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bring religion into contempt。 But they do NOT legislate in
ignorance。 Public prints； and public men； have pointed out to them
again and again； the consequences of their proceedings。 If they
persist in thrusting themselves forward； let those consequences
rest upon their own heads； and let them be content to stand upon
their own merits。
It may be asked； what motives can actuate a man who has so little
regard for the comfort of his fellow…beings； so little respect for
their wants and necessities； and so distorted a notion of the
beneficence of his Creator。 I reply； an envious； heartless； ill…
conditioned dislike to seeing those whom fortune has placed below
him； cheerful and happy … an intolerant confidence in his own high
worthiness before God； and a lofty impression of the demerits of
others … pride； selfish pride； as inconsistent with the spirit of
Christianity itself； as opposed to the example of its Founder upon
earth。
To these may be added another class of men … the stern and gloomy
enthusiasts； who would make earth a hell； and religion a torment：
men who； having wasted the earlier part of their lives in
dissipation and depravity； find themselves when scarcely past its
meridian； steeped to the neck in vice； and shunned like a loathsome
disease。 Abandoned by the world； having nothing to fall back upon；
nothing to remember but time mis…spent； and energies misdirected；
they turn their eyes and not their thoughts to Heaven； and delude
themselves into the impious belief； that in denouncing the
lightness of heart of which they cannot partake； and the rational
pleasures from which they never derived enjoyment； they are more
than remedying the sins of their old career； and … like the
founders of monasteries and builders of churches； in ruder days …
establishing a good set claim upon their Maker。
CHAPTER III … AS IT MIGHT BE MADE
The supporters of Sabbath Bills； and more especially the extreme
class of Dissenters； lay great stress upon the declarations
occasionally made by criminals from the condemned cell or the
scaffold； that to Sabbath…breaking they attribute their first
deviation from the path of rectitude； and they point to these
statements； as an incontestable proof of the evil consequences
which await a departure from that strict and rigid observance of
the Sabbath； which they uphold。 I cannot help thinking that in
this； as in almost every other respect connected with the subject；
there is a considerable degree of cant； and a very great deal of
wilful blindness。 If a man be viciously disposed … and with very
few exceptions； not a man dies by the executioner's hands； who has
not been in one way or other a most abandoned and profligate
character for many years … if a man be viciously disposed； there is
no doubt that he will turn his Sunday to bad account； that he will
take advantage of it； to dissipate with other bad characters as
vile as himself； and that in this way； he may trace his first
yielding to temptation； possibly his first commission of crime； to
an infringement of the Sabbath。 But this would be an argument
against any holiday at all。 If his holiday had been Wednesday
instead of Sunday； and he had devoted it to the same improper uses；
it would have been productive of the same results。 It is too much
to judge of the character of a whole people； by the confessions of
the very worst members of society。 It is not fair； to cry down
things which are harmless in themselves； because evil…disposed men
may turn them to bad account。 Who ever thought of deprecating the
teaching poor people to write； because some porter in a warehouse
had committed forgery？ Or into what man's head did it ever enter；
to prevent the crowding of churches； because it afforded a
temptation for the picking of pockets？
When the Book of Sports； for allowing the peasantry of England to
divert themselves with certain games in the open air； on Sundays；
after evening service； was published by Charles the First； it is
needless to say the English people were comparatively rude and
uncivilised。 And yet it is extraordinary to how few excesses it
gave rise； even in that day； when men's minds were not enlightened；
or their passions moderated； by the influence of education and
refinement。 That some excesses were committed through its means；
in the remoter parts of the country； and that it was discontinued
in those places； in consequence； cannot be denied： but generally
speaking； there is no proof whatever on record； of its having had
any tendency to increase crime； or to lower the character of the
people。
The Puritans of that time； were as much opposed to harmless
recreations and healthful amusements as those of the present day；
and it is amusing to observe that each in their generation； advance
precisely the same description of arguments。 In the British
Museum； there is a curious pamphlet got up by the Agnews of
Charles's time； entitled 'A Divine Tragedie lately acted； or a
Collection of sundry memorable examples of God's Judgements upon
Sabbath Breakers； and other like Libertines in their unlawful
Sports； happening within the realme of England； in the compass only
of two yeares last past； since the Booke （of Sports） was published；
worthy to be knowne and considered of all men； especially such who
are guilty of the sinne； or archpatrons thereof。' This amusing
document； contains some fifty or sixty veritable accounts of balls
of fire that fell into churchyards and upset the sporters； and
sporters that quarrelled； and upset one another； and so forth： and
among them is one anecdote containing an example of a rather
different kind； which I cannot resist the temptation of quoting； as
strongly illustrative of the fact； that this blinking of the
question has not even the recommendation of novelty。
'A woman about Northampton； the same day that she heard the booke
for sports read； went immediately； and having 3。 pence in her
purse； hired a fellow to goe to the next towne to fetch a
Minstrell； who coming； she with others fell a dauncing； which
continued within night； at which time shee was got with child；
which at the birth shee murthering； was detected and apprehended；
and being converted before the justice； shee confessed it； and
withal told the occasion of it； saying it was her falling to sport
on the Sabbath； upon the reading of the Booke； so as for this
treble sinfull act； her presumptuous profaning of the Sabbath； wh。
brought her adultory and that murther。 Shee was according to the
Law both of God and man； put to death。 Much sinne and misery
followeth upon Sabbath…breaking。'
It is needless to say； that if the young lady near Northampton had
'fallen to sport' of such a dangerous description； on any other day
but Sunday； the first result would probably have been the same： it
never having been distinctly shown that Sunday is more favourable
to the propagation of the human race than any other day in the
week。 The second result … the murder of the child … does not speak
very highly for the amiability of her natural disposition； and the
whole story； supposing it to have had any foundation at all； is
about as much chargeable upon the Book of Sports； as upon the Book
of Kings。 Such 'sports' have taken place in Dissenting Chapels
before now； but religion has never been blamed in consequence； nor
has it been proposed to shut up the chapels on that account。
The question； then； very fairly arises； whether we have any reason
to suppose that allowing games in the open air on Sundays； or even
providing the means of amusement for the humbler classes of society
on that day； would be hurtful and injurious to the character and
morals of the people。
I was travelling in the west of England a summer or two back； and
was induced by the beauty of the scenery； and the seclusion of the
spot； to remain for the night in a small village； distant about
seventy miles from London。 The next morning was Sunday； and I
walked out； towards the church。 Groups of people … the whole
population of the little hamlet apparently … were hastening in the
same direction。 Cheerful and good…humoured congratulations were
heard on all sides； as neighbours overtook each other； and walked
on in company。 Occasionally I passed an aged couple； whose married
daughter and her husband were loitering by the side of the old
people； accommodating their rate of walking to their feeble pace；
while a little knot of children hurried on before； stout young
labourers in clean round frocks； and buxom girls with healthy；
laughing faces； were plentifully sprinkled about in couples； and
the whole scene was one of quiet and tranquil contentment；
irresistibly captivating。 The morning was bright and pleasant； the
hedges were green and blooming； and a thousand delicious scents
were wafted on the air； from the wild flowers which blossomed on
either side o