"tle, nor the stranger which is within

thy gates.

For in six days the "Lord made heaven and earth, the 66 sea and all that in them is, and "rested the seventh day: wherefore "the Lord blessed the seventh day, " and hallowed it."

Consider with attention the scope and meaning of this Divine command. How perfect in wisdom, how infinite in benevolence, was he who framed it! The benefit of a sacred interval of repose from worldly pursuits was not to be confined to any class or description of persons. It was to extend to all.

"Hail, Sabbath! thee I hail the poor man's "day!"

So, without poetical exaggeration, may it emphatically be pronounced. Even the very animals whom God

has

has appointed to lend their strength to the feebler race of man, have in this ordinance a charter of rights, which to all generations establishes their claims to a certain portion of rest and comfort.

The other six commandments relate to the social duties, and are founded in the immutable principles of truth and justice. By them men are taught to restrain the selfish passions, and to respect the feelings and rights of their fellow-creatures. Upon all of them, many able commentaries have been written, and many excellent sermons have been preached. These, I make no doubt, will in due time be perused by you with proper attention; but it is not my object, at present, to enter into any discussion upon the subject of particular duties. I only now aim at giving you a general view of the support afforded

to

to moral principle by the light of revelation, from the period of its commencement at the creation of the world, to that of its meridian splendour in the coming of the Messiah.

May my feeble endeavours be blessed to your use by the God of mercy, and to his name be the glory!

LETTER IV.

My dear Lady Elizabeth,

ALTHOUGH the ten command

ments retain their place in the church service, and though a portion of the Old Testament is still read by appointment every day, I believe there are many who think that a knowledge of Old Testament history is entirely superfluous, and that it has in reality nothing to do with Christianity. I said many who think so; but I correct myself; for the people who take

up

up such silly notions, are they who never think at all.

Let us suppose, my little friend, Lord B. as destined at a future period to fill some great employment in the state, for which a knowledge of the laws and constitution of his country would be essentially requisite. Would this acquirement be left to chance? Or would it be thought possible that he could attain the information necessary to qualify him for the place in question, without some trouble and research? No. Where temporal interests are at stake, no such follies are committed. He would be directed by his friends and preceptors to make himself acquainted with the history of his country from the earliest period, and taught to observe the gradual formation of its happy constitution, through ages of Gothic darkness and semi-barbarism,

to