The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1883-02-07
THE SABBATH OBSERVANCE.

aE4 DAD 1Al IA OboEhfANGEH
The obligation of every person to OBJ
serve one day in seven as day of rest
from secular work, is threshold in its
nature.
The first is religious. God, who is
wiser than man, has commanded it. 1t
is therefore the duty of every one to obey
unquestioningly. He has made man and
therefore knows what is best for him.
Man is two-fold in his nature-spiritual
and animal. To be perfect man, his
spiritual needs nourishing and training.
And if he gives the principal part of six
days to that which affects his physical
we'll being, the dictates of reason, no less
than that of revelation, command that
one day in seven be given to the consider
alton of the things that elevate and spir-
itualize. IL it is true that this life is only
the vestibule of another and spiritual
one, how foolish-hew wicked-to ignore
the wisdom of God in providing a day
hallowed for our spiritual profit. Then,
every thing which tends to secularize the
day, dishonors God aud does man great
wrong.
The second part of the obligation, is
moral. Even though man be an infidel,
he will grant that morality is important.
The ceasing from secular employment one
day in the week, the restraint on all forms
OF dissipation, the closing of drinking
saloons and places of amusement, the open
church and Sunday School, all exert NOR
al influence on the community, rendering
property more secure, men better citizens,
and curbing intemperance and rowdy-
ism. To break down the restraints of
the Sabbath is to make the day one of
mere sensual enjoyment for some and OF
dissipation for others, and to gradually I'M
dermine the moral restraints exerted by
the teaching in the church and the school,
for, when opportunities for pleasure are
offered on every hand, on that day,
how are the young and the thoughtless to
be kept from taking advantage of them.
Besides, it is a day when tue man who
is engrossed with cares during the week,
may give attention TO the training OF his
family. Husband wife and children are
brought together as on no other day in
tho week, family ties arc strengthened
and moral lessons can be incalated
The third part of the obligation is ply
steal. No one, we presume, will question
the necessity for physicaland mental rest.
All observation goes to show that the
equilibrium between work and rest is
found in the observance of one day in
seven as a day of rest. To the man of
business as we'll as the laborer. the day is
boom Bnt if the day be spent In jour
neying, designations aud in exciting sur
roundings, the day is not one of rest to
him. DR.. John W. Draper, the distin-
guished scientist, in his work on Human
Physiology, thus states the physical
value of the Sabbath;
"Out of the numberlcss blessings which
have thus been conferred on our race by
the Church. tho Psychologist may be per-
mitted to select one for remark. which,
in an emirent manner, has conduced to our
puJHtCdi tbtiai ~ ~ bhO
institution of the Sabbath day. Not that
this originated with, or is peculiar to the
Christian faith, since, as is known to all,
it dates from the remotest times, aud was
directly adopted from the Hebrew oere-
monal. Its sanctiiication and enforce
ment by the Church was ut once an OBJ
iect important in the highest degree in &C.
clesiastical polity, and boon to all classes
Of men /; for in whatever position of life
we may be placed, it is needfnl for us to
have an opportunity of rest. No man can
for any length Of time pursue one avoca-
ton or one train Of thought without
mental. and, therefore, bodily injury
nay, without insanity. The constitution
of the brain is such that II must have i'll
time of repose. Periodicity is stamped
upon it. Nor is it enough that it is awak,
and 10 action by day, and in the silence o
night obtains lest and repair that sam,
periodicity which belongs to it as whole
belongs TO all its constituent parts.
II the atoye statements are true, il vii
be seen that in seeularizing the Sabbath
man sins against God, Injuries morals am
weakcns his physical stamina.