Year: 1875




And the wheel of Time rolls on.



An Essay on the Proper Observance of


the Christian Sabcath, and its Rela-


tion to the Civil Law of the United
States.


Written for the Grand Eistcddfod, at Oak
Hill, by Philo u. w. Longbon.l


The Sabbath is of divine origin. 1t was
instituted by Jehovah, and hallowed by
HIM. 1t is Gods day by creation and con-
secration. God has blessed and hallowed
this day, and man is commanded to re
member it and keep it holy. Serving
God and doing good are not limited or
restricted to this day, or to any day, but
the Sabbath IS to be wholly devoted to
these duties. To the Christian, on this
day, his religious duties not only take
precedence of all others, but exclude all
others. On him it is incumbent to do
far more than simply to observe this day
as day of rest. To him, it is day of
religious activity in the service of his
Maker. To him, it is the Sabbath of the
Lord God, for him to remember and keep
holy. To him, its sacredness is due from
the consideration that in peculiar man
ner. it bears the stamp of Divinity, tn
solemn impress of the Almighty. With
the memories of this day, are interviewer
many of the brightest passages of human
life. Its dawning is the signal for re-
pose, the advent of a brief but Joyous
millennium. On this day, God giveth
his beloved rest On this day, we have
entered his sanctuary, and worshipped at
his altars. On this day we have renewed
our covenant with Him, and consecrated
ourselves anew to his worship. On this
day, we have heard from his ministers,
the precepts of a pure religion On this
day, we have learned from maternal lips
the lessons that led us to the Savior. On
this day, we have partaken of the signifi-
cant emblems of the broken body, and
shed blood of the Son of God. Hail hal
lowed day, the best OF all the seven
Glorious forerunner of the Sabbath that
! shall never end Brightest link in the
chain of time; provided in mercy, sane
titled in wisdom, and bestowed in Lowell
! The manner in which the Sabbath
I should be observed, is sufficiently indi-
Gated in the commandment, and in the
teachings of Christ in that behalf 1t is
to be remembered and kept holy. 1t is
to be used day of religious worship;
in the service of God; for the spread of
the Gospel; for the advancement of the
Redeemer's Kingdom. 1t is properly
employed in public worship, reading the
Bible, religious instruction of children,
meditation and prayer, performing deeds
of charity or necessity, doing good as
| opportunity may offer. 1t should not be
| spent in recreation or amusement, nor
| should it be regarded as holiday, or as
a day for fasting, visiting, travelling, or
| for any secular business On this day all
worldly cares should be laid aside, tie
mind should be inclined heavenward,
and all its aspirations should be toward
/ God - i5 @


The proper observance of this day does
not depend solely on any particular time,
place. or circumstance Its proper OBJ
servance is always practicable, though
4 the manner of such observance may be
varied as occasion may require What
would be duty in some cases. might be
| impossible in others. 1t is hardly posi-
BILE that at all times, in all places, under
all circumstances, the exercises and GER
emonies accompanying its observance
should be always alike, and identical in
manner and form. Requirement is mea-
sured by opportunity The earnest, ST.
lent, solitary devotions of single heart
in communion with its God, may be far
more acceptable to Him, than the loud
est hosannas of the noisy multitude.
This proper observance may be summed
/
of the whole day to cheerful willing
obedient submission to the will of God,
and to the keeping of his command
ments.


The proper observance of the Sabbath
becomes matter of great moment.to So
ciety at large, because on this observance
and the ciVilizing influences of this day,
depend to great extent, the welfare of
mankind, and the prosperity of nations.
No people for any considerable length of
time can wantonly disregard the Sab
bath, without reading their doom in the
approaching downfall of their nation,
and the final destruction of their liber-
ties. The Sabbath is a conservator of
mans moral, civil, and religious rights
and / believe that on the morality, intel
ligence, and religion of the American
people, must rest their republican, form
i of government and their constitutional
edifice of civil, political, and religious
liberty. The Sabbath is great civilizer,
and Christianity is the light of the world.
Christian men with their Sabbath and
their Bible, have carried light into dark
ness, to the uttermost parts of the earth


With many nations their disregard of
the Sabbath has been contemporaneous
with their downfall Its prostitution to
secular business and vicious amusements


has demoralized the people. and opened
in their midst, the Aood-gates of mmor-
ality, infdelity, atheism, vice, misery, sin,
ruin and destruction. 1t is not too much
to- say, that the perpetuity of our gov
ernment depends largely on the proper
keeping of this day, and that tha very
existence of the Nation is threatened
and imperiled by every effort to abolish
the Sabbath, or to secularize it to the


level of other days


The history OF the world shows that
Christianity always precedes civilization,
and that a high state of civilization ex-
lists nowhere i'll the absence of Christian
ity, or where the Christian Sabbath is not
observed and respected. the proper OBJ
servance of this day is therefore one OF
the tests of civilization, and the morality
of people is largely determined 10y their
religious observance of the Sabbath. Our
Pilgrim fathers religlously observed this
holy day in the cabin Of the Maytlower.
Their descendants have regarded the
Sabbath with veneration, and have grown
to be a mighty people whom God has