Anonymous

“ On other days we may regard it as an instance of the luxurious character of the age, as a wonderful example of the wealth possessed, and of the homage paid to the public; and if some fears mix themselves with the admiration that must be felt for the grandeur of the idea, and the boldness of the speculation, we may still be thankful for the evidence thus given of an improving taste in the character of our recreations, and for the care that is taken by individuals to cultivate and direct the rising intellect of the people. ”

“ If the Sabbath, then, was made for man, let us remember, that it was made for man by Him who not only formed man from the dust, and breathed into him the breath of life, so that man became a living soul, but who likewise opened heaven to his view, raised him above the earth by the word of promise, and who, finally, sent his own blessed Son into the world to accomplish his restoration, Luke xix. ”

“ In a word, we must be conscious, that the gospel was given to make us good, rather than to make us great,—to fit us for heaven, rather than for earth; and though the goodness of God has so wonderfully combined the effects which it produces, that they are frequently united, the godliness has the promise of the life that now is, as well as of that which is to come; we cannot have a moment’s doubt as to that which is the higher and the nobler object, or as to that which must be the will of God concerning ourselves. ”

“ With this view of the Sabbath before us,—with this picture of its purpose and its end,—while we thus gaze on the glorious destiny unfolded to man in the institutions of the Sabbath, and see the steps by which he is prepared to inherit it in its sanctifying influences,—we must feel that all the temporal advantages offered to him here—the refinement of tastes, the enlargement of knowledge, are but a mockery of his woe, if they are proposed as the blessings connected with the ordinance ”

“ According to our view, and we feel that our view must be that of the whole christian world, it was made for man as a being born for eternity,—as created in his Maker’s likeness,—as fallen from his high original, but capable of restoration,—and as born under a system which unfolds the scheme devised by Infinite Wisdom, for the accomplishment of this great and glorious purpose. ”

“ An effort, therefore, is to be made to supply to all what seems the universal want of those who labour; and the wearied mind must have its food and rest, just as the wearied body has had before, in order to perfect the object for which the Sabbath is appointed.
It is proposed, therefore, to apply the afternoon of the Sabbath to such recreations as may refine the taste while they amuse the man, and to effect an improvement in the general character of our population, by supplying them with the means of intellectual and innocent amusement during the interval of leisure. ”

“ The energy and talent which are engaged in carrying out the plan of this magnificent undertaking, leave no room for doubt as to their success. It is easy to imagine that such an assemblage of the wonders of nature and art will never have been presented to the public in modern days, or presented under such favourable circumstances. ”

“ If these things, then, be so,—if the will of God is clearly, unequivocally declared, with regard to these objects of our pursuit at present, can there be a question as to those which are to be preferred? What is the knowledge of the world, what is taste, what is civilization itself, in comparison with the blessings included in his favour? ”

“ A fresh attack in consequence is made on an ordinance which, having been accustomed to regard as the security of our national religion, the source of those streams of life which sanctify and refresh the souls of our people, we had hoped was secured from encroachment and curtailment by the law of the land, as well as by the authority of the word of God. ”

“ On the Sabbath day at present, the parks, the outlets of the metropolis, are filled with crowds who prefer the amusement they can find there, to the religious improvement of the day which God has consecrated. We must regret the breach of the commandment, the offence offered to God, and the injury done to the sabbath-breakers themselves; but we feel that, in doing this, they claim no right to dictate to the practice of others, nor have they the power of compelling others to act against their own conscientious convictions. ”

“ The wearied limbs require sleep, the wearied senses quiet; and the first object is to ensure the repose which the physical frame requires after its six days’ labour. In the case of man, however, when repose and quiet have produced this effect on the body, and the mind, regaining its activity, looks round for relaxation, there then ensues another necessity, for there is another want to be provided for; and something more must be done for the refreshment of the human system than had been found necessary before. ”

“ We are compelled, from the language made use of, to say, that they regard the Sabbath as having been made for man, much as we believe that it was made for the animals that are placed under man’s government, and are thus made partakers of his life of labour. ”

“ The good of man, the improvement of the labouring classes, the softening of their character, the refinement of their tastes, the development of intellect, and the correction of what is low and sensual in their enjoyments, are named as the objects of pursuit: and no one can hesitate as to the importance of these points, nor as to the value which all things lovely and of good report possess in christian estimation. ”

“ Thousands of the unhappy and depressed class who are now engaged in furnishing the means of public conveyance, will be put into requisition, and tens and hundreds of thousands of the young and thoughtless will be swept away by the stream, and be made victims to a plan for improving the taste and enlarging the intellect of the irreligious section of our metropolitan operatives. ”

“ We trust that the representatives of the nation, conscious of the account they will have to give of the way in which they exercise their power, will seriously and calmly weigh the consequences of the measure brought before them, and, dismissing the illusions with which their imagination is assailed, will consider what the effects must be of legalizing a breach of one of God’s commandments. ”

“ It is not with open and avowed enemies that we have to contest the point, but with professed friends. Much for which we have contended on former occasions is conceded now. In many respects, the tone, the language, the object of those opposed to us are modified. The divine institution of a day of rest is admitted ”

“ For it must not be assumed because a cry is got up on behalf of the scheme, that all classes concur in welcoming the change that is proposed. There are multitudes, no doubt, which will do so. There are multitudes who find the present opportunities for Sunday dissipation too limited, and fret and murmur against the restraints which the law imposes; but there are many who feel that this opening will bring no blessings to them, and will only multiply or increase the burdens under which they groan. They see that the enjoyments of a few will be purchased by the sufferings of many ”

“ Nor let it be forgotten, that this scheme, which, falling in with the prevailing humours of the day, is hailed by the immoral, or, at least, by the irreligious part of our people, as an accession to their resources of amusement, will be to many a bitter aggravation of a life of toil, by wresting from them that Sabbath which has, hitherto, been their only season of repose. ”

“ Up to this time, therefore, those who call themselves the servants of the public, have been allowed to feel that there was One greater than the public, who cares for the weak and the dependent, and who restrains within certain limits the measure of labour that is exacted from them. The theatres, the places of public amusement, have, on this account, been closed ”

“ The whole world is to be laid under contribution to complete the interest of the scene, and things which we have only heard and read of, are to be offered to the inspection of the multitude. Models of machinery, specimens of workmanship, the trophies of the skill of our own people, and of foreign nations, are to be presented for examination and study, that the exhibition may be made as profitable and instructive, as it must be interesting and attractive.
It is not easy to state too highly the amount of innocent and elevating amusement that may be derived from such a combination p. ”

“ Up to this time the laws of the country have endeavoured to prevent the licence of one man from trespassing on the liberty of another; and if they have not always succeeded in doing so, they have left no room for doubt as to their intentions. ”

“ They may wish for refreshments, but they cannot compel the shops to be opened for their supply; and those windows which were unclosed through the six preceding days, are sealed to them on this, and offer a shelter against the tyranny of a God-despising world. ”

“ The knowledge slowly gained by books will be here anticipated by what is seen. A few hours spent in the Palace, with an intelligent guide, may teach more than had been learnt in months of study; and what is of more consequence, those who never would have learnt anything from books, may here gain much from seeing ”

“ In consequence, the sort of rest that they anticipate in the Sabbath for man, differs only from that which is ordained for them, as the constitution of man differs from that of the brute creation, and requires a different species of rest, in reference to a different form of toil. The rest of the animal is provided for when the exaction of labour ceases, and natural wants are supplied. The rest for man, according to their view, is equally p. ”