Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-06-10
ADDRESS OF THE CONVENTION TO
The PEOPLE OF THE Y. STATES.

FELLOW C1rIzENs-The Convention assem-
>blsd IN the city Of New York from various parts
of our country, composed Of gentlemen oil dit
fereat religious denominations, 10 confer upon
measures to secure The better observance OF the
Sabbath, avail themselves Of the present oppor,
tunity 10 explaine to youltheir views, and TO ap.
peal to your good seneo, your patriotism, YOUR
conscience, and your pie:y, IN heha,f ~e .hat di.
vine Institution.
I, is universally admitted, that the prevalence
OF knowledge and virtue among people Is m
dispensable to elevated and permanent national
prosperity, and preeminenty SO for the perpe~
tui,y, OF republican institutions, in nation SO
extended as our own in territory, so rich IN soil,
so muhitudinous in numbers, so vigorous IN en-
terprise, and unless restrained by moral power,
SO sure 10 be carried by the tide of eorrupting
abundance to dissolu,eness, effeminacy, and ru-
in.
Ii is no, denied that the SABBATH brings 10 our
aidahe only power which can conduct our glo-
rious experiment Of self government to an aus
picious result;.,he only power which can bal
ance the temptations of avsrice and wealth, &
reconcile eminen, prosperity with moral purity
and abiding liberty and equality.
II is alike obvious that the SABBATH eXerts this
salutary power by making the population OF a
nation acquainted with The being, Projections.
and laws of God; with our relations to him as
creatures, our oblis atoms 10 him as subjects oil
his moral government, and our character as
sinuers for whom his mercy has provided Sa-
yiour; under whose remedial government we
live, to be restrained from sin and excited 10 du
" by the alternate influence OF hope and fear,
and to be reconcied 10 God by the energies Of
his Spirit attending his word and ordinances
1t is by thelreitcrated instruction which the
s .s5ath, duly observed, imparis to the popu
ia,Ion OF nation; by the moral principle which
il forms; by the conscience which it maintains
and n,igor ates; by the habits of cleanliness and
Industry which it creates, by the rest and reno
rated vigour which il bestows in exhausted an.
NAL nature, by the heightened life and higher
health /, gives, and by the holiness it inspires,
and the cheering hopes of heaven that i, ava
kens, and the protection OF heaven which It's
| observance insures,-,hat the Sabbath becomes
the great moral copseryator OF nations.
1t is the government Of God, made effeeual
by his Spirit, which produces that righteous
ness which exalteth nation; and the Sabbath
is the chief organ Of its administration; the
main spaiDg of all moral movements the grea,
centre of attraction and fountain Of illumination
| to the moral world.
This omnipresent influence the Sabbath ex.
eris, however, by no secRt charm or compen'
dious process upon masses Of ignorant and I'M
thinking men; bu, by calling up the voluntary
attention OF each individual TO those truths oy
which his knowledge is augmented, and mo,
t'ves are pressed upon his heart, and~haoits o.
conscientious aciion are formed.
The Sabbath exerts 10 more moral pow
upon those who withdraw themselves II on VI.
duties of it, than schools and seminaries eAe'
of in,ellec tual power upon the vagrsn, p"Pula'
ton who never attend them. The folly OF eA,
pecting to maintain the religious and NORA
character of the nation without Inc oaoo a..
would NO, be surpassed by the attempt 10 dis-
semina,e lea, ming over the nation by empty
sehool.hou.es aud colleges. In proportion,
then. =, the inhabitants Of eur nation are With
drawn by business or pleasure from the in
structions of the Sabbath, to the same extent
will its moral power be impaired; and the
temptations of our abounding prosperity pre-
vail, to corrupt our virtue; and to undermine