FIFTH REPORT.

AMONG the numerous signs of the times, which give promise of future good to mankind, is a widely extended and an increasing attention to the observance of the Sabbath. The ends for which this institution was appointed, the will of its Author, and the effects of observing it, must ever give it a high place in the estimation of all intelligent and right minded men. Philanthropists have often noticed the facts, that open vices are not practiced by men who keep the Sabbath; and that the reckless and abandoned are uniformly violators of this holy day. Nor is this without obvious reasons. There are laws, fixed and uniform in their operation, of which these facts are the natural result.

Such is the nature of the Sabbath, and such the nature of man, that opposite courses with regard to the observance of the day, will produce upon them opposite effects. One course is a practical acknowledgement of the existence and perfections of Jehovah, and of his omnipresent and rightful authority; the other is a practical denial of these great truths. It is acting as if there were no God, and no state of future retribution. Acting like atheists, produces upon men atheistical effects; hence the reason why such vastly greater numbers of the latter class are openly vicious than of the former. One class say, by their conduct, to themselves and others, "Verily there is a God that judgeth in the earth;" and "thou God seest me; and wilt bring every work into judgment, with every

secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil." The other say, "No God;" "no heaven-no hell." And each course produces, upon those who pursue it, its appropriate effects.

Visit all the prisons in our land, and you do not find the Sabbath-keepers there; but Sabbath-breakers you may find in great numbers. Not a few you may find, who once kept the Sabbath; and while they did that, were sober, industrious, and useful. But they began to violate it, and their character began to deteriorate; their prospects were darkened; and they committed crimes, which carried them to the prison, and, some of them, will carry to the gallows.

What, then, are those men doing, especially those who have influence, who openly violate the Sabbath, or lead others to do it? They are undermining the foundations of virtue, and strengthening the hands of vice; multiplying the number of convicts; inculcating practical atheism on their countrymen, and warring against the great interests of mankind.

Rail-road Companies, who run their cars on the Sabbath-Canal Commissioners, and Steam-boat Proprietors, who run their boats-and all, who violate the sanctity of this day, for purposes of gain or amusement, are doing an injury to society, which they can never repair.

Do you say, 'There is so much business, that it cannot be done in six days in a week; and that, therefore, men must work on the Sabbath-there is a necessity for it?' What is the ground of that necessity? Is it that men may make more money, a self-made necessity? If so, it is a wicked necessity. Men have no right to lay out more business, or attempt to perform more than they can accomplish by working six days in a week. If they do, they attempt to be wiser than God, and show this, by the violation of his command.

The Farmer, the Merchant, the Mechanic, might all lay out more business than they could perform; but it would be wicked, and the prosecution of it would expose them to Divine wrath.

Nor is it different with Corporations, or Bodies of men. Though they are sometimes said to have no souls, the individuals who compose them have souls, and will be held accountable for their influence in Public Bodies, no less than in their private concerns. Each individual must give an account of himself unto God. And none but God can tell how soon.

A friend of the Sabbath was accustomed to go, on the morning of this day, on board the vessels in the harbor, to distribute Religious Tracts, and invite the officers and men to attend public worship. In one of his visits, he found the officers and men, on board a certain vessel, hard at work. He spoke to the captain, and invited him. to attend church. He said he should like to do it, but he could not; they must that day keep to work. He said he was under contract to the government, and was obliged to do it. "What!" said the man, "obliged to break the command of God?" "Yes," he said, "I am." “But," said the man, "God will call you to an account." The captain, in a sad tone of voice, replied, "I suppose he will." They parted. The next morning, in passing about his vessel, the captain fell overboard, and immedi-ately sank. They rushed to the side of the vessel; he rose once, and cast up a wild, despairing look, sank again, and was seen no more. Had he known that that was to be his last Sabbath on earth, would he have spent it in loading his vessel? Suppose the government had required it; would he not have chosen to obey God rather than men? And would he not have been wise in so doing?

And when, under a great pressure of business, that

active, enterprising young man consented to go with the rail cars, on the Sabbath, although they had not been accustomed to run on that day; and, after going about forty miles, struck his head and was killed; had he known that such was to be the end, would he not, like the other young man who was requested to go, have refused, because it was the Sabbath? And would he not have been a gainer by that refusal? It is never wise, never safe, for the sake of money, or any earthly good, to provoke the wrath of the Almighty. Though sentence against this evil work should not be, as it often is not, executed speedily; because God is long-suffering, not willing that men should perish, but come to repentance! yet even in these cases it is more wise, more safe, and in the end, in all respects better, to obey his commands.

Nor is it true, that men who work seven days in a week can do more work, or in a better manner, than those who work only six. They do not, ordinarily, get more property, keep it longer, or enjoy it better. They are no more respectable, useful, or happy; and in no respect have they any lasting advantage above those who keep holy the Sabbath; but in numerous ways they suffer great loss. This, we should expect, from the declarations of God; and it is abundantly proved by facts.

Wherever our Documents have gone, this conviction has been extended and increased. The Committee are, therefore, desirous of putting a copy of them into every family that is disposed to receive it, throughout the United States. And they cannot but believe, from what has taken place, that such a distribution would be of unspeakable value to the present and to future generations.

The First Document shows that the foundation for the Sabbath is laid in the works of God; and that the Fourth Commandment only expresses the moral obligation which results from the nature and relations of things.

The Second Document shows that God, in his word and by his providence, has clearly designated the first day of the week, as the day to be kept, from the resurrection of Christ to the end of the world.

The Third Document shows the effects of keeping the Sabbath, on children, while under the care of parents, and on young men, in that most dangerous of all periods of human life, from the time when they leave the family circle, to the time when they become heads of families themselves.

The Fourth Document shows the manner in which the Sabbath should be kept, in order to realize its highest benefits; and answers a number of objections, which are often made to the keeping of it in this way.

The Secretary has made such arrangements, with regard to the distribution of these Documents, that for every thousand dollars which shall be furnished for this purpose, a copy of one or more of them may be put into a hundred thousand families. Had the Committee the means, they could supply half a million families a year; and many of them on the frontiers, and in the most destitute parts of the country. By means of men at New Orleans, Pittsburgh, and Buffalo, furnished with them in German, French, and Spanish, they could also be put into a great portion of the families of immigrants that go through those places into the southern and western country. Something has already been done for this class; and it is interesting to see how it operates. They are strangers in a strange land. Speaking a foreign language, and feeling as if there were little or no sympathy in their behalf, when they see a little book kindly offered, in their own mother tongue, it looks like home. They take it with eagerness, read it with attention, and not unfrequently it makes a strong and lasting impression. Not having been. rightly instructed, in many cases, on the subject of the