o be sounded, as we find in Zeph., "The great day
of the Lord is near, and hasteneth much, a day of the trumpet and of
shouting."

Ninthly, to remind us to pray for the time when the outcasts of Israel
are to be gathered together, as promised in Isaiah, "And it shall come
to pass in that day, the great trumpet shall be sounded, and those shall
come who were perishing in the land of Assyria."

Tenthly, to remind us of the resurrection of the dead, and our firm
belief therein. "Yea, all ye that inhabit the world, and that dwell on
the earth, when the standard is lifted upon the mountain, behold, and
when the trumpet is sounded, hear!" says the prophet Isaiah.

Therefore should we set our hearts to these seasons, and fulfill the
precept that the Bible commands us, as it is written:--

"And the Lord commanded us to do all the statutes ... that it might be
well with us at all times."

THE DAY OF ATONEMENT

The hearts of all who fear God should tremble with the reflection that
all the deeds of the creature are known to the Creator, and will be by
Him accounted to them for good or evil. God is ready at all times to
acknowledge true penitence; and of repentance there are seven degrees:

First, the righteous man, who repents his misconduct as soon as he
becomes aware of his sin. This is the best and most complete.

Secondly, of the man who has for some time led a life of sin, yet who,
in the vigor of his days, gives over his evil ways and conquers his
wrong inclinations. As Solomon has said, "Remember thy Creator in the
days of thy youthful vigor." While in the prime of life abandon thy evil
ways.

Thirdly, of the one who was prevented by some cause from the commission
of a contemplated sin, and who truly repents his evil intention. "Happy
is the man who fears the Lord," said the Psalmist. The man, not the
woman? Aye, all mankind. The word is used to denote strength; those who
repent while still in their youth.

Fourthly, of the one who repents when his sin is pointed out to him, and
he is rebuked for the same, as in the instance of the inhabitants of
Nineveh. They repented not until Jonah proclaimed to them, "Yet forty
days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown." The men of Nineveh believed
in God's mercy, and though the decree had been pronounced against them,
yet they repented. "And God saw their work, that they had returned from
their evil ways, and God bethought Himself of the evil which He had
spoken that H