PHI LOS 0 P H Y . - Classic Works of Apologetics Online

296 Fzo/aw;}l ~j tbe Christitln Sabbath,
\VHERHFORE the duty of the day is violated:
1st. By all such employments or engagements, a~
(though differing from our ordinary uccupations)
hinder our attendance upon public worship, or take
up so much rf our time, as not to leave a sufficient
part of the day at leisure for religious reflection; as
the going of journeys, the paying or receiving of vis ..
its which engage the whole day, or employing the time
at home in wr:ting letters, settling accoJ~nts, or in.
applying ourselves to studie::;, or the readinf; of books,
which bEar no relation to the bu~iness of religion.
2dly. By unnecessary encro(l{:hments upon the restand
liberty which Sunday ought to bring to the inferior
orders of the community; as by keepirlg sere
,rants on that day confined and busied in preparations
for the sllperfluous elegancies of our table, or dress.
3dly. By such recreations a3 are customarily forborne
out of 1espect to tIle Jay; as hunting, sllooting,
fishing, public diversions, frequenting taverns,
e
playing at cards or dice.
If it be asked, as it often has been, \\,herein consists
trle difference bet\\7een walking out ,vith your staff,
or with your gun? between spending the evening at
home or in a tavern? between passing the Sunday
afternoon at a game at cartis, or in con\~ersation not
more edifying, nor always so in0ffen~ive ?--'"fo these,
and to the same question under a variety of forms,
and in a multitllde of similar exampIe~) \\Te return
the following ans\ver :-1~hat tI1e religiolls obser\Tanc('
of Sunday, if it ought to be rct2ined at all, must be
upheld by some public and vi~iblc distinctions-that
draw the line of distinction \\'hcre you will, many
actions, Wl1ich are situated on tlie COlliiI1CS of the line,
will differ vel]" little, and yet lie 011 the opposite side~
of it-that every trespa~s llpf,n tl1at rcscr\'c, \Vl1ictl
public decency has cstab1i:Jwd, br('~ks down the fence,
by \vhich the day i~ separated tc t he service of rdig.
ion-that it is unsafe t() trifle 'ritl1 srrllI)lcs e:ln(l hah ..
its tIl at have a beneficial tcndenc,', altJi()llt!ll f()tlndcd
j • I
merely in cu:-toot-thar th('~c libcrlic:~, however jn~
~:.~Ildc(l, \\'ill ccrtailll v be COll~.lJcr'.\l l~y t!~l'~'C Wl10 oh-