pursuits, and exclusively devoted to his worship and service. With out this, if we had been required to cherish a sense of our dependence on God, to worship him in spirit and in truth, to have our conversation in heaven, and to be influenced by hopes and fears derived from the destinies of eternity, we should have been required to do that for which no facilities had been provided, that which would have been incongruous to our nature and present state, in a word, that which would have been unreasonable, because impracticable-We have never known or heard of a man who had any character for real piety, who did not observe stated seasons for the worship of his God, and prize the Sabbath as an important and precious season for withdrawing his mind from the undue influence of the world.

Now, if what we have thus stated be true, as we are very confident that in every material respect it is, what a view does it give of the religious, or rather the irreligious state, of what is denominated Christendom. In most of the countries styled Christian, the Sabbath is really more a day of dissipation than any other; a day more calculated to turn away the mind from all serious thought and spiritual exercises, than any other day of the week. The formal publick solemnities of the Sabbath morning, even in regard to the comparatively few who attend upon them, are deprived of all their effect, by the sports, and recreations, and worldly occupations, in which the remainder of the day is spent. We are makingand we rejoice in it-considerable exertions to send the gospel to the heathen; but Christendom itself must be evangelized, before the millennial age can commence Christendom must observe the Sabbath, in a far different manner than is seen at present, before there will be many who worship God" in spirit and in truth." Possibly, Chris

tendom is to learn this lesson from the converted heathen. We are persuaded that the Sabbath is better observed, in some of the lately Christianized islands of the Southern Ocean, than in any part of Europe or America.

Till within a few years past, the United States, when compared with almost any other part of the world, might be called, and was actually called, "a Sabbath keeping country." There existed indeed a great disregard to the duties of this holy day in many places, and in very few, was there such a general and serious regard as the devout Christian would desire. Yet we were comparatively, and when taken in mass, a Sabbath keeping people. Of late, however, we have been rapidly losing this character, and if something effectual be not done to arrest the growing evil, we shall soon be as bad as any nation of the old world. Indeed it is to be feared that we shall be even worse; for in other countries the forms of religion are preserved by legal enactments; of which we have none, and it is to be hoped, never shall have any, in our free republick. In this state of moral and religious declension, one of the worst circumstances is, that the government of the country itself, has taken the lead in the downward career of profane disregard to the ordinances of God. The measure of carrying the mail and of opening the post offices on the Lord's day, a measure utterly unnecessary in itself, has led the way to private profanations without end. Steam-boats and stages are now as unblushingly advertised for excursions by land and water, on the Sabbath, as on any secular day; and are in fact more crowded on that day than on any other. And although all this is done in violation of the laws of the land, as well as of the law of God, no notice whatever is taken of the transgression, by those whose sworn duty it is to execute the law. Now,

who that believes "there is a God that judgeth in the earth," and that he has appointed the seventh part of time, as a season of sacred rest for both man and beast, and for teaching and impressing the obligations which his rational offspring owe to Himself who that believes this, but must be filled with apprehensions that we are ripening for the marked judgments of heaven. Indeed the proper and natural effect of a general disregard to the Sabbath, will speedily become a sore punishment. That effect will unquestionably be, the prevalence of vice and immorality of all descriptions -proceeding from bad to worse, till civil liberty and all the blessings of a free government can no longer exist among us: for virtue, it is agreed on all hands, is the only preservative, as it is the essential principle, of every such government and publick virtue without religion, or religion without a Sabbath, is what never has been, and never will be seen.

In these circumstances of gloomy foreboding to the real Christian and the enlightened American patriot, a ray of hope seems to be dawning, from the associations lately formed, and which we hope will become popular and general, for promoting a better regard to the day of sacred rest, by moral means and motives. We are glad that these associations confine themselves to the use of moral means. For although we think it a criminal and shameful dereliction of duty, in those who are set for the execution of municipal laws, to suffer them to be openly and grossly violated, as are the laws which relate to the prohibition of servile labour on the Sabbath, yet, for voluntary associations, clothed with no civil authority, we think the sole appeal should be to the conscience, or moral sense of the people; and to those considerations of true policy, as well as of duty, by which an observance of the Sabbath is powerfully recommend.

ed. It is encouraging to observe that these associations are formed by men of great influence and reputation, in various parts of our land, and that "the General Union" has for its president, one whose name and patronage cannot fail greatly to promote its success, as it has that of other institutions, calculated to subserve the best interests of the community-To him, the work which has led us to those lengthened remarks, is very properly inscribed.

We have pretty carefully perused the whole of the little volume, the title of which stands at the head of this article; and with- ́ out being understood to say that we have seen no imperfection in it, we do say, that take it as a whole, and considering it as a treatise intended to be both compendious and popular, we think it the best work of the kind we ever seen. In the current sections of the treatise, the several subjects of the work are discussed argumentatively, and without regard to those subordinate considerations which would interrupt the course and strength of the reasoning. In the notes, the author has adverted to these considerations, and has gone into some discussions which will be gratifying to the learned reader, but which are not of so popular a cast. We think Mr. Macbeth has solidly replied to Paley's loose ideas, on the nature and obligations of the day of sacred rest.

Mr. M. is master of a handsome style. He writes like a man of taste, as well as of piety. He is chastely ornate, and conducts controversy without severity or acrimony. Few books are better written than the one before us. There are parts of it which are truly eloquent.

We think it right to give the subjects of all the sections, that our readers may distinctly see the scope and nature of the workThey are as follows

Section I.-Introduction. Section II-Origin and Antiquity of the Institution of the Sabbath.

Section III.-The Observance of the Sabbath unconnected with the Performance of Ceremonial Rites.

Section IV-Examination of the grounds on which the distinction between moral and positive duties is founded; so far as that distinction affects the moral obligation of observing the Sabbath.

Section V-Moral obligation of the Sabbath, proved from the primary end of its institution.

Section VI.-Review of the objections urged against the Antiquity and moral obligation of the Sabbath, Section VII-The Writings of the Old Testament, furnish the clearest and most satisfactory proof, that the observance of the Sabbath had a moral, and not a ceremonial obligation.

Section VIII-Moral obligation of the Sabbath, under the Christian Dispensation.

Section IX.-Reason of the change of the Sabbath from the Seventh to the First Day of the Week.

Section X-Manner in which the Sabbath is to be Sanctified.

Section XI-Examination of some of the Causes and Consequences of the Profanation of the Sabbath.

Section XII-Advantages which the Sanctification of the Sabbath is calculated to produce.

Notes.

It would require a portion of space which we can by no means afford, to make extracts from the more argumentative parts of the work before us, of sufficient length to do justice to the author. We shall therefore give as a specimen a short quotation or two from the eleventh section, which consists of an "examination of some of the causes and consequences of the profanation of the Sabbath." After speaking of those who never, or very rarely,

enter the sanctuary, Mr. M. adverts to the practice of those who content themselves with attending on publick worship once in the day. He thus writes

"There is still, however, another description of persons, for whom we have a little more respect; and, if we cannot set them right, we should be glad to know their reasons for continuing wrong. With a punctuality which is praiseworthy, so far as it goes, they are pretty regular in their attendance on divine worship, on one part of the Sabbath; but, with a they are as regularly absent from it on punctuality which is equally censurable, the other part of the Sabbath. Now, we

are at a loss to understand whence the ideas of such persons, respecting the sanctification of this day, have been formed, and how far they extend. Do they imain the morning, they gain a title to go gine that, by going to the house of God where they please in the evening?—or, that an hour or two spent in formal devotion on one part of the day, will justify them in spending the rest of it in amusement and pleasure? Do they think that there is any virtue belonging to the services of the forenoon, which is not to be found in those of the afternoon?—or is it their belief, that the performance of one part of a duty, will be held by God as an equivalent for the whole? Is it from a full and serious examination of the commandment of God, or from a regard to the opinion of men, that they have adopted the practice of which we complain? We have heard it lamented, by persons who were themselves a melancholy example of the influence of the passion whose effects they deprecated-that the fear of ridicule prevented many from a punctual attendance on divine ordinances, and a regular performance of religious duties! And while we have expressed our surprise at the contrariety of sentiment and practice which was thus evinced, we could discover no other

cause than this, that the fashion of the world has associated something weak and feminine with the character of the man who faithfully and devoutly observes the publick duties of the Sabbath. What a fearful perversion of human reason is this, and how ominous of the future perdition of those who indulge it! What is a man advantaged,' said our Saviour, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be a cast-away! Whosoever, therefore, shall be ashamed of me, and of my words, in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in

the glory of his Father, with the holy angels.'

Mr. M. then remarks, "that the practice of which we complain is not of native growth. It assorts not at all with the notions which our Bibles and forefathers taught us, of the obligations of the duty which lies upon us to sanctify our hearts upon the Sabbath, that we may keep it holy. It has been imported from abroad, &c." In this connexion he adds, and thus closes the section

"It is needless for me to describe what the consequences of this opinion, and of this doctrine, have been, after the detail which I have already given in the early part of this section. The same doctrine, and the same consequences, we fear, are rapidly extending among ourselves; and if our feeble exertions shall have no effect in counteracting their spread, we shall, at least, have the satisfaction of having pointed out their cure. Let every one apply the subject to himself, and let him bring to its examination, his own experience and observation. Measure the performance of duty by the standard of the Divine law, and let the wisdom and the utility of every ordinance of religion be determined by its own requirements and effects. Select from among your ac quaintance and your neighbours, those by whom the praises of Jehovah are never sung, and by whom his Sabbaths are never sanctified-and tell us, what are their characters and pursuits, and what the hopes and prospects with which they are cheered? Look around the world, and tell us, where do the virtues which most adorn human life, most eminently flourish; and where is the happiness that is most lasting, most fully enjoyed? Is it not by those whose hearts are most uniformly filled with the fear of the Lord, and whose lives are most uniformly spent in the observance of his ordinances, and the study and obedience of his laws? Where does iniquity spread its baneful influence most widely over the theatre of human action-and where does profligacy contaminate most deeply the sources of human virtue, and break down the landmarks of duty, and throw open the flood-gates of pollution? Is it not where the restraints of religion are avowedly despised-where its institutions are openly profaned, and the name and

* Matth. viii. 38.

the attributes of its author, are never worshipped or revered? Whom would you select as your most faithful friends, or whom would you trust as your most confidential servants? Those who neither obeyed the appointments of God, nor

trembled at the denouncements of his wrath? or those who strove to walk

blameless in his statutes, and whose fide. lity in your service, and whose attachment to your interest, were the fruits of their veneration for the laws, and of their attendance upon the ordinances of that Almighty Being, who, in six days, made the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them: and rested on the Sabbath, and blessed and hallowed it? Which is the more pleasing spectacle to behold, -a community of men whose hearts are subdued under a sense of their dependence upon the power and goodness of God, and expanded under the influence of a devotional regard to his institutions and his laws, and who assemble together, with a meek and grave deportment, to give utterance to the gratitude with which their affections glow, and to hear and obey the admonitions of those who tell them, that it is not a vain thing to wait upon the Lord, neither is it unprofitable to keep his ordinances,-or that of a community where the fear of God is never acknowledged, and his worship is never witnessed; where their Sabbaths are the Sabbaths of oxen, and their solemn feasts the holidays of Satan, spent in the pleasures of brutes, and devoted to the revelry of sin? Whether is it more pleasing to behold men devoting the morning of the resurrection to the blissful employment of thanksgiving and praise, or to the sordid calculations of avarice, and the sluggish indulgence in debasing apathy-to see them preparing their hearts for solemnizing the rites of heaven, and taking sweet counsel together, as they walk to the house of God in company-or to see them snuffing at the ordinances of the Lord of Hosts, and posting away from the sight and the service of the sanctuary, and strengthening one another in the strong holds of impiety, and encouraging one another in the propagation of profligacy?-Away from us, ye wicked, for we will keep the commandments of our God! This is the statute which we will observe; and these are the words of the law which we will obey: "Whatsoever others do, as for us and our house, we will serve the Lord." To his voice will we listen, and his covenant will we keep. For, thus saith the Lord to them who choose the things that please him, and who take hold on his covenant to do it-Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man

that layeth hold on it-that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it-and that restraineth himself from doing any evil upon it. Them will I bring to my holy mountain, and there will I make them joyful in my house of prayer. Their of ferings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar, and their souls shall be satisfied with the goodness of my house, even of my holy temple.""

We, on the whole, consider the publication of this little volume, at the present time, as peculiarly seasonable; and cannot but hope it

will be highly useful in aiding the attempts now making to arrest the tide of Sabbath profanation, which threatens to sweep away the religious observances, the moral character, and eventually the peace and liberties of our happy land. The price of the volume is but a dollar; and we think it would be charity well bestowed, if some of our wealthy citizens should purchase a number of copies for gra tuitous distribution.

Interesting to Mariners.-The following information concerning fish frequently used as food by sailors on voyages to the South Seas, is communicated to us by the late commander of the Arab, and will be interesting to Mariners:-"On my outward bound passage to Valparaiso, in November last, during the whole of the eleventh we were surrounded with bonnetta, and in the evening three were struck and brought on board by one of the men. The following morning, Monday, there were several caught with the hook, and all on board partook of them. On Tuesday morning two more were caught, and the men eat them for breakfast. The man that relieved the helm at eight, had eaten some of them, and at half past eight his face and breast were of a very red dark colour; he complained of violent headache; I gave him twenty-five grains of ipecacuanha. In a few minutes more another man complained, and within the hour after breakfast I had given seven emetics. There were two more ill, but they could

not take a vomit.

In a few hours those who took emetics were all well, but it was late in the evening before the other two got better. The very strange effect the eating of these fish had upon the men, is worthy of remark. They invariably turned of a dark dingy red colour; and were quite unfit for any kind of work from head-ache and a languid sensation, which they could not get over until the vomit had taken effect. I have crossed the line eighteen times, and never at any period saw so many fish. On the 14th three abicore were caught; the men boiled and eat them, taking care to put into the kettle, along with the fish, a piece of silver: if it came out black, the fish were unwholesome, if bright, they were good; in this instance, it was bright." J. N. S.

Mode of marking Sheep without injury to the Wool.-An English writer gives the following: Mark on either side of the nose of the sheep, the initials of the owner's name, and on the opposite side any number by which he may choose to designate the particular sheep, by means of a small iron letter or figure about an inch long; which being dipped in common oil colours, mixed with turpentine to dry them more readily, is placed on the part described, and will continue until the next shearing season.-The process is easy, and will give the animal no pain; the marks cannot be readily obliterated, which is not the case with tattooing or cauterizing.

Salt a cure for Epilepsy.-On Thursday afternoon, a decent looking woman was observed to stagger, to the pavement at the foot of High-street. Immediately afterwards she fell back-her eyes were shut -her arms extended-her mouth openher lips pale, and to all appearance she was fast stiffening into death. A woman approached with a handful of salt, and a gentleman ordered it to be handed to a the mouth of the sufferer. The salt had police officer, that it might be put into not lain half a minute on her lips till she licked it in with her tongue, and in a minute afterwards she opened her eyes, rose, and went away. The gentleman who ordered the salt to be applied, follow. ed her a few yards, and inquired if she was subject to such fits. "O yes," she replied, "but I never was so soon cured be

fore."-This is the third instance of the kind we have detailed within these few months, because so simple and efficient a remedy for such an afflicting disorder cannot be too generally known.-[Scotsman.

A Portable Ice House.-Take an iron bound butt or puncheon, and knock out the head, cutting a very small hole in the