to the souls of men, can you let so fair an opportunity of doing good, pass unimproved? The Lord has in his providence cast your lot for one sabbath among those, who greatly pollute this holy day. You must stay and reprove them. Good example

ditations on the road, no more makes a sanctification of the sabbath, than it would, if we were to have the same meditations while laboring in our fields. Here I would remark, that tho' the husbandman has precious thoughts in his field on a week day; yet he would have no rea-is the most striking kind of reson to expect to be thus favored proof. If they see you lying by of God, if he were to go into his from your journey, all the sabfield on the Lord's holy day.-bath, for no other reason, only So the traveller, who is favored because it is the Lord's time and with the most delightful com- not yours, it cannot fail to arrest munion with his heavenly Fa- their attention, even though you ther, on Saturday, would have should not speak one word on no reason to expect the continu- the duty of observing the day. ance of this inestimable favor the This would command more atnext day, if he were to pursue tention and be likely to do more his journey. We have no right to good, thall all you could posseek nor reason to expect com- sibly say, on the duty of observmunion with God, out of the ways ing the commandment, providof his appointment. If we would ed you did not observe it yourenjoy his favor, we must, like self. Words cost but little, but Enoch and Noah, walk with God. there is some expense of time 4. "We sometimes fall in and money in lying by at an inn among a very wicked people on one whole day. I know one man, the sabbath, where they pay no who had his attention much calattention to the day, except it led up to the duty of sanctifying be to behave worse than on any the sabbath, by the circumstance other days; in such a case, we of having a traveller put up at think we had better go on our his tavern, during this holy day. journey, than to stay in such If such examples prove effectcompany." ual only one time in a thousand, The very reason stated in theit is worth our while to set them objection for proceeding on your before our fellow sinners conjourney, is a powerful reason tinually. against it. The command of the Saviour is, "Let your light shine before men, that they seeing your good works may glorify your Father, who is in heav-ask such, whether they have en." Now let me ask, Where made a trial, to see how well in the world do people need the they can enjoy this consecrated light of your holy example more day in a public house? Perhaps than in such a dark place as you could obtain a chamber, the objection supposes ? And in where you might spend the day what do they need your exam-in secret duties, if there be no ple more, than in the sanctifica-public worship in the place. If tion of the sabbath? If your

hearts are full of love to God and

The objectors suppose that the sabbath cannot be enjoyed among these ungodly people so well as on the road: but let me

If those who make the above

5. "It is very expensive to lie by a whole day, when we are on a journey, and are all the while living upon our money.”

To this objection we answer, first, That profaning the Lord's day is a poor way to make money or save expense. "Will a man rob God" to save expense? Is not this the way to bring down his curse on your blessings? Do not you, who believe the weekly sabbath to be a divine institution, also believe, that

the weather be mild, you might in almost any part of the country, find, in some neighboring woods, or orchard, a place to pray, read and meditate; and this would be a suitable way to fill up this day of heaven. If you have not tried this method of spending the sabbath when on a journey, you ought not to say, that the wickedness of the place makes it necessary that you should proceed on your journey. But supposing you can have no retirement at all (which is hard-a nation which carefully observe ly a supposable case) I think you have reason to expect a good sabbath, if you conscientiously refrain from proceeding on your journey, which is now your work. "If thou turn away thy foot from" encroaching upon the sabbath, from, doing thy pleasure on my holy day" saith Jehovah-" then thou shalt delight thyself in the Lord, and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth,i. e. I will make thee prosper in spirituals and in temporals-thou shalt have much delight in communion with thy God, and he will bless thy substance. This will prepare us to answer another objection.

objection against lying by on the sabbath, do not cease to proceed on their journey, as soon as they come among a people, who attend public worship; or if they do not stop their travelling at the first house, public or private, where the sabbath appears to be revorenced, (provided they can have entertainment :) then it is manifest, that the reason which they offer for travelling is not the one which reallyinfluences them; but is invented, either to still an accusing conscience, or to stop the mouth of the brother, who is so kind and faithful as to reprove them for disobedience to God's holy

commands.

*`Isaiah Iviii. 13, 14.

the institution have reason to expect even greater temporal prosperity, than a nation which altogether disregard it, though this disregard gives them one more day in the week for labor? Why then have we any reason to expect to increase our wealth, by taking the Lord's time for our journey? It is infinitely easy for God so to order his providences, that what we appear to gain, by robbing him of the time, which he has reserved to himself, we should lose, in some other way, even before we have accomplished our journey.

To the objection now under consideration, I would answer in the second place; Though it be expensive to lie by when we are out from home, still this is no reason why we should not do it: For it is also expensive to rest from labor when we are at home. A large family will consume several dollars worth of provisions on the sabbath, and they are earning nothing. Now why may it not be plead in favor of their being at work in the field, or in the loom, that it is very expensive for so many to be eating and drinking, while they are earning nothing. The same argument, which you use

they did not travel on their journies upon the holy sabbath.They thought it to be equally a violation of the commandment, with laboring in the field, and they acted accordingly; and I do not see why they did not think and act right on the subject. Not only the laws of NewEngland, but the laws of most of the other states were formed on the supposition, that travelling was a real breach of the sabbath. It seems from this, that heretofore the whole country have been of the same sentiment, which is now advanced in this essay.

to push you on your journey, you may use to drive your sons into the field, and your daughters to their several domestic employments. It would be trifling to endeavor to make a distinction, by saying, "but at a tavern I have to pay out money for my sabbath's provision, while I have provision, laid up for my family at home." What they eat and drink at home, either cost you money, or would have fetched you money; therefore you may just as well say, I cannot afford to have my family lie by upon the sabbath; for they are upon expense. This objection against the expense of lying by on the 2. The great increase of the sabbath, appears to be founded practice of journeying on the almost wholly in covetousness, Lords's day, is a proof of the deor that love of the world, which generacy of the times. If our is inconsistent with the love of fathers were right in resting the Father and yet this is prob- from their journies on this day, ably the greatest and most in- we are wrong in pursuing ours. fluential of all the objections. The time was, at least in NewThe losing of one day's advance England, when a sabbath travelin our journey, together with ler was a rare sight. Then, if a the bill of expense incurred in man was seen riding by, it was the mean time, no doubt, does concluded, either that he was more towards making people called abroad by some distresstravel on the sabbath, than all ing providence, or that he was a other reasons put together. But man, who had not the fear of can they, who seek first the king-God before his eyes. But now, dom of God-can they, who (O New-England how art thou henceforth live not unto them-fallen!) but now, travelling on selves, but unto him, who died for them can they, whose treasure is in heaven-can they, who call the subbath a delight, the queen of days and the day of heaven-can they offer such selfish reasons for trampling the holy sabbath into the dust "Let us awake to righteousness, and sin not."

I know not how to dismiss this subject without making a few reflections.

1. It is no proof, that our fathers were superstitious, because

the sabbath has become a common practice. At the present day, there are many, who do not love God well enough to be at the expense of resting from their journey on his holy day.

3. Have not we reason to fear the righteous and tremendous judgments of God for this profanation of his day? Let us tremble, while we read the denunciations of divine wrath against those, who go to market, and who travel to transact their worldly business on the Lord's

sabbath; "But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the sabbath day, and not to bear a burden even entering at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day then I will kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched." Jer. xvii. 27.

cometh. The King of Zion, however, has much to do to prepare his church for that peaceful period. And it becomes us to be workers together with him. Many corruptions must be purged out, many sins must be deeply bewailed before him, and many neglected duties must be revived and performed. Among other reformations, churches must be more strict in sanctify.

4. The friends of Christ have now a fair opportunity to show, that they have a more obedienting the Lord's day, and more spirit than his enemies. While they go on their way, let the Christian manifest that he feels still bound to obey the laws of Him, who hath said, "But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God; in it thou shalt not do any work." People in general stop working in their shops and on their farms upon the sabbath; but many do not stop their travelling; Christians therefore do not show so clearly, that they have a more excellent spirit than the unconverted, by refraining from the work of the field, as by refraining from the pursuit of their journies.

5. Does not the matter before us call for the aid of church discipline? Is it not time for churches to awake and put the laws of Christ in force? If we suffer our brethren to pursue their journies on God's holy day, we suffer sin upon them. We suffer them to dishonor God to confirm sinners in their abuse of holy time, and to harden their own hearts. The increasing prevalence of this sin calls loudly to churches of Christ to exert every nerve and use every mean to suppress it. Let the churches of Christ know the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep. The night is far spent. The morning of the Millennium

careful to discountenance every breach of it. I am persuaded, for my part, that travelling on the sabbath will all be laid aside in the Millennium. If it will be laid aside then, through the prevalence of a spirit of holiness, no doubt, it ought to be laid aside now. Let each one resolve, whether professors or not, to en deavor in this matter to reform himself; then the reformation of the whole would be easily and speedily effected. I have but one word to add, and that is a request, that my readers would not condemn what has been advanced on this subject, without attentively looking into the word of God, and looking to him by prayer for wisdom and direction. If any fall in with the sentiments advanced (as I trust many will) I request that they would pray earnestly to God to make others see their duty in this respect, that wherein they have done amiss, they may do so no more.

On Self-examination. ELIEVERS usually spend

many of their thoughts in examining their own hearts and lives. It is however no certain evidence, that a man is a true believer, because he examines himself; for every serious man,

who believes in a state of future | ourselves, and of very much ex

cusing and mitigating the evil of those things which we cannot justify. We are accustomed and disposed to view our actions in a too favorable light, and especially to think well of our hearts and intentions, and to say to ourselves, that we meant little or no harm, and that there were some special circumstances, which influenced to that, which other. wise we should not have done.

It should also be considered, that in proving our own hearts and conduct, we ourselves are called to sit as judges in our own case, for we are the party to be tried. And it is probable that if malefactors were to sit as the judges in their own trials, few of them would be led to execution. It is difficult to be impartial and candid in such circumstances. This is to be carefully

and eternal retributions, has powerful motives to attend to his own situation; he will therefore examine himself. There may be those also, who have without just reasons, imbibed a hope, that they are interested in the promises, and being sensible that they may have mistaken their case, are prompted to search and try themselves. And both believers and unbelievers may receive much benefit from this exercise. The self-deceived may be, and sometimes are by this means, convinced of their sinful and miserable condition; and this is sometimes used by the Holy Spirit, as the instrument of turning them to God: and believers are in this way comforted, reformed, encouraged in their duty, and excited to admire, praise and give thanks to God for his distinguishing mer-noticed, to caution us against a cy to them. But self-examina- dangerous mistake. tion will be of little or no service, it may even confirm one in a false idea of himself, unless it is conducted in a proper manner, and upon right principles. Believers may be led to conclude, that they are not real believers, and unbelievers may determine, that they have an interest in Christ, and be led to it by a wrong method of examining themselves concerning this matter. The reader must now feel the importance of attending to a short essay on self-examination. I. There are a number of difficulties in the way of a profita-luding themselves, who are ble trial of ourselves, which de- wholly under the power of a

We are not only the judges in this matter, but we are the witnesses too; or at least we are to summon and bring forward the witnesses, which are to testify for or against us. Here again is a field for all our partiality for ourselves to exercise itself, which requires great care; for a partial or false decision, may be attended with the most fatal consequences. This is a serious difficulty even to a pious man, and often influences him to misjudge concerning himself: how much more are those in danger of de

II. That a man may exam

serve our serious attention. One selfish spirit? of these is the strong prejudice, which people usually have in fa-ine himself to any good effect, it vor of themselves, and of their own hearts and conduct. We are naturally fond of thinking well of

is necessary, that he should fix upon some standard, by which to try himself, and compare his