The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-01-02
THE METHODIST BISHOPS.
PASTORAL ADDRESS ON ADJUSTMENTS AND
SABBATH DESIGNATION.

! PASTORAL ADDRESS ON AMUsEMENTs AND
SABBATH DISSERTATION.
The Methodist Bishops have issued their
usual pastoral address to the Church, in
which, after calling attention to the spirit
ual prosperity of the denomination during
the past year, and referring to the increased
need of holy living, because of the grow
ing tendency to dissipation of all sorts, they
touch the Sabbath question, and amuse-
ments on that day, as follows:
We have reason to fear that the growing
decentralization in the public sentiment
touching the sacrcdness of the Sabbath has
crept in among us, and, especially in the
larger towns and cities, is on the increase.
The Sabbath instituted in the beginning
and confirmed again and again by Moses
and the prophets, has never been abrogated.
A part of the moral law, not one jot or tit
tie of its sanctuary has been taken away.
The Bible abounds in admonitions and ex-
hortations and warnings concerning it
Nature and religion both teach that it is
necessary to mans physical, intellectual
and moral we'll being; and history shows
that it is equally necessary to the well being
of society and the permanent success of
the Church.
The Master himself has taught us that
while "that Sabbath is made for man, and
not man for the Sabbath" only works Of
mercy and necessity-made such by provi-
Dental circumstances, not by ourselves
al g excepted from the general prohibition to
do no labor on this holy day. Discomfort
ance and discourage, then, all unnecessary
work in the family, all social visiting. all
Sunday excursions, all travelling for bust
lnaS hal hn Ia
may be given to meditation and prayer to
social and public worship, to the Sabbath
school, and to such other means and oppor-
tunities of religious enjoyment and useful
ness as may be within your reach. Thus
shall the Sabbath, as was intended, be
day of rest and peace, day of holy labor
"a blessed foretaste of heaven.
We have cause for apprehension concern
ing another growing evil-the fondness for
social and public amuSements-to which we
ask your prayerful thought and attention.
Christians should not seek their pleasure in
those things to which the vain and wicked
resort for their chief delights. "Whatso
ever We do, do all to the glory of Cod is
the rule by which they are to be guided.
I" If any man will be My disciple, let him
deny himself and take up his cross and fol-
low Me-" is the requistion made by Christ.
the ballroom, or the wine party. These
confessedly lead to spiritual death But
there are other more strictly social and less
offensive modes of amusements which offer,
especially to the young, the enticements to
those worldly pleasures (Which war against
the soul" These occasion waste of time,
cause dissipation of mind, and unfit us not
only for the duties of religion, but for the
practical duties of life. We would not
desire to lay upon you burthens too heavy
to be borne. But the world is SO full of inno-
cent pleasures, and religion opens SO many
fountains of enjoyment, that you can well
afford to deny yourselves of those which
are of dangerous tendency. or, at best, of
doubtful propriety. The highest style of
pleasure springs from personal purity and
holy and benevolent living. Strive, there
fore, for the sake Of your Christian charac-
ter and usefulness, and for the sake of the
weak conscience of your brother for whom
Christ died, to abstain" in this respect
as in others, " from all appearance Of evil,
and cleave to that which is right and good