Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-11-19
THE SUNDAY LAWS.
Shall We Have a Sabbath ?
,orresnondence OF the Register.

Correspondence OF the Register.
We are glad TO find that the friend oil
Mr.. Ingersoll, who appears in the REG
IsrER OF the 18th inst, in an artitle OBJ
iecting to the enforcement OF the Sunday
laws, is "a reader of the New Tesla
ment." Such being the case, he will,
no doubt, fully appreciate anything that
may be found in that good book touch
ing the subject OF his communication.
We will, therefore, refer him to Rom.
Is. 10, "Let every soul be subject unto
the higher powers "The powers that
be are ordained OF God. WhOsoever,
therefore, ressteth the power, resisteth
the ordinance OF God; and they that re-
sist shall receive to themselves damna-
ton" condemnation. "For rulers are
not terror to good workers, but the evil"
'If thou do that which is evil, be afraid"
''For he is the minister of Goo, "a revenger
10 execute wrath punishment upon
him that dOeth evil. Wherefore We must
needs be subject, not only for wrath
for fear OF punishment), but also for
conscience sake. For, for this cause
pay We tribute, also, &c.
We also refer Mr.. Ingersol's friend
to Titus 3. l-2. "Put them in mind TO
be subject to principalities and powers,
10 obey magistrates other words,
10 submit to the enforcement OF whole
some laws. And again, to Jude V. 8,
II, Is. Likewise these dreamers de-
spise dominion" Wholesome govern
ment.) They "speak evil OF things they
know not" "They are clouds
without water, carried about OF the
winds" They "are raging waves of
the sea, foaming out their own shame;
wandering stars" &c.-that is, having
no fixed principles themselves, they are
unhappy unless they can unsettle those
who have. But who are such? Those
who object to enforcing wholesome and
| iudicious laws established by the wis
| dom of ages.
1t is strange, but by no means an
uncommon idea, which your corresponds
ent seems to have in regard to the duty
of ministers of the Gospel, and in regard
to the Gospel itself. He speaks OF the
latter as if it did not necessarily include
the law. 1t would be a strange Gospel,
indeed, that did not, in some form or
other, recognize all law, human and
divine. But such is not the Gospel Of
the New Testament. | trow it would
be the Gospel according to lngersoll;
proiessedly one of love, but essentially
of hate-hatred to the human race, as
being opposed to wise, beneficent and
heaven-born institutions. 1t would be a
gospel of self-indulgence, like that OF
old Eli, which surrendered his sons to
destruction, and his people into the
hands of the Philstines. We fear your
New Testament reader has mistaken his
calling when he comes to preach the
Gospel. His gospel is too One-sided, de-
cidedly so. 1t sails under the banner OF
charity" but it is charity which al
lows every one to crafty his animal
propensities to the full, and to do what
ever is right in the sight OF his own
eyes. Charity" indeed Is not this
stealing the livery of Heaven to serve
the devil in2
We simply insist on the enforcement
OF the Sunday laws, as every good cltl-
zen, every friend OF Christianity, ought
to do The wisest and best of physl-
clans, psychologists, philanthropists and
statesmen have favored the observance
of the Sabbath, some on one ground, and
some on another, while none but reck-
less disorganizers and demoralizers have
been known to oppose it, Lord Chief
Justice Hale remarked that he had
never neglected the proper observance
of the Sabbath, without finding that
during the ensuing week his affairs did
not succeed prosperously. Now, Mr..
Ingersoll would doubtless call this SUI
perstition, but wiser and better men
than he, would, perhaps, arrive at very
different conclusion.
IMPARTIAL.
even those who, like Paley,
regard the Sabbath merely as a
civil Institution, would insist on its
maintenance, if on no other ground,upon
that of political expediency, as 4 day OF
physical rest for man and beast; and
would contend for its enforcement, as
they would for that OF other laws.