, 1876-02-14

worry tenlOnB for tho paramount an%hollsy u sue
sunday. Thov wero mot agreed among thon,-
tclyce nbout Tho ground of its obligation. and.
A. discussion went Oh ahont It, Luther and oven
Calvin and others, nero drawn into giving tneir
authority to what seelnn to us la1 opsofv vnhoa
Of tho day. in their fcnra OF tho peoples felapn'
ing into unraformcd practicas, or ADOPTING vtows !
Of s[ler own opponents. For instance. Luther's |
SAYING. quoted from bis 'Table-Tslk' III
snywhorc tue day IL made holy for tue mesc
days sAkn-if anyvhore any QUO nols up It's OBJ
ss1nnce on jewish fonndntio iou,--then ordor
you To work on It. TO r,ao Oh Il, to dance on IT.
to Toast on Il. TO DO anything that atail so.noye
this oncroachmcnt on Chr'stnn iiaorsy."
Iho German Sunday has received Its Impress
largely from Luther'n band. In his day, whom
tbs apirit OF earnest Chrtstlnn zcnl WAS anl1nat-
rng tho people, snct, teaching may havo been
comparatively hnrm!csa. but, when that 2oa1 be-
ga., to grow cold It's bauolni erocts wore nt once
apparent. A condition Of high spirituality could
not be maintained whun tho very obscrva,cea Of
tho day act apart for tho promotion Of tue spirit.
ual llfe wcre so utterly at variaucd with tho ctd
sought And ono Of tho potent reasons fot the
rnpid widespread OF tnadotity. which haa we'll
u,gh eaten out tho hoast Of ucrman Clirastsah-
", ID thn want Of trne reverence for tho Clr'h
tian Sabbath. With tho revival Or al cafnoss
pleading on tho part OF the leaders Of Christian
thought for that sabbat!ia aanctity.,
We must not Judge Luther and a',;s ilss eompesra @
too harahty. Thuy woro not lnfal!lble men.
Thcy woro e,uergins from tho darkness snto sho
light, bat ne cannot nsk for trans'tton a. once
from tie noon Of night to the noon Of day:
Erross chung to them. imperfect viows Of
Qods truth WoEo thoitH. .........
, Luther tcrn,od tho Epinsla of James "hn
cpistlo OF atrnw" because 1t did not contain. Nc
cortling to lila view, tho great doctrine
OF qualification ny faith. 1lo afterwards deep.
" rouentod Of his past utterance, and saw in that
epistso Of t!,e practical ap9stio ms &C., eou1pae,
prcachcr Of rightcousuess by faith, the Apostle
lAnl. Gould ha now come TO earth and soc tic
nnd fruits Of that equally Lasty t'tseraheo 70"
srecsing tho Cbriesan. Sabbath he would not
commit tho mistake again.
the French Sunday ts prc'cminnnt1y n day OF
rovet1y aud work. Wo haco in the following
Mords n faithful description Of Fars Sunday
by prominent Chicago divine: " Livery hhop
goods. portera aro hosstnE and lowering boxes
and barrels, travellers ate coming md golng
lahorers arc cteaning and ropnirsnR tho ntrcpts,
plRHtorots and painters arc s& WORK on ne"
houses, atoue.cuttnrs arc busy repairing tho
CnthcdrAls, troops aro marching and counter
rnatchlpc bnd cooks, confectioneKa, dreBsnnkors,
and milliners have bcnn up aince o'clock. Oh
deRvoring to oyettalo tho labor OF getting ready
tho lu11rioa aud tnoree for tho balls OF tho evcR-
ing-a fato dag for tho aristocrncy OF the Franc,
but 4 day Of harl work for tho woskngnan."
Tho old English Sunday was very mnoh llko
the Fsonch Sunday. In Macaniay'a wo't-knowh
hated boar batting, not because 1t gav0 .pnin To
| tie boar, but ploasure to tho spectators" That
il . oae-slded description. however. Tho May-
pole festivities, tho bulls, tho theatrical per.
i tho beaf-baiunE, tho drinking. the 1ogci[ng,
| which tho purtans 40 severely condemned. woto
| tho regular Sunday amuaemonts ot tho people.
| Drinking booths Ncro Established in tho church.
| ya1da and dsgracofut orGs0H Tcre prsctcod i'll
she silent citos OF tho dcad. Horo tho May
| eau1os wote indulged in, and tho gude "luanly"
| sports of tho rough, untatnod multitude;
Axeinst such dissertation Of the Sabbath tho
ISir IN