Sabbath-Breaking on the Canal: A Poem

A POEM.
BY THE REVEREND JOHN CLUTTON, A.M. PREBENDARY OF HEREFORD.
Respectfully dedicated to the Reverend John Davies , A.M. Rector of St. Clement’s , Worcester .
While Commerce, crown’d with wealth, extends her reign, The Sons of labour swell her length’ning train; O’er hill and dale she forms the winding road, Where the slow team scarce drags the pond’rous load; She digs the deep Canal; with ease the horse Draws massive cargoes on the humid course; Her various stores she hastens to impart, And for her treasures finds a ready mart.
Ye Sons of labour, hail! your hardy hands With plenty decorate our smiling lands; The jetty ore that feeds the cheerful flame, The freighted vessels, still your toil proclaim: From distant lands the tide of Commerce flows, And weighty burdens on your shoulders throws; The general weal your anxious cares promote, But few your never-ceasing toils will note, Hard toils exacted on the Sabbath days; Ah! thus ye wander from God’s holy ways: To heav’n ascends the cry of your distress, And may the King of heav’n your wrongs redress.
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.