The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-06-03
Preparation for the Sabbath.

Preparation for the Sabbath.
All admit that the worship of God is
required, and that it should be observed
in manner the most acceptable to its
supreme Object. Ali admit, in addition,
that the Sabbath is the day which, by
divine ordinance, has been specially set
apart for this indispensable worship, and
that accordingly its hours should, in the
closet, in the sanctuary, and in works of
piety, be scrupulously devoted thereto.
On every other day there must of course
be private worship, and family devotions;
and, on set days of the week as well,
there ought to be public calling upon
God, and religious instruction given and
received. But the Sabbath is the great
appointed day when divine worship is to
be the holy business of men; whose sa
cred time ought not to be broken by
aught that can take off the mind from its
more or less direct communion with the
Almighty, and every one Of whose pass
ing moments should be the carrier of
some act of homage to the heavenly
throne. As to what properly constitutes
the worship of God on this day, there
may be variety OF opinions, % r..
out -of-church duties are concerned. These
opinions we will not discuss. Our object
is to offer a plea for that whole-hearted
worship in which all are expected to en-
gage, and whose design, whatever its
forms, is to exhibit the true service of
God, Oh the Lords own day.
We approach the main point of our re-
marks when we say that, in order to the
acceptable worship of God, there must
be not only sincere waiting upon him
during the actual day, but a something
besides which is too much neglected.
There must be a large measure of per-
sonal and domestic preparation. The
Sabbath must be preceded by Saturday
which will leave the mind in its best con-
dition for the services which are to dis
tinguish the sacred day, instead of being,
as is too often the case, ushered in by a
Saturday which, until its latest moments,
is employed in labor or pleasure more
concentrated than on any of the forego-
ing five days, as if thus to compensate
for the loss of time which is to ensue on
the Sabbath. Vast are the numbers,
who, on Saturday night, go late and jaded
to rest, and who find themselves drowsy
with WEAKNESS during the whole of the
Lords day-the result being but a poor
and proftless engagement in those SER
vices which, to be enriching and profta-
BILE every way, ought to be entered upon
with fresh and vigorous and unpre0c-
cupied soul We would plead for the
adoption of some rule in our Christian
households, the operation of which viii
not forbid the observance of Saturday
evening as period of preparation for
the Sabbath. A laying aside of all work
as early in the afternoon as the exgencies
of business or the demands of toll will
allow, would be the fitting commence
ment of such a period; church prayer
meeting, towards the approach of twi-
light, wherever this is practicable, would
be its appropriate continuation; and
season of private devotion followed by
an early retiring to rest, would be its
suitable close. When once Christians
shall have learned thus to prepare them
selves for Gods service, they will find,
we doubt not, that God will reveal his
glory in the sanctuary in manner and
to an extent which are seldom witnessed
now. We throw out these hints for the
benefit of those of our readers who find
their Sabbath's WEAKNESS, and who can
hardly tell themselves the reason why it
is so. They need preparation. They
need to approach the sacred hours which
God claims for his own, with minds all
alive to their Importance, and hearts
deeply impressed with their value, and
both of body and soul thorough
Iy in tune with the exercises to which it |
sweetly invites. Were perfect prepar-
alton for every Sabbath, common through,