Sabbath-Breaking on the Canal: A Poem

Sabbath-Breaking on the Canal: A Poem

While Commerce, crownd with wealth, extends her reign, The Sons of labour swell her lengthning train; Oer hill and dale she forms the winding road, Where the slow team scarce drags the pondrous load; She digs the deep Canal; with ease the horse Draws massive cargoes on the humid course; Her various stores she hastens to impart, And for her treasures finds a ready mart. Ye Sons of labour, hail! your hardy hands With plenty decorate our smiling lands; The jetty ore that feeds the cheerful flame, The freighted vessels, still your toil proclaim: From distant lands the tide of Commerce flows, And weighty burdens on your shoulders throws; The general weal your anxious cares promote, But few your never-ceasing toils will note, p. 2Hard toils exacted on the Sabbath days; Ah! thus ye wander from Gods holy ways: To heavn ascends the cry of your distress, And may the King of heavn your wrongs redress. Yon bark, that sails the flowery bank beside, Contains a soul for which the Saviour died, Which in the heights of heavn, or depths of hell, Is destind through eternity to dwell: The Sabbath smiles; but, bound with Satans chain, On Mammons slave the Sabbath smiles in vain: The bells that utter their melodious chime Each Sabbath day, at mornings hour of prime, Convey no music to the boatmans ear, Intent his course towards ruins gulph to steer; Still on the Sacred Day his bark he plies, Nor stops to worship Him who rules the skies. Will none commiserate his hapless case, Nor bid him seek Jehovahs saving grace? In Zion woe to them that are at ease [2a] Denouncd the prophet; who themselves would please. The plague, the famine, noisome beasts, the sword, [2b] These are the judgments of th offended Lord. Think not the great Jehovah sleeps supine, Sooner yon radiant orb shall cease to shine: For broken Sabbaths clouds of wrath will lower, And who can stay the thunder of his power? But judgment is the Lords unwonted deed, Unwillingly He makes the sinner bleed: p. 3The door of Mercy still is open found, To penitence and pardon calls abound. ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 62143
Author: Clutton, John
Release Date: May 16, 2020
Format: eBook
Language: English