Page:Execution, or, The affecting history of Tom Bragwell.pdf/14

 cruel murderers of the and  families, did not consider that they were in the presence of God, at the time those most dreadful murders were committed; and it is not possible that the unfortunate youths, who by their conduct, disgraced the streets of our metropolis at the commencement of the year, had, at the time, 'the fear of God before their eyes?'

Poor who seemed much affected at what I had said, informed me, that just as they had arrived at the field, the thought struck him that it was the Sabbath-day, and he could not forbear mentioning' to his companious, that the breach of that day, was one of the reasons assigned by the Edinburgh lads as the cause of their ruin!

"But did nothing strike you farther, David," said I, "as to the heinousness of the offence of stealing your neighbour’s property, which was unlawful on any day, even although it had not been the Sabbath?" "O no," said he, "it was only a few beans; I didna mind that, after what had said." Alas! ," I replied, "your ideas on this point are still very imperfect; you cannot think of breaking the Sabbath, but you forget to pay proper attention to one of the weighty matters of the law—. Mind, my lad, the words of a rule, which justly merits the appellation it has obtained, and deserves, indeed, to be recorded in letters of gold:—

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