The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1819-10-20
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From sde National .4apoeate.
DOMESTIC ECONOMY.

bere ere nlOmentS wien scrInuS re-
flection is a lcxury--when A,e gay and
elastic spirits, the sportive fancy, the
lively and exuberant imagination, de-
lights to dwell on pensive subjec.s--
when the eye pierces the mind and the
soul holds communion with the heart !:
then The frail tenure Of existence, the
helpless condition, the dependent state of
man, are seen and felt-ihen the mon
arch, The, leader, and all those /" dressed
in brief authority" shrink into equal
stations, and arc sensible that affection
and death reaches alike the sovereign and
the peasant Whenever such feelings
steal o'er my mind, do not wish to
check them: they "come like Shadows"
and leave soft, yet melancholy, trace
behind, which tempers that lively dis
position which should be judiciously
controlled, not ciTec,ually DESTROYED.
Under li,e influence of such sober feel
ings, was seated at my window last
Sunday, and contemplated the concourse
Of people which, in every direction, was
passing to the several places of religious
worship, as the bells, with "their iron
tongues and brazen mouths" called ihcm
to the lulGlment of their sacred duty.
What a noble and ilustrious institutions
is that OF Sabbath! Millions Of beings
scattered over the globe; stunning, at
the same moment, the allurements OF
pleasure, the ayidi,y Of gain, the habit Of
labor, and uniting in returning thanks to
the Cisposcr of all good for his manifold
blessings, and his pa,ernal protection.
On this day, man tisincumbers himself
OF care: all temporal concerns are for
go,tcn---all veXatious crosses are no Ion
ger remembered his wearied limbs
find rcpose, and all is sunshine around
him. lie who does not, at proper times,
communc with his God, loses a great
temporal luxury and hazards lis eternal
happiness. You may be free in your
religious opinions, Indifferent as to the
sLict performance Of its duties--you
max philosophize on its mysteries, and
.co'dly comply, for formsake, with what
morality requires but there is more
than form or fashion, or sentiment, which
God requires Of his creatures and there
are times when the most free and indif-
ierent calls upon him for protection and
,uppor. We may partly Judge, from
common relations in life, how pleasing it
IS 10 be sincerely and truly pious in our
prisons. We hail the friend who has
served us with gratitude--wc gaze upon
our companion in life with affection
we feel towards children and relations
he sentiments Of love and kindness
but how strongly combined should all
those feelings be when addressing the
fountain of life--,he disposer Of good
the ,mercilul, indulgent and omnipotcnt
God. Not with the shouts of tana,icism,
or the fretful penaces Of temporal author
ity--not as dealing damnation to one
sect and blessings to others--not as
crushing one portion of his creation and
elevating another but rs a just and
righteous God whom you fear to ofcnd
whom you approach with The conf
dence of a pure heart---whom you call
upon for salvation and blessings with that
freedom which arises from All unsulied
conscience. This is, indeed, luxury;
and those in the gay th,ong, who think
only Of dress, Of fashion, sni Of folly, in
stead of encouraging and maturing pious
reflections, while in place OF worship,
loses sight of the great object and end Of
religion. There is nothing in religion
which is repulsive TO human nature it
is alike foreign from the gloomy air ol
the monastry or the fastidious injunciions
of the bigot religion is ever cheerful in
its purity, and there is nothing appalling
I'm its sacred character. Should we no.,