them by Moses. From an idle curiosity, or a sinful covetousness and distrust of the Providence of God, they kept some of the manna till the next morning. They were then taught their folly and guilt, by finding what they had stored away, a mass of loathsome putrefaction.

Ou the sixth day, as they had been commanded, they gathered twice as much as on the other days; and the rulers of the congregation came to Moses, informing him of what had been done, and asking, probably, for some further directions. His reply was, "This is that which the Lord hath said, Tomorrow is the rest of the holy Sabbath unto the Lord: bake that which ye will bake to-day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over, lay up for you to be kept until the morning."

It is worthy of very particular notice, that Moses here speaks of the Sabbath as a divine institution well known to the Israelites, and already in existence. His language can bear no other construction. He does not say, to-morrow shall, or will be, but " to-morrow is, the rest of the holy Sabbath unto the Lord." Indeed, if this had been the occasion of first promulgating the observance of the Sabbath, it is utterly astonishing that it should have been thus done, without any special formality, or reasons; and in such a manner as to seem to make it depend on the simple fact, that it was to be a day of rest, on which the manna was not to be

gathered, or prepared for food. Why not mention the great reason that was afterwards so particularly given, as the one for its religious observance, to commemorate the creation of the world, and God's resting from his work, and blessing and hallowing the seventh day!

On the contrary, did time permit, it could be shown, that there is good and direct evidence to believe that the Sabbath had been a day of religious rest and worship from the beginning, and enjoined to be kept so by God himself, though fallen into much and criminal neglect among the Israelites. Now, therefore, was a very suitable occasion to remind them of its obligations; and to lead them to notice the peculiar manner in which God miraculously placed the seal of his regard upon it. For to secure it against profanation, he caused double the usual quantity of manna to fall on the day previous; and what was kept over till the Sabbath, (and on that day alone,) to remain free from corruption and fit for use.

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Besides, not the least quantity ever fell on the Sabbath; which itself was a constant memorial of the sacredness of the day. Six days ye shall gather it," said Moses; "but on the seventh day, which is the Sabbath, in it there shall be none."

Some who foolishly and wickedly went out, on that day, to gather the manna, met, of course, with complete disappointment and shame. God put Moses in mind of the great sinfulness of his coun

trymen, in thus disobeying his commandments, and enjoined it strictly upon every man, not to go out of his place, for such a purpose, on the seventh day. So the people rested," we are told, on

the seventh day."

Thus we see, that, when God had completed the work of creation, he instituted the Sabbath. In separating a chosen people from idolaters, and placing them on their course to the promised land, he reminded them, by miracles, of its sacredness, and renewed his injunctions for its observance. And, on giving the simple and universal code of the moral law at mount Sinai, he made the command to keep holy this day, one tenth part of the whole. Such importance does the Supreme Majesty of heaven and earth attach to this his own institution.

How, my young friend, do you regard the Sabbath? Do you anticipate its return with delight; or when it has arrived, is it a dull and tedious day to you, and do you long to have it come to a close?

How do you spend the Sabbath? Do you go out to gather manna on that day? Are not six days enough for the concerns of this life; and do you dare to perform any worldly business during those hours which God has required you to devote more peculiarly to himself and your own eternal wellbeing?

Or, do you make the day a convenient season for taking medicine; or indulging in unnecessary sleep

and bodily repose; or reading light and entertaining books and newspapers, or any works not of a religious kind; or visiting friends and acquaintances; or seeking some amusement, either alone, or in the company of others?

I hope you do none of these things. But if you do profane the Sabbath in any of these ways, I beg you to pause in your course, and consider what you are doing.

With the eye of God upon you, you are defying his authority, and incurring his terrible displeasure. You are abusing one of his choicest blessings, and losing its benign and salutary influence upon your soul. You are, (it may be,) breaking loose most ungratefully from the early instructions and restraints of a pious father and mother. How will you meet them, at the day of judgment? You are exposing yourself to new and more powerful temptations. You are falling into sins, easily and fearlessly, the idea of committing which, would once have filled you with horror. You are sadly injuring others by your pernicious example.

You are making rapid, and dreadful progress in guilt. For an habitual Sabbath-breaker, is always found casting off one moral restraint after another, stupifying his conscience, and setting at defiance, with a bolder and more reckless daring, both the laws of God and man.

My dear young friend, are you a Sabbath-breaker?

If so, I tremble for you. All good people mourn over you. God witnesses your guilt, and his awful curse awaits you. Continuing in such a course, you are lost for ever !

CHAPTER XXVIII.

The golden pot of manna to be laid up before the ark. Rephidim. The rock in Horeb smitten, and supplying

water.

There was one command of God concerning the manna, which shows how important he regarded the perpetuating the remembrance of its history, and of the religious instruction to be derived from it, through the succeeding generations of the Israelites. For this purpose Moses was commanded to have an omer full of it preserved; which Aaron, by his direction, took, and, placing in a golden pot, laid it up before the ark of the testimony. There it was kept as a sacred deposit, while, unlike the other manna, it retained, year after year, its original sweetness, affording a perpetual miracle, to illustrate the power of God, and awaken the recollection of his goodness.