The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1840-06-27
From Pslm9r's Apology for the Christian Sabbath
PRIVATE IMPROVEMENT OF THE
SABBATH.

PRIVATE IMPROVEMENT OF ne
SABBATH.
The public worship of God, important
and delightful as it is, ought not to occupy
the whole of this sacred day, nor indeed,
usually, the gfeater part of it. shall,
therefore, proceed to show how the re-
manning hours Of the day should be spent
And here would premise, that We ought
to guard against the. two extremes of ex-
cessive laxness on the one hand, and ex-
cessiye rigour on the other; remembering
that we "are not under the law, but under
grace" II is confessed, that we have no
express precep.s in Scripture to direct us,
how every hour of the Sabbath should be
employed, nor do we need any. 1t is
enough that We are there taught what is the
great end of our being; what the hsppi-
ness for which we are created, and what is
necessary to fit US for the enjoyment Of it;
that we are instructed concerning the ma
lure and pesfections of God; the general
duties We owe him; The necessity Of main
tanning intercourse with him, and the i'm
portanee Of a growing conformity to the
image Of his moral attributes: A due al
ton to these particulars will be sufficient
to direct Us to our duty, in matters about
which we have no positive written rules,
and among others in that now under con-
sideration. If we keep in view The great
ends Of the Sabbath, as an institation de-
signed for our religious improvement; to
promote our advancement in divine know
ledge, and in all the branches Of virtue
and goodness, as the means of fitting us
for heaven, we shall easily perceive in
what manner this day may be most pro6ta-
bly, spent; and il we are truly disposed to
improve it to the best purposes, we shall
find business enough to employ the whole
of il. .....--.s. q:
On these principles it will appear that
TO waste any part Of it in sloth and indo-
1ence, is highly criminal, and indeed more
inconsistent with the great design of it,
than engaging in our honest secular CALI
ings-This reminds me Of the great i'm
propriety Of indulging in sleep more on
this day than on any other: a practice not
uncommon even among the professors. of
religion. Many persons who rise early
every other day in the week TO pursue the
labors Of their respective oalRngs, seem
as if they thought the chief use Of the
Sabbath was to give rest to their bodies,
by indulging them some hours longer
than ordinary in bed; in consequence Of
which they are unable to get ready for
the public worship of The morning. and
thus are either detained from it, or not
present till part of it is over. No longer
time can warrantably be allowed to sleep
on this day, than is necessary to the com.
Portable discharge Of the religious duties
of il; in all of which it behoves us TO be
"fervent 10 spirit, serving the Lord
Besides the duties Of the Sanctuary. al.
ready considered, there are those Of the
closet and Of the family, which equally
call for cur attention.-As to the former,
If the private exercises Of devotion de-
mand some part of every day, it seems
reasonable that larger proportion Of our
time should be devoted to them on the
Lords day, which usually affords more
leisure for them. In the morning, So
lemn acts Of prayer and meditation will
be particularly useful 10 divest our minds
of earthly cares, and prepare them for the
public services Of Gods house. And in
the evening the like exercises will be high
~ beneficial for fixing what we have heard
in our memories, and strengthening the
suppression of them upon our hearts,
Reading and studing the holy Scriptures
also. with other books of divinity, will
be a profitable employment Of some con.
siderable portion Of our sacred time; which
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