Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-12-20
For the Vermont Telegraph.
THE CHRISTIAN SABBATH.

THE CHRISTIAN SABBATH.
Of more frequent occurrence in what is de
nominated Christian community, than the
PROCLAMATION Of the holy Sabbath. That it
should be so with the giddy, thoughtless
throng, is not surprising. The reason is to
be found in the alienation and depravity Of
their hearts. To them the hallowed hours
bring no charm, but are irksome and IN
welcome. The busy man considers this
sacred day as interfering with his hopes Of
gain or professional employment, and he
throws off its restraints, that he may lay up
a treasure on the earth. The lovers Of
nirth and folly view it as morose intruder
upon human pleasure-as laying an icy
hand upon the true joys Of life and they
plunge into scenes Of amusement. Thus
this holy day is given to worldly business,
or turned into a dav Of visits and excur-
sions, enlvened by all the merrment and
variety of holiday.
But it is truly surprising to witness the
Iaxity and carelessness Of protesting chris
tians on this subject. 1t would seem from
the practice of many that they believed the
law of the Sabbath was erased and abro-
gated-that the fourth commandment had
sunk aud misrepresentation it was swept
away with the ruin of the national institu-
tons which were designed for temporary
purpose. 1t is tr1e that much of Judaism
should be regarded as the obsolete and re-
pealed observances Of an antiquated ritual
But there is a clear and marked distinction
between the ceremonial and moral law
The latter was craven on stone, and placed
within the holy Of holes under the mercy
seat The moral laws are stamped with
such enduring characters Of obligation as
no time can efface. How does the law of
the Sabbath stand as to this particular ?
Why, most surely it is among the duties
which are Of general and imperishable obi
CATION. At the giving of the moral law
God himself thought fit to signalize it,
From the place where he stood did he pro-
claim the ten commandments, in the near
ing Of the multitude, while every other
enactment was conveyed to the people
through the medium of human legislator.
Now to treat the Sabbath law as obsolete,
without any repeal passed in the high leeis-
lature ofheaven, is audacious in the extreme.
1t is bidding defiance to the declared will Of
the Eternal. 1t is resisting a voice which
should sound as impressiveIy to our con-
sciences, as the one that issued in thunder
from the flaming top Of Sinai.
In the practice Of the Christian world the
Sabbath has been moved forward by one
day, and the remembrance 70 which it is
now consecrated is different one from that
of the creation Of the world For this
change we can find no positive enactment
but we are sure that practice so early, and
so universal, could not have been introduced
without the sanction Of Heavens inspired
messengers. While Christianity abandon
ed one particular day and transferred itself
to another, it was guided in the choice of
that day by the affecting remembrance OF
an event, the contemplation of which is
calculated to strengthen the faith, refresh
the pietv, and inspire the best and most
religious feelings Of those who are spiritual
" engaged in it. 1t commentaries the
rising of the crucifed Savior from the grave,
who by taking upon him that great scheme
Of mercy, by virtue of, which there are to
emerge out Of this ruined and rebellious
world a new heaven and a new earth
wherein dwelleth righteousness. Thus
there is in this day The remembrance of a
ne10 creation. Can an honest, enlightened
christian construe this slight and circum-
stanhal change into repeal Of any part OF
the law on this subject? No, he must see
that the Sabbath law is craven as indelll-
bly, on the record. as any one Of the un-
changeable mo,alities among which 1t Is
situated. And it is written also on the
tablet of his heart. The Holy Spirit, whose
Office it is to inscribe the law on the heart o
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