Smyrna times., 1857-08-05
Sabbath Dissertation.

OoUUdtA OOoCCAdb1Un'
The violation of Gods commandments re.
spectng the sabbath, is an evil Of fearful mag
nitude, but at the same time, it is one of which
little is thought by those whose habits of life
have led them to this desecration. We can see
no reason why any one should be so thought
less respecting it, except that their moral sense
has not been cultivated with regard to its evil
| in their early life. But this does not account
for every case, for there are many who have re-
ceived careful youthful training, who, notwith-
standing, are habituatcd to the pursuits of for
hidden pleasures on this day. Such persons
have blunted the moral sensibilities which were
once awakened in them. They have gone step
by step into things, which are unlawful, espec-
| tally OH this day, until they have no longer any
Just perception of the evil of the course which
they are pursuing, so far, at least, as compunc-
| tion of conscience is concerned, or, in other
words, they may be ready to acknowledge that
1t is wrong to devote this day TO any of the pur-
suits Of gain or pleasure, but they do not par
ticularly feel that wrongfulness in their case.
They make no self application of the law ofthe
Sabbath. and regard their alterations as ofsma II
account. They do not view it as a most repre-
hensible immortality, which is connected often
with consequences OF the most deplorable ma
ture.
The Mosaic law required the most rigid at
tention to lis very letter, and visited punish
ment, even TO the extreme penalty OF death, for
its violation is just odlous 10 GOD at this day
as it was under the Jewish dspensation.
There are. perhaps, many things which the
| austerity Of some men leads them 10 regard as
violations of this day, which are really not so
when judged of by the more enlightened ideas
which christianity inculcates AS general
thing, however, the danger does not lie in this
direction so much us in lax views OF its sane
tity, and III the too great lberalty OF its appll-
cation.
The dissertations of this day are twofold in
character. The one consits in not attending
10 the appropriate duties oflhis day, which have
for their object the cultivation of the heart, IN
all the christian affections, or the preparation
man to meet his Creator in the great day OF
accounts, when all men must appear before him
to receive according to the deeds done in the
body. Such desecration of IT is often connec-
ted with the most fearful consequences. The
non-performance of duty is often IN human gov
erments as reprehensible, and as evil in It's con.
sequences as any other violation of the law of
the land and is as justly visited with punish
Inent just as severe as other transgresson So
| 4 is, also, with the law of the Sabbath.
There are, however, other things of which
we would speak more particularly IN this COLI
nection. We refer TO the habits which are as
prevalent as this is in other communities, by
which this day is entirely devoted to carnal and
corruptng practices. How many spend it en-
tirely in the pursuit of pleasure, which, in many
Of their features, ure utterly repugnant to the
rules of propriety or morality, even on other
days of the week! Others make it a day d
convivaity-meeting together TO spend itt
weary hours in almost any thing that is cacu
lated to divert the mind from any and every
thing Of serious character. In our rural ds
tricts it is made u day for social visiting anC
feasting, aud gosspplng, and the retailing o
every current scandal, which, in every sense
has an evil moral tendency. Others, who livt
IN the towns and villages which are scattered
through the land, meet in places of public re
sort, or the haunts of vice, which are neve
wanting in such places, to spend the day in
way suitable to their various vicious tastes
some, in drinking and revelling, and Others il
: gambling, with It's kindred vices. Such prac
tees are connected with legion of other vices
which are ever growing and strengthng will
the progress of their age.
These things, with many others, OF The sam
nature, are all in the most open violation OF tn
plainest principles of morality, or OF the Sab
bath law The standing and responsibility, q
social position Of those who are addicted to sue
habits, cannot screen them from the just odiuI
which such conduct deserves. The more e'
alted the position, or great the influence whIc
such persons may WELD, the more reprehens
Bile their conduct Tor the reason, that the e
: feet of their example will be pernicious IN Ju
ehe same proportion.
y What reason have parents to expect thu
y their children will respect the moraliies whc
. christianity iuculcHtes with reference to III
D Sabbath, or anything else, when they steadl
violate all it's rules There influence ov'
them is more potent than that Of any one els
and, therefore, more likely TO be followed B
precisely, TO the same extent at least is 1t VII
h those who occupy high and influential station
I, in lfe The evil OF such examples Of Sabba'
It desecraton is wider in it's influence, and mo
l. pernlcious IN it's effects, than the examples
n those who occupy obscure positions in lite.