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REMEMBER THE SABBATH DAY TO KEEP* IT HOLY. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy; that is, keep it as a day set apart to the honour of the holy .God. r The word Sabbath signifies rest, cessation from labour or employment. The command py sanctify the Sabbath was given at the creation, and only reiterated at the giving of the Jaw two thousand yeafs afterwards. The divnjftHna of tidfef intoperiods lof seven days, Beetnstb have been universafamong an cient nations, Egyptians, Arabians, G reeks, Romans, and even our American Indians. A practice so universahfnuet have had a common origin. It is mentioned in the account of the deluge. Gen. vii 10: After seven days the waters o£ tho flood were upon the earth. Gen. viii. 10 : “ And he stayed yet other seven days; and again he . sent forth the dove out of the ark.” The Sabbath was known and observed by the Israelites before the law was given at Mount Sinai; that was in the month after the departure out of Egypt. And if you turn to Ex. xvj. 22, you will fintt that tho people gathered manna on the sixth day of the Week sufficient to last them till the s&bbath was over. Thus wo have» every reason tp believe that the Sabbath was ob served from the creation. <l Ye shall Veep my Sabbaths and rever ence ray sanctuary: lam the Lord.” On tho. seventh day there shall be unto you a holy day, a Sabbath of rest to the Lord.” “ Whosoever doeth any work on tho Sabbath day ho shall surely be put to death.” It was made very clear to tho Jews that their great Law-giver would tolerate no broach of this command. A man was found caing sticks on the holy day. He was brought up for judgmeut. Moses inquired of the Lord what should be done with him. The answer was that he should be stoned to death; which sentencowas carried into exe cution immediately. They took him with out, or beyondt the camp, and put him to death. Why, ■some might say, he was doing very little harm. lie had only forgotten to fjrcpare fuel the day before. It seemed ike a work of necessity, and he should havo been forgiven for that time. suppose God had forgiven him that time; the conse quence woud probably have been that the next Sabbath somebody else would have been out picking up sticks, and then many more; and in a little time the law would have been entirely disregarded. Hut by visiting the first transgression with such a Bevere penalty, all the rest were alarmod, and the law was respeoted. Buk those Israelites had just emerged from a state of abject slavery in tho land of Egypt. They were degraded, as all slaves are; they had to be educated, trained into tho fear and love ,of their great King and Law-giver, the God of their fathers; and how little they knew of him; and to us how dull and stupid do they appear. How alow they were to learn; so much so that we are amazed when we read the record of their baekslidings and the meroies they re ceived from the hand of God. The nation grow more enlightened. We find as the history progresses, terrible experiences of terrible judgments were theirs, until they were finally carried away captives by the kin& of Babylon. Through all the denun ciations that were poured out by their prophets, in all these years, you will find that the sin of Sabbath desecration was foremost in the dark list of national sins that provoked the Divine displeasure. Now, dear children, let us consider. The Sabbath was instituted at the creation, but in the moral darkness that shrouded the world for two thousand years it was almost forgotten. God then reiterated the com THE ELBERTON* GAZETTE. maud, placing it nearly in the middle of the decalogue, with the emphatic, “ Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.” Nearly threerthousand years have rolled over the world since that time. If the ignorant, un enlightened Jew of that dark age was so severely punished for breaking this com mand, what must our guilt be in the sight of tho God of the Sabbath ? How much more light have we in these last ages, and how much greater are our obligations to keep all God’s laws. Could we now inquire of God, as Moses did, what answer think you we would get ? This man who suffered death for breaking the command was a poor bondman who had been emancipated only a little while before, while you, dear chil dren, have all the light he had, and in*ad dition, all the increased light of three thous and years. Sabbath-breaking is a greater sin now than it was then, though our na tion does not punish it as the Jews did. The Sabbath-breaker is a rebel; he resists the authority of the great Jehovah. The Sabbath-breaker is a robber; he steals sacred time and employs it for profane purposes. The Sabbath-breaker in an enemy of God and of all he is the murderer of his own soul, for he tramples under his feet the means of intercourse with God, and of all spiritual improvement. He is in league with Satan, for Satan seems to have set apart this day of all others, for his strongest efforts against the kingdom of Christ. Shun then the Sabbath-breaker. And rest assured that if you take no delight in the holy duties of the Sabbath on earth, you are not prepared for tho full enjoyment of an eternal Sabbath in heaven. God is tho same God now that he was when he commanded the stick-gatherer to be put to death, and his law is the same as it was then. Although we have no law on our statute books that authorizes us to put Sabbath-breakers to death, rest as sured whoever you are that violates this iaw, God will not suffer you to escape his right eous judgment. Every violation of this law is written down in God's book of remembrance, and lias either to be repented of, or suffered for. God is long suffering in his patience, and because he does not execute his judgments at once, men think he forgets hie) threats, or that he is too merciful to execute them. No other sin except idolatry .was. ever more severely punished than Sabbath If we could ascertain the facts, I have no doubt, we would find more failures in busi ness and more of the disappoinments in life could be traced to the violation of this law than any other. Judge Hale, of England, said he never laid any plan ou the Sabbath that God did not frustrate. Beware of rob bing God of the time which he claims for his services. • ARNOLD & NELMS, FANCY BARROOM Elberton, Ga, NEW Burgundy, Port, Bourbon Whiskey, Preach Brandy, Gin, Ale and Porter; also Julips, Punches, Cobblers. Cockt'ls Made in the best style. Oysters, Pickles, Fancy Candies, Nuts CANDLES , TOBACCO , and everything in our line, a good BILLIARD TABLE, in firstrate order, with new b dls. A LOT OF SALT ON BAND FOB SALS. lWy NEW BUGGIES FOR SALE FINE BUGGIES, Which he will dispose of CHEAP FOR CASH. AND IIE ALSO Warrants them for Twelve Months. ALSO A SUPPLY OF EXTRA HARNESS, OF SUPERIOR QUALITY. Call and examine for yourself, and you will be perfectly sat isfied with the price. 2-mos. J. J. MORRISON. S. FRANKLIN, & CO. DEALERS IN mi mu or every description, LADIES’ AND GENT’S # BOOTS Sc SHOES, GROCERIES, HARDWARE, CROCKERY, - DOMESTICS, LADIES’ AND GENT’S FURNISHING GOODS LADIES’ MESS ©MBS, FANCY GOODS, HATS, 300 HATS!! Os Every Grade and size—VERY CHEAP And every thing usually kept in a first class country store. PRODUCTS OF THE FARM Received in exchange for gocds, and the high est market price allowed. B. F. BROWNE, ON LADIES’ CORNER or ELBERTON SQUARE, Have opened a fancy store, CONTAINING,— Books, Novels, Music, Fancy Stationery and Envelopes, SLATES, PENCILS, INDELIBLE AND WRITING INKS, PENS AND PENHOLDERS, Photographs of Confederate Generals—Beauti ful PICTURES of various kinds. A splendid assortment of Comio and Fancy Valentines, Worth from five cents up to five dollars. Chil dren’s PICTURE AND TOY BOOKS , Such as Goody Two- Shoe*, Mother Goose , Cock Robin, and the like. Also, a splendid display of JEWELRY, Os the most approved styles, and finest quality. We also have agencies for newspapers, peri- ' odicais. Ladies Fashions, 4c. 4c. THE BOARDMAN, GRAY & CO. PiANO-rOBTEI, i mm* WHOLESALE AGENCY The subscriber, late & member of this well known firm has established a WHOLESALE AGENCY, 581 Broadway, Sew York City, Where he wiil be pleased to receive the orders of his friends and the public, and especially to hear from those who have so liberally bestowed their patronage on the firm heretofore. He will supply these superior instruments to the trade Wholesale and Retail, at the very Lowest Prices. Made with the Insulated Iron Rim and Frame (cast in one solid plate ) They excel all others, in durability superiority of tone, and elegance of external appearance. o All these Pianos have overstrung Scales, giv ing in connection with the patent iron rim and frame, Full Round Powerful, and Sweet Mellow Tones. The cases are elegant in appearance, and easily and safely handled. Warranted to prove satisfactory, or the money returned. ADDRESS ALL ORDERS TO SIBERIA OTT, 581 Broadway New York. S. D. & H. W. SMITH'S AMERICAN ORGANS THE MOST PERFECT AND BEAUTIFUL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT. IN THE WORLD, FOR THE. AMERICAN HOME CIRCLE. THE AMBI64H OB6M Makes home attractive, refines, and elevates the minds of all, beautiful in appearance and effects. SIBERIA OTT, 581 BROADWAY, N. Y. WHOLESALE AGENT. The immense popularity of these Organs, and their superior Mnsical Powers, is fast bringing them before the public, as the Instrument so king desired in AMERICAN HOMES. And al thougb the cost price is but little above the Me lodeon, yet the musical advantages, be-iuty of tone and of touch and action are so far superior, that they are fast superceding the Meiodeon and the call is now almost exclusively for the AMERICAN ORGANS. It is adapted to any music from the quickest and most lively, to the heavy tone of the Church Organ. And almost universally they are preferred to the Piano, by persons who have them, yet coat ing leas than half, and only taking a smali amount of room. Send for descriptive circulars giving full par ticulars and prices. Exclusive agencies secured to Dealers, and large discounts to the trade and Teachers. Ad dress all orders Wholesale Agent, 581 Broadway, New York, No. 3-ly