Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-03-02

BY the PROVIDENCE OF flchSe"'
There is remarkable passage, written about
the year so, by Justin Martyr, VII" certainly
would have known of the observance OF Sunday
as day ofres,, had it been SO used by Christians
either at or before his time. In work OF his,
written in defence Of Christianity, in the form oil
Dialogue between himself and Trypho' a
learned Jew, the latter makes the following oo-
lection: "rhe Christians, though they boast OF
the truth of their religion, and wish to excel all
other people, differ in nothing from the Hea'
then in their manner Of living, because they
neither observe the Sabbath nor circumcision.
In his reply, Justin Martyr observes: " mere
is another kind of circumcision, and you MINK
highly of that Of the flesh. The law will have
you keep perpetual Sabbath, and you, 'ohs" you
haze spent one day in idiensss, think you are re-
ligious, not knowing why it was commanded
As therefore circumcision began from Ab-
raham, add Sabbath and Sacrifice and Oblation
from Moses, which, it has been shown, were
ordained on account Of the hardness OF your
nations hearts; so, according to the counsel OF
fathers, they were to end in Jesus Christ
the son Of God. Do you no, see that the eie>
| ments are never idle, nor keep Sabbath! Con-
,inue as you were created; for If there was no
need Of circumcision before Abraham, nor oil
the observance of the Sabbath and festivals and
obla,ions, before Moses, neither now is there,
likewise, aftex. Christ" 1t will be'obvious to a.
ny Of you, fellow cilizens, that if the Christians
had been in the habit of spending one day in
idleness, there would have beer ridiculous in
consistency in this inelIisen, writer's laying
it to the charge Of the Jews as weak thing,
and appealing to the operations OF the natural
world for evidence, that the Almighty does not
require Sabbath to be kept.
| Iconsider, then, tina, the following positions
are established by the above arguments, viz:
That there is no Divine command ex'
tant for the observance Of Sunday as day of
worship; and
| That there is none for its observance as
day of rest.
From which it results ,ba, even if it were
constitutional for civil authorities to enact laws
to enforce The commands Of the Almighty; yet,
as this command does not exist no law can be
passed for its observance. But would not have
it thought that wish TO abridge the privileges
of those Who think ,hsy are bound to observe
Sunday as Sabbath. To their Maker only
are they accountable for their religious conduct,
---''.--r---------- ."e-S"J0y
men, OF their rights, by the benign government
of our country; but let them not become unea-
sy at the liberty OF others, and seek TO circum-
scribe their rights IL rhey are religously OBJ
posed 10 Sunday Markets, why, in all good con.
science, let them stay at home Blu, shall they
prevent him who has as good right Of judg.
ing as Themselves, and the nature Of whose oc>
equations prevents him from accommodating
himself SO conveniently on any other day Of the
week, from taking the liberty which every citi.
zen Of The United States ought TO enjoy? And
shall they prevent the poor slave, the kindness
Of whose master has permitted him to cultivate
piece Of ground for himself, from bringing
the products Of his labor 10 market? hope
not
Before closing this communication will state
few facts, which, though not most intimately
connected with the subjec, before US, yet they
have upon it an impor,an, bearing. There is
now evidence before the public, suficien. 10
make thousands Of me reflect ting part Of the
community believe that their is system
in operation, which is to establish an Ecclesi-
astical Dominion over the United States. See
the speech u Mr.. Powell, In the Pennsylvania
Legislature, On the bill to incorporate the Trus-
tees Of the Sunday School Union.
The Society for the promotion Of the obser-
vance Of the Sabbath, the address Of which
was published here last summer, state their in
iention to adopt all lawful and gentle means
to effect it, until their object shall be fully ac-
compished.
As a commentary upon this, will state, on
the authority of papers published in theStases of
N. York and Massachusetts, that associations Of