womb? yea, they may forget, yet will not I forget thee. Behold I have engraven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me. For this is as the waters of Noah unto

for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart form thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord, that hath mercy on thee.

Finally. Parents give good things to their offspring however imperfectly they make known their wants and desires. Behold a family of several children. Here is one who is able to come and ask for his supplies in proper language-a second begs in broken phrases-but here is a third that cannot speak at all-but he can point, he can cry. Sweet babe! thou too art a child-thou too shalt succeed-every thing pleads for thee-thy dimpled cheeks, thy little hand, thy big shining tears-And if we who are evil do this, what think we of him whose tender mercies are over all his works? Let us therefore go to him-let us go and ask as we are able. Let us remember that words are not necessary to inform him who knows all things,

or to move him who is already more willing to give than we are to receive. He hears the voice of thy weeping. Thy desire is before him and thy groaning is not hid from him.

He calls himself your father, to teach you with what dispositions you should enter his sacred presence. You are encouraged to approach him with holy confidence and humble boldness.

Admire him: love him: hope in him: repair to him-pray without ceasing; pray and not faint. He who hears the young ravens that cry will not refuse the importunity of children. He hears prayer. Thousands, millions have sought him-and none ever sought him in vain. These successful suppliants returning from his throne encourage us to go forward, all saying, I sought the Lord and he heard me and delivered me from all my fears. They looked unto him and were lightened and their faces were not ashamed This poor man cried and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.-O taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

DISCOURSE III.

SATURDAY EVENING.

To-morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the Lord.-Exod. xvi. 23.

ANOTHER week is drawing to a close.— Another period has been added to the season of God's long suffering patience, and to the time of your preparation for an eternal world. These hours are gone to appear before God-what can they testify in your favor? They are gone to return no more-how have you improved them? What use have you made of your trials, your mercies, your means of religious instruction and edification? On such an occasion as this, it is well to look back and review the past-but I wish you also to look forward: to-morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the Lord. Let us consider the sabbath as a rest, and see with what dispositions we should think of its approach.

The sabbath is a rest. And it is so even to the brute creation. The mercies of God are over all his works: He takes care for oxen. I love to hear him say, that thine ox and thine ass may rest as well as thou. If animals were endued with reason how would they bless God for the kind and tender design of a sabbath! --but alas in how many instances does the wickedness of man counteract and defeat the goodness of God.

The sabbath is a rest for the body. Those who live in ease and idleness feel little importance in this: all days are nearly alike to them. But think of the condition of thousands and millions of your fellow creatures-think of a man sitting six day's at a loom, or standing six days at a forge, and so of others;-how inviting, how soothing, how useful, how necessary is a day of repose! Man is impelled to labor: in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground: for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art and unto dust shalt thou return. But is there nothing to soften the rigor of the obligation? Who could bear everlasting drudgery and fatigue? Behold a refreshing pause: a day of relaxation. The labourer lays aside the implements of industry— changes his apparel-unbends his wearied

limbs-enjoys the fresh air of heaven. The alteration of scene conduces to the preservation' of health-enlivens the dull sameness of toil, and renews the waste of spirits. Who would be cruel enough and senseless enough to blot out the sabbath from the days of the year! How heavily and joylessly would time pass away without these precious intervals. How many pleasing emotions associate themselves with the idea of a sabbath!-our charming poet therefore has not forgotten to notice the want of this in the lines supposed to have been written by Alexander Selkirk, in his solitude

"But the sound of the church going bell,
"These valleys and rocks never heard;
"Ne'er sigh'd at the sound of a knell,

"Nor smil'd when a sabbath appear d."

But it is principally designed to be a rest for the mind-a spiritual rest-and thus it is not a day of inactivity, but of reflection and devotion-a day in which disengaged from the concerns of time and sense, we may attend to the things which belong to our peace, examine our state and our character, inquire where we are going, and whether we are fit for the journey. It is almost the only opportunity some of the labouring poor have to gain religious infor