PROVIDENTIAL TESTIMONIES. 263 



the day of rest became sweetly welcome, and 

 obviously beneficial in its restoring influ- 

 ence upon the energies of the people, fitting 

 them for a renewal of their arduous duties; 

 whilst the temporary restraint thus put upon 

 the ardour of the seamen, operated, no doubt, 

 with no small measure of advantage, by stimu- 

 lating to additional energy in their subsequent 

 labours; so that, in every point of view, and in 

 every relation to the well-being of man, spiritual 

 and temporal, this sacred appointment stands, 

 we conceive, eminently commended, both for its 

 wisdom and its goodness." 



Now what rational subject of Almighty God 

 can doubt these conclusions, having for them 

 His own WORD ? And what ship-master or 

 common mariner will turn a leaden ear to this 

 testimony and expostulation of one of their own 

 craft, to whom a long and varied experience 

 gives a right to be heard and regarded. Consi- 

 derations like these, we fully believe, will yet 

 have their weight upon owners, officers, and 

 men. The sea shall yet have its Sabbath ; the 



