Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1817-09-02
COMMUNICATIONS.
FoarHE GAZETTE.

taf4W
Il ~s NJ sinai. no one il mere express ~ IT'S RE-
.a..ass than % REMEMBER THE sARBsTH
yrrp tr aoLr law that y fndispeh-
.nd Az ALLEGATION that Il eternal Awful a.
sase r;r~,,,,stances .Lat attended this delivery
49, ,;ll "a God 10 mankind. aud his require
.e,r.the,r observation and obedience. the con
I.ef a large portion of maokind plainly demon
go their entire disregard Of them, aud evinee
;moious contempt of the authority oy winch
.snsssere ordaine and enjoinea In the catalogue
x.h,se abuses OF the laws aud inJunctions OF tbs
s.v that OF violating tie sabbath, and prolaDing
.sa,c,;ty. nav lie ranked among those offence J
$50 80 10 heaven. and demand an exemplary
'..n~g.nce. and deserved chaslisement, ffom
above. a.,.,...
IN, ev,uce lie goodness, well a. the wisdom
81 of,bat Being, the design OF whose dispensatfons
s a.Ilaws II ire real happiness and welfare Of has
& ~,satnres. The sabbath was appointed as day
I. ,.i and repose from our tolls. and reITetilmeiit
Il nfar bodies from the fatigues attendant On orr
q s.hoars and pursuits; day in which ~e might
II no,e periiraiaFly unite in alteration and worship
\ eur Almighty creator. our constant preseFFer,
81 .d sur unweared befielactor and Trend, and rem
E Iar Tim the Homage of our gratitude aid alfec
s,e,s and feed and cherish the flame OF piety and
& S.votiou il our bosoms day in which we might
81
cares. IN which we might review our past lives,
cbserse our remisness and imperlections, and re-
solre Sc the aid and guidance OF heaven, 70 amend
,be,. duties, which, though strictly incumbent
II ,,,nn Us would seldom ny our thoughts and
engage our attention, anlrist the noise and hustle
81 III he world in following our several occupations
entertainments aud TO prepare Tor that eternal
sabhath which will succeed the trials and slHerings
E !. this transient and Fprecafious life Thus the
regulation Of the sabbath is admirably calculated
81 is grequent recurrence, TO present US with OPP
& poruniies Cor tie performance OF The duties we
1--WE 10 ourselves as well as those that are justly
due 10 our creator and our God.
Dut. independently of the blessings and advan-
fares ye derive from this divine and reasonable
institution tie command of the deity alone, were
there no other reason for the observance OF the
sabbath, Is of sufficient obligation TO demand our
obedience. Indeed the only return he requires,
aud the only one we able 10 give him, as the
testimony and the tribute Of our gratitude Tor his
numerous and his unmerited faveurs and benih-
ceoce is the conservation of our lives TO his
vice. and ready and unreseryed acqcleseence in
81 bis requirements and laws. The aim OF the Al
mighty, in bis ecoaomy towards mankind, IS not
merely the display Of his own glory and power,
bat The promotion Of our best and our truest inter-
CTS. and whether we are most instrumental in adj
81
serving and promoting the other. For God alone
( il the source from which all true happiness ema-
+ rates and proceeds.
4 Opiigat9ry aud bipdng as are these laws, errors
may attend their most rigid observance, from
mRapprehehsion of The end for which they were
& ardaned. Into similar mistakes many of the Jews
bad ia!len at the time OF the appearance OF our
+ Saviour, which, il was the aim Of The Messiah
from heaven % rec(ify and correct The pharisees
E aud Scrbes adhered 10 The observance of this law
With the nost rigid scfupulousneSs and exactness,
and bad they obeyed its internal requirements in
The same degree they followed its external COM
4 nandnents, their conduct would have been in the
& highest degree Iandibie and commendabie and the
r nstre OF their example would have been attended
y cath the bes. and the happiest effects They en-
\ ccmpassed and land for the sake OF making
II prosclytes 70 their they exacted of them the
I. srictest observance Of the outward forms and re
il garementS Of The letter of the law but with re-
II gsrd 70 It's spirit, little mentioA was made-indeed
tney were altogether incapable of instructing
others IN duties OF which they were altogether ig-
& nofant themselves TO such degree was this OBJ
sersance OF The sabbath carried by the Jews, that
Aey prescribed even works of mercy and necessi-
" on that day. Hence we are not surpri-
zedat hnding the compassionate and benevolent.
SAVIOUR, who never permitted single opportunity
+ % relieving the misfortanes Of his breathren, to
pass unimproved, upbraded by them with having
violated one of the requirements of their lawgiyer
-hoses, IN the commands be announced to them
itom above. but the onniscient Jesus silenced
theif calumnies, and removed their objections, by
uemaHding OF them in the presence of the surroun-
aias multitude, rs Il not tdCfHI 10 do good on he
sa0bdsh day Ii was or that day be performed
one Of those iustrious miracles demonstrations Of
MS henevolenee and goodness, as we'll as the di.
Vinity Of his character and the authenticity of his
MISSION. Without derogatng from the sanctity Of
this institution, or giving them the smallest licence
TO violate the end for which it originally es-
tabllshed and ordained, our Saviour instructs us
in reference to the errors of the Jews, thGt the
sobbah scus made for man, and not man for the
sabbath. Mere an objection Of this nature ureel
sne 'aV' pl'ejpug Sarlodr constantly showed the
most uniform respect to this institution and fire.
quented the service ofthe synagogue, would be
ss.a ana suthcient reiutation OF such an assBnp
III nv. every thing may oe caf-ied TO an excess.
tpc e H. g equally applicable to the con-
I'll. ~ Jews with regard 20 the sabbath at the
60 appearance Of the Messiah, as to that of an
g. aamber, or many, Of professed christians,
80 observe il only as day Of idleness and recre
4Rioh, q amusement and diversion
- ras been further urged as an objection to this
%ae"ce, that the command which enjoins the OBJ
vance Of the sabbath, was delivered to the Jews
e.ohe and that, since the abolition ofthe Mosairk
.lspensaion, It's obligation has ceased to be bin
s"s upon christians. But might not the same OBJ
@eeuop be advanced, and would il not with equal
r'opf'eiy mitigate against the sIeception of the
'rok atedlogHe? So admirably are the duties as
''sned ns. interviewer together, that, il single
''ss = broken, the whole chain is destroyed The
nIffh -
ases single Commandment which God has as
II sEned Us Is ullilfr n; he sinht 20 hrnarh 20 L.