the same section of country, and were often reproved for violating the Sabbath, but to no apparent benefit, for they refused to let their horses rest on that day.

Long since they have all been bankrupts, and some of them over and over again; a few are dead; a few, it is hoped, have repented and found mercy; and a number are strolling about without character or friends.

50. THREE EXPERIMENTS. A of fur company traders started in their canoes, from Mackinaw, for the upper end of Lake Superior. A part of them sailed without regard to the Sabbath, and made what progress they could, by working hard seven days in a week. The others sailed only six days, and uniformly rested on the Sabbath. The latter arrived at their place of destination about half a day sooner than the former. The next time they went, they made the same experiment; and the Sabbath-breakers did not arrive till about a day and a half after the others. Still they were not convinced that it was best to rest on the Sabbath; and they tried the experiment the third time. Then the difference between them and the Sabbath-keepers was greater