The Sabbath; a brief history of laws, petitions, remonstrances and reports...

Front matter

ABBATH:

BRIEF HISTORY

OF

Preface

The following pages contain a brief history of laws, petitions, remonstrances, and reports, and some of the published articles of the author, relating to the desecration and sanctification of the Christian Sabbath.

The occasions on which his own essays appeared were various. Sometimes the object was to meet particular objections, urged by others ; sometimes to awaken the church to her responsibilities in this matter; sometimes to warn of danger; at others to record a fact, to recommend a plan, or to awaken sympathy in the great cause.

As the articles were not written for a book, but for particular emergencies, they will be found often more practical than argumentative. The great design was to unfold the means of restoring the Sabbath to its pristine purity, and to incite to vigorous efforts to accomplish speedily this very desirable object — to excite the friends of Sabbath reform to correct, systematic, cordial, united, and persevering action ; and, as far as possible, by presenting facts and arguments, to harmonize their views in regard to the time and manner of observing the day of Rest.

When the reader remembers that the matter was prepared on different occasions, at different times, and in different places, he will not be surprised to find the same shade of thought occurring more than once.

IV PREFACE.

Modem infidels, in this country and in Europe, have exhausted their resources in fruitless attempts to prove that the Sahhath was not made for man — for all mankind. It is not chiefly for this class, however, that this book is published, but for those who may be misled by their influence and their sophistry, who yet are willing to learn and to do their duty.

Had Newton, or Bacon, penetrated the lonely cell of Caspar Hauser, and labored to convince him that he had seen the bright luminary of day, the arguments would have been unavailing, as long as the wretched inmate of the prison had neither the inclination to hear, nor the knowledge necessary to understand and believe. So it is with infidels on this subject. Their eyes are closed against the light, their ears deaf to argument, and their consciences callous to conviction. They hear to scofl", read to reject, talk to difier, cavil to confound, and ward off" to disbelieve. With such, is it not best and sufficient to take the law of the Sabbath, recorded in Ex. xx., and call on them to obey, considering it settled that this merciful and moral institution was established in Eden, and is necessary for all men, in every age of the world, and obligatory on them ? The divine authority of the Scriptures is before them, urged by all the motives of self-interest, humanity, patriotism and gratitude ; and if they continue to reject, they do it at their peril.

The opinions of others have often been introduced, in order to increase the weight and influence of the work : and although the subject is prolonged, it is presumed to be sufficiently diversified to secure the attention of those who care for the Sabbath.

That the Lord of the Sabbath may, by this humble effort, greatly promote the observance of His day, is the sincere prayer of the AUTHOR.

Cleveland^ Ohio, 1840.

CHAPTER I. History of Laws, Divine and Human, relating to the

Sabbath,

.

.

Law of God, .

.

.

Laws of the States and Territories,

. 14-22

Maine,

Maryland,

Arkansas,

New Hampshire,

Virginia,

Tennessee,

Vermont,

District of Columbia,

Kentucky,

Massachusetts,

North Carolina,

Missouri,

Rhode Island,

South Carolina,

IlUnois,

Connecticut,

Georgia,

Indiana,

New York,

Florida,

Ohio,

New Jersey,

Alabama,

Michigan.

Pennsylvania,

Mississippi,

Delaware,

Louisiana,

Laws of Congress,

CHAPTER II. Petitions and Remonstrances against Sunday Mails, ac'

companied with Committees'' Reports, 4*c., , , 24-71

Citizens'of Philadelphia and New- Synod of Pittsburgh,

York.

Gideon Granger's Report.

James P. Wilson and others, Philadelphia.

2#

Messrs. Rhea, Return J. Meigs, Daggett, Mills, Meigs, McKean, McLean, Barry, and McCreery^s Reports and Communications,

VI

Contents

Citizens of Newark, N. J.

North Carolina,

Co. of Williamson and others,

Chapter V. Objections Answered

Obj, 1. — " There is no authority for the Sabbath,^^ . 162-169

Fourth Commandm't, Old Testament, Job,

Christ, Homer, Rabbins,

Weeks, Hesiod, Lampridius,

Mr. Buckingham, Mannasseh Ben Israel, Calmet,

President Goguet, Cain and Abel, Porphyry,

CONTENTS.

Philo, Josephus,

Rev. E. Johns, Asiatic Journal,

Easterns,

Jewett's Nootka Sound.

Ohj. 2. — " This authority binds only the Jews,'''* . . 170-184

Consequences to the Gentiles, Proof from the Bible.

if they have no Sabbath. Sabbath not mentioned.

Man's relations and obligations. President Dwight.

Olj, 3. — " The Moral Law, or Ten Commandments, has

been ahro gated,"" . . . 184-192

Ohj, 4. — " The New Testament does not require a Sabhath,'' 192-206

President Humphrey,

Barnes' Notes,

President Dwight,

President Humphrey,

Rev. Mr. Doolittle,

Practice of the Apostles,

Ceremonial Sabbaths and Festi. Feast of Sabbaths,

vals, . . . 203-206 Feast of Jubilee,

Weekly Sabbath, Sabbaths and New Moons,

New Moons, Holy Day.

Passover,

Pentecost,

Feast of Tabernacles,

Feast of Trumpets,

Atonement,

Feast of Purim,

Obj, 5. — " There is no evidence that the day was changed;'

206-225

Constantine,

Apostles,

Eusebius,

Dr. Cave,

Emperor Leo,

Charlemagne,

Emperor Leo,

Justin Martyr,

Luther,

Calvin,

Paley,

Priestly,

Gurney,

Professor Stuart,

Pliny,

Theophilus,

Irenseus,

Dionysius,

Tertullian,

Origen,

Cyprian,

Eusebius,

Professor Stuart,

Athanasius,

Chrysostom,

Augustine,

Ambrose,

Epiphanius,

Theodosius,

Lord Mansfield,

Carolus,

Ludovicus,

Gratian,

Wm. the Conqueror,

Henry Second,

Mosheim,

McLain,

Henry,

Dr. Brownlee,

Selden.

X CONTENTS.

Ohj. 6.—" DeuU V. opposed to Ex, xx." . . 225-228

Ohj. 7. — This nation acknowledges no religion^"^ . 229-244

Religion recognized by the Thanksgivings,

C onstitution, C haplains,

Fasts, State Laws.

Ohj, 8. — " Works of Public Utility may he done on Sunday,'' 244-247

A supposed case.

Ohj. 9. — " Greece and Rome as prosperous without as

ivith religion,'' , , . 247-253

Traditionary knowledge, .... 249

Rev. l. Montieth.

Ohj, 10. — " The Quakers are as moral without as with

Ohj, 11. — " Literature is sufficient to secure morality," 2o^-2bl Dr. Brownlee.

Ohj, 12. — " Special Judgments are not inflicted for national sins," .... 257-262 National, Individual.

Ohj, 13. — " Christians wish to unite Church and State," 262-266 Hermon Norton.

Ohj, 14. — " The framers of our Government were sceptical," .... 266-278

Washington, Franklin, his epitaph, his letter to Paine, William A. Hallock.

Ohj. 1 5. — " Such sentiments will provoke persecution," 278

Address to Females, ..... 279

Laboring poor, ...... 281

Sabbath-breaking parents, ..... 282

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER VI. Appeal in behalf of the Sahhath^

Ministers of the Gospel,

National Legislature,

Judicial proceedings,

Private Christians,

Churches,

Philanthropists,

Husbands, Fathers, and Brothers,

Wives, Daughters, and Sisters,

National Legislature,

State Legislature,

. 288-320

Friends of liberty and of free institutions.

Friends of good order.

Business men, merchants, &c..

The poor laborer,

The great Valley,

Plan of operations, . 320

Resolutions suitable to be adopted, . . .320

CHAPTER Vn.

Word of God,

Labor forbidden on the Sabbath, Evils threatened and inflicted.

Sabbath-breaking prevents blessing.

Manna, Facts.

Physical Powers, . 333

Sir Mathew Hale, A business man, A gentleman of New York, Dr. Spurzheim, Mr. Schoolcraft, West Indies, Journeymen Bakers, Mr. Vyse, Birmingham, Eng.

Lord Bishop of Chester, Rev. J. W. Cunningham, Mr. Thomas George, Mr. William McKechney.

. 324-351

Intellectual Powers^ . 337

Dr. Richard Farre,

Dr. Rush,

Marquis of Londonderry,

Wilberforce.

Moral Powers^ . . 340

Blackstone,

State Prisons,

Rev. David Buel,

Mr. John Wontner,

Mr. Benjamin Baker,

Individual experience,

How with Nations,

Spain,

France,

England,

Scotland and Wales,

Our Forefathers,

What if the Sabbath were blotted

out.

Danger to be apprehended.

XU CONTENTS.

CHAPTER VIII. Review of General Assemlly^s Report^ . . 352-373

Committee's Report, Reasons mentioned,

Church in the way. Editors.

Ministerial Exchanges, ..... 373

Who are Sabbaih-breakerSj ..... 377

Chapter IX

Address to Christians, Patriots, and Philanthropists, 379-391 Cause and effect, Human Laws,

Sabbath-breaking makes infidels, Men of the East, awake, The only remedy, Public Calamities.

THE SABBATH.