Houma Ceres. [volume] (Houma, Parish of Terrebonne, La.) 1855-18??, 1857-04-25
The Nature 4 SIN OF Sabbath Dissertation.

out adding few lines more in reference TO point
to which l had Just alluded in it; which Is the
peculiarly dsmoralizng and hardening influence
Of Sabbath dissertation. 1t appears to lie as inc
foundation of every immoral and vicious 'lfe; II
seems the mountaineering, whence issue IN alnos-
certain flow, RIGHTEOUSNESS of its many kind''
adultery, excssses trespass violence, and the long
list of social and private vices. This is aoundantIy
shown in society, and by our criminal statistics
from which it is found, with but few exceptions
that all those who I'll our penitentiaries and Jails
have either began or matured their vicious course
in Sabbath dissertation.
A moments reflection on the nature Of the sin
Of Sabbath violation would seem to give the soln-
ton of this For the man, who on the Sabbath
can 90 out under the broad open heaven, and hit
up his face to the most high God, to dispute with
Him His great command of that day, which tie
has set as firm and unreaxing upon ali the earth,
as He has laid her foundations deep and sure
and His stern vindication Of which has written
M any chapter Of judgment and Of blood upon
the page of history;-the man, who can thus
colby aud resolutely raise his hand TO desecra'e
the purity and the sanctty ofthat holy day, which
bis God has guarded from such trespass by solemn
command and most fearful retribution what
violation, l ask, or enormty, does not such an
one evnce himself already prepared to perpetrate,
shall move him to do
He, who will not fear the great Jehovah. nor
obey his command how gives lie any foundation
or security, that he viii regard the rights of his
fellow-man! And thus there is not one of my
readers can fail to see that such deliberate tres
passer upon the Sabbath has already launched
him out upon an open sea of commission to do,
and to dare anything. which unbridled desire, and
an ever-maturing hardness shall lead him to. And
abundant confirmation have We of this, alas. in
the many and sad notes of remorseful lament,
which are sent back to us from those who have
gone down to an ignominious and hopeless death !;
and who give, as their only legacy Of good from
their perverted lives, their own wretched example
to shun, and the fearful warming that the first de-
parture with them in the way of ruin, was when
they broke loose from the ha,lowed restraints of
the Sabbath.
In the light Of such facts these, we are let in
to see somewhat Of the unlimited resource God
hath ever ready at his hand, whereby He Furnishes
the transgressors of his laws Retributions are
not all reserved for the future They are falling
ever thickly around us, with an infinite variety of
manifestation. God often returns to sinners in
their own coin. Even as they like not to retain
Him in their knowledge, so He gives them up to
a reprobate mind, to do such things are des-
tructve to themselves. If they will not be res
trained by His laws, so neither will He restrain
them by His spirit-if desecrators will not keep
His Sabbaths, neither will He by gracious power
keep them; and SO by Withdrawing from them
His restraining influences, He permits them TO run
into all nquity with greedness. Hence it is, that
We see SO many who begin their departure in
Sabbath violation, breach wider and wider in
sinful indulgence and daring, till speedily they
accurse their very life to themselves and end
miserable career, some in the grave Of drunken
ness, others by the hand Of violence; some again,
in the prisons and upon the scaffold while yet
others live OH to descend into the leathsome depths
Of RIGHTEOUSNESS and all gross sensuaties till at
last they terminate perncious life in dishonsred
and unregretted death.
This is no distortion. The facts to confirm it
will spring abundant 10 every one, who will give
observation. 1t may be, some who read this, by
an honest and serious examination, will find con-
frmation Of it in themselves, to the extent of
some one or other Of the many stages of its pro-
gress and development. And if such there be,
they sure will feel this but friendly voice, which
warns and entreats them back from such dangers.
Let one encourage himss If that he has strength
to sin, and yet avoid its fatal results, which he
sees in Others No man is strong enough to en-
counter with God or to uphold himself, when God
IS provoked to withdraw and let him fall.
There are then two ways, by which we are able
to form seme conception Of the character and in
tensity of sin which we commit. First. directly,
by reasoning and reflection upon the greatness
and sovereignty of Him who commands, and upon
the prepriety and business of His laws and Soc
ondly, by inference, from tho weight of the in
lictens, which fall upon the transgressors of those
laws In either, or both these methods, therefore
there is no enc can form light estimate Of the
sanctity and inviolability Of the Sabbath. The
majesty and authority of God who commands it,
arc vaster than the universe the voice, with
- g L.. Al Ill