The Poetry of the Sabbath-The Fourth Commandment-"The Gates of Zion""The Dwellings of Jacob"-Sabbath Joy-And Bondage-Self-Discipline of Parents-Ministers, their Duty to "the Little Ones"-A Happy Sabbath— Sabbath Schools-Their Use and Blessings-Their Abuse-Every Home a Sabbath School-Mettray and Redhill-Examples.

THIS is another of the subjects upon which poetry combines with plain, unvarnished truth to invest our homes with many attractions. "The Sabbath was made for man," and it has accordingly been hailed as "the poor man's day," on which

"With those he loves he shares the heartfelt joy

Of giving thanks to God,

To reach those realms where Sabbath never ends."

No doubt, the pictures of poetry are often marred by the dark realities of life, where Sabbath is not a day of thanksgiving but of riot. Many, moreover, can admire the poetry, who do not enter into the spirit, of the Lord's day; yet, withal, it brings blessings still untold to the Home where God is feared; for the Christian Sabbath is to time what conscience is to the soul-it is both a regulator and a propelling power.

And here the first remark may refer to the extent to which the family is contemplated in the Fourth Commandment. First, the parent; then, the son; thirdly, the daughter; fourthly, the man-servant; fifthly, the maid-servant;

T

290

66 THE DWELLINGS OF JACOB."

sixthly, even the cattle; and seventhly, the stranger sojourning in our homes, are all expressly recognised; and he who has caught the Sabbath spirit will see in all this a rich provision for happiness to man. It plants a tree of life in every home, that beneath its shadow the God-fearing inmates may meet as in Eden of old. The Sabbath thus diffuses beatitudes among all, according to their power of enjoyment, and Home is then invested with even more than its usual heavenly spirit. The Lord of that day is specially sought. The soul and all its interests are solemnly considered-and the eternal Sabbath-keeping, in an everlasting Home, is both anticipated and prepared for.

But the Supreme has drawn attention to this subject by His Providence as well as His Word. Many a mind, jaded by study, by business, or professional engrossment, carried on during seven days, instead of six each week, has first been weakened, and then become deranged-suicide has not seldom followed for want of a Sabbath. Castlereagh, Romilly, and others, are often quoted to illustrate this point, and every aspect of the holy day proclaims that no law of God can be neglected in our homes, while the transgressor escapes degradation or sorrow.

But it is not proposed to describe how the Sabbath should be sanctified. We do not write for "the gates of Zion"the Church, but for "the dwellings of Jacob"—our Homes; and on the supposition that "The Church in the House" is not merely an ancient tradition, but an actual fact, we would try to shew how to render the Sabbath a day of rejoic-' ing, not of gloom, and as such to be welcomed by youth as well as age. Too often has it been made a day of taskwork drudgery. In many a home, the ungodliness of the

PAINSTAKING FOR GOOD.

291

young is deepened by the compulsory nature of their employments on the Lord's day-hence it were a blessing beyond all price, if its sunshine and serenity could be diffused through our dwellings. If religion be, as some suppose, the re-uniting power in society,* the Sabbath may well exercise a large influence in accomplishing that end; while, if it be true that in London alone 40,000 men are so employed that they have no Sabbath and scarcely a home, philanthropy must yearn to see a change for the better introduced.

Yet all improvement must be indefinitely retarded, unless parents be at pains to fit themselves for Sabbath training. That parent who employs no portion of his time in ascertaining how his children may be best instructed or impressed, has not realised his responsibility to the full: he is verifying the words of a Christian mother, who tells us, that "there is much buried in the napkin of self-indulgence, which, if called forth and traded with, might be turned to most valuable purposes for the good of their children. Be alive," she says, "to the talents committed to your care; store your memory with useful information, interesting incidents, Bible truths, and bring these forth at appropriate moments in the social circle. You will, by so doing, not only impart present gratification, but afford your children a practical lesson how to converse. The effort involves self-discipline, trouble, thought, arrangement, but the responsibility of a parent. demands such exertion, and habit will make the task easy."†

Now, it is the neglect of such self-discipline, such trouble and forethought, that makes many a Sabbath worse than lost,

*Cicero derives Religio from relegere. "Sunt dicti religiosi ex relegendo❞—and relegere to gather up again.

"Hints to Christian Parents," pp. 54, 55.

292

HINTS TO MINISTERS.

and many a home akin to a prison on the Lord's day; for if parents neglect their duty to themselves, they will not long discharge it to their children, and the Sabbath will be unhallowed while the souls both of children and of parents are put in jeopardy.

Again it is the query of one whom long experience has made sage, whether the sermons of ministers should not be addressed to their Sabbath scholars far more than they are ;* and whatever may be thought by some of the suggestion, there is wisdom implied in it. For might not ministers in the pulpit, far more effectually than they do, assist in rendering the Sabbath attractive to the young? Why so rarely any reference to the lambs of the flock? Why are they so habitually ignored amid the lessons of the sanctuary? Why should Christian mothers be tempted, as some have been, to doubt the propriety of taking their tender charge to the house of God lest habits of listlessness should be fostered there? "As a mother leads her children," one has said, "to the accustomed place of worship, and reminds them that they should try to listen to the good minister, and remember what he says, a doubt arises in her own mind whether or not they can listen and remember; and when she marks their listlessness during the service, and feels (however quiet they may be) that they are restless and weary, her own enjoyment is damped by sympathy with her children, and her mind is distracted by the question, 'Is it right to rob them of so large a portion of their Sabbath time, by bringing them to hear instructions which they cannot receive, while their little minds might be exercised on sacred things, in the happy freedom of their own homes?' The whispered question, 'When will it be done?' * Rev. C. Bridges on the "Christian Ministry."

LESSONS FOR THE LAMBS.

293

and the look of relief when it is over, awaken anxious thoughts in a mother's heart; and while she leads them homeward, painful questions stir within her as to the practical effect of their regular attendance at church."*

Now, surely, such danger should be all avoided, and instead of creating or strengthening a listless spirit in the young, some efforts or some ingenuity should be put forth by ministers to interest and instruct them, that the service of God may be invested with attractions, instead of being made a burden or a task. If it be the duty or the joy of a devoted teacher to interest, and, if possible, to rivet the minds of the young, ought not ministers to put forth still more assiduous endeavours to simplify their lessons for the lambs ? †

* "An Appeal to the Ministers of Christ on Behalf of the Little Ones, by a Christian Mother," p. 4.

"How gladly would many a Christian mother plead the cause of her children with the faithful ministers of Christ! How often she longs to address such words as follow to some honoured friend and brother in the ministry:-Have you ever remarked that Jesus said to Peter, 'Feed my lambs,' before he said to him, 'Feed my sheep?' Did he not speak to all his ministers when he said to Peter, 'Feed my lambs?' And are we not to reckon among the lambs of Jesus, the babes of his own people, who have been brought to him in faith that they may receive his blessing? The admonition, not to despise the little ones,' was addressed to his disciples in all ages, and his own tender care for young children is a precious feature of the example he has left us to follow. You seek, perhaps, to act in his spirit towards the young, by speaking a kind word in private, as opportunities occur; but how rare are these opportunities in the case of numbers in each congregation! Why not shew them all every Sabbath that you love their souls, by telling them, simply and kindly, of the love of the good Shepherd?

"Let a few sentences be spoken to the children in the course of every sermon (or at longer intervals should this be deemed too much), and many a lisping prayer will ascend for the kind minister who remembered the little ones, and often will their portion be talked over in the nursery, when the child climbs on his mother's knee, whispers something that the minister has said, and asks to hear it all again, perhaps for the twentieth time. What a precious sowing-time is lost by every minister who never thus drops the good seed into the heart of childhood!"-"Appeal," pp. 6-8.

"Again, if we may venture to judge from appearances, this power is very partially