suddenly; it abridges the length of his life, and the vigour of his old age, which (as to mere animal power) ought to be the object of his preservation. I consider, therefore, that in the bountiful provision of Providence for the preservation of human life, the Sabbatical appointment is not (as it has been sometimes theologically viewed) simply a precept partaking of the nature of a political institution, but that it is to be numbered amongst the natural duties-if the preservation of life be admitted to be a duty, and the premature destruction of it a suicidal act. "This I say simply as a physician, and without reference at all to the theological question; but if you consider further the proper effects of real Christianity, namely, peace of mind, confiding trust in God, and good-will to man, you will perceive in this source of renewed vigour to the mind, and through the mind to the body, an additional spring of life imparted from this higher use of the Sabbath as a holy rest. Were I to pursue this part of the question, I should be touching on the duties committed to the clergy: but this I will say, that researches in physiology, by the analogy of the working of Providence in nature, will establish the truth of Revelation, and consequently show that the Divine commandment is not to be considered as an arbitrary enactment, but as an appointment necessary to man. This is the position in which I would place it, as contradistinguished from precept and legislation. I would point out the Sabbatical rest as necessary to man; and that the great enemies of the Sabbath, and consequently the enemies of man, are all laborious exercises of the body or mind, and dissipation, which force the circulation on that day in which it should repose; whilst relaxation from the ordinary cares of life, the enjoyment of this repose in the bosom of one's family, with the religious studies and duties which the day enjoins, not one of which, if rightly exercised, tends to abridge life, constitute the beneficial and appropriate service of the day." On being questioned as to the habits of clergymen, who must of necessity labour on the Lord's day, Dr. Farre replied that he advised all clergymen in lieu of the Sunday to rest one day in the week, as he had seen many destroyed by their duties on that day. Let us, then, thank God for this blessed gift of the Lord's day, and let us earnestly pray to be kept in a state of salvation or spiritual health. May each returning Sunday bear witness to us of the Father in Heaven, of Jesus Christ, the strong Elder Brother who strengthens and supports us, of the Holy Spirit who sanctifies and purifies us! And may the working people of England find a true rest on this day, a rest which shall make them stronger, happier, better ! LONDON: SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE; SOLD AT THE DEPOSITORIES: 77, GREAT QUEEN STREET, LINCOLN'S INN FIELDS; AND BY ALL BOOKSELLERS. GILBERT AND RIVINGTON, PRINTERS, ST. JOHN'S SQUARE, LONDON. TRACTS ON PRACTICAL SUBJECTS, ADDRESSED TO THE WORKING CLASSES. No. VI. NEIGHBOURLY KINDNESS. "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."-LEV.xix. 18, MATT. xix. 19. ROM. xiii. 9. THE Ten Commandments inscribed on the two tables of stone given to Moses on Mount Sinai, are divided, in the Catechism of our Church, into two great heads-our duty towards God, and our duty towards our neighbour. In this it follows the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, when the lawyer came tempting Him, saying, "Which is the great commandment of the law?" answered him, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang A 199 all the law and the prophets And St. Paul says: "Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour : therefore love is the fulfilling of the law 2." It was no new doctrine. The first great commandment occurs many times in the book of Deuteronomy, having been impressed with great earnestness upon the children of Israel by Moses. The second occurs in Leviticus xix. 18, in precisely the same words which our Lord employs. But we are not to look for them only in isolated passages. The spirit of these commandments runs through the whole Law and the Prophets, and was maintained and confirmed by Jesus Christ, as the eternal law of man's duty towards God and towards his neighbour. If we look into these two commandments, how full of meaning we find them,-so full, that, had we had no other revelation than this, there would still have been enough to enable us to dis 1 Matt. xxii. 35-40. 2 Rom. xiii. 8-10. |