Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1883-09-13
4irgiuia 9ree gFess.
II. n. q W. w. b. GAnL4HER, Editors
ricsto,cr,. jefferson County, West va.
c.nto,nho,. ~ fSsS
THE S4BRfTH.
IT y N - y y III
Bishop Wilson's Viclc o. its VGi,e.


How Is wandering, fallen, and depraged
world to be recalled to GOD, without that
/ dsy which celebrates the works, and word,
and grace Of God-that day which recogni-
zes his authority over man-that day which
proclams mans intellectual and account
able nature, his future, bis eternal hopes?
/ The Sabbath interposes a space between
total irreligion and the conscience Of man;
( it puts in tie claims Of God upon the human
heart. Nor is the temporal welfare Of man
/ kind less concerned than their spiritual, in
;he observation of tho Lords day Man
~ss created for six days work, not for seven
! his faculties cannot bear an unremiited
strain. Children, and servants, and the
/ labori1F classes Of mankind by far the
more numerous, and the most liable to be
oppressed, require-what this institution
giycs-a day ofIepose Of refreshment, of
religious recollection and peace. The whole
world rests and is still, that God may speak
that conscience may resume her sway-
that the exhausted body and mind may re-
crait their powers, and be fitted for a more
vigorous effort. The utmost productive Ia
bor Of mar is in tho proportion ofrest and
exerion ordained by bis mcTcitul Creator.
Thc best prevention Of disease, the proiong-
alton Of human lie Itself, depends on the
Ike Attenuation of toll and repose. The
springs os pleasure are thus augmented and
purified. ihe safety, the samoLess, the
seariacss. the uniformity OF human life is
broken and . blessed, hallowed period for
religion is iulcrpo,ed. The interval be
tween those seasons il neither so distant As
to be ineGecual 70 is end, 10: 50 near as 10
iaiurc the real interests Of our worldly call
ings; but, Ike everything else in Gods rev
citation, unitts the prosperity Of the soul
with the highest welfare Of the body and
concerns Of man. How great, then. is the
importance Of every one's falling in with
tie designs Of tls institution Can any
one estimate adequately the soul, eternity,
heaven and he'll. God, Christ salvation,
pardon, hope, happiness, the Whole intellect
ual. moral. and religious welfare of man rs
he was formed after his Creators image,
has fallen from it by sin, and is called to
tie renovation Of it hy the blessings and
duties Of the Christian Sabbath
Look at the evils Of the contrary abuse.
Sec men sunk from his real honors into the
rank ofthe brute-see him los; in spPe'it',
wee. lust, pride, earclessnefs, with nothing
9. re5ecn. nothing to call him back, nothing
to re~.ore-the Spirit Of God departed from
him-a reprobatc sense possessing and
weighing down his soul The main differ
ence between heathen a.d Christian nations
il the recurrence and due observation Of a
Sabbath. The violations Of this day in
Christian countries Is q brand upon the fore
herd OF ofnomiaal religion. See The Sabbath
+ breaker opening his shop, writing his let
ters. preparing his accounts-see him en-
ferins his oiiicc-see him imposing upon
servants. his clerks, his dependents, the
woke of unpermitted aud unholy labor.
/ Observe him in languid carelessness, idling
away the morning hours, and disgracing,
by excess AID worldly company the evening.
Notice the effect upon his mind and habits.
He boasts of his li6erty, his freedom from
supers.itious fears, his superiority to ordi-
nary preudices Bu. he Is tie -lare Of COW
etousncss. OF pride, ofappe;ite The viola
ton of the Sabbath draws with it the neg
lecs Of all other religion. duties-Prayer,
family religion, reading of the Scriptures.
Misery follows in the train In vain lie
blu.ter.. and protests, and affect. indepena-
erce: tho moral judgments Of the Al
mighty oyertake him the selfish, earthly
creature. yegetating rather than living, Is
lost in shifting speculadons; diIlses mis-
chief all around negIects and corrupts his
/ children and servants; has no corrective TO
bis Jealous and irritated temper, no cordial
to his dropping spirits, no prospects to en-
liven the future, no friend, no Saviour 80 &c
lieyc him as to the past. The Sunday jour
nal. lheSunday festival, the Sunday amuse-
ements, fail to please lie sinks into life
loss dependency, or frets with iniuriatea
malice-all his noble capacities perverted,
because his God has been contenned, and
the day ofreiigion abused.
"There is 2 doctor in Wisconsin named
( Greene :. Apple" The only core 70