Litchfield enquirer., 1831-11-17

tho Sssady observance of the SalshMth.
 If the rulers and councils of uaon are uos inAu. eHced by sacred regard Eor this divine institution, they are but JerobOams and Ahi,hophels; and Una, nation he this any other, under the rewns Of heaven and in danger of crUmbling to ruin, with all
 spresent privileges aud wise institutions; and that must be it's inevitable destiny, unless such base weak and uDprincipled rulers removed by the virIuous and enlightened voice of disapproba,ion. Nor is this chimera. though thousand times repeated.
 A"d to assert that any nation can long exist, and enjoy freedom and happiness, or ever did without this one moral commandment beIng regar,et--'' Remenn- her the Sahbat. day and keep it holy"-is solecism DespotiEn h is true, may have held its dominion for ages, and ruled with its iron secpre .s helpless vas sals Bot they tasted not the sweets of freedom nor inhaled the elementary air oflibery and happinesf- and the religion of such empires or kingdoms was iu- variabiy idolatrous or pagan.
 Founded on the inslitalion of the holy Sabbath is all pure morality among men--or it is this which per- petnates and the scos and jeers of scep,icsm will persh m the ditch, beneath its ramparts in their vain and idle assaults. It is the pure fountain from which
 How thousand cheerful streams. It is this that b:es- ses, andwi bless the earth with the sacred schools Tor chiIdren-,hat cherishes preached gospel--and that shall l ihe dark corners of the earth and the iaaiiations Of cruey," with the worship of the true God. and the beams ofmoral renovatlon.
 This institution, too is that pillar in civil govern ment which cannot be removed with Inc least degree of safety, nor without the most imminent danger and hazard And in the smallest communities of men the Sabbath exerts a secret and silent influence which ! nothing in a moral point of view could substitute, or replace Itis the time of stiffness and repose to man and beas-to care and busness-and the ofien recur. ring period ofrefecton and serious thought It brings To mind the perhaps forgotten thoug o futury-and the uncertainty of the present cnnd speaks to eve. " conscience n the still whispers of truth. Hence we may, with the greatest propriciy, asser,, that the institution of the Sabbath, connected wi,h religious regard for its dues is the mother of many virtues and blessings, # not of morality itself, and principal foundation stone to earthly happiness and peace. Pure morality, in it's nature and requirements, ex- cludes from the hear mad from all the offices of life, every base and groveing passionas pride and cove. lonsness, seIfshness and prodigay, seduction, and every species of ticentiousness, and teaches the principles of charity and philanthropy
 Though mere morality alone does moi secure future happiness, s the road that all must travel to find | heavenly paradise. Were all men governed by the laws and rules fs,rct morality, only the manners and customs, but the almost universal practice of mankind would be completely reversed. The conclu- sion then is anticipated that the general practices of men are immoral, nriyh,y named, or if measured by the "goden rulc."
 The truth is, that immoral practices and pursuits constitute the 6onmm of the majority of man. kind.
 Could we survey the secrets of the heart, even in our own bcsomO, with impartaiiiy, we should discover there too much love of gain, and too many unhaow- ed desires, and quite too much that is incturcd with immoral motives. But the outward conduc. Of men in general, strictly, is mmora-we are all lcon ondemned
 mo one can be found worthy 10 cast the first stone.
 Though revenge, or violence may not be n,cdat. ed' how many are plodding how they may obtain the advantage and superiority over their fellow men !- how many are striving out-do and oyerreach each other in trade and barter, and even to grow rich on the ruin of others! How many are frequently enga- ged in raducag the reputation of oihers or lessenng them in common esteem! How many seek ".he bubble. reputa.ion" the gewgAw, honor regardless ofpnbc good, the nations interest, or even from the shadow of patriotism.
 Tho present fashions for dress owing to the sudden changes to which they daily liable, as we'll as to their exravagance. justly deserve place among the mmoraliiies of a corrupt age. They may he source of profit to monor oizers, hut an immense drawback on silly consumers, and to those who blindly worship a: the despote shrine of fashion.
 The passion to initiate the more costly in dress and show, land there is rather too much of pomp and pa- geanty, for simple republicans wiil ie pich and op uleni.) is naindy of the mad which biats, rather emphaiicaly, ofemp,iness of eart, and weakness of head, where more abundant store of fcommon sense, f cultivated, would be highly useful and admonory. And the same remark may apply to army young beaus and cOxcomhs, without education or money, or perhaps very strong upper wcrks who may be seen in every considerable town, endeavoring escape the curse of Adams fali-,he sweat of the brow--ain,Dg at law, or physic, any thing esegnorant iha, they have mistaken the true road i0.ueefnness and com- te",me",--whch the plow, cs some mechanical pur- suit, might yield. ,'
 It is proper tha. there should De snicen, number in the mercantile business for ihe good and conyen- fence of the community. And ss very desirable that all the professional departments should he filled with able and skilfa men-men of science, and soundness. But the residue, pesoggers and quacks, and trunk pedlars &c. shoald be restored their proper ranks cultivate the soil of which ihere is an abundance in NewEngIand, and from that acquire responsibility and competence.
 The parents and suardans Of children. in many in-