New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-09-04


followed be the Sabbath forever. The
air, the sky, the earth beneath our feet, the
very flowers all seem more sacred on that
holy day. Peace is written upon the walls
OF every building. The busy mart is de-
serted. and the deep never oeasing murmur
the length Of our busy streets there
breathes the breath Of repose, and the
mighty engines that but clashed and vi
brated, and lifted their thousand arms,
Obedient to the will Of that more won
derful machine. man, whose thought
alone, caused these toiing ministers
to do his duty, are now quiet.
Luther speaking Of the moral benefit of the
Sabbath and of keeping it merely for ex-
pediency, says, keep it holy, for the sake
of both the body and soul; but if any where
the day is made holy, for the mere day s
sake; if any one insists on its observance
as the Jews did, then l advise you to work
on it, to play on it, to ride on it, to do any
thing, which shall reprove this eneroach-
ment on the Christian spirit and liberty
The Sabbath in the city, we grant is more
show and less devotion. While we listen to
the majestic church bells. as their music
floats upon the breeze, man forgets that
God hallowcd the seventh day-forgets
that He ordered it hallowed and sanctified
by all men. Mankind had become sadly
degenerate, depraved and brutalized within
four or five years, and one great cause is
the disregard OF the holy Sabbath and the
neglect of stated and frequent religious
worship and instruction. That the Sabbath
was not originally appointed by Moses, We
may also refer to the fact that before the
ten commandments were given. the Isreal-
ties were reminded of it, (see Exodus xvii
and ordered to gather food on the sixth day
Tor that, and the seventh also. And now,
how important is a duo observance and
sanctltication Of the Sabbath. every good
man Is deeply conscious. Behold yonder
old man tOiling along, heavy with the bur
den of years, gray with the touch of time.
wearied by the battles of life. he
looks indeed as if the sanctuary might
be to him welcome place of rest
His thin white hairs almost touch
the worn lapel of his old patched
coat, that was made long before the present
era of fashion We feel inclined to exclaim
in pity, poor old creature" but there is
that look of holiness in his face that forbids
us. Upon each care-worn lineament there
breatheS the true index of ''praver and
worship" and pure reverence for the holy
Sabbath. Close behind him we see another
aged man-his hair too is white, but the
rich cloth of his garments are fresh, his
cane is heavily mounted with gold. and of
most elegant workmanship; his entire APP
pearancc bctOkens the man of cultivated
taste, finished polish. of leisure and
of means. But can we read The face;
1t is not calm. yet SO passive,
each line appears yet more hard and rigid,
and his step shows satisfaction. as he leans
carelessly upon the arm of a younger man,
and as we draw nearer, We perceive his
lips are moving rapidly, and in our limo
cence or ignorance, we conclude his theme
is the Sabbath-our blessed Sabbath but
the illusion soon yanishes. for rs we slowly
pass, We perceive his conversation is of bank
stock, dividends. prices current, and
European news. Thus. the index. of his
Sabbath is rest and comfort for the body,
but not one bought for his soul. A
seat in his warm snug pew. and a
comfortable nap during the discourse,
occasionally concentrating upon such
broken sentences as happen to fall upon his
drewsy ear That there was too much pre-
cision formerly in this country in keeping
the Sabbath, we admit. but the Sabbath
was made for nan. and not man for the
Sabbath To tie Christian it is the Lords
day, and should be observed in conformity
to the spirit Of the Holy Gospel, in religious
meditation, worship and teaching, not ex-
Guiding the sociS. as well as the benevolent,
feelings. 1t should not be spent wholly or
chiefly in recreation. but it would be equally
averse from the genius of Christianity to
make it day Of gloom and austerity. %
So understand it as to render il ;rhsome and
disgusting to innocent youth.