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The Protestants' manner of Enforcing the Fourth Commandment

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Publishing Committee · ROCHESTER, N. Y. · Sep 20, 1853

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 4, No. 11.

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The Protestants' manner of Enforcing the Fourth Commandment.

By John Norton Loughborough

THE following sketch from a Catechism published by the Presbyterian board, fell under my observation not long since; and as it is illustrative of the manner in which children are taught to observe the fourth commandment, I copy it for the readers of the Review. Let no one wonder, after reading this, why it is that men, as a mass, are keeping the first day of the week as the Sabbath.
"Q. Gen. ii. God did not make anything on the seventh day, what did he do? A. He rested.
Q. Was he tired? A. He was not. Q. What is meant by saying that he rested? A. That he created nothing more. Q. Had this day any other name than the seventh? A. It had. Q. What was it? A. The Sabbath. Q. Who gave it this name? A. God. Q. What has God told us about this day in the first part of the fourth commandment? A. 'Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.' Q. If you play, do you keep it holy? A. You do not. Q. Should we do any more work than is very necessary? A. We should not. Q. May we talk about play or work? A. We may not. Q. Should we so much as think about them? A. We should not. Q. To whom does this day belong? A. This day belongs to God alone, He chooses Sunday for his own; And we must neither work nor play, Because it is the Sabbath day.
Q. What shall we do on the Sabbath day, go to sleep? A. No, we should learn about God, talk about him, read about him, sing to him and pray to him. Q. What should we love? A. What God loves. Q. What should we hate? A. What God hates. Q. Shall we ever see God? A. We shall. Q. When? A. After death. Q. How long will those who love God be with him? A. Forever. Q. Can you repeat any verse like this lesson? A. Yes. This is the day when Christ arose, So early from the dead, Why should I keep my eyelids closed, And waste my time in bed, I'll leave my sport, and read and pray, And so prepare for heaven; O, may I keep this blessed day, The best of all the seven."
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.