we have control worship God also, if our power over them extend so far. Works of necessity are such as are actually necessary for our own preservation, rational comfort, and that of those associated with us, and which cannot be done, effectually on any other day: they extend also to the preservation of all instinctive animals entrusted to our care."What man shall there be amongst you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the Sabbath day will he not lay hold of it and lift it out? How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the Sabbath day."— St. Matt. c. 12, v. 11, 12. The Jews, who were commanded to do no manner of work, were, notwithstanding, if a beast fell into a pit, allowed to pull it out; though that was an act of labour; and if the calamities of our fellow-creatures require our exertions, (as our Saviour observed) how much more lawful is it to assist them on the Sabbath day. Though it would be

works of neceshimself; and no

unlawful to move goods from one house to another on this day, in the way of business; yet, if our neighbour's house were on fire, it would be our duty to assist in the removal of his goods, though it might take us the whole day; for, by serving our neighbour in his extremity, we serve God. In short, every person can judge for himself what sity are, as applying to general rule can be laid down to suit all individuals; but every individual's conscience, if he be at all religious, will tell him what he may, and what he may not do. Sunday is a day instituted for rest and gladness of heart; therefore, gloom is perfectly inconsistent with it;-strictly speaking, gloom is never in character with a Christian; for, even with the grief of repentance there is hope, and hope and gloom are in perfect disagreement. Gladness of heart being one effect to be produced by this day (which is a festival), cheerfulness should be its characteristic ;

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but levity, which is lightness of mind, must be avoided; indeed, on every other day as well as this; but on this more particularly. Some people seem to think that a dull, formal, manner; or discouraging every approach of rational joy; is proper on this day; but such conduct is, to that required of us on this day, what, in morals, prudery is to modesty. It is a day of rest, but not of indolence; the sedentary and sluggard are not to be our examples, but the sedate and active; because rest is, properly explained, a wholesome relaxation from labour and care; to recruit the body, and exhilirate the mind; to confirm the vigour of the one, and the elasticity of the other; cheerfulness is inseparable from this kind of rest, and should also be so from this day; because innocent gladness of heart is the parent of gratitude, of which virtue this day is the festival. With rational rest is connected innocent recreation, which is as necessary on this day as on any other;

and it should be of that kind which will improve our bodily or mental health; and there is space enough in this day to serve God by ceremonial worship, as well as by that worship of the happy heart which springs from gratitude, excited by a rational and cheerful enjoyment of the blessings he has so bountifully strewed in our path. Indeed, so much depends upon every one's circumstances and conscience as to what is lawful and what expedient, that after all the rules that can be given, every one, in particular cases, must judge for himself; which is the peculiar privilege of the Christian religion; for every one must answer for himself at the day of retribution, and he who studies the word of God sincerely and earnestly, and prays to God for grace with the same spirit of zeal, will scarcely be at a loss to know what he may, and what he may not do: but this is certain, that what any man thinks unlawful, although it may not be so, if he do that thing, without be

ing satisfied of its lawfulness, it is a sin

in him. One great duty is, to do all the good we possibly can, provided we do not "do evil that good may come of it," that done, I think, we may rest assured we have kept the Sabbath day holy. To those who labour hard all the week, and have but this day to enjoy the blessings of Providence, more is lawful in the way of rational recreation than to those who, during the other six days, are wholly masters of their time, as it is vulgarly called; but to these I would remark, “of him to whom much is given much will be required."

It has been remarked that misery and wretchedness have always been the consequence of the practice of Sabbath-breaking; and the pious Sir Matthew Hale used to observe, that he always experienced happiness or uneasiness, through the six subsequent days, in proportion as he spent holily or carelessly the previous seventh. "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath," said our Saviour. Every