The Litchfield County post., 1827-08-16

Csi,b,ssius ,, EsoepeaaeRcs, gwlg 4, lss2
need not ssss. that Gods holy day Is Gar
n,,,re eehtraay prOfaned, than the eyes Of our
o,,b.-s ever saw il. They were men that
Io,ed ihe sabbath; il was honorable IN their
ewes aud delightful to their souls. To thou
sands IN s,,r day it is day of diversion, and
of greater sin than other days. Men seek
their owrpAeasure. and cOntemn the worship
Of The MastIigh. That name which our IA
rhers haiiewed, is continually, every day
biasphemed. eI}y reason of swearing and
-cursing, the land 0lourneth. Family and pub
nc Worship were once almost universal; now.
a vast majority RESTRAIN prayer in their houses;
and through the whole land, more than hall
OF the people never go up to the house OF
praVer and praise. Time was when 1t was
deemed hcathensh for family to live with
out PRAYER; such house was rarely to be
found Now, when the angels OF God de-
scended, at the evening tide, to take their
rightly watch around the dwellings of the
righteous, how few are the families where
they find their protection implored. or their
God acknowledged. Now, in multltudeS o!
houses. stranger soipurning for the night
would not know whether Jehovah or Baal
Were acknowledged d worshipper OF jug
gernaut would wonder whether Christians
hnve any Goa. Men have found out, it seems,
that their families can be kept in safety.
and their baskets and stores be blest.yDt tho0t
the care or kindness of God; that they may
he secure from the pestilenCe that Walketh
in darkness. and the destruction that wasteth
At noon-day, without any aid from above-at
least without any aid that is worth seeking
or acknowledging. Public worship is an or
dinance of God Among our fathers,sif a
single adult, more than the care of children
and the sick required, were absent from wor-
shin. ipouiries were made for him, under the
impression that he must be sick. Now, hou-
SEES of worship stand open every sabbath, and
multitudes near them, never go to wait at
wisdoms gates, and watch at the post Of her
doors.9 The gospel ministry is an institution
of God: and men are required. not by hui
man laws, but by their maker, to hear and o.
bey the gospel. There was time in New
England. when ministers Of the gospel were
regarded as messengers of the Lord of hosts
Now, to a great extent, eyeryfnan is his own
preacher. They say, ye take too much up
on YOU, We sons of Levi, seeing all the con-
aregat;on are holy. Mistake us not. We
10 not ask for superstitious personal defefas
cnce to ourselves, but we would magnify onr
office. And surely there is a medium, be-
tween blind veneration and open contempt.
We show spirit of independence and re-
volt, in regard to Gods word. Many are
SO sufficient of themselves for every purpose
of duty or safety, as to reject this friendly
guide, pretended to have discovered that it is
a forgery. Others, find their minds emanci-
pated from the shackles of ignorance and hu-
man authority, have learned that the pous
in all ages have erred in their interpretation
of the Bible. In their superior wisdom they
can twist the scriptures, to get rid of the
doctrines Of grace, and of the strict law of
God. Others believe that they can tell with
precision, not SO much what God has declar-
ed, as what he ought to have REVEALED. We
show our rebellion in regard to his laws. Vi
ccssand immoralities of every name, some al
most without a name, and some which it is
even shame to mention, abound in our
land. Men fear the sword of the magistrates
They regard the temporal consequences, and
are restrained from many evil courses by the
fear of man. But they are under the bonds
of sin, in the sight of God. Many will boast
of theiritreedom, who are evidently the SER
wants ofcOrruption, and bond slaves of satan.
Many will glory in their freedom from super
stition and priestcratt; while they mean
freedom from all moral obligation to Jehovah.
Many rejoice in such Boosting, who are fast
bound in the strong chords of iniquity, even
open and fragrant The drunkard will exult,
that no tyrant rules over him, that he is not
in bondage either to God or man; and he
celebrates his rejoicing in the flowing bowl,
till he tumbles into the dust, and is depend
ent on the compassion of passengers to lay
him out of the way of danger. We pity the
ensIaved Africans, the oppressed Greek, and
millions more of our fellow men who sigh
for the sweets oflibery. But lave we seen no
/, slaves in New England? Are there none be-
fore our eyes in this place? Kno,c ne not that
to aohom e yield yourselves servants to obey, has
servants ye are achom ye obey; Vhether Of sin
achto death, or Of obedience unto righteousness
What is it but homage, when man is sold
to sin If his eyes are full of adultery, and
cannot cease from sin; if he is SO under the
dominion of habit of profaneness, or lying,
or obscenity, or fraudulent dealing, that mel
ther temporal disgrace nor the approach of
eternal ruin can restrain him; what is he but
IA slave to his lust; o what miserable drudg-
cry dosonne perform to fashon,t to the opin-
ions of the world, to the usts of their flesh
and corrupt heart, and to the prince of the
power Of the Sir. The African is in bondage
against his wilEs and therefore is to be pitied,
but not blamed, JThese are voluntary slaves:
and therefore are the more to be pitied. but
blamed also. God Iaystthe iniquity to<their
charge, and holds them the. more guilty. in
proportion as they abuse more abundant bles-
sings. But what mutitudes give -descisive