‘Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy.’

Mothers can effect much by domestic arrangement, and forethought.

I. Make Saturday a ‘day of preparation.’ ‘Bake that which ye will bake to-day,’ &c. Exod. xvi. 5, 23. Mark, xv. 42. Luke, xxiii. 54.

II. Endeavour to make the Sunday

1. A holy day.

Exod. xx. 10, 11. Deut. v. 12. Gen. ii. 3.

To sanctify, signifies to set apart for a holy purpose. Thus in the New Testament the Sabbath is called ‘the Lord’s day.’ Rev. i. 10, because a day devoted to His service.

2. A resting day.

Gen. ii. 3. Lev. xxiii. 3. Matt. xxiii. 56.

Called ‘the Sabbath of rest.’ Lev. xxiii. 3. And ‘the rest of the holy Sabbath.’ Exod. xvi. 23. Sabbath signifies rest, and heaven, of which it is a type, is called, ‘the keeping of a Sabbath.’ Heb. iv. 9.

3. A happy day.

It is a gift, a privilege, not a task.

Exod. xvi. 29. Isa. lviii. 13.

Not esteemed to be such, unless God’s service felt to be a delight. Others say, ‘When will the Sabbath be gone?’ Amos, viii. 5.

Let there be no gloom in the home, but a cheerful sobriety.

4. A profitable day.

Though rest, not idleness. Children are always happiest when their minds are employed.

To profit pay great attention to Public Worship, Deut. xxxi. 12, 13. Acts, xiii. 42; xvi. 13; xviii. 4. Heb. x. 25.

Observe our Lord’s example. Luke, iv. 16.

The Sunday School is a great help to the poor mother.

Cultivate religious occupation. e.g. Find texts—repeat hymns—sing hymns, &c.

III. Observe the promise.

Isa. lvi. 2–7: lviii. 13, 14.