se, as
convener of the Committee of Presbytery on Sabbath Observance, and had
written his well-known letter to one of the chief defenders of the
Sabbath desecration. He continued unceasingly to use every effort in
this holy cause. And is it not worth the prayers and self-denying
efforts of every believing man? Is not that day set apart as a season
wherein the Lord desires the refreshing rest of his own love to be
offered to a fallen world? Is it not designed to be a day on which
every other voice and sound is to be hushed, in order that the silver
trumpets may proclaim atonement for sinners? Nay, it is understood to
be a day wherein God himself stands before the altar and pleads with
sinners to accept the Lamb slain, from morning to evening. Who is
there that does not see the deep design of Satan in seeking to effect
an inroad on this most merciful appointment of God our Saviour?

Mr. M'Cheyne's own conduct was in full accordance with his principles
in regard to strict yet cheerful Sabbath observance. Considering it
the summit of human privilege to be admitted to fellowship with God,
his principle was, that the Lord's day was to be spent wholly in the
enjoyment of that sweetest privilege. A letter, written at a later
period, but bearing on this subject, will show how he felt this day to
be better than a thousand. An individual, near Inverness, had
consulted him on a point of sabbatical casuistry: the question was,
Whether or not it was sinful to spend time in registering
meteorological observations on the Sabbaths? His reply was the
following, marked by a holy wisdom, and discovering the place which
the Lord held in his inmost soul:--

"_Dec. 7, 1842_

"DEAR FRIEND,--You ask me a hard question. Had you asked me _what
I would do in the case_, I could easily tell you. I love the
Lord's day too well to be marking down the height of the
thermometer and barometer every hour. I have other work to do,
higher and better, and more like that of angels above. The more
entirely I can give my Sabbaths to God, and half forget that I am
not before the throne of the Lamb, with my harp of gold, the
happier am I, and I feel it my duty to be as happy as I can be,
and as God intended me to be. The joy of the Lord is my strength.
But whether another Christian can spend the Sabbath is his
service, and mark down degrees of heat and atmospherical
pressure, without lettin