dangerous extreme, by indecent, or at least irreverent behaviour there, not considering they are in the presence of that Being who is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity, before whom the strictest decency and propriety should be observed in every action and every gesture.

It is but too common with the thoughtless and inconsiderate to suffer their minds to be distracted and their meditations diverted by the smallest object that may chance to catch attention;-as if they had forgot the purpose for which they entered the house of God, and looked upon it only as an assembly of men.

Nothing should be permitted to intrude upon our thoughts, that can in any respect interfere with the service of God, whose temple we enter with a professed design to forget our worldly concerns, and turn our hearts to him alone. To avoid

the slightest deviation from this object, every light and trifling ceremony that could possibly dispose the mind to improper levity, has been rejected by the sedate and thinking part of mankind ;— nay, our very behaviour is plainly pointed out, and our gestures prescribed to us in the book of prayer, to which so little attention is paid in general, that few seem to be at all acquainted with their duty in that respect.

To those who have laboured six whole days in their several occupations, and with much toil and trouble hardly earned a scanty pittance to support themselves, and perhaps a numerous family, by the work of their hands and the sweat of their brow, can one day of rest be irksome and unpleasing?-will they not gladly hail the seventh day as a sweet relief from their earthly cares?-will they not chearfully seize that opportunity to reflect upon

their past errors, and implore the forgiveness of heaven for those to come, to offer up their thanksgivings for mercies already received, and pour forth their humble petitions for a continuance of them. In a word, to calm the trouble of their souls, to seek peace in the bosom of their Maker, and reconcile themselves to God!

Such an employment of the Sabbath Day, reason dictates, and religion commands; but man, blind as he is to real happiness, and obstinate only in the pursuit of misery, is neither soothed by the soft, persuasive voice of reason, nor awed by the loud and piercing threats of religion. In defiance to the laws of God and man, he mocks their wisest institutions, profanes their most hallowed ceremonies, and turns to iniquity even their most solemn meetings. This sacred day, so justly ordained for the best of purposes, and so religiously observed by former

ages, is now become a day of mirth and revelry to men of pleasure-a day of jest and mockery to men of sin—a day of idleness and neglect to all.

But it were an endless theme to recount the various profanations of this day, of which the very best men are sometimes guilty; let us rather point out a remedy for these disorders, and seeing the errors of our fellow-creatures, let us use our endeavours to engage them to keep holy the Sabbath Day.

Two most prevailing methods of persuasion are, advice and example; the former, indeed, is rarely sufficient of itself, unless enforced by the latter.-When thus united, who shall resist their eloquence?-If those placed in a more exalted station of life would, by their authority, recommend the practice of this duty to the imitation of their inferiors,

how many copies of virtue would this fair pattern produce? But the defect of the one naturally encreases the weakness of the other; the more humble and uninformed part of mankind seeing great inattention shewn by their betters to this article of religion, are led by degrees to consider the crime of less dangerous consequence than they have been taught to conceive it, and in a short time to join with their superiors in slighting the law of God, and trampling upon his holy com mandments.

In asserting this unwelcome truth, it cannot be denied, that there are many cases in which we may reasonably suppose the Almighty will dispense with attendance on his public worship, but few excuses are of force enough to justify this neglect. There are some employments which may require the same attention on the Sabbath as on any other day of