Page:Account of the melancholy death of seven young men.pdf/7

 advanced, it would be impossible to reach home before dark. Thomson replied that they were warm enough within to resist a wetting, though ever so heavy, swore that any who were cowards might stay where they were, as for him he would be home if he should swim all the way. One of the company more cautious than the others, took the Landlord's advice, and in spite of the jeers of his more intrepid companions, resolved to stop where he was, the others were soon in the boat, and in spite of persuasion pushed off, little thinking that their end was so near. They hoisted their sail and the squall which had threatened long, now began to approach, the sky became gloomy and dark accompanied by a heavy gale, stupid from the effects of drink, they could not manage the boat, when it swamped and all perished.

These simple facts are told as they happened, and now with the melancholy fate of these unfortunate youths before us, let me impress on your minds to remember the Sabbath day, many an untimely death has been occasioned and could be distinctly traced to Sabbath abuse. God hath given us six days to follow our secular employment, and when he reserved one day for himself, he never intended it to be spent in folly or play, he hath