The following pages are published with considerable reluctance. The
Author read Dr. Vaughan’s pamphlet several weeks since, and was much
pained that some of the sentiments contained in it should proceed from
such a quarter. He hoped and expected that some one with more leisure
than he can command, and more capable of doing justice to the important
points under discussion, would undertake to refute what he felt to be the
very erroneous notions of the learned Doctor. Since, however, no one
else has taken up the subject, he ventures to submit his sentiments to
the Christian public. He has no love for polemics, and very unwillingly
appears in print; but he has reason to know, that the notions to which he
alludes have already, in several instances, encouraged a violation of the
Sabbath, and that they are likely to produce more extensive mischief,
from the circumstance of no attempt having been made to refute them. To
prevent this evil, is one object of the present undertaking. Another is,
to counteract the erroneous sentiments of Dr. Vaughan’s pamphlet; while
the writer’s chief aim is, to set forth what he believes to be the will
of God on the important subject of the Sabbath. He is convinced that the
principles enunciated in the following pages are in conformity with the
teaching of the Bible; and being fully assured that obedience to the will
of our Heavenly Father, is in all things the only way of peace and
safety, he will rejoice if this pamphlet shall become the means of
removing error, or of confirming those who already believe that the
Sabbath is of divine and perpetual obligation.