Sabbath Keeping

Can a better view of a perfect world be imagined than 
that of a Sabbath-keeping world ? All nations and all in- 
dividuals ceasing from their stated vocations as the light 
of the Sabbath day breaks over the eastern hills ! Then, 
when the sound of the churchgoing bells announces the 
hour of worship, how pleasant to see the small and great, 
the rich and poor, the far and near, issue from their dwell- 
ings to gather into the courts of the Lord ! Could crime or 
disorder exist among such a people ? Would not the earth 
be the antechamber of heaven, and Sabbath rest be a fore- 
taste of heaven's eternal joys } That glorious sight may 
yet be seen. When the nature, sanctions, privileges, and 
surpassing beauty of Sabbath rest and the Gospel order 
generally are fully made known — their boon to the poor 
man, their benefits to the rich, their barrier against oppres- 
sion and degradation, and their tendency to promote pros- 

perity and happiness to the individual, family, and nation 
— it does seem to us that the divine injunction, " Remem- 
ber the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, " will be universally 
heeded. 

 Hail, blessed Sabbath, 
gracious Lord's Day, hail ! What hallowed associations 
cluster thick around thee ! Running back, week by week, 
we think of the precious seasons of worship, social and se- 
cret, which we have enjoyed in thy advantageous hours ! 
The sacred convocations, the seasons of prayer, the in- 
structive sermons, and the gladsome songs of praise are 
fresh in our memories. We think, too, of the incalculable 
good which has flowed to our race from this blessed day. 
What Gospel triumphs, beginning in Jerusalem, then in 
Judea, then in Samaria, and then in the uttermost parts of 
earth, have resulted from it ! What angel songs over re- 
pentant sinners have first been heard during its consecrated 
moments ! Thankful are we that our Saviour instituted this 
day. It carries us back in a spirit of commemoration to 
the glad morning of the resurrection and the glorious birth 
of the Gospel kingdom ; and yet farther still, to the birth of 
a new world as it sprang in beauty from its Creator's hands. 
It carries us forward in a spirit of faith and hope to the sub- 
lime consummation of Gospel work and blessing, when the 
Sabbath of earth shall be transferred to the eternal Sab- 
batism of that rest which remains for the people of God. 
Each well kept Sabbath brings us nearer, and adds to our 
fitness to meet the Founder of this rest which has been 
known from the beginning of time, and which shall continue 
when time shall be no more. Happy for us if we rightly 
perceive our obligations in respect to it, and have faith to 
enter into its permanent and perfect observance. 


POTTS