FRIENDLY VISITOR.

No. 274.]

JULY, 1841.

[VOL. 23.

LOST SABBATHS.

It is in

The value of the Sabbath cannot be told. dispensable to a man's best interests. Blot it out, and the heavens are darkened. God himself, by its institution, has pronounced its infinite worth.

The Sabbath is principally to be distinguished by the public worship of God. In this a chief part of its value consists. When this is not observed, the Sabbath itself is soon lost. It ceases to be distinguished from other days of the week. The value of public worship is, therefore, to be estimated, in a great degree, by the value of the Sabbath, as a divine institution.

The importance of observing public worship on a particular Sabbath may not be very apparent. But let the neglect continue, and it will soon be seen, that, however spiritual before, the neglecter has lost much of his spirituality and heavenly-mindedness. Those are always the most devout, lively, spiritual, growing, useful Christians, other things being equal, who are most conscientious and exact in their observance of public worship.

The Sabbath is the great market-day for the soul—the day when we may best lay up provision for our journey heaven-ward. If it be not improved, the loss is felt throughout the week. After constant intercourse with the world for six days, the soul becomes in a measure carnalized and grovelling. It needs the Sabbath for repair, and for laying in stores. A ship can as well sail round the world without provisions, and without refitting, as the soul make progress through the world without the Sabbath.

It therefore becomes a vastly important matter for every Christian to secure, by all means, every Sabbath in the year for this indispensable service. If God lays

H

the body on a bed of sickness, or so enfeebles it that it may not be exposed to wind or weather, we must submit. But even then we should feel that the greatest trial of such a condition is, that we cannot visit the courts of the Lord's house with them that keep holyday. Or the circumstances of our sick friends or dependants may be such as to prevent our wonted appearance in the sanctuary. In all other cases we are to act as those who regard the public worship of God on the Sabbath as of infinite personal value, and who know that a lost Sabbath can never be recovered-that every lost Sabbath makes us poorer for eternity.

We have been led into this train of remark by having observed on a recent rainy Sabbath, as often before, how small a part of the congregation were in their seats in the house of God during the hours of public worship. A very large proportion, much more than half, were absent. In some cases, we have observed that not a fourth part were present. We could not but feel a deep sympathy for the absentees, while, as our own soul was fed by the bread of life, we thought how great was the loss of those who were not present. It further occurred to us, that the absentees almost always were affected in like manner by the occurrence of a stormy Sabbath. And we were led to make a calculation of the frequency of the return of such Sabbath-days, and so of the greatness of the loss of such persons. The results of our calculations may interest others as well as ourselves.

It has been ascertained by a weather table, accurately kept for a period of ten years in this neighbourhood, that the average of rainy days, for that space of time, in each year, was fifty-seven; to which may be added the days on which it snowed, and the average will be at least seventy. The average number of days in the year on which either rain or snow, or both, fell, is found to be sixty-nine and one-third. Seventy may be regarded as the average number.

Now, as we know not that the clouds pay any particular respect to the Sabbaths, it is reasonable to sup

pose that one-seventh of these will be Sabbath-days, or that there will be at least ten stormy Sabbaths in each year. It may therefore be expected that at least every fifth Sabbath will be of this description. If any one makes it a practice to neglect the worship of God, whenever it rains or snows, he will lose, in five years, fifty Sabbaths, or about a whole year of Sabbath-days; and in forty years, eight whole years of public worship.

The practice of staying at home whenever it is stormy on Sunday, it will thus be seen is one of great concern. Can any Christian afford to lose all these spiritual feast days? Will he suffer no loss by such a practice? Is.it the will of God that he should be deprived of one year's preaching in every five?

Has

God blotted out from the calendar of days of worship, all those on which there is either a rain or a snow storm? These are indeed serious questions. And they deserve an answer.

Let it be remembered, that in requiring his people to worship him on the Sabbath, God has made no exception in favour of stormy days. The law is just as binding then as at any other time. There is, moreover, the same reason for worshipping God then as on other days. The honour of God is just as much concerned. The soul is in just as much need of spiritual food. There is just as much reason for giving public thanks, making public confession, seeking pardon, and offering united prayer.

It would, doubtless, accommodate the people very much, if they could procure a dispensation in favour of Sundays, in which it should be stipulated, that every Sunday should be just as pleasant as any Christian could make it. But of this we can entertain no hope. If then we cannot accommodate the weather to ourselves, reason teaches that we should accommodate ourselves to the weather.

Now we maintain that, except in extreme cases, this latter course is practicable. Once or twice in the course of a year, such a storm will occur as will confine almost

the body on a bed of sickness, or so enfeebles it that it may not be exposed to wind or weather, we must submit. But even then we should feel that the greatest trial of such a condition is, that we cannot visit the courts of the Lord's house with them that keep holyday. Or the circumstances of our sick friends or dependants may be such as to prevent our wonted appearance in the sanctuary. In all other cases we are to act as those who regard the public worship of God on the Sabbath as of infinite personal value, and who know that a lost Sabbath can never be recovered-that every lost Sabbath makes us poorer for eternity.

We have been led into this train of remark by haying observed on a recent rainy Sabbath, as often before, how small a part of the congregation were in their seats in the house of God during the hours of public worship. A very large proportion, much more than half, were absent. In some cases, we have observed that not a fourth part were present. We could not but feel a deep sympathy for the absentees, while, as our own soul was fed by the bread of life, we thought how great was the loss of those who were not present. It further occurred to us, that the absentees almost always were affected in like manner by the occurrence of a stormy Sabbath. And we were led to make a calculation of the frequency of the return of such Sabbath-days, and so of the greatness of the loss of such persons. The results of our calculations may interest others as well as ourselves.

It has been ascertained by a weather table, accurately kept for a period of ten years in this neighbourhood, that the average of rainy days, for that space of time, in each year, was fifty-seven; to which may be added the days on which it snowed, and the average will be at least seventy. The average number of days in the year on which either rain or snow, or both, fell, is found to be sixty-nine and one-third. Seventy may be regarded as the average number.

Now, as we know not that the clouds pay any particular respect to the Sabbaths, it is reasonable to sup

pose that one-seventh of these will be Sabbath-days, or that there will be at least ten stormy Sabbaths in each year. It may therefore be expected that at least every fifth Sabbath will be of this description. If any one makes it a practice to neglect the worship of God, whenever it rains or snows, he will lose, in five years, fifty Sabbaths, or about a whole year of Sabbath-days; and in forty years, eight whole years of public worship.

The practice of staying at home whenever it is stormy on Sunday, it will thus be seen is one of great concern. Can any Christian afford to lose all these spiritual feast days? Will he suffer no loss by such a practice? Is.it the will of God that he should be deprived of one year's preaching in every five? Has God blotted out from the calendar of days of worship, all those on which there is either a rain or a snow storm? These are indeed serious questions. And they deserve an answer.

Let it be remembered, that in requiring his people to worship him on the Sabbath, God has made no exception in favour of stormy days. The law is just as binding then as at any other time. There is, moreover, the same reason for worshipping God then as on other days. The honour of God is just as much concerned. The soul is in just as much need of spiritual food. There is just as much reason for giving public thanks, making public confession, seeking pardon, and offering united prayer.

It would, doubtless, accommodate the people very much, if they could procure a dispensation in favour of Sundays, in which it should be stipulated, that every Sunday should be just as pleasant as any Christian could make it. But of this we can entertain no hope. If then we cannot accommodate the weather to ourselves, reason teaches that we should accommodate ourselves to the weather.

Now we maintain that, except in extreme cases, this latter course is practicable. Once or twice in the course of a year, such a storm will occur as will confine almost