Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1864-02-19
THE PROPER USE TO BE MADE OF THE
LORDS DAY.

the birth of the Saviour, and count time from
that event So also do the nations divide the
year into weeks of seven days each. These are
some ofthe records which schristianity has made
of itself in the worlds book of history. 1t has
produced these effects upon the greatest nations.
They all adopt the week of the Bible.
The names which the days Of the week COM
monty bear, are derived from heather sources.
But this is matter of small account The first
of the series of seven days has four names. In
the New Testament it is called "The first day of
the week. and s'The Lord s day. In common
conversation it is generally called Sunday
This is the heathen name, given originally to
this day because it was devoted to the worship
of the sun. 1t is also often called "The Sab
bath, because it took the place of the seventh
day of the week, which was the Sabbath of the
Jews The name ssabbath" means simply rest,
and was given to the seventh day because on
that day God rested from the work of creation;
and the Jews were commanded to rest from la
Dor on it. In this country, as also in other civ
ilized countries, it is the common custom to abb
stain from labor on the Lords day. There is a
general cessation of business. In the busiest
thoroughfares there is quiet on Sunday True,
there are some kinds of business which are con-
tinued without interruption. But they are
kinds of business that cannot be interrupted
Works Of necessity and "mercy," are allowed
to proceed on that day. And yet, it is common
to limit even those works to the smallest pOssi-
BILE amount On board ofships such labor only
is done as is necessary to safety and navigation.
In this general observance of the Lords day not
only professed christians unite, but others also.
Still, there is no small variety in the purposes
which Sunday is made to subserve. Some make
it strictly religious day, and spend it in relg-
ious study and worship. Some make it merely
a day of repose. They are fatigued with the bu-
siness of the week, and on Sunday they rest,
stay at home and eat good dinner. Some en-
ploy the day in visiting friends and seeking
amusement. The frequent reports of firearms
heard in the woods in pleasant seasons of the
year indicate that Sunday is employed in hunt
ing by some. Keepers of livery stables testify
that Sunday is their busiest and most profitable
day. This shows that many go riding on that
day. Post Masters tell us that their heaviest
influx of letters occurs on Monday. This indi-
Gates that many employ Sunday in part in wri
ting. Thus the day is put to large variety of
uses But of course these uses are not altogeth-
er distinct Some no doubt combine them. 1t
is quite common to make the day religious so far
as attending Church once is concerned, and then
to employ the remainder in reading, or repOse,
or otherwise. Yet it is manifest that those who
employ it strictly in religious employments are
quite few in number Indeed, only small pro-
portion of the people are habitual attendants at
Church, even once, on the Lords day. The pre-
vailing practical view seems to be that this day
is to be employed about as the individual may
please. ss ass
In the midst of these diverse practices it may
be worth while to enquire what is the use suita-
BILE and appropriate to the Lords day.
l.. The observance of this day has grown
wholly out of Christianity. 1t is not the pro-
duct of ordinary morality, or of any studies
about the wants of mems physical nature
Christianity has given US the day, and Christian
ity alone. The reasons for observing it have
grown out of Christianity, with the exception of
one That reason is found in the physical ben
efts of day of relief from labor once in the
week. But this reason only tends to show the
harmony between Christianity and the nature of
man, and concerning it more will be said pres
emily. We find no institution like the Sabbath
among the heathen. 1t has grown out of Chris
anity And, not only this, Christianity estab-
fishes it everywhere it goes. 1t is an essential
element of Christianity. But if the reasons for
observing it are founded in Christianity, the
presumption, certainly, is that it should be a
Christian day. We should look to the Scrip
lures to learn what use to make of it. 1t was
given us to use as religious beings, to promote
ourreligious welfare. If We employ the day
without any reference to religion we certainly
do not make legitimate use of it. Surely any
one will agree that there is no or logic in
spending day set apart from labor by the reli-
gion of the Bible, without any reference to that
religion. 1t should be "a religious day, or there
is no appropriate use made of it. Christianity
cannot have given us an uRchristian institution.
q Consider the results which Christianity
seeks among men. Hseeks to make them reli-
gious beings, practically So 1t is not satisfied
with morality. Itemploys motives of the most
serious description, motives founded in eternal
things Itteaches men not to live for earth but
for heaven. 1t teaches them to worship God,
and to sacrifice all temporal good things for the
sake of securing eternal life. Nothing could be
farther from the designs of Christianity than
merely to promote transient enjoyment. Its
instructions all go far deeper than simple pleas
ure 1t is impossible for any careful reader of
the Scriptures to suppose that the Lords day
was designed for mere pleasure-seeking, or mere
relief from the tolls of business. 1t was mani
testify designed to promote our religious welfare
by affording us time for the study of religious
truth, and for worship. Surely, then, it cannot
be appropriate to spend day given by Chris
tianity without any reference to Christianity it.
self True religion does not content itself with
catering to our taste for pleasure. 1t seeks the
higher end of forming our tastes after high and
| noble models 1t seeks to make us love and
relish worship, and all holy and spiritual exer-
cises. For this end it has given US the Lord S
day. This thought is enough to show us that
the day should be spent religiously.
g. 1t is often claimed that those who labor
during the week need this day for recreation,
and therefore they may spend it in enjoyment.
But the conclusion is too big for the premises.
There are recreative benefits flowing from the
Lords day. No doubt the day was divinely
appointed in part for the sake of these benefits.
But what class of people get the largest share OF
them? Certainly it is they who observe the day
| in religious study and worship. The farther
from religious observance men go the more dc
they exhaust themselves. Hence the proverbial
"blue Monday" The strictly religious Sunday
will keep him who observes it at home, at least
as a rule 1t will keep him from hard labor
such as he performs during the week. twill
relieve his mind of his business cares, and occu-
py his thoughts with sound and invigorating
| ideas of God and eternal things. All this is re-
creation of the best kind. Therefore they who
spend the day in this way, l. e., in rest, in reli-
ligious study and worship, will reap the largest
| degree of recreative benefits from it. But they
who merely go pleasure-seeking will often be
more exhausted Monday morning than they were
Saturday night. Of course people may rest
from labor on Sunday, and may divert theil
minds from the thoughts of business, and there.
fore be physically and mentally refreshed by
the day, even though they are not positively
religious. But they are refreshed because they
physically comply with the conditions of re.
cuperation. Were they to become actually re.
lioious they would secure no smaller physica