his life he never encroached on the hours of the Sabbath. Thus far then I think we have evidence that he, who knew what was in man, and was most intimately acquainted with the springs of bodily and mental action, because he would manifest the importance of a seventh interval of rest, when he had finished his work in six days, rested on the seventh, and sanctified it, that it might be a perpetual ordinance, binding on all generations. II. But again, the consecration of a seventh day meets the wants of mankind in the opportunity it affords for family meeting and instruction. the animals he employs, can fail to perceive | further him, and that for the last thirty of that proper rest is as indispensable to the best outlay of their powers, as proper exertion. It cannot but be evident to all, that, both the one and the other, are often totally, or in a great degree, incapacitated for action by their condition of body; and it must be equally evident that this condition of body results, in numerous cases, from unremitting labour. Who is so unobservant as to be insensible to the effects which want of due relaxation is constantly producing on the constitutions of man and beast? Who has not remarked the rapid decay which may be traced up primarily, and mainly, to this cause? We have daily a variety of instances forced upon our notice, in which the powers of nature have quickly sunk under the tension of a continued stretch, where, by only a judicious introduction of rest, at intervals, the animal frame might have been preserved unimpaired for a lengthened period. When exertion is kept up too constantly, we may almost certainly conclude that it will not be kept up long, and that it will shortly issue in the disability, if not in the death, of the creature that sustains it. Wearied out and jaded, by incessant labour, the springs of bodily power lose their vigour and elasticity, and the consequences become presently visible in a broken and emaciated appearance, crippled and dried up energies, and the fast inroads of premature old age. Nor are the evils of uninterrupted effort less obvious as regards the mind than the body. The mind, in its present constitution, is no more capable than the body of unbroken toil; indeed the effects of it are sometimes more fatally visible when it has been sustained by the former, than when in a proportionate degree by the latter. But I need not detain you by further insisting on the benefits of occasional intervals of rest to the healthy vigour, whether of body or mind. I will only add that such intervals have been provided for us in the institution of the holy Sabbath, so provided and so sanctioned, as to counteract the temptation that might otherwise be afforded at a pressing season to overstep the observance of them, and perhaps to do irreparable injury to our own strength, or to that of the domestics and animals subject to our charge. Constituted, then, as we are, such an institution is an invaluable blessing, if we contemplate it only on the low ground of its being a necessary refection from usual occupations. Nor will there ever be found any real loss of time in the observance of it. The recorded avowal of one of our most famous judges, states, that, after some years' experience, he found that any time borrowed from the Lord's day for secular employments did not As society exists in any civilized country, were there no Sabbath the large body of the working classes, and indeed a vast number of others, would be, in a great measure, shut out from that social intercourse, the maintenance of which is so desirable both as respects the relative ties which it cements, and its general effect in humanizing the sturdiness and insensibility of character produced by contact with the roughnesses of business, and exposure to the mercenary atmosphere of the world. Nor is this all. He, who from his station and character should be the most influential in communicating instruction to his household, would, in a great degree, be precluded from doing so. Excepting on the Sabbath-day, many a father has small opportunity of uniting with his family around the fire-side at home. Not unfrequently, before his little ones have waked from their slumbers, he is bending his course toward the spot where he toils for their sustenance; and the evening is now advanced, and their eyelids are again locked in sleep when he returns, wearied with the exertions of the day, to seek some repose for himself. Such is the case with a parent whose scene of labour, as in many instances, does not allow of his returning home to a meal at noon; and if he does meet his family at that hour, it is but to take his repast and be gone; so that, were there no Lord's day, his time and opportunities of associating with his household would be greatly curtailed. If, then, it be desirable that relative ties should be cherished under the hallowed shade of a sacred day; if it is good that the busy and hard-working father should have one day in seven to leave his cares and his toil behind him, and unite with his partner and his babes in holy duties and kind affection: or if it is well for the child that has been absent in a factory, or office, to join in the endearments and listen to the instructions of home, amid the quiet hours of a holy rest: then may we understand that the Sabbath is suited to the wants of man, and what is meant in the announcement-God rested on the seventh day and sanctified it. III. In speaking of the adaptation of the Sabbath to the wants of man, we will next mention the necessary opportunity it gives to the seriously inclined, of directing their attention to the most important of all concerns, as well as how powerfully calculated it is to recal the irreligious to a sense of their duty in this particular. To the first of these classes it affords a needful leisure. No day, indeed, ought to be passed without some portion of it being devoted to serious thought upon God and eternity. But those who are truly concerned about their salvation, feel that the little seasons which they may be able to snatch, amid the hurry and interruption of daily avocations, are wholly insufficient for such a purpose. They feel that they require the quiet hours of a day set apart from worldly employment for special meditation and prayer,-for searching God's holy word,-and for attendance on all that is connected with their spiritual welfare. In such an appointment is bound up their advancement in grace and godliness, and its loss, amid the varied needs and trials of a Christian profession, would involve that of the best of all opportunities for renewing their fainting strength, and drawing waters of refreshment from the wells of salvation. How then shall the institution of the Sabbath be otherwise than of inestimable value to them? Situated as many of them are in subordinate stations, they cannot command their own time and opportunities,much less can they appropriate days for the solemn duties of religion, and the more direct attention to those hopes and prospects which concern an eternal state of being. Of what incalculable moment is it, then, that a holy rest, sanctioned by divine authority, should secure to them what is so pre-eminently necessary to their soul's health; nay more, that by its regular approach it should stir them up to avail themselves of its privileges, and rouse them, when they may have been forgetful and loitering, to press forward to the prize of their high calling in Christ Jesus. An effect-this last-of the Sabbath which directly leads us to admire the mercy of the ordinance even as regards those who, as is alas! the case with so many, are nearly indifferent and careless about the matters of religion. For we cannot but believe that the mere fact of being obliged in some sort to observe a rest, and for the sake of decency to conform to the established usages of society, combined haply with the speaking example of a neighbour who has made the Sabbath a delight, and the holy of the Lord, honorable, has induced many a one, at first perhaps with coldness and reluctance, "to think of heaven and learn the way." Nay, we may be assured that the return of a hallowed day has thus, or in a like manner, constrained unnumbered souls to remember a Saviour that was being neglected, and an immortality that was being lost, and at length guided them to a rest which shall endure for ever and ever. Here then we may again recur to our text, with still farther assurance that when God rested on the seventh day and sanctified it, the Sabbath was made for man by One who knew most intimately the constitution of his nature, and how to ordain that which was most adapted to his moral necessities. IV. In enumerating, however, the advantages of the Sabbath in a religious view, its important connection with the due observance of public worship, deserves a distinct and separate mention. Were it not for the general consecration of the Lord's day, we must be blind not to see that public worship would very soon be lost to a still greater portion of the community than it is at present. In the absence of a common time, set apart by sacred obligation from worldly objects and resorts, business to a large amount would be going forward at all periods of the week, and would tend to interrupt and distract the solemnities of those who continued to attend to devotional services of a public kind; and while our worship would lose from the sacred attractiveness and reverent decorum which are wont to accompany its celebration in the stillness of the Sabbath, it is easy to see that many a foot that now treads the courts of the sanctuary would be furnished with pleas, and tempted by facilities, to exchange the hour of public devotion, for that of attendance on other pursuits and pleasures. When we look abroad into the world and mark how unwillingly Sabbath restraints are endured by some, and how absolutely set at nought by others, under the evil influence of a corrupt heart, we may well imagine what it would be were there no holy sanction to command the consecration of one day in seven, during which earthly pleasures and pursuits are not suffered to interfere with the general assembling to the public worship of Almighty God. With respect to the blessings and advantages which result from this assembling, it is almost impossible to rate them too highly. The influence of the meeting of the rich and poor together in the presence of the Maker of them all; the cordiality, and sympathies, and friendly feelings, which the sight of each other, brought together into a common house of prayer, is calculated to excite, are in themselves most valuable. These things are not, however, what constitute the peculiar worth of our public services. No, brethren, their incomparable excellence is this, that through their instrumentality, and God's blessing on that instrumentality, many a heart is opened to know the value of immortality,-is taught | maintained, we cannot fail to observe, if what to escape one of misery, and to attain one of has been urged be just, how wise and beneglory. It is impossible, in this point of view, ficial an arrangement was the institution of a to calculate the blessings connected with the Sabbath day; and how unfriendly a measure sanctuary of God. There, many that went to the best interests of mankind they are astray, and knew not the evil of their ways, promoting, who would, in any wise, endeaand the Redeemer that died, have been vour to weaken its moral obligation on the brought to look upon him whom their sins whole family of man. If I would not destroy have pierced, and, for the first time, to put up a rest in the highest degree serviceable to the a prayer, "God be merciful to me a sinner." bodily frame and mental energies; if I would There, many, after restless hours spent under not make an inroad into the domestic gatherthe deep-felt anguish, that sin bringeth sor- ing around the poor man's fire-side; if I row, have seen that there is a balm in Gilead, would not unlearn the prattle of the child to and that it is indeed "a faithful saying and say father, and teach it to feel strange towards worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus him from whom it derives its life and its suscame into the world to save sinners." There, tenance; if I would not silence the voice of many in temptation have been supported and instruction on the lips of him who is most in ignorance informed; and, there, God's fitted to convey it-let me honour the Sabbath people unite themselves in supplication, and day. If I would not quench the fire of perfeel as one common family and as the mem- sonal religion, and destroy the help which bers of one glorious head. There they are reminds the forgetful and quickens the loiterinstructed in the principles of their warfare, ing; if I would not turn the lame out of the warned of its dangers, and animated by its way, but rather that he should be healedtriumphs; and there, while the prayers as- let me honour the Sabbath. If I would not cended, and the song of praise was sent up, block up the avenues by which many are adand a Saviour's fulness set forth, have they vancing to eternal glory; if I would not rob received almost a foretaste of the paradise of the fainting of their refreshment, the bowed God. But who shall tell the blessings that down of their uplifting, the perishing of their have been communicated through the medium hope, and the believer of his joy-let me look of the public services on the Sabbath day? on the example of him who created the heaWhat one bowed down has been lifted up; vens and the earth, and honour the Sabbathwhat mourning one has been comforted; what day. impatient one rendered submissive; what wandering one reclaimed; or what mistaken one instructed? Never shall it be known, until the secrets of all hearts are revealed, what blessings God has communicated in the gathering together of his worshipping assemblies! For never until then shall it be known how heavy a mist had over-clouded the understanding, and how grievous a burden had bowed down the spirit, and how fast sin had grasped the captive; or, on the other hand, with what blessed and irresistible power the word of the Lord came home in the midst of the congregation, and scattered the darkness that encompassed, and lightened the weight that oppressed, and bid free the prisoner who was bound, and plucked the brand from the doom of the lost! But if proper attendance on the public services of devotion be of inestimable advantage; and if, as we can hardly fail to see and to acknowledge, they would not be observed with like respect and regularity without the consecration of a seventh day, we must yet farther confess the adaptation of this ordinance to the present constitution of man, and be confirmed in our view that it was on this ground that God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it. In closing the argument which has been I shall conclude then, by drawing one or two brief practical inferences, immediately resulting from the view which has been taken. If the Sabbath be what I have endeavoured to represent it, there manifestly follows a twofold duty to promote its observance by others, and to be diligent in improving it for ourselves. With regard to the former I cannot but advert to the deep responsibility which attaches to those in authority, of affording their dependents, as far as possible, the quiet enjoyment of a day of rest; and, above all, some opportunity of public, if not of private, instruction. It is melancholy to consider how many souls are placed in jeopardy, and, humanly speaking, lost, from the thoughtlessness of masters and mistresses in this most important particular. One of the chief evils of entertainments on the Sabbath is the unfavourable state of mind for sacred duties, which the hurry and bustle of preparation and waiting is calculated to produce in the attendants, and their direct or indirect hinderance from public worship; nor shall we, I believe, be able to acquit ourselves before God, unless, as far as influence and ability enable us, we seek to protect each member of the community in the enjoyment of Sabbath mercy, and to secure him at least the facility of hallowing the day on which God rested. While, however, there should be a care to promote the observance of the Sabbath by others, there should be an equal care to use it well for ourselves; and that not merely by ceasing from worldly occupation, but by earnestly endeavouring to improve its opportunities, and to partake of the blessings it is so calculated to convey. Few things will, probably, subject us to a more strict account, than the manner in which we spent our Sabbath hours. They were hours in which we might have been so near God, and known so much of the Saviour, and made so large a progress towards a happy eternity. Of this indeed we may be certain, that of none, if well-employed, shall the return be more precious; of none, if neglected and mis-spent, shall the remembrance hang more heavy and disconsolate. sion required, he no longer maintained a silence that Our present meditations will not, I trust, be unprofitable if they are attached chiefly to the character of learn the useful lesson, when the path of duty is clear the judge. If we study Pilate's character, we shall and unquestionable, to take it at once. Never more fearfully true than in cases of this kind, is the wellknown adage, that "delay is dangerous!" Every moment which you spend in looking round for excuses, evasions, pretences for throwing blame on others, increases your danger. All the while your principles are giving way. If they break, who shall say how terrible your fall! Remember Pilate. Let him be your warning. It was Pilate's obvious duty to have given Jesus full protection, promising, when a clear charge was established against him, and he was proved to be worthy of death, then to pass sentence, and not otherwise. Instead of this, a great clamour arising, he has recourse to a succession of evasions, hoping thereby to quiet the people and his own conscience at the same We shall at present notice three. Embrace then, with thankful eagerness, the opportunities thus presented, as you pass onward into the presence of your Judge. Be instant in prayer for the Holy Spirit, and in making use of every means by which you may gain a clearer view of the glories of your Saviour, and your own personal interest in his great salvation. Yea, for your own sakes, for that of your respective families, for that of your neighbours, and your country, if you would not have to grieve through a long eternity over your folly and misery, remember that, after six days spent in the work of creation, God rested on the seventh day, and might be gratified by having the case referred to him. sanctified it. MEDITATIONS FOR LENT. The Condemnation of Man's Surety. BY THE REV. J. H. A. WALSH, M.A. TRIAL No. IV. CONTINUED BEFORE THE ROMAN "And they cried out the more exceedingly, 'Crucify him.'”— UNDER circumstances of provocation and trial, the easiest line of conduct is to give utterance to each feeling as it rises; "when reviled to revile again" "when suffering to threaten;" in short to give the rein to the successive emotions of anger, fear, contempt, and sorrow, and to vent our exuberant emotions in expressions with which passion can always be eloquent. Another method, less easy, and requiring more strength of mind, is that which the Stoics and their followers in every age, have adopted-the maintainance of what they would fain call a dignified silence. Such silent endurances have sometimes been very imposing, yet not always praiseworthy; for they are not praiseworthy, if they arise from pride, resentment, sullenness, stubborness, or unkindness. The right course is to be seen in the conduct of our blessed Lord. His rule, from the time that reason could not gain a fair hearing, was silence. That silence he would not break to contend with his enemies, to satisfy unreasonable demands, to gratify curiosity, and seldom even to complain of bodily suffering. But when occa In the midst of their misrepresentations the accusers alluded to Galilee. Immediately it occurred to Pilate that Herod was at Jerusalem at this time, and that since Galilee belonged to Herod, perhaps that prince He therefore sends him to Herod; but Herod, though pleased at first with the thought of seeing Jesus, was so enraged by having no miracle performed to gratify his curiosity, that he turned his pretensions into insulting ridicule. There might be reasons connected with the recollections of John the Baptist, why he would not take any part in the condemnation of Jesus. At all events Jesus is remanded to Pilate; he returns, and with him returns Pilate's perplexity. Let us beware of evasions. They are a wretched resource. If they succeed they do not leave us guiltless; if they fail, they leave us weaker than before. Their subtlety is "naked and open to him with whom we have to do!" they provoke him to leave us to ourselves-and alas for us when God deserts us! One device has failed-a second is resorted to. Pilate proposes to inflict a more moderate punishxxiii. 22) to scourge, and then release him. Cruel as ment and then set him at liberty, He offers (Luke scourging was, the design with which Pilate offered to inflict, and subsequently proceeded to inflict it, appears to have been really merciful. He wished to save the prisoner from a more shocking fate. As might be expected this second device failed. A third soon after suggested itself. A large crowd had by this time gathered round the palace, and in it the very dregs of the city may be supposed to have formed the majority. Among the multitude a murmur (with whom it originated we do not know) had arisen, and Pilate was called upon to "do as he had ever done." This requisition alluded to a practice of the governor. He had been in the habit of adding to the pleasures of the festival by publicly releasing a prisoner. The measure was sure to be popular in a subjugated country like Judea; it was quite looked * See Boys' Commentary. for; so that we are told that "of necessity he must release unto them one at the feast." Pilate presently conceived the hope of extricating himself from his present perplexity, by the help of this custom; and the hope seemed all the fairer, as he would be appealing from the priests to the more honest feelings of the people. He consented therefore to release a prisoner, but gave an option only between two-the one, Barabbas, "a notable prisoner," notorious for insurrection, murder, robbery, a common pest to society; the other was that patient sufferer, whose very innocence distressed his judge. You will find Pilate's manner of proposing the question in St. John xviii. 39. If I am adopting the right arrangement of St. Matthew's and St. Luke's gospel we soon find Pilate "on the judgment scat," occupied, it may be, in the details of this or some other case. During the interval, he received, as it were, a reinforcement on the side of integrity. A message is sent him by his wife, calculated to fortify his better wishes, by working on his every feeling whether of religion or superstition. "Have thou nothing to do," said the timely message, "with that just person, for I have suffered many things this night in a dream concerning him." Unhappily, however, while his better intentions had thus been strengthened, the temptation by which he had been assailed had gathered more than proportionate strength. The chief priests and elders had been trying their utmost influence with the people. What their arguments were it might be easy to guess, but it is sufficient to say, that they fired the crowd with a seditious ardour for the release of Barabbas, and the murder of Jesus. There are few sights on earth more distressing than to witness the facility with which artful and profligate leaders can work on the minds of the less considerate multitude: can gain influence, at least for evil, and abuse simplicity and credulity to their own selfish ends. On the other hand, there is a sight proportionately cheering. Among the less needy, or even affluent and exalted ranks of society, there are multitudes who are frequent in their visits to the poor and indigent. Their motive we trust, is "the love of Christ constraining them; the design of their benevolent errand, we trust, is nothing lower than to encourage excellence, to spread "the savour of the knowledge of Christ," to investigate and relieve the distress of the widow and the fatherless, and to cheer the dying pillow. God forbid that these should not be their leading motives and designs! Yet it is gratifying to reflect on one of the evident effects of their labours of love. If any thing can withstand the influence of seducers, close the ear to ill advisers, and bind together in friendly feeling the different classes of society, it must be the disinterested benevolence of the thousands who thread our lanes and hamlets, at the call of charity, and great is the debt their country owes them. Yet, notwithstanding this antidote, it is lamentable to see how much mischief may be done by a designing individual, with a little address, no reluctance to exaggerate, and knowledge enough to discern the points on which the necessitous are sensitive. What wonder then that the priests at this time were able to exercise great influence for evil! and that Pilate, as he again and again pleaded the cause of Jesus, found the Jews prepared to view the question, not in the light of reason or humanity, or religion, but simply as a question between Jew and Roman, master and subject; he could get no other reply than "crucify, crucify him!" Once more then Pilate's devices fail. Once more, let us learn that not by evasions, not by parley with temptation, but by that straight forward integrity, in which upholding grace may be expected, must we meet our more difficult duties. Ingenuity is misplaced here: holy firmness is required. Learn too from Pilate's perplexities, the value of your secret morning devotions, at which, before the day's difficulties have begun, before you know what they will be, you can anticipate them all by the time of prayer. "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." Here we must pause for the present; yet not until we have taken one more look at that firm, patient victim, from whom our eyes must not be too long diverted by the stir around him. He can feel; he had been accustomed to hear the plaudits of "That undisturbed song of pure concent, Aye sung around the sapphire-coloured throne, How different the salutation now! "Crucify him, crucify him" is the urgent and general cry! When a malefactor suffers in this country, every pains is taken to shorten his pangs, as well as to console his mind. But crucifixion is a master piece of torment. In crucifying his victim "the torturer goes to the very extremities, to the hands and the feet, and fixes his cruel irons among the nerves and tendons there, and then, without change of position, and without rest, the poor sufferer is left to hang, until burning thirst and torturing inflammation can work their way slowly to the seat of life." Nothing less than this savage torture will satisfy the multitude. Louder and yet louder is the cry, "crucify, crucify him!" and still he stands resigned and patient, most like the unconscious lamb, on the day when it shall bleed, and though not unconscious of his fate, he is "the very Lamb of God, who was slain" for a world's transgression. He is our Surety, come to answer for our fault. He is come to execute his merciful mysterious errand. They are calling him to his appointed cross-the Lamb of the great sacrifice is being summoned to the altar! Reader, is your peace made with God? If it is not, this hour apply to God in penitence, beg him for Christ's sake to receive and bless you, and trust in his propitiation as sufficing for you. A simple reliance on what he has done for your hated iniquities, will save your soul. You may now have, in consideration of what he has done, a complete, a lasting and glorious reconciliation. Or, do you hope that you are at peace with God through him? Then be steadfast, and hope in Jesus to the end. Forget, what you may besides, never, never, while one fragment of memory lasts, forget what a price was offered for you by him. It was the precious blood of your incarnate Lord; precious in the estimate of the Father himself. Oh! how precious should it be in ours! THE NECESSITY OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION.* WE cannot shut our eyes to the fact, that there is at work in the present day a spirit of infidelity and rebellion against constituted authorities. The advocates of these deadly priciples are ever ready to avail themselves of the prevailing thirst for knowledge to influence the minds of their countrymen; and too often, together with popular information, instil into the minds of youth the poison of a false philosophy. To combat this growing evil, the friends of good government and order have no other course left than to take into their own hands the mighty instrument of public instruction, and seek to direct its working. Knowledge, by means of printed books, is daily spreading among the great mass of our population, and is thus giving to the people a degree of power and influence which they never could have possessed before the discovery of printing, and the * From "Thoughts on the Responsibility of Man, with a view to the Amelioration of Society, addressed to the Upper and Middle Classes." By Emma Meek. Hatchard and Son. An elegant, well-timed, and useful little volume. |