Sermon on "the Sabbath," by Dr. Cheever.
According to notice in the daily papers, this distinguished divine delivered a discourse upon the Sabbath, last Sunday evening, (Oct. 3d.) to a large congregation. The object of his discourse was particularly to correct two dangerous errors with regard to the Sabbath. One was that of considering the Sabbath designed as a day of feasting and recreation—an idea which has recently been advocated in an Essay by a clergyman who is a member of his church—one which, as he said, seems to be prevailing more and more in the community. The other was an argument to which his attention had been called, in one of the leading dailies of the city, against the perpetuity and universal obligation of the Sabbath, from the fact, that, in the rules for its observance, it was forbidden to kindle a fire; and that health and comfort, if not life itself, made a fire necessary in some climates, and at some seasons of the year. In reply to this "sneer"—for it was nothing more, and yet might prove, if unanswered, the destruction of many an ignorant youth—he would say that this injunction is not in the moral law, or decalogue, which is binding upon all nations, through all time, but among those ceremonial laws which endured but for a limited time. This prohibition against kindling a fire on the Sabbath was in force with the Jews only, during their wanderings in the wilderness; and never was it binding on any other nation at all. And again, it was given to them, simply with reference to their cooking a feast upon that day. God gave them manna for their daily food, and on the sixth day enough for two days. But, sensual as they were, many of them—they would have killed and cooked a feast from their flocks and herds on that day, consecrated to divine worship, but for this injunction. Notwithstanding we are told they lusted after flesh meat, and God gave it to them, on sixth day, in abundance. Quails covered the ground, and in their greedy, gluttonous haste, they gathered them all that day and the seventh; and, cannibal-like, ate them as they gathered, with the blood, upon which the anger of the Lord was kindled against them, and he slew great numbers of them with the pestilence. Even while the flesh of their uncooked feasts was unchewed in their teeth, we are told the plague seized them—so hot did Jehovah's anger burn against them for their beastly gluttony and wicked disregard for his commands. And no less surely will the anger of God, and the curses of his providence rest on those, here and now, who turn this day of sacred rest and holy worship, into one of mirth and feasting. And so it is that this injunction against the kindling of fire on the Sabbath, with which the infidel and the scoffer would point an arrow to plant in the forehead of Truth, becomes, when taken in its true sense and connection, a winged arrow against them; convicting them of their wickedness in turning God's day into a day of sensual indulgence and unholy riot; instead of affording the least shadow of proof therefor. Again, said Dr. C., it is a proof of the divinity of the requirement, that it was treated by that stiffnecked and rebellious people with so much respect as it was. What magistrate or legislator, unauthorized by heaven, would have dared to make such a prohibition? What people would have given it any regard, if it were so made? Suppose that one high in authority, should of his own will decree, in this city, that no man should have a meal of warm victuals or gin-sling, or anything requiring a fire to prepare, on the Sabbath: how such an order would be hooted and scorned by all! No, the Sabbath is a divine institution—and its observance, as a day to be exclusively devoted to divine worship and religious instruction, is as imperative as if Moses himself should ring a great bell hung in the dome of the o'er-arching sky to summon all men, each Sunday(!) morning, to engage in its holy duties!—Sab. Rec.