The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1822-06-14
ron THE HERALD.
SABBATH MARKETS.

expose and cndeayorto correct apv Gus
tom, which appears to be inconsistent
with the principles Of religion and virtue,
or to have an unfavorable influence upon
the morals of society. Among those
which bear this character, that OF hold
ing public markets upon the Sabbath
DAY bears conspicuous place. For this
practice i have never yet heard solid
reason, and for its continuance here,
while 1t has been abolished in most of the
cities IN our country. am at loss to find
an excuse except that of long and estab.
iished custom. No one, L think, will pre-.
tend TO justify it upon the principles Of
religion and morality, or even of public
utility
That II is directly inconsistent with the
PLAIN dictates of revealed religion none
need be told. To remember the sabbath
day and keep 1t holy, is command abso.
lutte IN its nature and universal in its ex-
tent. This command is also reiterated in
many places and in variety Of forms,
in the sacred volume. When the sab.
bath was FIRST instituted it is said that God
sanctyfed il, and it is Often called the holy
sabbath. Certainly the general duty
here inculcated seems to BIO that Of setting
apart this day especially for the performs
ance of holy duties. To say that there
is no difference in days, and that all
ought to be spent holy, is nothing to the
purposes because the question is not res
pecting the nature of time, but whether
The Supreme Being has appointed ono day
OF the seven to be spent in the duties Of
lie ligion,while he has allotted the remain,
ing six 10 be adyoted to secular pursuits.
And is not this decidedly the 4th comml. I'D
pfthe decaloguc;"Six days shall, thou labor
and do all thy work, but the seventh day
IS the sabbath of the Lord thy God; in it
thou shalt not do any work: thou, nor thy
son, nor thy daughter, nor thy man SER
want, nor thy maid servant, nor thy stran-
ger that is within thy gates" Scarcely
does Language afford stronger or palmer
expressions TO forbid all secular pursuits
on the sabbath than are here used.
But 1t may be asked, are there no cX-
ceptons to this general rule! Are we new
err, in any circumstances, to engage in Sc
cular cmployments on this day! Certainly
there are exceptions. Our Saviour points
them out: they are such as belong to the
class strictly ,denominated works of me-
cessity and mercy. But that this prac.
tice is not embraced in this class is evi>
dent from scripture; the case of Nehe-
miah is directly in point. In the 18th
chap. Of the book bearing his name, the
'niquity OF this practice and The rigorous
measures he adopted to suppress it are
recorded. 1t seems thar the practice
OF traficing on the sabbath day had been
customary before the commencement of
his government. sIn those days. says he,
"i saw in Judah some ircading wine pres
ses on the sabbath day, and bringing in
l sheayes, and loading asses, as also wine,
| grapes and figs, and all manner OF bur.
| dens, which they brought to Jerusalem,
and testified against them in the day
wherein they sold yiciuals. Men of Tyre,
also brought fish and ell manner of ware
and sold on the sabbath unto the children
of Judah and jerusalem. Then l con-
tended with The mobiles of Judah and said
INTO thenl-What evil thing is this that
ye do and profane the sabbeta day" 9th
er passages teaching the same truth
might be pointed out and particularly
that in Jer. xvii. 81, %. Indeed, if we
consult the second volume we can find nc
passage, nor expression, to Justify the
practice OF trafhcking on the sabbath dav.
With those who profess 10 believe III
divine revelation, we might reasonably
expect that no other considerations need
be urged TO fix their opinions and prac-
tice upon this subject. he correct
course has been pointed out by one of inf
mite wisdom, and whose authority they &C
knowledge to be paramount to every
other. What glaring Inconsistency, and
what bold opposition for such to continue
in practice forbidden in the word of
truth in such plain terms, that tie zvay
faring man, though q fool, may nor err
therein.
But if is odious in areligious point Of
view, it is also highly injurious to the
principles and practice of sound morality.
II is truth attested by experience, that
wherever the sabbath and its sacred in
situations are disregardcd, an inlet is open
ed to almost every vice; virtuous sent.
ments and correct practice gradually dis
appear, and viceand Righteousness sue.
coed. With the practice of sabbath mar.
kcts especially, there are too many cir.
cumstancesof a demoralizing character
connected, to escape notice. 1t brings
into the town on Tie sabbath day,
throng of idlers; it distur5s the order of
society; it throws temptation and an evil
Il. 4