The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1872-08-20
The sabbath, and What Constitu es ITS
Proper Observance,
tDiscussion before tho Addison Conference at
New Haven, June II, 1S72.l
nv - uAytV

New Haven, June II, 1s72.l
ny c. n. HAYWARD.
There seems to be disposition on the
part of the clergy, in these days Of "new
departure" from the old Puritanic sys-
TEN, to put the laboring oar in the hands
Of laymen. Whether this experiment
will prove a success yet remains to be
seen.
1t is well authenticated fact, that
one Of the first institutions Jehovah es-
tablished was the institution of the Sab
bath. This was done IN Paradise, be-
fore man tiansgressed and fell and it
was designed to point out the period for
labor aud the period for rest; for the
public worship of God, and Of special de-
votion to spiritual and eternal concerns,
we are told. So important was this ar
rapgement to the glory Of God and the
welfare of men, that, in reference to it,
God regulated his own conduct in the
creation of the world He wrought six
days himself. He then came out in the
face of creation and rested one day, thus
he gave to this arrangement six days Of
labor and one of rest, the sanction of his
high and holy example, this ,cas the pro-
portion which would in all ages be
suited to the nature Of men, adapted to
their capacities, and essential to the sup
ply Of their wants. | deem this of itself
sufficient reason why the Almighty iu-
corporated the keeping Of the Sabbath ho-
! ly, as one of the the ten commandments.
This division Of time, six days for labor
and one for rest and special devotion to
spiritual things, was to be as permanent
and as universal as though it were meas
ured by the revolutions of the earth, in
deed we are told it was to be in all ages
and in all countries s. gn Of the coven-
ant between God and his people, au en-
blem and ioretaste of the rest which re-
maneth for them, and special season OF
preparation for its eternal joys | sup
pose this may be the main reason why
Jehovah kept it himself, and sanctifed
it, for he himself declares that he blessed
1t with such fullness of blessings, that
they flow out to those who keep it, not
only on that day, but through all the
week. They are blessed in their bodies
and souls, in their going out and coming
in, and in all their ways. He said unto
the Jews, his chosen people: If thou
turn away thy foot from doing thy pleas
ure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath
delight, the holy of the Son honorable
and shalt honor him, not doing thine owr
ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor
speaking thine own words, then shalt
thou delight thysef in the Lord. and !
will cause thee to rule upon the high
places Of the earth, and feed thee with tn,
heritage Of Jacob thy father, for tn,
mouth Of the Lord hath spoken it.
1t is an incontrovcrtabe fact that Q
Sabbath keeping people will be an obedi
ent people. and the manner in which the
people of New Haven keep their Sab
baths, will be test of their character
au index Of their morality and religion
Look at that young man if you pleas,
who lao Lvvu bought up III this town
who had pious father and gody moth
= er, who had been trained to keep tn,
I Sabbath ard respect it, follow that youtl
; when he leaves his fathers house and goc
e out for life into the world, in his plan
. and his efforts, his business and bis cares
5 his dangers and his duties, his trials an,
J his joys, this Sabbath influence will be
4 guardian angel, whispering continually il
: his ears, concerning virtue. truth an
n right, saying unto him, this is the way
$ walk ye in in it. May be he goes T.
e New York, or some other large city
v there he enters into business, and 500
V fiuds himself involved in all the labor,
t cares aud anxietes of active life Buoy
{ ant with hope, borne on by expectation
J aud flushed, it may be, with success, h
d presses forward in his enlarged scheme
t of business, till he is in danger of bein
c swallowed up by them. OCCASIONAL
: for moment he turns his eyes toward
b home, and thinks of his father and motl
= er and Sabbath influence, and remember
l. with filial gratitude their example an
is precept in starting him Alright in the way
81 Of life.
l. have in my mind the history of
81 young man who went from this county I
e the cit, of New York about ID yea
e ago. lie was a mere youth possessln
D. fine talents. an amiable disposition. an
is was beloved by all who knew him, II
a. business was Teller" in bank. 1t WI
very large institution, and consequen
!. ly there were a good many employee
A few days passed before they made cac
others acquaintance. At length Satu
9. day p. IN. came. The duties of the wee
ot ended, he very politely asked one Of tt
n clerks where he attended church. He look,
m him N the face with astonishment and sal
,s .Idont 20 to church. The same inquiry W
an made OF the others, with the same repl.
+. What think you was the impression tho
p. answers made on that young mans min
"a If he was here to-day he would tell "
that it was his early training to respe
and honor the Sabbath, that kept him
If the commencement Of his city life fro
n. entering that road whose feet 90 dov
rs to death, aud whose steps take hold 4
K hell. l. it too much to say, it persc
ii. keep the Sabbath, ne may hope and c
On pect the God Of the Sabbath will ke
ad him ? aye, verify. 1t is a powerful mea
as of leading men, to live nat unto thei
70. selves but unto him who died for the
,s. and rose again. DR.. Edwards says 4
he keeping of the Sabbath was designed
ed commemorate and enforce the rights
is God, his right to men, to all which tn
possess or can obtain, is higher and mo
perfect than does. or can, belong to al
. other being. His rights are original,
rd dependent, eternal, for he created all al
ty for his pleasure they are and 'oere CT
Ter ated. The Sabbath was made for ma
he aud the command is, forget not the d
ice sembling of yourselves together and y
how many individuals there are who a
not contented to labor six days only, b