his rhetoric. And it cannot but be admitted that, whoever prevents a fellow-creature from sinking into depravity, or assists him in upholding his virtue, by whatever means the task may be accomplished; that individual may be said to have some share in promoting the morality of a nation, and, of repelling encroachments on the good order of society."

NUMBER VII.

ON THE SABBATH.

I do resolve while here I live,
As I'm in duty bound, to give
All glory to the Deity.

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FROM the beginning of the world the number SEVEN appears to have been pre-eminently distinguished. In several instances it seems to have been venerated above all others, and to have had peculiar advantages attached to it. Besides its numeral signification, it denotes, says the Commentator, perfection; several great events being completed in the compass of seven. For instance, in the time of Jacob, there were seven years of plenty in Egypt, which were succeeded by seven years of famine.

In Leviticus we read that "the priest shall sprinkle him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy SEVEN times; and after he be cleansed he shall come into the camp, and shall tarry abroad out of his tent SEVEN days." And again in Kings, we see that "Elisha sent a messenger unto Naaman, saying, go and wash in Jordan SEVEN times, and thy flesh shall come again unto thee, and thou shalt be clean.”

This number is also frequently used indefinitely to denote a vast many. As in the instance where Peter enquired of our Lord," how oft shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him?" Jesus saith unto him,—" I say not unto thee until seven times, but until seventy-times seven;" thereby intimating, as oft as he may, by contrition, seek to be forgiven. But above all, it should be recollected that the Almighty, when He had finished the great works of Creation, rested on the seventh day and sanctified it.—Gen. xi. 3. When the people became wicked and idolatrous, He renewed, upon Mount Sinai, the obligation of keeping it holy:-"Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work, but the seventh," said He, "is the sabbath of the Lord thy God; in it thou shalt not do any work," &c. "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 seventh day, and hallowed it."-Exod. xx. 9.

From the same Mount the Lord spake again unto Moses, saying,-"Six years shalt thou sow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather in the fruit thereof; but the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the Lord," &c.-Levit. xxv. 3. This was called a sabbatical year, from being consecrated to that beneficent God, who, in compassion to the brute creation, and in mercy to the poor, established this benevolent institution;

for the latter enjoyed, not only a relaxation from labour all this while, but had a general release from debt; which was called the Lord's release, Another reason assigned for this institution is, that the earth might lie fallow, in order to recruit its strength.

Besides this, God appointed a grand sabbatical year, to be celebrated every fiftieth year; seven times seven years being completed at that epocha; which had this advantage over the seventh, (Lev. XXV. 9,) it released all slaves, annihilated all debts, and restored to every man all his lands and possessions, however alienated. Criminals, under this humane law, though they had, according to the custom of those times, been sold for slaves, even by the great council of the nation, which was made up of seventy senators, might avail themselves of these privileges, and return, in perfect safety, to their homes, to their families, and to their former possessions.

Thus it seemeth, that the greatest reverence was paid to this particular number, from the very birth-day of the Creation; which was celebrated by God himself, in token of the approbation He * expressed, when He took a general survey of His works, and pronounced them good.-Gen. i. 31.

When the Israelites, in opposition to the Divine command, went out on the sabbath to gather manna, they were not only unsuccessful in the attempt, but they were severely punished for their disobedience. And a fatal instance of God's

vengeance falling on one of their brethren in the wilderness, for violating the sabbath, is exemplified in the account we read of a man who was found gathering sticks on the day appointed to be kept holy-judgment was pronounced against him, and he received sentence of death; not for the act in which he was detected, but for his presumption in doing a thing that was forbidden of the Lord.

Thus we see, then, what reverence the Almighty exacts, and ought to experience, from His creatures on earth. The Jews observed their sabbaths with strictness and solemnity. They even prepared their food on the preceding day; and thus having nothing to provide on the seventh, their domestics, and every branch of their family, had an opportunity of resting from their labours and joining in the public worship. Blush then, ye Christians, who trespass on these sacred obligations; nor deceive yourselves by attributing to necessity such occupations as, through negligence, and in contempt of the Divine command, are left to be performed on the sabbath. For neither thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor even thy cattle, are exempted in this sacred command.

"There can be no harm in doing this," says one; "nor can there be any sin in employing myself thus," cries another. If it be no crime to act in direct opposition to the orders of the Almighty, they may be right; but it should be

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