,transcribed from the #ahbj8 ,parry and ,son edition by ,david ,price1 email ccx#jgdpglaf4org ,picture3 ,public domain cover ,,sabbath-,,breaking ,,on ,,the ,,canal4 ,a ,,poem4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,by ,,the ,,reverend ,,john ,,clutton1 ,a4,m4 ,,prebendary ,,of ,,hereford4 99 99 99 99 99 ,respectfully dedicated to the ,reverend ,john ,davies1 ,a4,m4 ,rector of ,st4 ,clement's1 ,worcester4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,while ,,commerce1 crown'd with wealth1 extends her reign1 ,the ,sons of labour swell her length'ning train2 ,o'er hill and dale she forms the winding road1 ,where the slow team scarce drags the pond'rous load2 ,she digs the deep ,canal2 with ease the horse ,draws massive cargoes on the humid course2 ,her various stores she hastens to impart1 ,and for her treasures finds a ready mart4 ,ye ,sons of labour1 hail6 your hardy hands ,with plenty decorate our smiling lands2 ,the jetty ore that feeds the cheerful flame1 ,the freighted vessels1 still your toil proclaim3 ,from distant lands the tide of ,commerce flows1 ,and weighty burdens on your shoulders throws2 ,the general weal your anxious cares promote1 ,but few your never-ceasing toils will note1 ,hard toils exacted on the ,sabbath days2 ,ah6 thus ye wander from ,god's holy ways3 ,to heav'n ascends the cry of your distress1 ,and may the ,king of heav'n your wrongs redress4 ,yon bark1 that sails the flowery bank beside1 ,contains a soul for which the ,saviour died1 ,which in the heights of heav'n1 or depths of hell1 ,is destin'd through eternity to dwell3 ,the ,sabbath smiles2 but1 bound with ,satan's chain1 ,on ,mammon's slave the ,sabbath smiles in vain3 ,the bells that utter their melodious chime ,each ,sabbath day1 at morning's hour of prime1 ,convey no music to the boatman's ear1 ,intent his course towards ruin's gulph to steer2 ,still on the ,sacred ,day his bark he plies1 ,nor stops to worship ,him who rules the skies4 ,will none commiserate his hapless case1 ,nor bid him seek ,jehovah's saving grace8 8,in ,zion woe to them that are at ease0 #b;a ,denounc'd the prophet2 who themselves would please4 8,the plague1 the famine1 noisome beasts1 the sword10 #b;b ,these are the judgments of th' offended ,lord4 ,think not the great ,jehovah sleeps supine1 ,sooner yon radiant orb shall cease to shine3 ,for broken ,sabbaths clouds of wrath will lower1 ,and who can stay 8the thunder of his power80 ,but judgment is the ,lord's unwonted deed1 ,unwillingly ,he makes the sinner bleed3 ,the door of ,mercy still is open found1 ,to penitence and pardon calls abound4 ,turn1 then1 ye ,sabbath-breakers1 quickly turn1 ,your ,saviour's offer now no longer spurn2 ,your heav'nly ,intercessor takes his stand1 ,above all angels1 at the ,lord's right hand2 ,before ,his face with lowliest rev'rence fall1 ,believe that 8,jesus ,christ is ,lord of all10 #c ,and seek for grace t' establish this belief2 ,eternity is long1 our lives are brief2 ,from such belief will prompt obedience flow1 ,as from the root the stem and branches grow2 ,thus on your heads will choicest gifts descend1 ,for those that serve ,him will the ,lord befriend4 ,where ,weaver pours her tribute in the main1 ,the rest ,sabbatic cheers the drooping swain2 ,a wat'ry track full many a league extends1 ,where the strong oar the hardy boatman bends2 ,trade's empire there let ,fancy's eye explore1 ,where ,sunday labour harrows man no more4 ',tis said 7and ,i believe the wondrous tale7 ,when the sixth ,night hath spread her shadowy veil1 ,soon as from yonder venerable tower ,time's iron tongue proclaims the midnight hour1 ,clos'd are the locks throughout the wat'ry way1 ,and clos'd remain upon ,jehovah's day2 ,faith1 ,hope1 and ,charity their powers combin'd ,this rest to purchase for the weary hind4 ,how chang'd the scene since ,he who reigns above ,drew to ,himself men's hearts 8with bands of love60 ,where erst arose fierce hell-engender'd strife1 ,and all the vices that embitter life1 ,peace o'er the land her olive branch extends1 ,and prayer from many a heart to heav'n ascends4 ,where at the lock the swelling waters rise ,men now obey the ,sovereign of the skies3 ,the angry menace1 and the oath profane1 ,passions uncheck'd by sober ,reason's rein1 ,all now are hush'd2 for ,sin no more holds sway1 ,no longer makes immortal souls his prey2 ,his warmth 8the ,sun of righteousness0 imparts1 ,and ,faith takes root in their regen'rate hearts4 ,since oft1 'tis said1 ,example's beauteous light1 ,when precepts fail1 allures to actions right1 ,so may we hope that other tribes will know ,what numerous blessings from obedience flow2 ,for they that hallow ,god's peculiar ,day ,will find ,him still their ,guardian and their ,stay3 ,who for ,christ's sake have earthly stores resign'd ,a sacred never-fading bliss will find4 ,happy1 thrice happy he whom heav'nly grace ,taught to forsake a soul-ensnaring race1 ,firm ,jonathan2 #d who spurn'd the proffer'd wealth1 ,glad to secure his soul's eternal health2 ,untutor'd he to read ,god's ,book1 or write1 ,still in ,jehovah's law he found delight2 ,nor dar'd the holy ,sabbath to profane ,by grasping greedily at filthy gain2 ,he 8sleeps in ,jesus10 #e;a and through endless days ,will rise to hymn his mighty ,maker's praise3 ,few are his followers2 for love of gold ,enchains the mind with adamantine fold4 ,ah6 wretched he who makes1 from morn till night1 ,the ledger1 not the ,bible1 his delight2 ,whose coffer with the stores of ,mammon bursts1 ,whose mind for heav'nly treasures never thirsts2 ,thus let him think while days of ,mercy shine1 ,and inwardly digest this truth divine2-- ,wealthy can he be styl'd who gains 8the world0 #e;b ,if after death 8his soul0 to hell be hurl'd8 ,say1 for what sum can one exchange 8his soul10 ,destin'd to live while endless ages roll8 ,of liberty we boast1 and loudly cry1 ,while triumph laughs in each expressive eye1 8,on ,british ground whoever treads is free1 ,the happiest isle embosom'd in the sea60 ,and yet e'en here1 in this our favour'd land1 ,full many a form the marks of bondage brand2 ,for ,satan1 lording o'er a host of slaves1 ,their way to hell by ,sabbath-breaking paves4 ,but some bold spirits1 led by grace divine1 ,in wisdom's path advancing1 brightly shine2 ,some hoary-headed boatmen oft declare 8,no ,sabbath saw them to their toils repair20 ,grateful to ,god who thus our race hath blest1 ,they held their right t' enjoy ,sabbatic rest2 ,and sweet their converse to the ,christian's ear ,who learn'd betimes ,jehovah's name to fear4 8,i left my master10 #f;a thus declar'd a youth1 7,and ,charity presumes he told the truth7 8,i left my master1 and disdain'd his hire1 ,for ,sunday's toil was his profane desire40 8,give ,god the praise10 the heav'n-taught ,pastor cries1 8,god gave the will1 and ,he the strength supplies2 ,nor doubt that ,he who feeds the raven's brood ,to you will raiment give1 and daily food3 ,who ,christ's reproach with ,christian patience bear ,a crown of everlasting life will wear40 ,jehovah bids us serve ,him1 and rejoice2 ,but ,satan utters a discordant voice3 ,anxious to keep the ,lord's peculiar ,day1 ,a boatman found this hindrance in his way2 8,if ,sunday's work you stubbornly refuse ,bread and your raiment you shall quickly lose20 ,so spake a master with triumphant tone1 ,deeming the man beneath the scourge would groan4 8,better1 far better10 was the just reply ,of one who fear'd the ,ruler of the sky1 8,that no bread now should cheer my gloomy cell ,than to want water in the flames of hell60 ,and other souls have sought their ,maker's face1 #f;b ,pluck'd from the fire1 as brands1 by sovereign grace4 ,who comes to ,christ1 though sinful and obscure1 ,takes refuge in a ,rock for ever sure2 ,he asks in faith1 and every prayer preferr'd ,in ,jesus' holy name the ,lord hath heard4 ,o ,thou1 whose reign extends o'er earth and sky1 ,enthron'd between the ,cherubim on high1 ,before ,thy face 8all nations nothing0 #g;a seem1 8,and less0 than nought the universe we deem2 ,at ,thy command1 ,o ,sovereign ,lord of all1 ,a nation rises1 or is doom'd to fall2 ,forsaking ,thee1 men rue their crimes too late ,when justice drives them to their bitter fate3 ,assist ,thy servants in this sacred cause1 ,teaching obedience to ,thy holy laws2 ,to sinful tribes ,thy heav'nly grace impart1 ,remove 8the stony10 8give0 the fleshly 8heart30 #g;b ,dispose us still to hallow1 ,lord1 ,thy days1 ,and zealously promote ,thy glorious praise4 ,o ,lord1 arise1 and view a race opprest ,compell'd to toil on days of holy rest3 ,in ,egypt's land ,thy wonder-working rod ,made ,pharaoh fear the majesty of ,god2 8,that they may serve ,me1 let ,my people go20 #g;c 8,that ,i am ,lord1 heav'n1 earth1 and hell shall know20 #g;d ,to ,egypt's ,king this message ,moses brought1 ,and ten tremendous plagues by ,thee were wrought2 ,at length from ,pharaoh's house of bondage free1 ,thy people march'd1 triumphant1 through the sea2 ,the roaring waves o'erwhelm'd th' ,egyptian host1 ,and ,israel sung ,thy praises on the coast3 ,so now save sinners from their ghostly foe1 ,on captive souls ,thy ,spirit's aid bestow2 ,to each benighted wand'rer light convey1 ,point out 8the narrow0 heav'n-directed 8way20 ,each ,sabbath free them from their worldly care1 ,and to ,thy temple bid them oft repair2 ,teach them to view1 with faith1 their ,saviour's cross1 ,whose death redeems them from eternal loss2 ,whose blood can cleanse their souls from ev'ry sin1 ,through whom alone heav'n's mansions they may win3 ,and when at last th' ,archangel's trump we hear1 ,and round ,thy throne all nations shall appear1 ,o may we rise to ,thy ,cherubic band1 ,call'd by our heav'nly ,judge to ,his right hand1 ,to hear ,his blessing1 and ,his glory see ,throughout the ages of eternity2 ,with joy uplifting our victorious palms1 ,hymning ,his matchless praise with holy psalms1 ,thus an eternal ,sabbath may we keep1 8,one ,shepherd0 reigning o'er 8one fold0 #h of sheep4 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 ,parry and ,son1 ,printers1 ,eastgate ,street1 ,chester4 ,,footnotes4 #b;a ,amos vi4 #a4 #b;b ,ezekiel xiv4 #ba4 #c ,acts x4 #cf4 #d ,see the history of ,jonathan ,brown1 the ,bargeman1 written by the ,rev4 ,dr4 ,calamy2 ,religious ,tract ,society1 ,no4 #aca2 price #a;d4 #e;a #a ,thess4 iv4 #ad4 #e;b ,matthew xvi4 #bf4 #f;a ,the circumstances here recorded actually occurred4 #f;b ,see the substance of a lecture on the spiritual state of the watermen1 by the ,rev4 ,j4 ,davies2 sold by ,seeley1 #afi1 ,fleet ,street1 ,london1 price #g;d4 #g;a ,isaiah xl4 #ag4 #g;b ,ezekiel xxxvi4 #bf4 #g;c ,ex4 viii4 #a4 #g;d ,ex4 vii4 #ag4 #h ,john x4 #af4