ting all the usual distinctions in society, and each and all were showing how they can most effectually disregard the obligations of this day. For one man in the community who conscientiously and strictly observes this day, there are hundreds who not only disregard it, but make it a special day of business, convenience or pleasure. In the high places of our land there is an increasing looseness of principle on this subject. During the times that tried men's souls, in the war of independence, our fathers would have been alarmed had the ordinary business of legislation been pursued on the Sabbath, and the voice of indignant remonstrance would have been heard throughout our land. Yet, nothing has been more common of late years, than for the national legislature, after wasting months in needless and profitless debate, to close their labors on the Sabbath, and amidst such scenes of disorder as to be a disgrace to themselves and the nation, on any day. It is not easy for men, in any situation, to cast off respect for the laws of God, and at the same time maintain a character for sober virtue and order; and in legislatures, as elsewhere, a disregard for God's laws is but the beginning of evil.

I will close by repeating a remark already made. It is this. The warfare which christianity is to wage is here. The opposition to religion is here. The Sabbath has more enemies in this land, than Baptism, than the Lord's Supper, than the Bible, than all the other institutions of religion put together. At the same time it is more difficult to meet the enemy here than any where else, for we come in conflict, not with argument, but with interest, and pleasure, and the love of indulgence and gain. The conflict is to rage here. The wish of the atheist, the infidel, the scoffer, the man of vice, is to blot out the Sabbath. The attempt will not be made in this land, to destroy christianity by persecution, for that has been often tried elsewhere, and as often failed. It is to see whether the Sabbath can be obliterated from the memory of man; and if it can, it will be done. If this day, with its sacred institutions, can be blotted out, the victory will be won. Infidelity will achieve what the faggot and the stake, the force of argument, and the caustic severity of sarcasm and ridicule, have never been able to accomplish.

We repeat, this is the ground on which are marshalled the 13-Vol. IV.

contending armies. Under the ample folds of that dark flag, which waves over the heads of the enemies of religion, the eye of fancy discovers the grim visage and fiend-like carriage of the master spirit; the enemy of God, of religion, and of the Sabbath; stimulating his adherents to make a desperate rally upon this point. Among the many legions who recognize his authority, and in addition to his avowed followers and liege subjects, we see, occupying a conspicuous station near their leader, a numerous company of professing christians, whose hearts, notwithstanding their decent exterior, are "enmity against God," "vessels of wrath fitted for destruction." "Verily, they shall have their reward." But whilst from their numbers and unceasing zeal, the christian may for a moment tremble for the issue of the conflict, yet, when we cast our eye upon the numerous hosts composing the armies of Israel, whose captain is "Emanuel, God with us;" when we reflect that " as the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so is the Lord round about all them that fear him," and that they have always come off victorious; when we reflect that his church, with all her hallowed institutions, is built upon Him, the rock of ages, and that he has said "the gates of hell shall never prevail against her;" when we reflect that the King of kings and Lord of lords is our God, we may defy the utmost fury of our opponents, and with the Psalmist exclaim, "We will not fear, though the earth be removed and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea."

So far, I have confined my remarks to the subject as involving our national interests. I cannot close without making a remark of a practical nature, and designed for our individual and personal good. Well does the text begin with the word "remember;" seeing that thoughtless mortals are so prone to forget it. The word "remember," seems to intimate the necessity of preparing for it. We should remember on Saturday, that the Lord's day is at hand, and prepare accordingly. On this day, the command of Jehovah is, "Thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy man servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor the stranger that is within thy gates." Our worldly business, whatever it be, must be laid aside. It is not to be supposed that manual labor alone is interdicted. Traveling, walking or riding for mere pleasure, trifling visits,

paying or receiving wages, frequenting public houses, writing letters, settling accounts, reading books on ordinary subjects, yea, conversation of a worldly kind, is here forbidden. Again, the Sabbath is as much profaned by idleness as by active labor. Mere rest of body is the Sabbath of a beast, not of a man. We have immortal souls, and this is the day on which their eternal welfare is to be sought.

But some will say, "Is nothing to be done on the Sabbath?" I answer. Works of necessity and mercy are allowed. For spending the Sabbath in that manner which we have endeavored to point out, we have the authority of God, who so commands it; the goodness of God; the example of God; and the blessing of God. As we spend our earthly Sabbaths, even so shall we spend the eternal Sabbath, to which we are fast hastening.

AN EXTRACT.

"The great truths of the gospel not only commend themselves to the understanding of mankind, but ought to affect and influence the heart. Their infinite importance and eternal bearings, ought surely to awaken the deepest interest in the minds of all; especially of those who, from their professedly applying themselves to their constant study, may be presumed to be more alive to their unutterable momentousness than mankind generally are. That ministers, therefore, should talk of the great verities of the gospel with as much coldness and languor of manner as if they were speaking on topics of the most trifling interest, is not only surprising, but is a positive anomaly. What avails it that they expatiate on the infinite importance of the doctrines they deliver, when their manner does not correspond with their words? If, I repeat, they would impress the reality and the importance of divine truth on others, they must show that they feel its importance and reality themselves. They must not deliver their sermons in such a way as would lead their hearers to suppose that they considered themselves engaged in the performance of an irksome task. They must preach in such a manner as will convince those to whom they address themselves that their heart is in the work-that

they speak, because they believe-that they expostulate and exhort, because they feel.

"It was one of the happiest and truest things that ever Horace gave utterance to, when he said, 'that those who would convince others, must first show that they are themselves convinced.' If this observation holds good in every case, it applies with special force in the case of ministers; inasmuch as the unbeliever or sceptic is apt to suspect them of preaching a certain class of doctrines merely because they live by the ministerial profession. When such persons see the preachers of the gospel delivering their sermons with coldness and indifference, they only become the more confirmed in their ungenerous suspicions. Let the christian minister only evince that warmth of feeling and that earnestness of manner, which I am recommending, and neither the deist nor the sceptic will be able to resist the conviction that there is a truth and reality in religion. When a great orator of antiquity was asked what was the first requisite of effective oratory, his answer was, 'action;' when asked what was the second, his reply was, 'action;' and when the question was put to him what was the third, his answer was still the same. His meaning was, that action was every thing in oratory. I cannot say of earnestness of manner, that it is every thing in preaching sermons; for preaching truth is of greater importance; but I do say, that next to sound evangelical doctrine, an earnest or impassioned manner is that from which the christian minister may anticipate the happiest results.

"If the preachers of the gospel would only make a point of meditating more frequently on the inexpressible importance of the truths they are about to deliver, the circumstance could not fail to conduce in a great degree to the warmth and earnestness of manner which I am so anxious to see universally exhibited by those who are called to minister in holy things. In their own minds, and in their moments of calm reflection, they are fully persuaded of the unutterable importance of the doctrines of the gospel; but the very circumstance of being called habitually to preach those doctrines, has so necessary a tendency to familiarize the mind with them, as to render them at times, in so far as mere appearance goes, less alive to their infinite momentousness. This ought to be carefully guarded against."

London Pulpit, by James Grant.

THE

BAPTIST PREACHER.

VOL. IV.

June, 1845.

NO. 6.

BRO. KEELING.-I find but few of the sermons that have appeared in the Preacher, are addressed to the unconverted. Hence, in preparing a discourse to be at your disposal, I have selected the subject presented in the following pages. Permit me humbly to express the hope that, if it should be read by any one unprepared for eternity, it may awaken him to see the fearful end to which he is hastening, and induce him to seek safety in the Saviour of sinners.

With christian regard,

Palestine, Greenbrier, March, 1845.

L. A. ALDERSON.

MEMORY; ITS INFLUENCE ON THE TORMENT OF THE WICKED:

A sermon, by L. A. Alderson, of Greenbrier county, Virginia.

"Son, remember that thou in thy life-time receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented."LUKE XVI: 25.

Memory is the depository of all our knowledge. It is a faculty essentially necessary for the transaction of even the most ordinary business of life. It is also the source of both pleasure and pain. It is pleasing to recur to the days of youthful innocency, and to bring up before us the scenes of our childhood, together with the many little events that caused the current of life to glide so smoothly. It is pleasing to think of those kindly friends who cheered us in prosperity, and who smoothed our pathway in adversity. It is still more pleasing to recount the merciful dealings of that Friend above, who has prospered us in health, who has sustained us in sickness, who has rescued us from destruction, and who is now our only hope of salvation. But have we intentionally injured a fellow-being? Have we needlessly oppressed the poor? Have we filled our coffers through 14 Vol. IV.