Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-09-26
AOHH ms
b b Observance,


Mr.. EDITOR: The Sabbath was made for
man. made by the Fran er of his body and
the Father of his spirit, who therefore knew
perfectly the wants of his physical as we'll as
his moral and intellectual nature. To the
believer in Divine Revelation it is enough to
know that God has said Remember the Sab
bath day, &c. In it thou shall not do any
work. He questions neither the authority
nor wisdom of his Creator, and presumes not
to ask the reason of his commands. He
gave six days for labor, and one for rest, and
though His ways are past finding out and
the reasons of his dealings are often beyond
human ken, yet He has reasons, reasons
which, like Himself, are wise and good and
perfect. Gods rights are underived and in
dependent. Mems rights are derived and
dependent. We have a right to six days in
the week for secular employments, but not
to seven. Whoever therefore devotes seven
days in the week to business and gain, does
so wholly without right. He takes a day
which is not his, except for rest and religious
purposes. An honest man will not whiting
ly take what is not his own, but be content
with what belongs to him.. The Sabbath for
purposes Of gain belongs to no man and
whoever thus appropriates it is dishonest
He robs God. In a christian country where
the will Of God is known, such as are dispo-
sed to claim more than six days for secular
.employments, are not, at heart, honest men.
Every one has a right to the seventh day,
as a day ofrest, the poor as well as the rich,
the servant as well as his master. In it
thou shalt not do any work thou, nor thy
son, nor thy daughter, nor thy man-seryant,
nor thy maid servant &c. Thisrightcomes
from God, and man can neither give nor
take it away. Like the right to life and
light and air, it vests in humanity, and is
unalienable. Though government is an or
dinance of God, and magistrates are His
ministers, yet the right to rest on the Sab
bath lies back of human government, on the
am~efoundationw with governmentitself, viz :
the will of God andthe wants of his creatures
The laborer on the canal or the railroad, il
the mandatory CT the workshop, in any de
partment whatever of worldly business, hai
a right to remember the Sabbath day tt
keep it holy
The crew of a vessel in one of our har
bors was ordered by the Captain to work OF
the Sabbath they refused, asserting thei
right, while in harbor, to rest and attend t
the appropriate duties of the day. The Cap
tain dismissed them, and attempted to pro
cure another crew. After many refusals h
asked the old sailor why he would not ship
Because replied the old sailor, the ma
who will rob God of his day, l should fear
would, if he could, rob me of my wages
On Monday the Captain was glad to tax
the old crew, who showed by their after con
duct that keeping the Sabbath had ftte
them the better for the duties of the week.
"A man was offered a large salary to ST
perintend the running of the cars on a raj
road. He consented on condition that the
should not run on the Sabbath. This lie
the Directors to the discussion of the subiec
Two, who where very rich, were opposed t
running only six days in the week, and ha
influence enough to turn the vote. The ma
refused the Office. 1T will not do for me
said he, to work on the Sabbath. I kno
how 1t will end. 1 have seen it tried till
am satisfied. 1t is the way to fail and CON
to nothing
Another man, who had been accustome
to conduct the cars on week days, told h
wife that he was requested to do so on tt
Sabbath. She replied of course you do n,
intend to go?' Bull have no other emplo,
ment, and may lose my place. I have
family to support, and the times are hare
Il know all that but / hope you will n
; forget that if a man cannot support his far