Church which the Jews so often brought against the Lord, for working miracles, and in a free social manner imparting instruction on that day'This man cannot be of God, for he keepeth not the Sabbath day.'

999

"I would not, however, object to their mode of observing the Sabbath, or their views respecting it, when considered merely in relation to their state. Their views of the Sabbath are such as the merely natural man must have of all religious truth; and such as the lowest form of Christianity, which is suited to his state, must necessarily teach. We ought not, therefore, to take from them this degree of acknowledgment, or this outward mode of observing the Sabbath, until they are prepared for something higher. But we should object to these views of the Sabbath being enforced as a standard for others. For, after the work of regeneration shall have really commenced, and man has begun to learn by experience the nature of true holiness, he will, by degrees, come into higher views of the Sabbath, and into a corresponding external mode of observing the day.

"The Lord, to appearance, lay dead during the Sabbath of the Jews. And he is spiritually dead in the merely external, formal Sabbath of the natural man, and a pharisaical Church. But, as spiritual life begins and grows in the mind, the Lord will appear to arise from the dead; his character will open, and become exalted within the

mind; we shall have clearer views of spiritual truth, and corresponding perceptions of the mode of bringing it forth into life; we shall learn by experience, that the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath day.'

6

"As the consequence of advancing spiritual life, and the internal union of inclination and duty of goodness and truth in the soul, our ideas of holiness must change, and our external mode of keeping the Sabbath must undergo a corresponding change. The limits of our horizon will be enlarged. Those rigid and narrow views, those dark and gloomy associations connected with the Sabbath, will pass away. Those external bonds of irksome restraint will be broken; and instead of being a day of weariness and painful confinement, it will become a season of internal peace and joy, and of corresponding works of charity and expressions of happiness and delight. So that what were at first but the walls of our prison, will become transformed into the circumference of our pleasures."

AFTER rising from dinner sufficient time was always allowed for the necessary attention to a lesson in the Bible, as preparatory to the instruction about to be given. At an appointed hour in the afternoon several children and youth of the neighborhood regularly came in to join those of Mr. Clifford's own family, making a Bible class of about twenty in number.

Mr. Clifford devoted a full hour, and often a longer time, in efforts to instruct and interest those who looked to him as their spiritual teacher and guide. And this he regarded as one of his most useful fields of labor.

But the interval of time between dinner and meeting his class in the Bible he usually employed either in visiting the sick, or in dispensing charity among the deserving poor in his neighborhood.

He therefore excused himself after dinner as having an engagement at that hour; and, on leaving, said to Henry, that possibly he might be detained till past the usual time for the class to meet; in which case, he desired him to take the charge of it, as he often did in his father's absence. Then addressing himself to me, "Mr. Williams, I have a mile to walk to visit a sick family, and as it is a pleasant afternoon, perhaps you would not object to accompanying me."

I readily assented, and we were soon on our way.

"The poor family which I am going to visit," said Mr. Clifford," is one that has seen deep affliction. It now consists of a widowed mother and young children.

six

"Ten years ago," continued he, "Seth Patrick was a strong active man for labor, and I often employed him to perform such service as he was able to render. But owing to the prevailing custom of giving a daily dram to laborers he soon acquired an appetite for spirit, which gradually increased upon him, till at length he became very intemperate, and was generally regarded as a hopeless subject for reformation.

"I knew that he naturally possessed a good disposition, and that he had strong natural affection for his wife and children. I therefore resolved, under providence, to make an effort to bring him back to his former habits, and save him as a blessing to his family.

"Accordingly one Sabbath afternoon, just five years ago this month, I walked over to see him at the same house to which we are now going. I resolved to approach him in a kind, affectionate manner to avoid every thing that would be likely to irritate, or to appear like reproach. I really felt for him as a man who had been led astray, and I had no wish to conceal from him that I did feel deeply interested in his welfare.

"I found him at home, and, what had now become unusual at that hour of the day, he was perfectly sober. His wife had gone out to meeting, and he was remaining at home with the two youngest children.

"After a little conversation I frankly told him the object for which I had come to see him. I had never used the language of reproach to him, and my treatment of him had always been such that he seemed to regard me as his friend, notwithstanding my frequent reproofs for his conduct.

“I now reminded him of his former good health, and how easily and happily he got along in the world, before he gave himself up to his present course of life. I gradually led him to see and to acknowledge, that his present debilitated health and impoverished condition, were entirely owing to the change which had taken place in his habits. I told him plainly if he continued his present course, that he must soon, and very soon too, die

– die, leaving behind him the name and character