Houma Ceres. [volume] (Houma, Parish of Terrebonne, La.) 1855-18??, 1857-03-21
For the Bouma Ceres
Observance Of the sabbath.

item, short as it was, in which you called
the attention Of our community to the sub.
ject of more proper observance Of the
Sabbath day among US. and in which you
opened your columns to such discussion OF
the subject as persons might be disposed
to give it. The subject is one which
know to be of deep interest to numbers of
most respectable citizens. and best wish.
ers to our society and for myself have
had much desire, and much thought how
| might bring it, most important as deem
it to be, TO the consideration Of our public.
During the short time since it has fallen
to me to be numbered as one of this CON-
munity, l have already learned to count it
a high pleasure to study and labor for its
general happiness and its best welfare !;
and with such desires actuating within
me, it has been of deep. concern and grief
TO me to see how prevalent is the desc.
Grafton Of the holiness Of the Sabbath
among US and yet further to see, as am
confident any one may, who will give OBJ
servation at all, its evil, its fatal effects
upon society and public morals. There is
most striking and startling admonition
in the Holy Scriptures in these words, " be
sure your sin will find you out, }" which,
while it holds fearfully true Of every vic.
lation Of high command, is yet especially
t.ue Of that concerning the Sabbath. No
individual, no community, no nation have
ever violated the sacredness of the Sab
bath without experiencing, in more ways
than they now can estimate, but which
the bright light of the future will enabl,
them more perfectly TO thread out in their
thousand ramiications. the disastrous con.
sequences of such violation and on the
contrary no individual, or people have
ever been in tho habitual regard Of the
Sabbath without realizing the manifold
benefits Of their obedience, just in proper
ton to the rigidness with which they have
adhered to it. Thus we may most conf
IDENTIFY assert Of the Sabbath, and which
is confirmed BY oil experience and history,
whether Of individuals or nations, that the
due sanctifying Of It as holy TO God is
fundamental to all morals, and all proper
social happiness; and the violation Of it
is NOT moro sin against God, than it is
against our own nature, against our own
outward prosperity, and against our in
most souls.
We read Of the first institution Of the
Sabbath, that when God had set the seal
Of holiness to himself upon it, that he also
blessed it !; which is, that he made it day
Of bIessings-an institution full Of good
things upon such Is should reverently
| keep it; and 20 may we, and do We also
read ID the abundant woef1l experience
Of man, that he has made it. day Of sore
heaviness, and bitter curse every where
upon those who desecrate it. yss.g s.ss
Under the deepest conviction Of these
vital truths therefore, while would use
my every influence to wrest this holy day
from under the feet Of those who Proianely
trample upon II. l yet feel that i is no sore
exaction which God would lay upon them,
nor any happy privilege Of which he would
deny them ! but it is 10 the thorough con.
sciousne.s that I only plead with them fo'
their own highest good, and that while
they should honor God in his holy com
mand, that they would also in the same
most richly bless themselves. .stss
If these things BE- true. ~ | think they
are indispatable, then it follows that no
ono can bs said rightly to seek bic own
Interests, or to care for those Of the com.
munity, that no ono can be good citizen
ia tho proper use Of the term, while be
disregards ~ institution, which preemi'
neat Of Ill others, is ffaaght with good
both upon isdividsalsr and communities /;
o. while By his example and iudusnce be
works TO undermine that which is given q
the strongest bulwark against an overilood