The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1852-1855, 1854-04-13
SABBATH READING

SABBATH ESGAoEMEsTs.-Itis n question
upon which there Is no little diversity Of O.
pinion. How is the Sabbath to be syentl
Is it Iawfulto spend its hours ia the mere
relaxation of the mind and body from tho
wearing anLoppressiVe iuiuence Of con-
slant toll .oR are there igher aud holier ends
tobe secured BY Its more sacred observation.
In Suggesting areply to this important
inquiry il seems plain and obvious princi.
pie that the manner o. spending any festi-
val day depends upon tue purpose for which
the ay was set apart. In the old Heatheh
i1imes festival Of Bacchas would, Of course,
be day of drinking; festival Of Venus,
day Of debauchefy; and festival of Ceres
one Of rejsicing over the fruits Of the earttA
We set apart The fosrth day Of July as Afes-
lt;yal of freedom. Now suppose an orator
appointed for that. day and expected to ad-
dress his fellow citizens, should rise and
pour forth an able and eloquent discourse
on the geological structure Of oui globe; or
on the Eclipscs Of the satellites Of Jupiter;
how unsuitable would itb,? An oration Tor
the 4,b Of July should have some bearing on
human freedom. All festivals should pro-
mote the object for which they are appoint
ed Ifthen the Sabbath is religious festi-
val, surely its hours should be spent in re-
ligious servicee.
II is no valid objection tn this to urge thai
the Sabbath was appointed as day Of rest
from tell; and may therefore be spent tn
healthful amusements. Fur it rest means
idleness. even active smuscmsnts should not
be INDUCED ia. But these things may be
considered;a change of employment is rest
to the mind end the body;those persons who
spend the day in pleasure and irreigion arc
not usually found better prepared to begin
the labots of Monday with any greater ear
ncstnc.s than others who have spent the
a. in strict religious seivicesi this day
Fitselfis necessary for mans instruction
on his religious duties; tits in accordancn
with all the teachings of the bible that IL
should be observed for religious purposes; :;
and if the Sabbath tselfis nntrepeaed with
Tue JEWISH raw Tue uI2u!IeI VI "St P'"O - ="
not altered.
Since God has give" man this portion OF
time for religious instruction no man baa
any reasonable excuse for ignorance ofreli-
gous truths or religious duty. Reckoning
26 days to a molth, which is above the az
J erage Of an ordinary school, every man has
the opportunity OF religious duties for t~o
; months in each year. Any .nan who fnilli-
> fully uses his Sabbaths FOR religious readip :
and instruction under jajicioni pFeachc'
IS from the age Of l2 ill he Is 70. or ifoai thn
); age of 90 till ne is so. years old, viii hav-
spent more lime than is requisite 10 pa.
n thro' the entire course in our best colleges
n We expect man that has gone through
a coll ge % know something; and if he has
been faithful TO himseIf.ho 10 will; and 50 eve.
y ry man that has lived City years or thirty il
t; christian land, and enjoying the Sabbath
is either intelligent upon religious subject
Is or he has grossly neglected bis duty. i
may seem little matter TO waste singit
Sabbath; ;but considered in reference TO liz,
IS time, to its bearings upon our eternal STATE
0i and to Gods appointment as day for on
religious improvement every man shoul'
re use these sacred hours for the present am
st future service OF bis Maker.