The changes in the past fifty years in reference to Sunday have indeed been very great, but we think they arise chiefly from a reaction from the too strict Puritanism of the past. While we would not have the day too strictly kept, we yet have no sympathy with that class of minds who think there should be no "day of rest" or no time set apart for religious exercises or church services, but would have all days exactly alike.
According to the "Salem Mercury" of Aug. 12, 1788, the ministers of Connecticut, in convention, publish an address on the "increasing negligence of the Publick Worship of God," etc.
The Miniſters of the State of Connecticut, convened in General Aſſociation, have publiſhed a ſerious, ſenſible, plain Addreſs to the People of the Churches and Societies under their paſtoral care, on the ſubject of the increaſing negligence of the Publick Worſhip of God; which they conſider as one of the moſt painful and alarming, among the various inſtances of declenſion and immorality, which at the preſent time threaten the very exiſtence of religion in this country.—"In what manner," ſays the Addreſs, "does this evil affect the political intereſts, the eſſential wellbeing, of the community? All the branches of morality are indiſſolubly connected. From one breach of moral obligation to a ſecond, to a third, and to all, the tranſition is eaſy, neceſſary and rapid. From negligence of the duties we owe to God, the paſſage is ſhort to contempt for thoſe we owe to men. The Sabbath, in the judgment of reaſon and of revelation, is the great hinge on which all theſe duties are turned. When the ordinances of this holy day are forſaken and forgotten, the whole ſyſtem of moral obligation muſt of courſe be also forgotten; the great, ſubſtantial and permanent good, of which religion is the only ſource, is effectually deſtroyed; the political peace and welfare of a community, the ſalvation of the human ſoul, the infinitely benevolent deſigns of redeeming love, the inſtitution of the means of grace, and the obedience and ſufferings of the Son of God, are fruſtrated and ſet at nought. Thus, by one effectual blow of ſin, and the friends of ſin, are all the great and valuable intereſts of mankind overthrown."
Although our remarks are confined to America, we may mention that it has been stated by some of our own countrymen who have visited London that Sunday is generally as well observed there as in New England; yet we find in the "Salem Gazette" of Nov. 23, 1785, that the attendance on public worship in London was then rather small as compared with what might have been seen in Boston at the same date. But that was before the days of the "sensation" preachers, as they are called,—Spurgeon, Beecher, Talmage, and men of that stamp, who now draw crowds of people, many of whom are not always the most religious in the community, but who love excitement rather than quiet contemplation.
LONDON,
Sept. 13. Sunday being a day of reſt, 739 horſes were yeſterday engaged on parties of pleaſure.
In fifty churches, eaſtward of Temple-bar, the congregations amounted, on an average, to ſeven for each church in the morning, and five in the afternoon. This ſhews the ſtate of the Chriſtian religion in the metropolis to be far better than could be expected!