possible to prevent wickedness from overrunning the land, and anarchy from distracting the people. There is but one alternative; Sabbath profanation must cease, or our liberties, and our religion are lost. We would rather be a subject of the autocrat of Russia, and dwell among the snows and frosts of Siberia, or under the rod of the veriest despot upon earth, than remain in this nation, now so highly favored, when God shall, for the sin of profaning his day, dash her in pieces "like a potter's vessel." There are already many conflicting passions and interests among us, hard to be controlled, even in this day of Christian restraint; but what will be our condition, when this restraint shall have been withdrawn, and we shall be given up, like a tempestuous ocean, to the winds and storms of intestine dissensions; wave dashing against wave, until our Union is broken, and we become our own executioners?

What, we ask, without the principles of the Bible, the fear of a future retribution, kept alive by the influence of a Sabbath, can keep, even in this country, our property, our reputation, and our lives, from the outrages of a mob? In this state of things, is it possible that rational, intelligent men will trample under foot the only institution that can save us? Our REPUBLICAN GOVERNMENT cannot save us. That depends on the morality, intelligence, and religion which the Bible presents, through the medium of the Sabbath, as our only hope, for safety and perpetuity. So long as our religion and our Sabbaths save us, we shall save our government, and that will save us no longer.

The professional men, mechanics, and agriculturists of this nation, have formed themselves into a kind of copartnership, to erect a mighty superstructure, whose influence shall be felt until every despot shall be dethroned, and light and life, liberty and peace, bless the entire family of man. They are brave men, republican men; and their bond of union is the Constitution of these United States. To the accomplishment of this great and desirable object, every man, and every class of men among us, owe their best services. But, if what has been said be true, then, surely, the man who wantonly desecrates the Lord's day cannot be a valuable partner in such a firm; but, on the contrary, like the gangrene, which, left to its natural tendency, pro

duces inevitable death, will not only jeopard the dearest interests of all his partners, and reduce this nation to the condition of Pagans; but cut off the world's last hope of liberty, and doom his family and friends to worse than the kraal of the Hot

tentot.

We see, then, that the man who desecrates the Lord's day is injuring himself, the community, and the nation in which he lives. If he labor seven days in a week, his physical powers are weakened, and the nation loses his most vigorous bodily efforts. He impairs his intellect and corrupts his morals, and the nation loses the wisdom and salutary influence which he might otherwise have exerted on it. The man who wantonly profanes that day must necessarily lose property, injure himself, his family, his friends, his neighbors, and dishonor God. But by duly observing it, he gains in bodily and mental health, and his business is done with greater ease and more correctness. Besides, the horse and the ox, which toil for our benefit, will be in better plight to perform their task; and all around will be comfortable and happy.

We see no necessity for labor on the Sabbath. Let all business be suspended on the day of rest, and it can be done better in six days; the same price will be paid for doing it, and to the same individuals. But Sabbath-breaking leads to wretchedness here, and to perdition hereafter. By it a man loses all that is valuable in this life and in the life to come, and gains nothing but poverty, ignominy, and all the evils which can possibly be entailed on a human being.

Let us now ask business men, with the history of fallen kingdoms and lost generations, and the word of God before you, dare you live without a Sabbath? Would you blot it out if you could? If you continue to labor on that day, and cause others to do so, you need not expect to escape the doom of other Sabbath-breakers, for that will be impossible. We infer this, from well authenticated facts, corresponding exactly with the divine prediction.

Would you have your children, too, left without a day of rest? Then continue the practice of labor, carrying and opening the mail, running stages, boats and railcars; lading and unlading

boats and vessels on that day, and it will most certainly be accomplished.

But while you continue this practice, few spiritual blessings will descend upon the communities where it is most witnessed; there will be few revivals of religion, and few inquiring the way to eternal life. What advantage can you derive from all this toil and anxiety for a little worldly good, procured at the displeasure of Him who gave you your being, and will soon call you to an account? What will compensate you, in the hour of dissolution and at the judgment, for all that you have lost by this disobedience? Nothing, nothing. Then, as you value your present and everlasting happiness-the happiness of your friends and your children, and a dying world; as you value the favor of God, and the glories of immortality, we beseech you not to rest, until the present system of Sabbath profanation is entirely done away. Cleveland, Nov., 1834.

CHAPTER VIII.

REVIEW OF THE REPORT OF A COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, ON THE SANCTIFICATION OF THE LORD'S DAY.

THE reviewer, during the last twenty years, has traveled some thousands of miles annually; and his observations have not been limited to young or old, rich or poor, learned or ignorant. His attention for many years has been particularly directed to the manner in which the Lord's day is observed. And it is his deliberate opinion, that the cause of the Redeemer was never, in this land, in so much danger as at the present time; and that from the influence of anti-Sabbath principles and conduct. Now, is it not worth the little attention requisite, to see whether this opinion be correct? But, to the Report.

At a meeting of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, convened at Pittsburgh, Pa., May, 1835, the subject of Sabbath desecration was presented to the Committee on Bills and Overtures, and by them to the Assembly. A Committee to consider and report on the subject was appointed by Dr. Phillips, Moderator of the Assembly, and the report, as presented by their chairman, DR. BEMAN, is as follows:

"Your Committee have devoted as much attention as circumstances would permit, to the important matter entrusted to their consideration, and they are now prepared to lay before the Assembly the result of their inquiries. One fact in relation to this subject, though painful and humiliating, cannot be disguised. The desecration of the Sabbath is increasing with unaccountable rapidity, in almost every part of our beloved country. And your Committee are constrained to expect, at no distant period, the

entire obliteration of this holy day, unless something is speedily done to arouse the slumbering energies of the church, for the purpose of arresting the footsteps of this growing evil. While there may be, and probably are, a few places in which Sabbathbreaking has been checked, by the united influences of the pulpit and of a salutary discipline, at least so far as the church is concerned, we have only to look into our large cities, in relation to this evil, glance the eye upon our navigable rivers, trace the long line of our canals, number the cars upon our numerous railroads, or listen to the perpetual rumbling of stages upon our turnpikes, in order to be convinced that the profanation of the Sabbath is a sin of giant growth in our land. It is, indeed, a deep-seated and increasing evil. It enters into almost every commercial interest in the land, and embraces, directly or indirectly, in its broad sweep of mischief, a vast multitude of individuals in the community, and not a few in the church of the living God.

"The various ways in which the Sabbath is desecrated, are almost without number. But among reputable portions of the community, the most common is traveling upon railroads, and in stages, and canals, and steamboats.

"In these humble conveyances may be found, upon the Sabbath day, multitudes of ministers and lay members of the different Christian churches, and of that very branch of Zion, too, to which the members of this Assembly belong. It is with deep regret that your committee add, upon satisfactory evidence, that a number of the members of this Assembly, on their way to the place of meeting, traveled in the ordinary public conveyances on the Sabbath. Your Committee believe that the Bible and the history of the world fully justify and establish the following positions:

"That the rest of the Sabbath is a wise and merciful provision for the animal system:

"That the sanctification of this day stands connected with the best interests of a nation:

"That Christianity cannot prevail and triumph in an individual heart, or in the world, without the aids of the Sabbath: