mong the people his doings. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord he is GOD: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting and his truth endureth to all generations. Ps. 107. 31, 32. and 9. 11. and 100. 1-5. and 27. 4, 6. and 95. 1-3. and 148. 11-13. Col. 3. 16.

121. What was the language and conduct of a good magistrate respecting the observance of the sabbath?

Then contended I with the rulers and said, Why is the house of GOD forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place. In those days saw I in Judah some treading winepresses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals. There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem. Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, what evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day? 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. And it came

to pass, that, when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after the sabbath and some of my servants set I at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day. Neh. 13. 11, 15—19. || and 13. 20-22. and 10. 29, 31.

122. What blessings are promised to those who keep the sabbath holy?

If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a Delight, the Holy of the Lord, Honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord: and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. Is. 58. 13, 14. || and 56. 2, 4-7.

123. What threatenings have been denounced or executed against sabbath breakers ?

Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you; every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord; whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the sabbath day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath

day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched. Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them. But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness : they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them: and my sabbaths they greatly polluted: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them. Yet alsu I lifted up my hand unto them in the wilderness, 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: Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols. I lifted up mine hand unto them also in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the heathen, and disperse them through the countries. Ex. 31. 14, 15. Jer. 17. 27. Ez. 20. 12, 13, 15, 16, 23. || and 22. 8, 14-16, 31. Num. 15. 32 -36.

124. How must we fast to be accepted and profited?

Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you: and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord. And ye shall do no work in that same day; for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the Lord your God. Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites

of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily, I say unto you, they have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret, and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undue the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye brake every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily; and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy reward. Lev. 25. 27, 28. Mat. 6. 16-18. Is. 58. 6-8. Joel 1. 14, and 2. 12-17. National deliverances have been connected with National humiliation. 2 Chron. 20.2—4, 20-22, 29, 30. Est. 4. 3. and 8. 16. Jonah 3, 5-— 10.

125. Are we required at all times to exercise patience toward God and toward men ?

Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry for anger restcth in the bo

som of fools. See that none render evil for ex vil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. For ye have need of patience, that after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts; for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. Ps. 37. 7, 8. Eccl. 7. 8, 9. 1 Thes. 5. 15. Heb. 6. 12. and 10. 36. Jam. 5. 7, 8, 10, 11. || Rom. 15. 4, 5, and 2. 6, 7. and 5. 3, 4. Rev. 3. 10.

126. What are some of the directions of God to the young?

My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways. Therefore shall ye observe all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: I am the Lord. Remember now thy creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not; nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them, Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Prov. 23. 25.