The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1860-03-30

Sabbath breaking has always tended
towards heathenism. 1t was so with the /
Jews. For this sin God scattered them
among the heather. He gives this
reason "That the land may enjoy her
Sabbath" Almost the first act of the
avowed Atheists Of France was 10 abolish !
the Christian Sabbath. And what was
the result? A state of society even worse
than heathenism. Nine.tenths, if not
ninety nine hundredths Of the criminals 10
our prisons, confess that S ,bbath breaking
was the frs; cause OF their ruin. Here
began their degradation. OF 200 com
muucd 10 Auburn prison, only &c consci
entiously regarded the Sabbath. OF 100
received into the State Prison in Massa-
chusetts in one year, SO paid no regard TO
the Sabbath. Almost every murderer
confesses tba, his ruin began with the dcs-
ecration Of The Sabbath. Said dislln-
/ guished merchant, who had been a care
( lul observer of things: "When | see one
of my clerks riding out on the Sabbath,
on Monday dismiss him" What mer
chant not himself heather, who would
not place more confidence in a young
man who conscentiously kept the Sab.
bath, than one who has no regard for
that sacred day Where there is no
Sabbath :here is no religion; The Bible
has no friends; family worship is un.
knonw; superstition chains the mind I;
gross darkness covers the people virtue
and purity are not seen in the Streets
The bIotting out OF this day always brings
society into n Goddess and heathenish
condition. Idleuess, lazincss and gam
bling grow luxuriant. Children grow up
10 curse and swear, anc steal, and lie,
and fight. But one voice is heard from
grand.sire 10 grand son, and that is, Owe
will be as the heathen." Take away the
Sabbath and you open the foodgales OF
crime and pollution. Take away the Sab.
bath and youicmove one essential Iounda-
ton OF our free and civil institutions. -
| Take away the Sabbath, Suspend It's
blessed attractions, and the glory Of our
nation departs with it,"
3. Those who pay no regard to the pub
lie worship on tho Sabbath, say, "Wc will be
as the hcalhen."
1t is from tho public worship of God that
/ tho Sabbath dilfusCs its moral light. No
community can be found who keep the
Sabbath holy, where no public worship is
/ found. Visit those towns or neighborhOods
whero the people do not assemble for the
worship of God, aud what do your eyes be-
hold A people standing in tho very re-
giou and shadow of hcathcn darkness, or on
It's verge Tho Sabbath is indeed observed,
but to what end The women spond it in
visiting. and the men in gambling, horse.
racing, drinking, carousing and not unfro
| quently ending the day in fight Instead
OF being day to bless and elevate society,
! it becomes day to curse and blight every
lovely plant of virtue that can adore COM
munity. Says IA writer: Pleasure will mar.
shall her toemng hosts foe scenes of outrage
and gay amuscments. Profligacy will make
it gala day to pander to debasing passions,
and to waliow in the miro of lower beastli.
ness. Hosts of pinng wives and mothers
will dread the coming of the sacred day,
because husbands and sons rest from their
labors only to lounge in idleness and revel
in Bacchanalian sports"
That family also who pay no regard TO
the public worship Of God oa the Sabbath,
are,by the very laws OF necessity, tending
towards heathenism for, if universally
followed, there would soon be all the
darkness, pollution and misery Of the
heather. We will sink ourselves as low.
and become as degraded, asignorant and
as besotted.
Let an individual who can but will not
regard the worship Of God, on the Sabbath,
and you need not wait long TO see some Of
tho Developments of heathenish practices.
He will be more and more vulgar, coarse
clownish, will be more and more in search
after that which is low and dcbasIng. He
will despise civilization and all refined odu.
cation, and whatever goes 10 exalt man
kind. His view of God will be hcatbenish-
will make God like himself There NAV be
exceptions 10 this. lspeak of the general
tendency of negecting tho public worship
of God on tho Sabbath. l ask any candid
man TO look at community noted for de-
bauchiog, idlcncss profanity, theft perjury
gambling, scotfcrs, drunkards, vagaOonds,
man. destroyers. ha;ers of God, Sabbath
breakers. hoary headed corruptors of youth.
Where do you find tho most ignorance, idle
ness and flthiness, tho least economy, the
greatest number who glory in their shame.
and arc alienatcd from tho love of God
through tho ignorance that is in them : You
know, my hearers, every ono of you knows.
that such a state of society exists only where
the worship Of God is dsregardcd.
Hence every man who can but will mol
attend tho public worship of God on the
Sabbath. is pursuing course which, if uni.
versaIy followed. would lead to tho mos,
abhOrred state of hcathcnsm. His actions
speak in tones of thunder: "Wo will be us
the hsatheD."
4. Those who are able, but do nothing to
maintain tho worship Of God on tho Sab.
bath, say; I'VE will be as the heather"
II the Sabbath is essential to save from
heathenism. and the public worship of God
necessary TO save the Sabbath, then every
argument that goes TO uphold the Sabbath
and its worship goes equally to enforce our
obligation to do what is necessary to main.
tain Gods worship on that day. II will not
maintain itself The place OF worship will
not build itself. Tho things noedfu 10 reE.
der the place inviting aud comfortable, spring
not up by chance. Tho bell will not ring
itself, nor the house light itself and warm
itself The glorious Gospel cannot be
preached, nor tho praises OF God sung with
out cost to somebody. It's light does not.
like the sun. shine over tho nations without
labor and expense to mAnk ind. They who
preach the Gospel must live by the Gospel,
for the laborer ia worthy of bis hire. God
enjoined il on His ancient people to devote
tenth to His service and glory With no
man WAS it left optional. Evory thing per-
tanning TO the worship of God was fixed by
laws Under the Christian dispensation, we
have M aNnrnsa command As fhua saith