Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1844-12-26

10 higher sanction our reason can ASK
II conceive.
But were no such revelation, >and
we're we compelled to trace back from
effect to cause, so manifold are the
Sabbath blessings, SO complete its a
dapton to our physical, social and NOR
al necessities, could we not fail to refer
It's origin TO Him who made man,
and who knew his wants and his Gre
ator alone could know them. That |
it was made for man as man,ls proved
by all its bearings upon all his wants.
AS period Of rest after SIX days
continuous toll, it is indispensable TO
the laborer. Without this gracious m
terval his health and vigor prematufely
decay as certainly, although not as
speedily, as if debarred from the re-
ireshment Of sleep; and health and vlg-
or are the poor mans capital. The
statistics now so greatly accumulated
that we cease TO gather them, showing
the fearful waste of life in those en-
p!oyments which know no such suspen-
sion, are fall of warning and instruction.
Sad indeed is the lot of the laborer
without this jubilee of the week to re-
cruit his exhausted energies; when he
may wipe the sweat from his brow and
lift up his body and lift up his spirit, a.
like bowed down by daily toll.
Nor is this interval of repose as a
law Of our physical nature, less neces-
sary to intellectual! occupations. The
mind must be stately unladen Of its
cares, as the body Of its burdens, or
similar penalty must be endured, The
ordinary effects Of systematic violations
of the Lords Day, by men of business
or professional men, are less clearness
Of perceptionand power OF dlscrlmlna-
ton, and soundness of judgement, and
generally by diminution OF lntellectu-
al vigor; often followed by a sudden
breaking down Of the overtasked men
tai faculties; in other instances the re-
suit is lunacy or self-murder. In
short, moral and religious consldera-
tons apart, nothing is gained by VIC
lation of the Divine commando truth
often learned too late. If a man would
make the most Of himself in all res
poets, he will do well to remember the
Sabbath day to keep it holy.
But the demands Of our moral and
social nature forthe blessings of a sane
tilted Sabbath are still more imperative,
and take hold of higher results. We
cannot dispense with this pause from
the ceaseless pursuit of pleasure, gain
or distinction-we need it to moderate
our passions, to chasten our desires, to
purify our motives, to elevate our aims
and to seek the salvation OF our souls.
1t is here the Sabbath chiefly discloses
the divinity of its origin and the be-
nevolence of its purpose.
1t speaks in Gods name to the tide
of worldliness, thus far shalt thou come,
but no farther and communes with
him of eternal retributions-points his
burdened conscience to the only Saw
or, and TO that Heaven whose endless
felcities none shall know bat the pure
in heart and and the pure in life. In
its legitimate observance it is a season
ofhushed passions and of tranquil en-
joyment, disposing the heart of kind
ness and good villa season for the
fectianate instruction of the young in
their duties and obligations to God and
fellow beings--for the privileges of
private and social worship-attendance
upon the instruction of an intelligent
Christian ministry, land deyoutedly rea-
ding the inspired words Of truth and
love and the holy volume. The sub
jects of thought and conversations are
pure and elevating in their nature, and
it would be strange,if the Sabbath sun,
as it sets upon family or community
who has thus halowed its hours of
light, did notleave them happier, wiser
and better than when he rose. Can any
doubt the effects of day thus spent
on mental and moral character, or the
power Of that restraint which it throws
over the conduct? Nearly three entire
years, or one seventh of the life of eve
ry young man, who leaves his home
on reaching the age Of anhood, has
been spent under such Influences
These are rot the families nor these in
dividuals, who are nnisances to society.
1t is not he who fears God, and keeps
his Sabbath, that robs his neighbor or
murders him-every body knows that;
nor is bis place among the debas-
ed of his species in any respect, or any
where least of all here. You cannot
keep man ignorant or british in this
country If you give him the Sal bath, &
he observes it according to his Makers
WILL He will be raised by its concen-
trated influences, and will understand
and value his civil and political rights
and will respect the rights of others
y i - H..