The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1845-12-09
PHYSICAL NECESSITY OF THE
SABBATH.
By DR.. FAME.


have been in the habit, during great
many years, of considering the uses of the
Sabbath, and Of observing its abuses. The
abuses are chiefly manifested in labor and dis
sipation. The use, medically speaking, is
that of day of rest. In a theological sense
it is holy rest, providing for the introduction
of new and subliiner ideas into the mind Of
man. As day of rest. | view it as day Of
compensation for the inadequate restorative
power Of the body under continued labor and
excitement. A physician always has respect
TO the preservation Of the restorative power,
because if once this be lost. his healiug office
is AT an end. IL show you, from the physi-
illogical view Of the question, and there are
provisions in the law of nature which cores
pond with the divine commandment you will
see from the analogy that 1.-THE Sabbath was
made for uan" as necessary appointment.
A physician is anxious TO preserve the bal
ance of circulation, as necessary to restorative
power of the body. The ordinary exertions
Of man Iun down the circulation every day OF
his life; and the first general law of nature
by which God (who is not only the giver but
also the preserver and sustainer OF life) pre-
vents man from destroying himself, is the al
ternating of day with night, that repose may
succeed action. But although the night APP
parertly equalizes the circulation well, yet it
does not sufficiently restore its balance for
the attainment of long life. Hence, one
day in seven, by the bounty of Providence, is
thrown i'll as day of compensation, TO per-
feet, by its repose the animal system. You
may easily determine this question, a mat
ter Of fact, by trying it on beasts of burden.
Take that fine animal, the horse, and work
ha fnlt Of nc Al Inv
in the week, or give him rest one day in sew
en-, and you will soon perceive, by the superb
or vigor with which he performs his functions
on the other six days, that this rest is neces-
sary to his well being. Man, possessing a
superior nature, is borne along by the very
vigor of his mind. so that the injury Of conin-
ued diurnal exertiou and excitement on his
animal system is not so Immediately appar-
ent as it is in the brute; but in the long run
he breaks down more suddenly; it abridges
the length of his life and the vigor Of his old
age, which las to mere animal power) ought
to be the object of his preservation. l con
slider, therefore, that in the bounriful provis-
ion of Providence for the preservation Of hu-
man life. the sabbatical appointment is not, as
it has been sometimes theologically viewed,
| simply precept partakins of the nature of a
political institution, but that it is TO be num-
bered amongst the natural duties, il the pres
ervation of life be admitted to be a duty, and
the premature destruction of it a suicidal act.
This is said siE,ply as physician, and with
out reference at all to the theological ques-
ton; but ii you consider further the proper
effect of real Overwhelmingly, peace of
mind confiding trust in God. and good will to
man-you will perceive i'll this source OF re-
newed vigor to the mind. and through the
mind 10 the body, an additional spring of life
impaired from his higher use of The Sabbath
as holy day.