Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-10-31


Hebrews 4:0-"There remaineth therefore
rest to the people Of Cod One Of the great
est gifts, said the preacher, bestowed on man
kind by God through the Jewish people is
the doctrine of seventh day of rest The
rich rest when they please and to the poor
man it is the greatest blessing II bodily
rest were all that might be derived from il,
Christianity should have adopted it and sane
toned it by law.
If there was not general law against nc
tive business operations on the Lords Day it
would be necessary for all to do from self
defence what some would certainly do from
choice. 1t is necessary, too that all should
observe the same day. II nine-tenths Of the
community were Jews, Christians should
agree TO suspend business on Saturday. The
exceptions TO the general law Of rest in
cluded under works of necessity and mercy
have gradually widened to include horse cars,
Sunday newspapers, steamboat excursions,
etc. but the good sense of the people always
provides proper limitation. The distinc-
ton is not made by legal enactment but by
public opinion. There is no difficulty in de
Gliding how the day ought not to be employ
ed but to provide rules for its observance is
not easy.
There are three classes Of views upon this
subject, held respectively 10y those who con
slider the first day Of the week as the Sab
bath, those who regard it simply rs Sunday
and those who observe it AZ the Lords day.
The Jews were directed in the fullest detail
what they could not do on the Sabbath, but
there is not Il word in their treatise upon the
subject having a spiritual meaning or pur-
pose. Turn to the New Testament, and the
great change that takes place is shown in the
expression. The Sabbath was made for man,
not man for the Sabbath" II Jesus had
walked in the fields on Sunday in New Eng
land two hundred years ago, as he was accus-
toned to do when on earth, he would have
been arrested AS Il sabbath. breaker. Such
Sabbnths disappeared Oh the formation Of the
Christian church and did not reappeAr until
the time OF the puritaus. The Jewish Chris
tan observed the Sabbath if he Chose-it was
not compulsory, nor WAS it taught by the dis
ciples Indeed Pauls only mention of 1t
was in terms of reproach lam sorry, there
fore, that the members Of the recent conyen-
ton announced as their object the promotion
of the better observance Of the Sabbath. II
they do not mean Saturday, why do they not
give it its real name, the Lords day. Who
ever uses the word sabbath gives to it the
old Jewish and Puritanic significance. One
speaker even referred with regret to the loss
Of the old New England Sabbath, when DISC
bcdieuce OF the laws upon the subject was
punishable with fue, imprisonment and
death It was a day Of fear and constraint.
We do not want to revive that sabbath which
was dropped by Christ and Christians.
On the other hand We do not want the con
tin, nial Sunday, which Is the other extreme.
Let us have "a full liberty. and aim to secure
our spiritual and moral advancement. Rec
reation is necessary with many Oh their day
Of rest but let its object be truly recreation.
The Christian Lords day should include all
that is good III both the extremes. II should
have all that Is good in Sunday a. holiday,
hut supplunt pagan pleasure with "A higher
rest Of body and soul IA deeper Joy. faith and
love If Paul Lad entertained any Of the
| Jewish ideas Of sabbath breaking and Sab
! bath keeping, do you not suppose he would
have mentioned the subject il his letter, to
| the churches and elders We see from Il
study of the New Testament that a Christian
world enacted laws making the first day il
the week one Of rest not from any biblical
| command to Moses. but from Gods law Of
| necessity. The real Christian sees in the DAY
an opportunity for enjoying all inward rest
! continuing with God and escaping for the
time all contact with sorrow aud sin Such
| is our reason for coming TO church and that
is what the church ought to do for US on the
| Lords day. Those conducting the service
| should aim to bring unto their hearers that
peace Of God which renevs the spirit and
| builds up the soul. The Lords day is IA day
| Of grace, and its Observance is governed by
| principles not 10y rules. Whatever disturbs
! that inward peace and rest, even if il be go
| ing to church, is Sabbath breaking. The
| hard " orking man needs pL y steal rest and it
would bt IA sin for him to go to church two
| or three times day. In fact 1t would per
haps be better for nearly all if they would
| not 90 TO church more than once IA day.
My hope is that the day may become more
] 4 ! l.HAar
! free II l should recommend "a system for
the days observance it would be divided into
three parts. First, go to church that you
may come near God, and gather strength and
| peace from Him. The church should not be
| place for controversy, oratory or the discus
| sion of secular questions, but rather for com
muning reverenty with our divine Father
and Friend. Then spend part of the day
/ in DONG good to others. We must not forget
| the great outside mass, who do not 60 to
| church, and whose crimes fill the Monday
morning papers. Il is part of our duty to
| provide innocent ADJUSTMENTS for those who
need them.
Our Common and Public Garden are high
| ly appropriate for this purpose. / am glad
the Public Library is open, and that opeu-air
| concerts are sometimes provided.
Let the third part Of the day be devoted to
the family and home friends. In Paris on
Sunday afternoon the hard working man and
his wife and children will be found pleasant
| ly passing the time in the suburbs. ! am
| glad to see the gardens around our city open
on Sunday, so long as they keep liquor out.
/ am glad TO see our families spending the
afternoon down the harbor. Where the
whole family 60 together Oh such trips Of
innocent musement the effect Is always good.
am not afraid church going will suffer from
it, People go to church because they see the
| good of it,
hope, therefore, that Christian men and
women in other conventions will not oppose
| innocent amusements on the Lords day. Let
| them not seek to make the day one for relig-
ious exercises only, nor try to bring back the
| Puritauic Sabbath which neither they nor
we would be able to endure. Let us rather
seek on that day to bring peace and tender
ness to those whose lives are hard and bitter
such day as Christ described as Of heaven,
where the angels sing GLORY to God in the
Highest, and on earth peace, good will toward
| men,"