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A HISTORY

OF

MARION COUNTY,

SOUTH CAROLINA,

From Its Earliest Times to the Present, J90J.

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By W. W. S!':LLERS, Esq,, of the Marion Bar.

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COLuMBlA, s. c, 1'HE R. L. BRYAN COMPANY,

1U02.

206 A HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY.

in life as did their older half-brother, Is'ham. The father, old man Barney, had two brothers, Needham and Thomas; I do not know what became of Thomas. Needham Watson married and had a family-at least, one son, named Wickham, who lived in the Temperance Hill neighborhood. Wickham mar-

, ried and 'had a family, how many is unknown; one son, named Kerigan-what became of him is unknown; he was not re­ markable for his beauty; if there had been such a dub as an "Ugly Club," he would have stood a fair c'hance to have been i~s pres~dent. Wickham Watson was a remarkable man phy­ sically, in respect to which the writer will say nothing. There are some Watsons in Britton's Neck, whether related to these Watsons on Catfish is not known; of them, however, the writer ~nows nothing. There was another family of Watsons in what is now known as Hillsboro Township, and of whom something has already herein been incidentally said. Seacebook Watson came from Virginia, and settled on the mad leading from Nichols to Lumberton, N. C., more than one hundred years ago; he succeeded well in life, raised a large family, sons and daughters; the sons, Michael, Thomas and John R., were known to the writer. Michael and Thomas went to North Carolina, married ·sisters, Smithy and Kitsey Ham, very exceU~nt women, and each raised ·respectable families; they were just across the line, and many of their descendants are now _in So~th Ca:olina. John R. Watson, the youngest son, marr ied Miss Sallie Ford, who had the phenomenon of a black eye and a blue one; they lived on the old homestead of his father, and 'had a large fam·ily of four sons and several daughters. John R. Watson died in middle life, and left his widow and children, many of them small; the widow managed well and raised 'her family respectably, and died a few years ago; some of them are now in the county, and among our best people. If all these Watsons and their thrice multiplied con­ nect_ions, hereinabove referred to, were destroyed, it would cut a mighty swathe in our county population. There may be, and perhaps are, some few families larger or more numerous, but not many-the name will not soon become extinct.

RE:wF.s.-Another family to be here noticed is the Reaves

A HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY. 207

family. The first known of this family was Solomon Reaves, a Baptist preacher. The writer heard him preach when .a boy, about 1829, at an association at Porter Swamp ~hurch, 111 Co­ lumbus County; N. C., about five miles from Fair Bluff, N. C.; he was then an old man, white hair and red face; he had a so~, named Charles-he may have had other sons, but Charles is the only one that concerns Marion County; he :narried a Miss Hodge, sister of the late Dr. Samuel Hodge, 111 the Gapway neighborhood; by her he had two sons, George W. and Robe:t H. Reaves; he may have had other sons and daughters. His first wife dying, he married Miss Mary Griffin'. of North ~aro­ lina, near Fair Bluff; no offspring by this second marriage. Charles Reaves died in 1861 or 1862, leaving ·his widow and a large estate of lands and negroes; he died intestate, ~is ~rop­ erty, real and personal, descended under the law to his widow and two sons, one-third each, the widow getting the old home­ stead. Some years after that, the widow married the late Col­ onel John T. Harrington, who died some ye~rs back, an_d left Mrs. Harrington a widow for the second time; no child or children· she still survives and is still a widow on the old Reaves homestead, now in her eighty-seventh year-somewlhat a remarkable woman for her age. Of the sons, George W. Reaves married four times-not being a very old man at the time of his fourth marriage; he was born in 1811, and died, I think, in 1896 or 1897; his first wife was a Miss Carmichael, ?£ what is now Carmichael Township, a sister of the late Neill C. Carmichael; she lived only about a year, and died Childless; he married, a second time, a Miss Brown; by her he had some children, how many is not known. There were one or two sons by this marriage, who were killed or died in the wa:, and a daughter; who married some one, and soon became a widow; I know nothing more of her. His Brown wife died, I think, in 1846 or 7; he married in a few mont'hs, Miss Eliza'~el1h Watson, who has hereinbefore been spoken of; by her he raised two children, James Robert Reaves and 'Mary E. Reaves, now Mrs. Murphy-heretofore noticed. The Watson wife died, and he married a Miss Rogers, of the Fork, a daughter of the late Captain John Rogers; by her 'he had and raised four sons, George R. Reaves, John Reaves, William Reaves and Edward

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208 A HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY.

Reaves; the latter is a Baptist preacher of high standing, and is pastor of some church in the upper part of the State. These sons of George W. Reaves are all respectable and valued citi­ zens, and are a part of the bone and sinews of the county, married and contributing their full share to the citizenship and gene.ral prosperity of the county. The father, George vV. Reaves, was a good citizen and a prominent church man, weighed, avoirdupois, three hundred pounds, or more. His brother, Robert H. Reaves, was for many years a prominent merchant at Marion; he married a daughter of old Colonel W. H. Grice, who still survives, and lives upon and owns her patrimonial estate in Wahee Township. R. H. Reaves, the last years of his life, retired from mercantile pursuits, and went on his farm in Wahee, where he accidentally fell from his piazza some years ago and broke his neck; he raised a family of four sons and perhaps two daughters; of the sons, two, Henry and Thomas, died young men, unmarried; Augustus and James still survive; the former unmarried, lives with 'his mother; the latter married, and lives in Sumter­ County; has a family, and is said to be doing well. Of the daughters, Miss Sallie, the oldest, has never married, and lives with her mother. The younger one, name not remembered, married a Mr. Lide, in Darlington. R. H. Reaves was a good and successful merchant for many years, but in the wind-up of . his mercantile affairs, did not seem to have made much, but saved his plantation and negroes; he was a man of equable temperament, and never seemed to be in a hurry; he represented the district in the Legislature just after the war in I866--before Reconstruction commenced or before it got under way.

GRICE.-] ust here may be noticed the Grice family, to which Mrs. Reaves belonged. Colonel W. H. Grice was originally from Horry County; he came to Marion away back in the twenties or thirties. In former times he had represented Horry in the House and had been Senator from Liberty (Marion) and Kingston before 1810; he was a well read man for his day; he had three children, one of whom was Mrs. Reaves, above spoken of. His youngest daughter, Ellen, became the third wife of the late Colonel vV. vV. DuRant, well known in Marion,

I A HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY. 209

c I

having been in the town perhaps all his life; she was respected by all who knew her, and loved for ·her many good qualities; she raised several daughters and one son to be thirteen or fourteen years of age (Thadeus, I believe), who accidentally shot himself twelve or fifteen years ago. These daughters of Colonel DuRant have all married and have families, except, perhaps, two, who reside in the old DuRant homestead, near the town, all doing well and quite respectable. Colonel Wil­ liam H. Grice had' only one son, Augustus E. Grice, quite a literary man and a fine speaker; he was elected Sheriff of the county in 1876; he lived about two years, and died during his term of softening of the brain; he married, late in life, a Miss Tanner, and left a considerable family. Perseus L. Grice, our present fellow-citizen, and quite respectable, is one of his sons-perhaps the oldest; one of his daughters is the wife of J. T. Dozier, the late nominee of the Democratic party of Marion for County Supervisor.* Of the others of the family of Sheriff Grice, the writer knows nothing. Colonel William H. Grice died in 1854, leaving a good property in both town and country to his children; he was up to the times in his day, a very honest and reliable man, very cautious and prudent. The old court house of 1823 hadl a large crack in its northwest corner, and such was the prudence of Colonel Grice-excited, perhaps, by his fear::.....that he would not go up into the court room when it was crowded, unless from strong business com­ pulsion; whether it was dangerous or not, the writer cannot say; he was in -it many times When it was packed with people.

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I RoBERTs.-The next family now to be noticed is the Roberts family. The first of them known to the writer was Redden Roberts and Norton Roberts. They settled on Buck Swamp, near Buck Swamp Bridge. I do not know who the wife of either was, but both married and raised families. Redden Roberts had sons, William D., James, Rowland and Giles. The latter went into the Confederate army, and died of disease, un­ married. William D. Roberts married Lishia Manning, a daughter of old John Manning, and had and raised a consider­ able family, sons-John M. Roberts and William Roberts; they •J. T. Dozier was elected aud is now the County Supervisor.

For The

/

COLUMBUS COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA

Recollections and

Records

Edited by

Ann Courtney Ward Little

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Columbus County Bicentennial Commission

Bug Hill Township Recollections and Records Bug Hill Township Recollections and Records

moved to the Seven Creeks area of Bug Hill Township. William Gore, Sr., another son of John R. Gore, was a leading figure in the settlement of Little River, South Carolina.

William Gore, Sr., was a member of the militia during the Revolutionary War. He owned a large amount of land near Little River and along the Waccamaw, in the Pireway-Seven Creeks area. William married Mary Simmons, daughter of Isaac Simmons. Their daughter

Rebeccah (b. 1775) married Thomas Frink. Col. John Gore was the second child of William and Mary Gore. He was a

large landowner and a local merchant. In his time, Pireway had stores, barrooms, turpentine stills, and coopers shops. Colonel Gore represented Columbus County in the state legislature in 1815. Later he was a justice of the peace and a road 'commissioner. Gore married three times and fathered twenty-five children. Among his children were John Homer "Squire" Gore (1816-1893), Solon L. Gore (1839-1920), and Selenas Victoria Gore (1846- 1930). William Gore, Jr., (1783-1853) was Col. John Gore's brother. He was

widely known as "Brandy Bill" because he operated a government still. William married Dorcas Ann Conner. Their children were Sarah (m. John Meares), Mary (m. Henry J. Long), Dorcas Ann (m. David Register), Helen Victoria (m. William Jackson Stanley), Elizabeth (m. James High), James Marion Munroe, Frances (m. Dougal F. Reaves), and Pinkney. Another branch of the Gore family descended from Jonathan Gore (b. ca.

1735). Jonathan served in the Revolutionary War and settled in the Horsepen area. His son Joseph (b. 1770) married Sarah Simmons.

Reaves eventually became a large landowner, but preaching was his major interest. He spoke at churches and tent meetings throughout the territory which was to become Columbus County. Apparently he was the best-known preacher in the area. His services were in great demand. Reaves served as chaplain of a local militia company during the American

Revolution. He was twice burned out by the tories because of .his activities with the whigs. Solomon and Sarah Floyd Reaves were the parents of nine children: Rhoda,

Charles, Jerusha, Prudence, Annie, Olive, Samuel, Joel, and Mark. Solomon Reaves' will, on file in Columbus County Courthouse, mentions

his wife, Winney. This was his second wife. Solomon's death in 183l:'t.was the result of an unusual accident which

occurred in Pireway at the home of his daughter Rhoda Gore. He was sitting in a straight cane-bottomed chair on the porch when one of the front legs of the chair slipped into a knothole, throwing him forward and causing a severe head injury. He died the following day.

REAVES AND ASBURY

In 1801 the famous Methodist missionary Francis Asbury traveled exten­ sively in coastal South and North Carolina. By February 13, 1801, he had visited Pee Dee, Brittons Neck, Little Pee Dee, Potato-Bed Ferry, Kingston (Conway), Kullim's Meeting House, Iron Run, and Frinkes. On February 14, a "windy and uncomfortable" day, Asbury arrived at Ebenezer and met Solomon Reaves. The missionary described his encounter with Reaves in his journal:

A Solomon Reeves [sic] let me know that he had seen the Address, signed by me; and was quite confident that there were no arguments to prove that slavery was repugnant to the spirit of the Gospel: what absurdities will not men defend' If the gospel will tolerate slavery, what will it not authorize? I am strangely mistaken if this said Mr. Reeves has more grace than is necessary, or more of Solomon than the name.

Somewhat unhappy with Reaves, Asbury spent the night at the home of William Gore. The next day Asbury forded Seven-Mile Creek (Seven Creeks) and crossed

the Waccamaw River at Loftus Flat. (Flat was the term used in the area for ferry.) Since Asbury lodged near Pireway and forded Seven Creeks, he prob­ ably crossed the Waccamaw near present-day Reaves Ferry. He then visited the homes of Abraham Bessent and William Gause and continued to Shallotte.

REFERENCE

B. Otis Prince, Let's Meet the Gores (Columbia, S. C.: 1962).

SOLOMON REAVES

Solomon Reaves (b. 1754) was the son of William and Prudence Harrelson Reaves. He grew up in Virginia and visited the Carolinas when he was a young man. When Solomon became twenty-one, his father offered to give him a slave.

Solomon replied that he did not want the slave: all he wanted was to preach. With his father's blessing, he left Virginia and traveled to South Carolina. In 1777 Solomon married Sarah Floyd, who lived near Mullins. The couple

decided to settle at Reaves Ferry, North Carolina. Solomon purchased 480 acres of land for $34.40 and built a home on the banks of the Waccamaw River.

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PHONE CALL, Friday 30 May, 1980

Mr. Marshall L. Shepherd 1418 Glennwood Avenue Raleigh, N. C. 27605

Wants info on Rev. SOLOMON REAVES, cal800, <laugher ANNA, Reaves Creek, Waccamaw River, Robeson Co.

PLEASANT PLAINS, COLUMBUS CO. April 2nd, 1836

Dear Bro. Merdith,

I have been operating for the Convention since the adjournment of that

body. I have been enabled by divine assistance to traverse a large portion

of the district assigned me. I am now as you see travelling in the bounds of

the Cape Fear Association. Here we are occasionally saluted by our brethren

and friends whose views and plans of disseminating gospel truth in the earth

coincide very much with those of the far greater portion of our much favored

and beloved Christendom. Did not time and duty admonish us to preach the

word in other regions also, I should no doubt feel delighted to spend some

weeks or months in this region of country. I suppose you will feel the force

of the above remark when I tell you, that Eld. SOLOMON REEVES departed this

life about the 1st of February---aged about 80 years, leaving the churches in

his charge to swell the thrilling cry----"come and help us" .

(signed) M. D. FREEMAN.

BIBLICAL RECORDER, April 20, 1836, p. 3:2

173

Page 1 HISTORY OF NEW BRITAIN CHURCH

From authentic record we find that New Britain Baptist Church was constituted

at Cool Run, Brunswick County A.O. 1817 by Abram Baker and Solomon Reaves.

Then the record is silent, as to any further proceedings until the 3rd day of

July A.D. 1838, at which time we find that a Church Covenant.- was adopted, and

the following Charter Members enrolled (to wit) Joel Bennett, Daniel Gore,

Sanders Milliken, James Beach, John G. Gressett, Pinkney C. Milliken, Duncan

Evans, Arthur Bennett, Henry Duncan, Joe Long, John Williamson, and Coleman

Reynolds.

The record shows as stated above that there was a period of twenty years

intervening the constituting of the church and the adoption of a Covenant which

in materials substance is very nearly the same of the form found in the Hiscox

Directory.

PASTORATES

We find no trace of any pastor until the year of 1841, but it is highly

probable that the congregation organized in 1818 was supplied with preaching

by Rev. Soloman Reaves. This conclusion is supported, not only by traditional

evidence, but is materially strengthened by the following statement, which we

find in the original records.

"Rev. Solomon Reaves, father of New Britain Church departed this life

February the 25th A.O. 1836. (continued on page 2)

By: W. S. Milliken, Chairman History Committee, 24 Oct. 1930.

(remainder of history in NCCF)

SOLOMON REAVES

...... About 1833 the Association cordially embraced "Benevolent Institutions",

made efforts to advance the cause of Christ generally,---a strong desire was

manifested that each Church should have preaching more regularly.

Notwithstanding the efforts made, it was very difficult to effect much

good, owing to the leaven of opposition to good works. Many of the Churches

in the Southern part of the Association declined representing for a while,

owing entirely to the interest taken by a majority of the Churches in the

"Institutions of the day". A committee of Ministers were sent to visit them,

but it only calmed them for a while. It may be remarked, that such Churches

were influenced by and Anti-Missionary Minister, who was permitted to continue

with them long. It is justly due to the memory of Elder Solomon Reaves, that

he was a devoted servant of Christ for about thirty years, and that his opposition

to Missions was manifested in declining life. But these Churches, notwith­

standing the loss of their Minister, are still disaffected, and have been the

grand cause of the embarrassments of the Association and her Board of Domestic

Missions .

CAPE FEAR BAPTIST ASSOCIATION MINUTES, 1844. Page 24.

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CA.PE-FEAR BAPTIST ASSOCIATION. I S '2. I

"· 1. The introductory Sermon, according to ap· pointment, was delivered by Elder John Gornto, from Acts IX. 20. '' And straightway he preached Christ in the Synagogues, that he is the Son of God." .

2. The Delegates met in an associated capacity: a majority being present, proceeded to elect oflicers; viz: Elders Job Goorlman, l\Ioderator, and A. Morris, Clerk, and Brother Rhafield, Assistant. Elder Morris prayecl at the opening of business. 3. A committee of finance was appointed, con­

:iisting of Brethren John Oliver and James Mathis,' 4. Then read tnc letters from the various

Churches which formed the Associations, took an account of their state, and enrolled the names of the Delegates. . s. Read a corresponding ·letter from the Neuse

Association, accompanied with a packet of minutes, and welcomed her messenger, Brother Keaton, to a seat; also invited Brother Reavesv.-a messenger from the Charleston Association, to sit with us. 6. Attended to Brother Larkins's report, to-wit:

That he had acted agreeably !O his appointment in last year's minutes; had collected thirteen dollars> which was handed in to the clerk; and has the prospect of he re afte r collecting most of the monies remaining, though some ht: expects will be lost. Brother Larkins was dismissed, with the thanks of the Association. ·

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l\IINUTES 07 TI!~

CAPE-FEAR BAPTIST ASSOCIATIO.iV, filLD IX R0!1ESO:X CffC~TY,

AT PIT?'.L\N'S MEETI~G-~OUSE,

OCTOBER 3, ]312.

A SSE M I3LE D about ten o'clock for public worship, Eldel' ]-'-:-!ES R.-\.~_-\.LD;o-s delivered the Sermon introductory,from

2d Corinthians, .5th chap. 20th verse, to a large and attenti ve :15-- - sembly.

·2. The Association met for business, Prayer by Elder \'\-:=:L!.!. Then chose brother- j cseph Thames, :;\Ioderator, and Samuel Buxton, Clerk.

3. Then were appointed brethren yacob TVi!!iams arid Jet.~1-;; Cats, as a committee of finance, to receive the contributions, make settlerr.e nts, ~~1~ report the same. . - 4. Then beir:g pn::sen~, Yisitiarr brethren in the :'1-Iinistry, tl-:ey

'(ere invited to seats among us, who came forward accord ingiv , 21non whom. wers_EJ:cl~\\'H1~ ann Ru.vr:s, from Charleston

- AssoC!::itwn; rcers TR .1.xr.s au ~rnsos, from Cape-Fcar ; and brethren _,;_\Tutt and H'Jdge.

S. Then received reports from twenty-three Churches, by letter and delegates, an account of which is hereunto- annexed.

_ 6. Then re ce ive d a correspondent letter from Charleston Asso­ ciation, by the hands of !-i er delegate Elder V.'~-:<:-r z, with some co­ pies cf her minutes, as a token of her love to us; toge:!-ier with letters from K euse and TI'1leigh Associations, with some copies of their minutes, which were: answered in the foiio\1-·i0; er Jcr :­ Elder J ~::>r£s Rz xz r.osox was appointed a ddeg;i,te to Charlestoa Association, to write tile letter arid forward ~001e conies of our minutes to them ; brethren E ldcr Tc-;:_,, :-r-ss and Jcs.:ph 'Tl.cmes, deleg::tes t·) Rc!eigh. Association , Elder \Yru.s, to ?\" ~'..ist: _'\i-

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---. CHARLESTON (SC) ~APTI,ST ASSOCIATION MINUTES, 1809

6

STATE OF THE CHUH.CHES.

The Ordained Ministers' names are. in capitals; Liceuccd Preachers, '.n ita1lcs1 Churches distinguished by an asterisk ['] we have no account from, and thc1~ numbers stand as the;• Jid last year. Pastors and Messengers, to whose names an obelisk [t) is affixed, were absent; a dash(--) denotes a vacancy,

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, ~1j\~ §i~1;1E~ MINISTERS&. MESSENGERS. .,q I~ q ~ ~ q :<'; ~

<;" lllet.m. FURMAN_, James 48 16 ~ 101 41.'i (_ llarper,t Arch. iVJ<Q.u1ston,t I I ·

~ S DANH:L WHITE,, 5 18 :.; 4 2 2 97 \Velsh Neck, (_ Evandcr M·lver, ~ j I I

, . S .UENJ. MOSELY,t Timothy 5 21 1 · ll · 8& , Ebenezer Je!fers Creek, (.Dargan, Nathan Hanks, \

. . ~ J M rwmm rs, D. COL· 33 181 2 I 1 2o6 High H1lls Santee,, (.-LINS. t Ricba~rl '!'odd, . I I 1 · I I s JOSl!UA LEWIS,t Tris- l2 6 :, I 1\ 2j ml) Cheraw llill, (.tram Thomas, & J. ELLIS, l \ I

• Wll.LIAM BENNET,t I fl9 Beauty Spot, , r'k • OHN CATO,t - I I 270 Uppcr F. LynchaC • c;-hsEPll KNIGHTEN,t 13 2 14 2 21 80 Swift Creek, l James Denson, we, Cato, . , 1. 11 I I

21 Lower F. L. Cree~,· _...___

1

_ 11 3~_.r8 . ., Rocky ]liver,• • ----- Anson County: Deep Creek." --- l I' I -

/ S° SOLOMON HF.EYI'.S, 6 61, ·31 l14j 49 v Lit1.lc Pcdcc, l William \V illinms , .

Georg-~town: EIJM\IND HOTSFOHD,f I Ii "I I ,.,JI ~ii WILLIAM ALLEN, "' .,. •I

Gapway, l':WFI I IN t 35 Lanes Creek," JESSE J.' ~' · ' '

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'S" STEJ'llEN NIXON, l :; I I 46 Congaree, (_John Bosrick.

t JAMES COLEMAN,t '10 ;II I 11 22.1 Illack Creek. CH.l\HLES \\'ILLIJ\MS, I I

noncnr THOMAS,t 1 l zr Three Creeks, I I S"-· James Cree, Harlock I 65 'Va.ssamsaw, l Ht1i.fo1d, . 2

5 HALPII JONES,t Thomas 5 s 4 G - SG ''"ateree Creek, '(.Meredith, James Ifart, I

0 I l

13 k ---, llichard Carlisle,t "" 36

Mtalclr Cree ,

1 Catfo,h,• S mLLU::\1 PALMER,f I 11 2 I I 76 Terrel's Day, (_ ~.~~~H;,'.~;.~-~~,~~~rge Scott, . 2~ 23\ t 52 Dcnla.h, N I ' I ~ .l\AllON WOOTO , 'i £ 1 4 I 77 25 mile Creek, l Alex.antler Cn11nton,t .

ST AMES TI-llGl'EN, Wm. li 2 l'lj 90 Amelia Township, l.l'auling, Adam \Vhetstonc,t I I

~ SAl\1. TIMMONS,f 7 l 4) J,ynch's Creek, l Geo. co~c. John Timmons, I I I J"6 s \V M. ll. JOllNSON, Ctih>mbia, (.Roling W illiamoon, t I I I

Increase tl{i6 y('ar, lil.-Tolal, lWIGG Ts!Jl 4 .;8126.58

CnvRtiu:s.

Charleston,

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TI II~ Cil\CUf .AR I .ETTER. f•.t' (n;11u.r.s1'0.v BAl''l'r:r'l' .1~socurro:v, a~stmblcd at Orangcburt;~·,

llu: 4th Jay ef J\'ov. 1809.

To the Churches they represent, send Christi:in Salutation: ildovcd Brcthc11,

The laws fru.l ord.inances of God _have been ever, hy the wise and good, justly l1cltl most s~cred .. 1 he anticnt Jewish Church had many of them, which wcie either moral, judicial, or ceremonial. Of these, some were !)'pica! of Christ; such

' "ith all which strictly bchnged to the Jewish state and polity, were ;tt his appear: ance abrogated; but the moral r,reccpts remain obligatory on Christians, and are 111corporatcd with the dut:cs and worship of the New Testament r.;hurch. Such is the institution of the Sabbath-The subject on which we promi~cd to address you in this Letter .

Convinced of the morality of the Sabbath, and of the propriety, and necessity of observing it, we cap but greatly lament its many and gross violations by tiie un­ believing part of the.world; and indeed, by many professing the holy religion of Chris_t, who notwithstanding their ~acrcd profession, lightly esteem, abuse, or ne­ glect 1t.

Our design is therefore, to maintain the authority of the sacred precept which enjoins it, that pious souls may be guarded ahainst the temptations which lead to its abuse; that backsliders, who are chargeable with this sin may be reclaimed; and that the disobedient may be warned, and taught td remember the Sabbath dai· that they may keep it holy. . ' ' The form of e~prcssion used,in the 4th commandment, implies, that the dutv ii:

enjoins was known before.the giving of lhe law by Moses; it is nnt, ye shall ob­ serve a sahbath day; but "remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy:" \,he<lay of God's rest, concerning which ye have been already instrnctc<l.-A c!av blest a.nd sanctified by God at the creation of the world; enjoined in the most soiemn man­ ner, by him, from the top of Sin:i.i; observed by patriarch~ and prophets; and re­ garded as sacred by Christ a,nd his Apostles, mcriL5 our highest C>tcem and vene- ration. · .

I.n v:ewing tl_ie doctrine of the sabbath, t1irrc arc two thing~, especially, to be no!J~cd an~ serious_ly rega:ded: first, the separ~tion of a portion of our time t() tl_1~ unmed1ate ser~1ce of _God, for the glory of Ins hnl.v na111c; secondly, the pro­ vis10n mad~ by th1s.appo1ntment for our _good, _pcrson:_d and social, temporal ancl l:tcrnal. 1 hese arc mt1matelr connected m the mst1tut1011; ,anti no·doubt, for these reasons the law of the sabbath had a place given it in the Ten Commandnicuts. But the exact yroportion of _time to he kept as a sabb:ith, an_d the particular day, seem to be enJomed by positive_ law; ai~tl thcrc_fore arc J1alilc to lie changed. Hence these may chang:e under d'.ffercnt disp~nsatoons, according to the particular deS>gn of the dispensation to which the pos1t1ve command which governs in such ca5c belongs, without the least violation of the moral precept. .Such, we cou­ ceivc, is the change of the sabbath from the seventh day under the Coroner dispen­ sation, to the first, or Lord's day, under the Gospel. The same porrion of time both as to order and duration, being observed under the latter, as obtained uncle; the former di•pensation. 'Yith great propriety therefore, may the first day of the week be stiled the

Christian Sabbath; especially, ag it i• the 7th day, or p;u"t of time in the series of clays, from the completi011 of man's redemption by the Son of God-a work no les.~ important and glorious than the work of creation. But ihc moral nature of the !nstitution ~v1ll admit o~ no.change, _1hc r.c:'lso1~ for its ohservance, which ori.::;in:ttc:; 111 our relation a11d obligat>0ng to God, and 111 holiness, witho11t \\")'rlh

110 man

shall sre the Lon.1, being invariably the same. God. also, who givn us all our time, ever claims, under every dispc11!irttion, that pa.rt from us in return, which he l1as consecrated to himself. The portion of time allot teJ for the sabliath, is one whole day in seven; which shonltl be kept free from worldly h11sinc:.> ~rid cares.

There was,, no dot~bt, "difl'crcncc of scntim.cnt anfong Christi:tiJS about th~ s_abbath day, m the time of the apostles; not, it should :,cent, on the •}liestinn, ';hether th.ere was, or shoulcl be a sauuath day (the propriety ancl Divine :iutho­ ~Hy of who~h seem not to have been cl_ou_uied by anv but inlidrls;) hut conc<'m. !"g the Jewish sahbath, or s~bha_tl~s, as d1snng11.1sh.cd from the Lord's d.ty, or Nc•iv fcst~mcnt S'o11Jli~1h. TUit J uda1zmg tcacltci·a rnsistc<l ou the obs en· a nee of tlo<!

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