Turn, then, ye Sabbath-breakers, quickly turn, Your Saviour’s offer now no longer spurn; Your heav’nly Intercessor takes his stand, Above all angels, at the Lord’s right hand; Before His face with lowliest rev’rence fall, Believe that “Jesus Christ is Lord of all,” {3} And seek for grace t’ establish this belief; Eternity is long, our lives are brief; From such belief will prompt obedience flow, As from the root the stem and branches grow; Thus on your heads will choicest gifts descend, For those that serve Him will the Lord befriend. Where Weaver pours her tribute in the main, The rest Sabbatic cheers the drooping swain; A wat’ry track full many a league extends, Where the strong oar the hardy boatman bends; Trade’s empire there let Fancy’s eye explore, Where Sunday labour harrows man no more. ’Tis said (and I believe the wondrous tale) When the sixth Night hath spread her shadowy veil, Soon as from yonder venerable tower Time’s iron tongue proclaims the midnight hour, Clos’d are the locks throughout the wat’ry way, And clos’d remain upon Jehovah’s day; Faith, Hope, and Charity their powers combin’d This rest to purchase for the weary hind. How chang’d the scene since He who reigns above Drew to Himself men’s hearts “with bands of love!” Where erst arose fierce hell-engender’d strife, And all the vices that embitter life, Peace o’er the land her olive branch extends, And prayer from many a heart to heav’n ascends. Where at the lock the swelling waters rise Men now obey the Sovereign of the skies: The angry menace, and the oath profane, Passions uncheck’d by sober Reason’s rein, All now are hush’d; for Sin no more holds sway, No longer makes immortal souls his prey; His warmth “the Sun of righteousness” imparts, And Faith takes root in their regen’rate hearts. Since oft, ’tis said, Example’s beauteous light, When precepts fail, allures to actions right, So may we hope that other tribes will know What numerous blessings from obedience flow; For they that hallow God’s peculiar Day Will find Him still their Guardian and their Stay: Who for Christ’s sake have earthly stores resign’d A sacred never-fading bliss will find.