The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1826-07-20
THE SABBATH.

THE SABBATH.
The following is from the Baltimore
Morning ChrouIcle:--
There is something peculiarly soothing
and delightful TO reflect, that our great and
adorable Creator has allotted six days OF
labor, and one of rest; to think, that on the
Sabbath we have bid adeu to the cares,
the troubles, the anxieties, the perplexlties
OF the week, and are allowed to enter in
to the temple Of God, to hear the sound of
gospel salvation. We are then reminded
that the rest of our Sabbath is only prelim-
mary to the rest Of that eternal Sabbath,
that hereafter awaits the people OF God,
who rest from this world and all its vain
pursuits; rest from the cravings Of ambi-
tion--the dull, ceaseless, monotonous con-
Germs of this world, where hope sickens
into disappointment, and where Joy is but
the harbinger OF sorrow. To the child OF
aflliction and dependency, how soothing
are the first beams of light that usher in
the Sabbath morning! The poorest man
OH this day feels his own dignity--he feels
that he is rapidly journeying on to another
state of existence, where the proudest mo-
march on earth would rejoice to exchange
his crown for that which awaits the hum
blest and most despised son Of fpious power
ty. The Saviour of the world was the
friend of the poor man. Burns, beautiful
ly expressed this idea
TIow lis who bore in Heaven the second name,
Had not Oh earth whereon to lay his head
What consolation is this 10 the poor,
that they have such a friend, Mt time
when the grave shall have heaped its mould
on our vain presumption, and death shall
have imposed his silent law on the hustle,
the noise, and the tumult occasioned by
those transitory beings on earth styled
Monarchs and Emperors. They are but
the monarchs and potentates of day,
whereas this poor man, this Lazarus" Is
monarch for eternity. He Is monarch
whose crown will glitter with undecaying
radiance, when yonder sun will be blotted
from creation. The Sabbath reminds the
poor man of his native inherent dignity,
and 1t ia astonishing that we find so many
of this class absenting themselves on this
day from the service of the living God. In
stead Of lending willing car to such ex-
hilirating, such heart consoling truths,
they are too prone to forgettheir own Dig
nity, to turn their back upon the temple
where they are reminded of such glorious
tidings. The Sabbath; we repeat, is the
pride, ought TO be the jubilee of every poor
man. What rewards, and promises had
OF Russia, what has George the
". of England, to give in comparison with
these? Nothing, literally and substantial
Iy George at the hour ofhis proclamation
rs king, trembles before a monarch more
powerful than himself--the emperor of dust
and ashes.-Death at the very moment
when his terrestrial crown twinkles upon
his temples, shakes his dart, and this earth
ly idol. this favorite of million, this CON-
pound Of dust and ashes, trembles upon his
throne :--tremblcs at the moment while his
brows are encircled by the diadem ofroy
atty ?
The Sabbath reminds us that death, so
far from being the extinction Of life, is but
the hour when the spirit is born for the
skies when it shakes off our mortal and
mouldering dust, scars to its proper region
to the society of saints and angels, and
to the sports of just men rendered perfect.
And yet there are most of our species who
deem such privileges beneath their notice,
objects not worth their ambition, and who
had rather indulge in low, sordid and
transitory pleasures of the day than to be.
hold glimpse Of the gates of Heaven, and
to follow the angel Of mercy who flies be-
fore, and beacons hem to the Paradise of
God.