The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1875-12-02
for the Sabbath day must also mould his
heart into becoming state by suitable
meditation, conversation, and prayer.
awake, my soul, and with the sun
Thy daily stage of duty run;
Shake of dull slOth, and early rise
n no. fhxrT1 1fT,cy caa
To pay thy morning sacrifice"

meditation, conversation, and prayer.
Awake, my soul, and with the sun
Thy daily stage of duty run;
Shake OF dull sloth, and early rise
To pay thy morning sacrifice"
By attending to the duties of the Sab
bath day PORTION of its time is to b.
spent in works of necessity, mercy anc
charity; proper attention to the private
duties of religion; giving proper religious
| instruction to children and others under
our care. 1t is also in most cases oul
duty. and that of our families, to unite
in some way in maintaining those nur
series of piety, the Sabbath school. We
are to go with the multitude to the house
of God, with the voice of joy and praise
with a multitude that keep holy day. u
Religion and its public ordinances are
| the glory and beauty, and defense of the
land. Without our churches and Sab.
baths our country would soon be filled
with lewdness, and robbery, and bias
phemy, and bloodshed and atheism.
The duty of keeping holy to God ex'
pressly one whole day in seven, is surely
most explicitly stated in the fourth COM
mandment Let us just analyze the COM
mandment:
1t is not part of day, but a whole
day. 1t is to be kept holy; that is, sa-
cred to God. The thing prohibited is
worldly employment. And the parties
brought under the prohibition are these
four:
a. Each individual personally. Thou
shalt not do any work.
B. Each parent in behalf of his chill
dren; NOR thy son, nor thy daughter" 4"
c. Each master with regard to his SER
want; thy man-servant nor thy maid
servant"
II Pa1s LII
who live among them; NOR the stranger
that is within thy gates"
Is it possible to have any duty more
precisely or explicitly stated than this
Undoubtedly the grand design of the
Sabbath is to promote the glory of God,
and to advance the spiritual and eternal
interests of man, and as such we hail it
as blessed boon from heaven.
Moreover, does not the Importance of
the Sabbath, in civil point of view, in
vest it with an undenied claim to the
protection of public law.
The laws of all Christian States haye,
to greater or less extent, given
their authority and protection to the
Sabbath. Men of wisdom, honor, and
virtue, have ever felt that it ought to be
among the earliest objects of their solicit
tude to perpetuate the blessings of this
holy day. And does not the Importance
of the Sabbath plead irresistibly for this
paternal interposition There is no in
Stitution around which more impene-
trable barrier of wholesome restrictions
ought to be erected. The Sabbath is the
noblest and firmest pillar of well regu-
lated society. 1t is the corner stone of
that noble edifce of morals, liberty, and |
public well-being, which is the pride and |
exultation of every prosperous commu-
nifty. If our political institutions cannot |
be preserved unless the laws and usages |
of the land are formed on the basis of |
sound morality; if morality cannot be |
without an active impression |
Of religious principle; and if neither can
exist long, where the Sabbath exerts
none of its Divine influence; then is it
aot the truest policy of State to enforce
,he observance of this day?
1t is impossible that human laws should
bind men to be religious; and nothing
would be more preposterous than to at
,empt it. But it is surely no impossible
hing to suppress the open and intrepid
Tiolations of the Sabbath.
In objection to this l hear YOU say:
1T would be an infringement of the
lights OF conscience and personal liber-
yW But do the rights of conscience
md personal liberty consistin allowing
very man to do as he pleases, irrespec
i've of what is right in itself, and the
'est good of the State? As we'll might
ou affirm it to be an infringement of the
lights of conscience and personal liberty
o impose legal restraint upon fraud or
orgery. If you reply Grimes of this
ort are violation of the Divine law, and
t war with the best interest OF commu-
ity;" rejoin, So is the violation of the
,ord'S day. Nay more, seriously doubt
Thether the violation of the Sabbath is
ot vastly more Injurious to the commu-
lty, than any act of fraud you can men
ion.
The ground on which the Sabbath
laims the protection of human laws, is
imply the ground on which any other 1
1stitution claims that protection; and
hat is, it is an ordinance of God, and
Indispensable to the well-being of the
tate.
A most sensible writer says:
There Is not single position in po i
tlcal economy, which can be more firm
7 established in the mind of every can
id man, than that the strict and univer-
Il observance of the Sabbath is in the
Ighest degree, conducive to the public
On no subject whatever, is !
ne language of experience more explicit
nd decisive"
Notwithstanding ali this, there is great 9
lxity in enforcing the existing laws.
he officers of justice seemingly are '
sleep. God grant we may not be left to
earn too late, that the Sabbath is one of
ne selectest gifts of heaven to men.
When, like other nations and other
ommunities, we have seen that virtue t
nd happiness, and those social and civil
rivileges, which are secured by this sa-
red institution, swept away; then shall a
e be taught that the Sabbath is the pal {
Idium OF the dearest rights of man, and S
lat the best interests of the community
an no longer be consulted without en-
'rcing its observance. q
Let every patriot support its authority
9th by his example and influence. 1t is q
nough to sicken ones heart to cast a
lance upon the immoralities that are
'stered by the neglect and abuse of this
ay In some of the States even of modern :
urope. I
II you are not a stranger to the warmth .
nd enthusiasm which so justly beats in
ne breast of American citizens; if you
ave thought the liberty, laws, and polit- :
al institutions of this happy land worth +
reservlng; l entreat you, guard, with a !
cen eye, q reproachless example, and )
influence, this first of all !;
er moral institutions.
ELABORATION :
On the behalf of this Holy day, there :
,re, and in the name of the God of heav- ;
n | ask your example and your intlu- !
nee, to redeem this day from the inva-
ions of a PROCLAMATION that must be at