September 23

Exodus xx. — 1. And God spake all these words, saying,

2. I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 4. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, 6. And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments. 7. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. 8. Remember the sabbath day to keep it holy.

9. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work; 10. But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 11. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. 12. Honor thy father and thy mother; that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. 13. Thou shalt not kill. 14. Thou shalt not commit adultery. 15. Thou shalt not steal. 16. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. 17. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor's.

These Ten Commandments cover the whole duty of man to God and to his fellow. The civil and criminal codes of a State fill volumes with endless definitions and specifications; but here all is reduced to the single principle of love, and to a brief but comprehensive statement of the relations to which that principle must be applied. This law deals with man as a subject of the government of God, as a member of the family and of society. Toward God he is required to observe the reverence and devotion due to the one Jehovah, his Maker, Preserver, and Redeemer. Idolatry and profaneness are forbidden; and, the better to maintain the spirit of devotion, a day is set apart for the worship of God, in sacred distinction from the common employments of life. In all subsequent

history, that day has left its mark upon the moral character of nations. In the family, filial love and veneration are enjoined as peculiarly acceptable to God. Society is protected by this code in all its vital interests, — life, chastity, property, and character; and as love is made the essence of obedience to God, so here we are forbidden to indulge a selfish desire with regard to any thing that is our neighbor's. Obedience to this law would make a perfect human society, and render every individual secure in his own person and possessions, and happy in his relations to others. The law manifests the love of God: love is its spirit; love, its rule; and only love will be its reward.

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 11, 18, 40.

Almighty and most merciful Father, we beseech thee incline us ever to keep thy commandments. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done those things which we ought not to have done; but thou, O Lord! have mercy upon us miserable offenders, and, for Christ's sake, take away our sins. The morning calls us again to praise thee for thy loving-kindness in the night-season; and every day renews the tokens of thy bounty. Every good gift cometh down from thee, the Father of lights; and though we are so changeful in our love, so inconstant in our service, with thee there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Bind us to thyself, O our Father! by the mighty attraction of thy love. May the love of Christ, who died for us that we might live, constrain us to live ever unto thee!

We pray thee keep us this day from temptation, evil, and sin. Prosper us in our lawful undertakings. May we be upright in our dealings, true and kind in our speech, gentle and patient in our spirit, pure and holy in our walk! May we do good to all as we shall have opportunity, and so exhibit in our lives the graces of the gospel, that we shall win others to the love of Christ! And we pray that multitudes may be won to the Saviour; that thy Church may increase; that missions may prosper; that thy Word may be given to all people, and the knowledge of the Lord may fill the earth as the waters fill the sea. We thank thee for our home, and pray thee to bless us with all things that we need as a family. Bless the absent who are dear to us; and bring them, together with us, we beseech thee, unto thy heavenly kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord; who, with thee and the Holy Ghost, liveth evermore. Amen.