Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-05-04
For the Alexandria Gazette.
Parsonage Papers-NO. 4.
By REV. DR. KlLLGoRE, Pastor ofthe Metho-
dist Protestant Church, Alexandria, Va.
THE SABBATH.

|. 1t is suited to the necessities OF has physical
nature 1t is day of rest; a breuthng time to
animal life.
''ro-morrow is the rest of the holy Sabbath. >
-Exod. xvi 23
"Oo the seventh day thou shalt rest st-Exod.
-xxiii. l2 ;.
The seventh is the Sabbath of rest. y
Exod' xxi. Is.
"Ou the seventh day thou shalt rest. -
Exod xxxlv. u.
The seventh day shall be Sabbath OF rest
to the Lord '-Exod. xxxv. 2.
1T shall be Sabbath of rest to you. =
Lev. xvi. 81. ;,
''Ye shall do no work in that same day. -
Lev. XIII. %.
And rested the Sabbath day according to
the commandment.-'Lu XIII. So
Man was made for six days labor and one
day's rest. He is not registered or warranted for
more. 10 force him beyond it is impolitic and
cruel 1t may be done but not with lmpunlty
the weekly measure of rest is as necessary as
the daily one. Nightly repose, however re-
treshiug, cannot fully repair daily damages, nor
balance circulation; additional power must be
secured to the BRAIN the muscles and the hmbs,
or decay must be premature-one day IN seven
must be thrown in as compensation Inc
ministers under the law protaned the Sabbath
and were DlameleSS, lthdtn. XII. o,j, UuI ouSi'
not all ministers to have their weekly rest on
some other day?
The Sabbath is
?. Suited to has Social Relatonshp.-M
exists for others. We possess the same fields
of enterprse-the same range OF thought-the
same longiugs for the unknown. We differ in
mental cuture-in social happiness; but We ex-
ist to subserve each other sinterest-to remove
barriers and promote advancement. The Sab
bath comes to our help. It is not loss to the
world but gain. 1t is not losbtime that is spent
by the farmer 10 feeding his horses nor by the
mechanic iu sharpening his tools, or oillng the
wheels of his machinery. The Sabbath Is the
invigorating day-it brings men together under
the influence of self-respect-it IS felt to be a
better day. 1t inspires lofty sentiments-per,
sonal and domestic; cleanliness heralds Its .ap-
proach. 1t is a day Of rest. During its contiOu-
auce men are more accessible to Improvements;
whereas, the unhealthy accumulations OF cou-
slant toll would sink and brutalize society. The
Sabbath is,
3. Suited to his Domestic Character.
setteth the solitary in tamiies-.happy janslt,-
al these and none ese-what bond OF rela-
tiouship. There is much of interest in the
very name of home. The virtuous heart grows
bigger and better in such an association. 1t is
ceulre to our emotional nature. Worldly occu-
pations often divide the family. For days the
father seldom sees his children but sweet
thoughts of home and the Sabbath nerve his
arm to toll anew-the welcome day arrives
the love Of each becomes strengthened and
purified The pious pair now weed their olive
promise. The hymn is sung, the chapter read,
and % the prayer offered. Monday comes and they
part again The laborcr is rested and goes
again to his toll The traveller is rested and
asks again for his staff but there comes Sab
bath that will never eud-its harnonies and ec-
stacies will never be molested by the demands
of a Monday-it will be Sabbath for ever
''May we thus our Sabbaths spend,
Pledge of that which ne'er shall end
The Sabbath is
t. Suited to his intellectual character.
1t is conservative of his souls interest, even
u its highest relationships Man is full of
mind-of rudmental purpose-capable OF lofty
studies and high commerce. The Sabbath was
made for his mDd-it was made for his noblest
nature 1t improves his condition-his heart
his character On that day he meets his teach"
er-his own teacher-the man of his choice.
A large breadth of truth is shed over his mind
the truth Of God-of nature-of providence
of mption-illustrated by art and science
and life. He is told of his past, present and
information though with many it Is so; and
withal it is the best opportunity.
1t has become the school day for the million.
The virgin soil is broken and sown The seed
may not grow at once; but deeply earthed IN
the heart, and carefully tended, 1t will spring
forth to active life, and assume healthy growth.
The wel-conducted Sabbath School is the nur-
sery for the garden of God. The seedlings be-
come transpanted to the pew-the pulplt-the
platform-the mission station These are not
exotic but natural plants OF healthy growth.
To be good and to do good is the proper appllo
cation of our powers. Mind in the service OF
error and sin, is in revolt as the prison and the
gallows have often testified.
The Sabbath is .,
5. Suited to his religious character.
bath rest is not merely bodily rest, but mental
and spiritual. Man needs holy rest-he IS
religious being. His body tells of his orr gin
his soul of his destiny. He yearns after lost
happiness and he may find it even now, for
his forfeited inheritance is redeemed. lie may
come to Christ and live. Amid Sabbath IN
fuences and the social exercise of religion, ne
finds heaven upon earth. The beasts OF
burden are at rest, so are the implements OF
husbandry, and the tolls of the artihcer. The
Office and the shop are closed; but the sanctuary
is open, and the Christian says, "A day IN tiny
courts is better than thousand. would
rather be door keeper, Tor sit at the thres-
holdO of the house of my God than to dwell IN
the tents of wickedness " The Sabbath morn
rs sweet-all sounds, save natures voice is stll;
Mute shepherds song-pipe-mute the harvest
horn, 49,
A holier tongue is given to brook and rill-
Old men climb silently their cottage hill;
There ruminste and look sublime abroad,
Shake from their feet, as thought on tnousn'
comes still, L
The dust of life's Iona, dark and dreary roadi