the earth. The advantages which result to mankind from pure religion, or the worship of the true God, are numerous and important. Its tendency is to elevate in every important respect, the human mind.

The mind, by being confined to this world, or to idolatry of any kind, becomes grovling and sensual. Immediately after the apostacy of our first parents, men became idolaters, and as the natural consequence of this, they became sensual and ignorant. The history of the world from that time to the present, affords the most decided evidence in proof of this point. Testimony the most unequivocal, may be obtained also from the present state of the world. If we look at those parts of the world, where still broods the gloomy night of Paganism, we shall see that just in proportion to the intensity of their spiritual, is their intellectual darkness. The more entirely the mind is under the control of this world, the more impervious to its sight are the walls of its prison; and of course, the less able it is to extend its discoveries. No other cause can be assigned why the minds of the heathen have not been turned to the sciences, and why they are not at this moment as enlightened as any nation on the face of the earth; they have not the worship of the true God, and are under the influence of habitual idolatry.

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So far then, as we are anxious to promote the interests of general knowledge, and act understandingly, we shall be equally anxious to have the Sabbath universally observed. Every honest mind must be convinced, that it is the most important of all means, in preserving the worship of the true God in the world. When the mind, at the return of every seventh day, is called away from earthly and sensual objects, and led to a course of reflection that strengthens its faith in the existence of God, and renews the impressions produced by a view of his character, it must be obvious that the wor

ship of God will be preserved, when otherwise, it would be soon buried in the sensuality and darkness of paganism.

2. The worship of God tends to promote all those virtues which render life a blessing. The reading of the Scriptures, the praises and the prayers of the house of God, all direct the attention of the mind, to subjects of a spiritual and holy char acter. There the miser, the man of pleasure, the profane swearer, the drunkard, &c. are constantly reminded that the eye of their Judge, who will ere long lay justice to the line and righteousness to the plummet, is fixed upon them. What will lead a man to treat the character and interest of his neighbour, both before his face and behind his back, with all that tenderness and affection which he would wish to have manifested toward his own, if he will not be led to it by what he sees and hears in the house of God? If he will not resolve to do it, when the bed of death, the bar of judgment, and the throne of God are often placed before him, will he ever be led to it by any motives however solemn and fearful? If he will not be excited to resolutions of this kind, where he is so often invited to contemplate such a character as the Saviour, what motives of a tender and benevolent character, can it ev. er be hoped will produce this effect?

It needs but little penetration to see that justice, honesty, tenderness, and whatever tends to inspire confidence, and nourish feelings of sincere regard among mankind, are directly inculcated, and constantly cherished by the worship of God.

Again, the worship of God is of incalculable importance in the support of government, especially if it be free and elective. No government will endure for any length of time without it, unless it is based on ignorance, and guarded by tyranny. Every page in the history of the world shows that man, if he have nothing but the feeble arm of human power to awe him to submission and obedience, wants nothing but

the opportunity, to enlist in every enterprize, by which he might hope to promote his own interest or honour, however hazardous it may be to the best interests of his government. The question which is suggested by the Illustrious WASHINGTON on this subject, in his Farewell Address, can never be answered. "Let it simply be asked, where is our security, either for property or for life, if all religious obligation desert the oaths, which are the instruments of investigation, in our Courts of Justice?" The more light and information men possess, the more impossible it will be to have any form of government remain stable among them, if they have no fear of the retributions of God, in another world. What an awful and heart sickening proof in support of this proposition, may be derived from the history of modern France! On the other hand, let a deep impression be implanted on the minds. of men, that they are immortal, and that they are amenable to the eternal and unalterable retributions of a just God; and however enlightened they may be, so far as they are governed by these impressions in their conduct, their engagements may be relied on, and government will be secure. Now what other means can we hope will be as successful, in planting this impression on the mind, as the worship of God on the Sabbath? It is here, that every argument that can be placed before the human mind, from the importance of our present state of existence, and from the word of God, which is adapted to make this impression, is constantly sounding in his ears. There is not a sentence that we hear in the house of God, either in the preaching, the prayers, or praises of divine worship, but what is directly calculated to cherish such an impression. What multitudes are constrained, in order to comply with the dictates of custom, or to secure their popularity, to listen to religious instruction; who would not hear a syllable on such a subject from one month to another, were it not for the Sabbath!

While it is true, that governments where the worship of God is observed, may become a prey to division, and thus be ruined, because there will always be multitudes who do not believe nor act under the influence of the impressions we have named; it is equally true, that we need no knowledge of futurity to predict the certain destruction of any government, especially if its inhabitants are enlightened, where the Sabbath, and of course the worship of God, are not regarded.

way,

It must be seen from these remarks, that every measure that is adopted, and every particle of influence that is exerted, either by example or in any other that weakens upon minds of men their obligation to observe the Sabbath, have a tendency the most direct and fatal to undermine and ruin a government. The work of destruction may be lingering, but it is certain; and if a government fall by such means, the materials that may be gathered from the ruins, will be wholly unfit to be incorporated into another. A leprosy will attach to them, more contagious, and at the same time more corrupting and despoiling, than ever adhered to the walls of a dwelling in ancient Israel. Thus it may be seen that the Sabbath is an appointment, of unspeakable importance to the world.

Q. What evidence have we, that the obligation to observe the Sabbath, is perpetual ?

A. The first argument in proof of this will be drawn from the fact, that the injunction to observe the Sabbath, is contained in the Decalogue. It must appear not a little surprising, that the opinions of men should be as loose upon this subject as they often are, when it is so definitely mentioned and commanded in the law, and when every other requirement is acknowledged to be sacredly and perpetually binding. Did they deny their obligations to obey every part of the Decalogue, it would be more consistent,, But what con

scientious believer in the Bible ever pretends that the three first, or six last, of these commands, are not obligatory? What Christian is ever heard to contend that he is not under obligation to love God, to refrain from the worship of idols, and the profane use of the name of God? What Christian is heard to contend that children are not bound to love and obey their parents? that murder, fornication, slander, theft, &c. are not criminal? But if every other command is sacred, what plea can be made, for applying the separating knife to the fourth? It was recorded with the rest on the same tables of stone. When the first tables were broken, it was carefully preserved and engraved on the second. While it is uniformly acknowledged that the reason why this law was written upon stone, was that it might be distinguished from the Mosaic ritual, and to show that while that passed away, this inust endure; by what fair means, can any part of it be set aside? What is more durable than stone,-and where the hand of God has written a command upon it, who shall take it upon him to obliterate it? Was there any intimation given, when amid the smoke and thunderings of Sinai, this law was announced from heaven, that this fourth command was not to be as perpetual as the other nine?

Q. Has not the fourth command been repealed?

A. We are sure that nothing of this character can be found in the Scriptures; but as this is often alleged, we shall examine the passages in which it is supposed to be contained. It is said that the Saviour "blotted out the hand-writing of ordinances, nailing it to his cross." In answer to this it may be said, that this passage refers, beyond all question, to those typical institutions, which had their fulfilment in the coming and death of Christ. It is plain to the understanding of a child, that there is nothing of this character in the Decalogue. Besides, it is not supposed, as we have already observed, that