Gardiner Spring，1785—1873，was the son of Samuel Spring，D.D.，who was pastor of a Congregational church in Newburyport，Massachusetts，for more than forty years.The son entered Yale College，and was valedictorian of his class in 1805.He studied law for a time；then went to Bermuda，where he taught nearly two years.On his return he completed his law studies，and practiced his profession for more than a year.In 1810，having studied theology at Andover，he was ordained as pastor of the “Brick Church”in New York City.Here he remained till his death.He was elected president of Dartmouth College，and also of Hamilton，but declined both positions.His works，embracing about twenty octavo volumes，have passed through several editions；some have been translated into foreign languages，and reprinted in Europe.As a preacher，Dr.Spring was eloquent and energetic.
The Sabbath lies at the foundation of all true morality.Morality flows from principle.Let the principles of moral obligation become relaxed，and the practice of morality will not long survive the overthrow.No man can preserve his own morals，no parent can preserve the morals of his children，without the impressions of religious obligation.
If you can induce a community to doubt the genuineness and authenticity of the Scriptures；to question the reality and obligations of religion；to hesitate，undeciding，whether there be any such thing as virtue or vice；whether there be an eternal state of retribution beyond the grave；or whether there exists any such being as God，you have broken down the barriers of moral virtue，and hoisted the flood gates of immorality and crime.I need not say that when a people have once done this，they can no longer exist as a tranquil and happy people.Every bond that holds society together would be ruptured；fraud and treachery would take the place of confidence between man and man；the tribunals of justice would be scenes of bribery and injustice；avarice，perjury，ambition，and revenge would walk through the land，and render it more like the dwelling of savage beasts than the tranquil abode of civilized and Christianized men.
If there is an institution which opposes itself to this progress of human degeneracy，and throws a shield before the interests of moral virtue in our thoughtless and wayward world，it is the Sabbath.In the fearful struggle between virtue and vice，notwithstanding the powerful auxiliaries which wickedness finds in the bosoms of men，and in the seductions and influence of popular example，wherever the Sabbath has been suffered to live，the trembling interests of moral virtue have always been revered and sustained.One of the principal occupations of this day is to illustrate and enforce the great principles of sound morality.Where this sacred trust is preserved inviolate，you behold a nation convened one day in seven for the purpose of acquainting themselves with the best moral principles and precepts；and it can not be otherwise than that the authority of moral virtue，under such auspices，should be acknowledged and felt.
We may not，at once，perceive the effects which this weekly observance produces.Like most moral causes，it operates slowly；but it operates surely，and gradually weakens the power and breaks the yoke of profligacy and sin.No villain regards the Sabbath.No vicious family regards the Sabbath.No immoral community regards the Sabbath.The holy rest of this ever-memorable day is a barrier which is always broken down before men become giants in sin.Blackstone，in his Commentaries on the Laws of England，remarks that “a corruption of morals usually follows a profanation of the Sabbath.”It is an observation of Lord Chief Justice Hale，that “of all the persons who were convicted of capital crimes，while he was on the bench，he found a few only who would not confess that they began their career of wickedness by a neglect of the duties of the Sabbath and vicious conduct on that day.”
The prisons in our own land could probably tell us that they have scarcely a solitary tenant who had not broken over the restraints of the Sabbath before he was abandoned to crime.You may enact laws for the suppression of immorality，but the secret and silent power of the Sabbath constitutes a stronger shield to the vital interest of the community than any code of penal statutes that ever was enacted.The Sabbath is the keystone of the arch which sustains the temple of virtue，which，however defaced，will survive many a rude shock so long as the foundation remains firm.
The observance of the Sabbath is also most influential in securing national prosperity.The God of Heaven has said，“Them that honor me I will honor，”You will not often find a notorious Sabbath breaker a permanently prosperous man；and a Sabbath-breaking community is never a happy or prosperous community.There is a multitude of unobserved influences which the Sabbath exerts upon the temporal welfare of men.It promotes the spirit of good order and harmony；it elevates the poor from want；it transforms squalid wretchedness；it imparts self-respect and elevation of character；it promotes softness and civility of manners；it brings together the rich and the poor upon one common level in the house of prayer；it purifies and strengthens the social affections，and makes the family circle the center of allurement and the source of instruction，comfort，and happiness.Like its own divine religion，“it has the promise of the life that now is and that which is to come，”for men can not put themselves beyond the reach of hope and heaven so long as they treasure up this one command，“Remember the Sabbath day，to keep it holy.”
译文 TRANSLATION
加德纳·斯普林（1785—1873）为著名牧师塞缪尔·斯普林之子。加德纳·斯普林曾攻读法律，并曾任律师。1810年，在安德沃修读完神学，斯普林被任命为纽约市荷兰归正会教堂牧师。终其一生，斯普林都在那里服务。斯普林曾被选为达特茅斯大学及汉密尔顿大学校长，他都谢绝了。他的著作曾多次被译成多种语言在欧洲翻译出版。作为讲道者，加德纳·斯普林雄辩而有力量。
安息日是所有品行的基础。品行源于道义。如果任凭道德义务的各项准则变得松弛，道德实践就不能幸免于颠覆。如果没有宗教义务的灌输，就没有哪个成人会遵守道德，就没有哪个父亲能让他的孩子遵守道德。
如果你能诱使某个共同体怀疑《圣经》的真实与真诚；诘问宗教的义务与现实；在是否有善恶、是否有死后的永恒果报、是否存在上帝的这类问题上犹疑不决，那么，你就打破了美德的护栏，打开了不义与罪恶的闸门。不消说，如果一个民族一旦这样做，这个民族就失去了宁静与幸福，使社会成为一体的纽带被割断；欺诈与背叛将取代人与人之间的信赖；正义将为贿赂与不公代替；贪婪、背信、野心、报复将在大地上横行；世界将更像野兽的巢穴而不像文明的、虔敬的人类的居所。
如果有某种建制能对抗人类堕落的进程，能在这轻率、任性的世界护卫美德，那就是安息日。在善与恶令人惊惧的斗争中，尽管在人们的内心、在习尚的诱惑与影响中，邪恶都会找到强大的帮手，但只要安息日勉力存在的地方，美德颤栗的利益总会得到尊崇和卫护。这一天的主要任务之一是阐明和践行道德的伟大原则。在神圣的信赖未遭破坏的地方，人们看到一个民族会在七天中抽出一天从而得以亲近最好的道德准则与道德规诫；在这样的赞助下，美德的权威性才能得以确认和体悟，再别无他途。
我们可能不会立刻觉察到这每周例行的仪式所产生的效应。像大多数道德理想一样，它生效慢；但效果好，它将渐渐弱化威权、摆脱原罪与放荡的羁绊。恶棍绝不会看重安息日。安息日是要永远铭记的日子，这一天中神圣的休息是一个屏障，它若被打破，人就会成为恶魔。布莱克斯通在其英国律法评注中说：“道德的腐败总是与对安息日的亵渎接踵而来。”王座庭庭长黑尔亦云：“法官会发现，在所有被判死刑的罪犯中，只有为数不多的几个没有忏悔自己是从忽略安息日的义务和在安息日胡作非为开始罪恶生涯的。”
在我们国度，监狱方面可能会告诉你，里面的囚犯没有哪个在犯罪前没有违反安息日的戒规。你可以动用法律来惩戒不道德行径，但安息日隐秘而沉默的力量形成了一面坚强的盾以保护共同体的重要利益，比任何刑法都更强大。安息日是美德圣殿的拱心石，无论多么破敝，只要基础坚实，它就将历经侵袭而依旧安然。
在确保国家繁荣方面，恪守安息日亦极具影响力。上帝曾言：“尊重我的，我必重看他。”你们很少发现一个不恪守安息日的恶行昭彰的人会成为一个永远兴旺发达的人；一个不恪守安息日的共同体也绝不会是幸福或繁荣的共同体。安息日对人们世俗的福祉也有很多隐性的影响。它促进了秩序与和谐的精神；它使贫穷的人摆脱匮乏；它改变了污秽的凄惨；它能赋予自尊与改善性格；它能使举止温文尔雅；它能让穷人和富人共处一室共同祈祷；它会纯洁和加强社群之爱，使家庭成为魅力的中心和教诲、慰藉、幸福的源泉。其神圣教义有云：“它承诺现在与将来的生活。因为只要他们珍视这一要求‘记住安息日，恪守安息日’，人类就不会将自己置于希望与天国之外。”
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