fuch a weekly contemplation? | once in a week, is neceffary; and What can fo effectually teach man if we are well difpofed, will be his total dependence on God, and pleafant. Many ufeful reflections fill his heart with admiration, will naturally arife in the mind of love and gratitude for the good every one, upon fuch a review; he receives, and fo, in every thing, as, how have I been profperedlead him, by prayer and fupplica- what bleffings have. I receivedtion with thanksgiving, to make how many dangers and evils have known his requefts unto God? I

efcaped-what duties have I performed-what fins have I committed-what are my views in life-what are my prospects be

view, the vaft realities of eternity will naturally affect our minds, and tend to excite us to know and do the will of God. Thus, the fabbath, from the reafons of its inftitution, and duties enjoined, appears to be of high importance, and great benefit to man.

Such a day of reft is fecurity for God, that he will always have a tribute of praise, as creator and governor of the world; and alfo,yond the grave? In fuch a re gives man a glorious opportunity, for maintaining a regular and friendly intercourfe with heaven. And, indeed, it is reasonable to believe, that this is the only way, in which, the knowledge of God and creation, could have been preferved from falling into contempt and oblivion ; for, where the fabbath is neglected, the people foon become grofsly ignorant of God and his works, as experience abundantly teaches.

various

And it will appear ftill more evident, that the fabbath was made for man, if we confider the civil and religious influence, which it has on families in particular, or on fociety in general.

But under the gofpel, we have additional reafons for keeping the On the former, Mr. Addifon, fabbath Not only creation, but fomewhere, has obferved, "That all the works of redemption call if the keeping of one day in for meditation and praife. The feven, were only an human inftiChristian fabbath gives us a petution, it would be the beft culiar opportunity to ftudy Chrift's 'method to polish and civilize character as God-man mediator-mankind. Tis certain, country to enquire into the truths he teach-people efpecially, would dees in the gofpel-to exercise the which he enjoins, graces and fo, to fecure the bleffings which he promises to them who love and ferve him. That day fhould be devoted to thofe duties which prepare for eternity. As finners, we have much to do, and but little time, in which we can do it. The fabbath gives every one a proper and convenient opportunity for this work. How fhould we prize this divine inftitution! How fhould we rejoice, in the return of this day of holy reft!

A review of our lives, at least

generate into a kind of favages, were it not for the frequent return of times, in which, whole 'neighborhoods meet together ' with their beft faces, and in their 'cleanlieft habits, to converfe to'gether-to hear their duty explained and to join together in adoration of the Supreme Being. Sunday clears away the ruft of the whole week-not only, as it refreshes in their minds notions of religion, but puts them upon ' appearing in the beft manner, and 'exerting fuch qualities as renders them agreeable to each other."

friendships are contracted-in

Thefe obfervations are juft; and we may add, that the obferv-juries are forgiven and forgotten ance of the fabbath will have a tendency to fupprefs animofities; and to form and ftrengthen friendThips. However men may have differed and wrangled in the week time, their meeting together, and joining in folemn worship at the throne of grace, will tend to meiorate their tempers, convince of in and to excite forgivenefs, unefs they are of their father the devil, in an eminent degree.

1: But the influence of the fabbath in a religious view, is ftill more important to fociety. By this, above all other means, the knowledge and fear of God are promoted; and a fenfe of our total dependence on him, for every thing, is conftantly maintained. The confcientious obfervance of that holy day, will, unavoidably, convince us of duty, due to God, ourfelves and fellow creatures; and every repeated obfervance will tend to ftrengthen such conviction, and to stir up our endeavors for the right performance of duty.

-reverence for God, and refpect for civil and religious order is promoted-cleanliness, civility and decency are encouraged and practifed. Thus, the affembling of the people, and their exercises on the fabbath, are a kind of cement to fociety; and ftrengthen all its bands of union, civil, moral and religious.

And awful, indeed, would be the confequences, if fuch bands were loofened, as they foon would be, without the obfervance of that holy day. The knowledge and fear of God would be loft: Man would prey on man, and fociety be a curfe! True it is, religious inftitutions do not keep all men within the bounds of reafon and good order; yet, however, the public administrations of the fabbath do fomething. They keep up a fenfe of moral and religious principles among men; and do much to reftrain their violent paffions, and to ftay the spreading of vice and infidelity; and thus, they promote private and public happinefs. And it is an undoubted truth, that the despisers and neglecters of the fabbath, however they may boast of their patriotism and love of the people, are bitter enemies, both to God and to their country. Long ex

Many, in the lower claffes of fociety, can command little or no time but the fabbath, to gain religious knowledge and inftruction; and would, othewife, live in ignorance of God and religion. And too many in the higher circles of life, who have time, would never take it, were it not for the faluta-perience, in concurrence with hory restraints of the fabbath. ly writ, teaches, that Righteouf nefs exalteth a nation, but that fin is a reproach to any people.

Thefe obfervations fhew the importance of the fabbath to fociety, in a civil and religious point of view. In this respect, no inftitution, divine or human, is comparable to it. The duties of the fabbath, tend to furnish our minds with useful knowledge-to inform our judgments and to regulate our paffions. Our minds are neliorated, acquaintances are made

This laft thought reminds me, that the obfervance of the holy fabbath, will greatly advance the credit and intereft of religion. Senfible of this truth, the enemies of the cross of Chrift have always fpited the fabbath, and done what in them lay, to bring that day into difrepute and neg

lect. For proof of this, we have
no need to cross the Atlantic. The
profeffion and practice of a mul-
titude among ourselves, are abund-
antly fufficient. This fhould im-
prefs the minds of profeffors,
with a fenfe of the importance of
a conftant attendance on the pub-
lic duties of the fabbath. That
day gives us an opportunity to
fpeak for God and religion, to
ftep forth publicly, as pillars of
as pillars of
truth, as lights in the world, hold-
ing forth the word of life. By af-
fembling on the Lord's day, for
religious worship, we openly pro-
fefs our belief in the being of God,
and of the realities of religion;
and do fpecially declare we are
not afhamed of the cross of Christ.
This does credit to religion,
brings peace
and comfort to our-
felves, and bleffings on our fami-
lies. It lifts up a standard against
infidelity, encourages weak and
fearful Chriftians, and ftrengthens
and establishes fuch as waver in
opinion.

our fathers were fo ftrict, in requiring all the members of fociety to attend on the public worship of the fabbath. And had their pofterity been equally confcientious, in this respect, it would have had a moft happy influence upon our civil and religious intereft.

I will only remark further, that the obfervance of the fabbath is very conducive to perfonal religion. gion. The duties of that holy day are, above all other means, ufeful to promote divine know!edge and inftruction to convince of fin, righteousness and judg ment and to excite in our hearts the love of God, faith, holiness and joy. The experience of all real Chriftians teftifies to the profit and pleasure of the fabbath. Accordingly, a man who is eminent for piety, is always eminent for his reverence of the fabbath.

Religion is useful in every em ployment of life; and, especially, do the duties of the fabbath, fit us for the duties of the week. They tend, as it were, to call us back from our past wanderings, and fet us out anew on the path of duty; and fo, to fecure the bleffings of God. A man muft be hardened in fin, indeed, on whom the duties of the fabbath have no influence to check him in his evil practices; and to excite refolutions of repentance and reformation. One day in feven devoted to God, in public worship, will do much to fortify us againft temptations from the world, the flesh and the devil; otherwise, we have reafon to fear, we are hard on the borders of perdition.. Were it not for the fabbath, we have ground to believe, that our fouls would foon grovel on the earth; and we fhould have little or no fpiritual affection left. Hence it was, Let us then highly prize that

It is alfo worthy of obfervation, that in fociety, there are many who have no religion, and would take no pains to acquire any, were it not for the affembling of God's people on the fabbath. They feel difpofed merely to do, as others do, and fo, to go with the multitude. By this practice, though they fit as way-fide hearers, they may, and many, actually, have received the good feed of the word of God fown in their hearts. Thus, the knowledge of God and a Saviour are brought to the careless and ignorant. The du ties of the fabbath call off their attention from earthly things, and raise their thoughts towards heaven.

By fuch means, the kingdom of the Redeemer is both honored and advanced.

Religious Intelligence. Extract of a letter from the Rev. DAVID BACON, Miffionary to the Indians, to the Trustees of the Miffionary Society of Connecticut, dated MICHILIMAKINAK, July 2, 1802.

THE 29th of April I fat out for the Miami in a canoe with Beamont and the man that I had hired; but by reafon of unfavor

holy day; and not fay with the wicked Jews, What a weariness tis! when will the fabbath be gone, that we may fet forth wheat, making the ephah fmall, and the fbekel great? But rather let us fay, with the man after God's own heart, How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of Hofts! My foul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord. Bleffed are they that dwell in thy boufe :they will be fill praifing thee. Many ufeful reflections are fug-able winds we did not arrive at gefted by this fubject: But I the mouth of the river until the may only obferve, that the good- 4th of May. We were much fanefs of God is very manifeft, in tigued with hard rowing, and were his giving a fabbath to man. And feveral times in danger by the viofor us to fpend it in carnal reft, in, lence of the waves, but God was carelefnefs and inattention to di- better to us than our fears. I vine things, or, in unneceffary at- was obliged to go without the tendance on our fecular affairs, is public interpreter, as he could not difhonoring to God, and injurious be spared. Iftarted however, with hopes of obtaining his brother, who, as I was told, lived but a few miles out of my way; but after travelling till late in the night to fee him, with limbs that were wearied with the fatigues of the day, I was difappointed of him alfo.-But when I came to the Miami, I learned the reason of thefe difappointments; for there I found an excellent interpreter in whom the Indians place the utmoft confidence, and who served me faithfully for a much less fum than what either of the others would have afked. His name is William Dragoo. He appears to be a very worthy man, confidering the advantages he has enjoyed-was taken prifoner on the Monongahela when he was ten years sof age, and adopted into the head family of the nation, and

to ourselves.

And to close the day and its fervice, in fashionable vifits, and in parties for amufements is highly deferving of cenfure: It fhows that we have been mere way-fide hearers, and have gotten no good. The profanation of the fabbath is a crying fin. It is the fource of infidelity and loofe morals; and conftantly expofes us to the judgments of heaven, Parents and heads of families are, fpecialiy, called upon to recommend the obfervance of the fabbath, by their precepts and conftant example. And, fhould need require, by their authority, to reftrain the, vicious and refractory, and compel attendance on public worship. We cannot take too much pains in this matter. The more we obferve the fabbath, the more happinefs will redound to us and our children-God will be more hon

ored;

and

we fhall, with greater confidence, look up to him thro'

is confidered a chief.

When I arrived at the mouth of the river, the most of the chiefs were drunk at the traders above.

Jefus Chrift, for life and falvation. After remaining there two days,

ISRAEL.

and finding it uncertain when they