(FOR CHILDREN.)
WHO would be a thief? I suppose there is not a child present who does not think it very mean, and low, and wicked to steal. You would despise the little boy who would put your ball or your top into his pocket, and thus steal it; and the little girl who would put a doll or pin-cushion in her bag, and carry it home, would be despised as mean and wicked. But suppose a poor man who was without any home should come to your house, almost without clothing, and very hungry. You all at once pity him. You give him food to eat, and your mother looks him up some clothing; and as he goes away, warm and comfortable, your father says to him, “Here, poor man, here are six shillings; I have but seven in the world, and give you six of them, and will keep only the seventh for myself and family.” Would not this be very kind and generous in your father? I know you all think it would. But suppose that poor man went away, not thankful in the least, and in the night came back and broke into your house, and stole that
seventh and last shilling which your father has. What would he deserve? He would be an ungrateful monster, and a vile thief. But suppose, also, that in breaking into the house to get the shilling, he had to kill several members of the family. What, now, do you say? Is any punishment too severe? But take care, or you pass sentence upon yourself.
We are the poor man, and God has but seven days in the week. He gives us six of these in which to “labour and do all our work,” and keeps only the seventh for Himself; and the man, or the woman, or the child, who breaks the Sabbath, steals from God. Yes, he robs God, and in doing it, he sets a wicked example which kills the soul of others. Is not this stealing? Will you remember, then, that when you break the Sabbath you steal from God? Are there no little thieves present who have often thus stolen from God? Now, will God bless you and prosper you in doing so?