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THE SABBATH.

EXODUS xx. 8, 9, 10, 11.

Remember the sabbath-day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbathday and hallowed it.

How quiet is the sabbath morning! That confused noise of business, which rolls down the hills and spreads along the valley on other mornings, breaks not the silence of the sabbath's early dawn and rising sun. The hammer is lying by the anvil, the water-gate is down, and the mill-wheel is still. The travel

ler is resting at the inn or arrived at his home. The plough is standing in the furrow, the oxen are grazing in the fields, and the labourers are at rest. Even nature seems to enjoy the sabbath. The air is softer, the dew more brilliant, the flowers more fragrant, the birds sing a lovelier song, and the light is more sweet; or so it is to man, whose senses are released, that they may enjoy the music, and the fragrance, and the beauty, and the loveliness of God's works.

Go enter the abode of piety. Arising from his sweet sleep, the father, who has led his family to their six days' toil, meets them at rest. His son and his daughter, his manservant and his maid-servant, rest with him from their labour. See them as they sit listening to God's word, and answering those kind and pious questions, which are moved by a father's or mother's tenderness and love. Hear their prayers. It is the family at rest, remembering the sabbath-day to keep it holy, listening to their Maker's voice, and pouring forth their voice into their Maker's ear.

But look again: the country is in motion. See the crowds of people on the hill tops and

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in the valley, covering the roads, and making their way over the grassy fields, thronging quietly to the house of God, to give audience to heaven's message, and to send up to God's throne of grace united prayer and praise. What has hushed the cares, and labours, and bustle of the busy world, and put man, and beast, and earth's bosom to rest? is God's command, "Remember the sabbathday to keep it holy." Wherever this command is obeyed, God spreads out the lovely scenery of the sabbath for all, but especially, dear children, for you, that you may see in it his goodness and grace, that you may set your hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments.

See in the morning of the sabbath, breaking upon this world of daily sin and sorrow; that long passed sabbath, when God rested from all his work; when Eden flourished as the garden of the Lord, and our first parents entered it to dress it and to keep it. That sabbath's sun arose upon a sinless world; all heaven rejoiced to behold the perfect. work of God, the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy. Re

member the work of God who made the world, and obey its Maker's voice, which commands you to keep holy the sabbath-day.

See that other sabbath-morning in memory of which we now call the sabbath the Lord's day. Then the Sun of righteousness arose upon the sin and darkness of the world; then Jesus rose from the dead, a conqueror over death and sin. When the sabbath's sun discovers to your eye the peace and piety of the world at rest, Oh let the scene at Jerusalem arise. See the dead body of the Crucified come forth to life. The seal is broken, the stone rolled away, and the guards fallen to the ground. The women with their spices and ointments are wondering at the empty sepulchre, and the angels in shining garments are saying, "Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here but is risen. Come, see the place where the Lord lay."

Yes, he that was dead is alive again and lives for evermore! Oh remember the everliving Saviour, and let the Lord's day be a day of sacred joy and rest. Let the tidings spread, that He is alive, and lives for ever

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