LECTURE VI.

THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED.

In our last discourse, we endeavoured to put to silence the ignorance of those foolish men, who contend that certain modes of Sabbathbreaking, are productive of national or individual advantage. Our object, at present, is to shew that violating the Lord's day, so far from being advantageous, is highly injurious; as the words of our text fully demonstrate: "Did not your fathers thus ; and did not our God bring all this evil upon us and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the Sabbath day."-As, in the following discourse, for the better elucidation of our subject, and the more firm establishment of our several positions, we intend to produce practical proof of the fatal consequences of Sabbath-impiety, by narrating several calamitous events; it may be proper here to remark, That, though innumerable instances are daily occurring, every way applicable to our purpose; yet, for reasons easily conceived, we shall not meddle with modern disasters; but shall direct your attention to some striking, though hacknied, accounts of

an earlier date.-As it is possible, that some present may be disposed to question the veracity of the following anecdotes, or to ascribe their occurrence to causes foreign to our subject; we now assure you, That they are selected from authors of the first distinction, and are as worthy of our belief, as any historical fact whatever; and that many great and good men, believing in the superintending providence of God, and persuaded that nothing occurs without some special design, have referred them to the causes to which they will be ascribed in the present lecture.-But not to detain you with any further preamble; we proceed to considerSECONDLY, The Evil Consequences of Sabbath-breaking: and these are visible—

(1.) In our Injured Country.-Britons, by their christian benevolence towards idolatrous nations, are, by the recipients of their bounty, considered a virtuous and godly people. We are sending the bible and our missionaries to almost every part of the globe. Now this, by the heathens in general, is considered a national work; and doubtless, the idea they form of us is, That we are the most religious people under heaven; and that, among other evidences of our piety, the Lord's day, of which we say so much to them, is properly observed by ourselves, But at length, either on business or pleasure, they pay our country a visit; and, like Moses approaching the burning bush, first step on British ground with the profoundest reverence. They mark our manners; they watch every

motion of the multitude; and are surprised. But they think within themselves, Their Sabbath is a holy day, and on that their superior piety will be visible; they therefore look about again on the Sabbath; but they are again dis appointed; and, if possible, are more surprised. Soon, however, they are led to correct their judg ment. They conceive that our nation, generally considered, is as much pagan as their own; and! that the sins which they saw in embryo at home, are to be found in perfection here. With these unfavourable impressions they return; they tell their countrymen what they have seen and heard; they despise us as a land of hypocrites ; our bibles and missionaries are treated with contempt and by these means our Sabbathimpiety arrests the progress of our pious efforts to save the world. What was once said of Jeru salem, may now be said of Britain: "The adversary saw her, and did mock at her Sabbaths."

Again, if sound morals are conducive to a country's happiness; if "private virtue be a public good;" if the genius of the gospel is really adapted to advance our national welfare; surely it is the greatest impolicy to suffer the Lord's day to be so notoriously profaned. By neglecting religion, men render themselves, not only unable, but likewise unwilling, to discharge the duties which they owe to their king and their country. The scriptures have united religion and loyalty: "Fear God and honour the king;" industry and devotion: "Six days shalt thou labour, but on the seventh shalt thou

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rest ;" and that which separates them, will materially injure them all. A neglect of religion will turn all our aims into channels of selfishness, and make us unfriendly both with God and his creatures. He that fears God will, for that very reason, obey magistrates; while the man that breaks his bonds of obligation to the former, will not be very scrupulous in observing his duty to the latter.

Besides, are we not, like the Asiatic churches, in danger of becoming pagan ourselves? Might not the Almighty easily effect such a change? Hear ye rulers of the realms! Hear ye loyal Sabbath-breakers! "Hear this, O ye that say, When will the new moon be gone, and the Sabbath, that we may set forth wheat? &c. Shall not the land tremble for this? I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation. I will send a famine in the land; not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water; but of hearing the words of the Lord. And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even unto the east; they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it."a "Was not this prediction recently fulfilled in a neighbouring nation? The French, prior to the revolution, awfully profaned the Sabbath; and what was the result? Why, by a just retaliation of divine providence, they lost it!"

Have we, as Englishmen, any reason to expect more favour from God than he shewed to his chosen people, the Jews, when our sins are

a Amos, viii. 4—12.

as aggravating as theirs? and that such is the case, none acquainted with the bible and our country can deny. Go, then, in imagination visit the wilderness, and see what the Hebrews felt, or what God threatened to inflict upon them, for violating his holy days. "My Sabbaths they greatly polluted: then I said that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands; that I would pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness; that I would scatter them among the heathen, and disperse them through the countries. I gave them also statutes which were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live."b Where is the British christian, whose heart beats with the love of God, that is not grieved for British guilt, and alarmed for Britain's safety!

(2.) In Afflicted Families.-How many streams that damp the pleasures of domestic life, may be traced to the source of Sabbathbreaking! It may be laid down as a general maxim, that when the Sabbath is profaned in a family, there will be but little happiness found among its members. When we enter a house, and see dirt, discord, and distress together, we commonly conclude that the people are Sabbath-breakers. We have found these evils so often associated, in regard to persons of this description, that we hesitate not to say, The above inference will generally be found correct. b Ezekiel, xx, 13—25.