CHARLES. "Is there a time when moments flow "More peacefully than all beside ? "It is of all the times below, "A Sabbath eve in summer tide. "Oh then the setting sun smiles fair, "And then the peace that Jesus beams, "The life of grace, the death of sin, "With nature's placid woods and streams, "Is peace without, and peace within. If heaven be ever felt below, "A scene so heavenly sure as this, "May cause a heart on earth to know "Some foretaste of celestial bliss. "Delightful hour! how soon will night Spread her dark mantle o'er thy reign, "And morrow's quick returning light, "Must call us to the world again. "Yet will there dawn at last a day; EVENING XII. VIOLATIONS OF THE SABBATH. Mrs. M. I wish to converse with you a little while this evening, my dear children, about VIOLA TIONS OF THE SABBATH. George. How can we know, mother, when we do break the Sabbath? The commandment says we must not do any work, but you have told us that we may work some. You said domestics must not be made to work more on the Sabbath than is necessary for the comfort of the family. The commandment says that "cattle" must not work on the Sabbath, but you have told us make horses carry us to meeting. know such things are right? it is right to How do you Mrs. M. Such things are allowed in the Bible. Our Saviour said his disciples had done right in plucking corn on the Sabbath when they were hungry. We conclude from this case that it is right to prepare food for the purpose of satisfying our hunger on the Sabbath, or to do other things necessary for our health and comfort. Our Saviour himself ate on the Sabbath, and from his example we conclude that we may do the same. But this does not authorize us to spend the day in feasting.. As to using our horses for carrying us to the house of worship, we think the Bible justifies us in this too. The priests in the temple killed the lambs for sacrifice on the Sabbath. But our Saviour says they did not sin in doing this. It was a part of religious worship. If any of the other Jews had killed lambs on the Sabbath for their own use, it would have been a violation of the fourth commandment. We think that this example justifies us in doing, on the Sabbath, the labor which is necessary to prepare us for divine worship, and which cannot be done before the Sabbath comes. We think, too, it allows us to use our cattle for the same purpose, and that it is right, therefore, to employ them in carrying our families to the house of God. I suppose every thing may be done that is consistent with the design for which God sanctified the Sabbath. This design, as I have already told you, is that men should rest from their common business on the Sabbath, whether they labor with their bodies or with their minds. Beasts that labor are also to rest on the Sabbath. This rest for beasts can only be for their bodies, but for men there is a higher design. God means that men, while ceasing from labor, shall have leisure to refresh their minds, and improve their hearts by the public duties of his house, and the private duties of the family and the closet. He means that men shall become more serious, humble, heavenly-minded, devoted, and prayerful, by keeping the Sabbath. Every thing which falls in with this design of God in giving men the Sabbath, may be done on that day. And every thing which hinders this design must be avoided. George. This rule would be enough to guide us in many cases, but there are some cases, I think, where we might still be in doubt. Mrs. M. Well, then, my son, I will give you another rule. Avoid doing any thing on the Sabbath when you are doubtful whether it can be done without violating the fourth commandment. You will be safe in letting it alone, while to do it may be sinful. The small-pox is infectious. If you go too near you will be very likely to catch it. I do not know just how near you can approach it and be safe. Suppose, now, you were passing in the neighborhood of a house where several persons are sick of the small-pox. And suppose you knew that if you kept ten rods distant you would be out of danger from the disease. Suppose, too, that you did not know but you might safely go within two rodswhat would you do? George. Why, mother, I do not wish to have the small-pox, and should be sure to keep at least ten rods from the house. Mrs. M. Just so, George, you should do in regard to violating the Sabbath. Some things it is very plain that you may do on the Sabbath. Some things it is quite as plain that you must not do. And about some other things, perhaps, there might be a little doubt. You should act in regard to these doubtful things just as you do about keeping at least ten rods from the house infected by the small-pox. You should entirely avoid them-then you will be sure of not breaking the fourth commandment. I will show you what I mean, by some examples. It is doubtless right for you to ride to meeting from your home on the Sabbath. It is as clearly wrong, without any necessity, to travel on a journey upon the Sabbath. But a man who lives thirty miles off owes you a debt, and is about to fail. You may lose your debt if you wait till Monday. Perhaps you begin to ask yourself if it may not be right for you to get your horse and go and secure your debt It is a doubtful case, you say. If, then, you ask my advice, I counsel you not to ven on the Sabbath. ture too near the infected house. Keep at a safe distance. Better lose your debt than offend God by violating his command. It would be clearly wrong for a man to leave his home, in Hartford, on Sabbath morning, and, without any other reason than to gain a day for business, go to New-York in a steam-boat. It would, I think, be as clearly right for him to go to NewYork on the Sabbath, if his wife or his father was |