The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-08-04

business OF the day, for the reason of he -
high necessity and for the additional 49,
that we cannot other wise cffeetually throw a..
working faculties out Of gear. The mind III
not submit to absolute inactivity, and e -.
forced into new track, it will obstinats,v
sue the old one, and SO the oyer-worked ~
day faculties will be cheated Of their rss,
1t does not meet the case to answer tina. =.
cry day is holy, and that religion and morale.
should rule our whole life. These facu,to. ~
mand especial and exclusive cultivation IT,
ought TO be whole day in the week kan, ~
to God and Humanity Not onlv sbor,.
hurry and solictude Of business be- srsno.s1'
for the health Of the powers which il br,as"
not only should there be a break in thu -,
long current of merccnary speculation ~,
to check the ruthless tide of selfshness-. s
for clean clothes and fresh air--an iD,.,,.,
peace IN the battle Of lfe-but, the pure,, al J,
highest sentiments which connec. us w,h ~
spirits above and around us, in the bol;s,,
most benefcent relations, ask such oonor,rr;.N
for fitting development; and we saw thu,
sabbath should be devoted to all these go
ative and educational uses. II is lust bso.r..
one day, at least in seven, is not given 70 49,.
ais and religion that their science is less md.
stood in the present age than any other ma,
ter of human concern.
We do not postulate the inspiratio, os NJ.
ses. Few persons know what they mean Nv
the word, or how to govern their own thoo,h,.
and conduct by their notion Of it and in such
discussions as this, it more frequently raises
war Of words than leads to any useful conol,
sons. We believe il for ourselves in yerv
useful way; and We believe further, that all
the positive institutions of the Old Testamsn,
system will be found, upon candid and enliVbt.
ened investigation, to be in accordance with
natural law though much modified BY the ar,
gencies Of the times and people to whom thew
were given. An overriding idea with us ia
that all the laws of God ara made for the hen.
eft of their subjsets-that he does not give N.
wants and deny their healthy qualification
that he does not confer powers and forbid tbe;,
legitimate activity-in word, that he did not
bestow life, and then take back one-seyentb
of it arbitrarily for his own purposes, to the
injury or deprivation of his creatures. We
look, therefore, for the beneficial reason of com
mandments imposed in his name and when
We find such utilities as the rest day embraces
we have no doubt of the obligation, as we have
mono of the duty.
Religion and morals, we ore aware, are sep,
arate and distinct things They are often d.
vorced as often, unhappily, by the devout as
by the profanc Pious people often overstrain
the sanctifcotion of the Sabbath, from an ear
nest fear of injurious consequences that might
follow reasonable relaxation Of the Jewish
Ssbbath's seventies. Our apprehension is that
divine service is not human sacrifice, in any
technical sense under the Christian system, and
that the observance of the sacred day is put
within the devout discretion of religious men
restrained by all that consideration which is
due to the general well-being of their neigh
bors but what we write is intended rather for
the use of those who reason 80 well that
though they are not constitutionally defective
in reverence, are yet without the caution which
it so usefully supplies to ardent minds, The
freedom of the soul is even more precious than
the truth itself; but boys do not know every
thing, and brains, like cats eyes however
keen, are none the worse for the help of the
feeisrs in dark corners E.