Transcribed from the 1849 Johnstone and Hunter edition byDavid Price, , using scans from the BodleianLibrary, Oxford.
SABBATH DEFENCE TACTICS,
A MANUAL;
BY JAMES BRIDGES, ESQ.
“Be yewise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”
EDINBURGH:
JOHNSTONE AND HUNTER, 15 PRINCES STREET;
AND 26 PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON.
M.DCCC.XLIX.
TO THE OFFICE-BEARERS ANDMEMBERS
OFTHE
LORD’S-DAY SOCIETY OFENGLAND.
p. 3SABBATHDEFENCE TACTICS.
The observance of the Lord’sday partook largely of the general religious declension whichcharacterised the conclusion of the eighteenth century. Fresh invasions were constantly made on its sanctity; andpractices which a century before would have startled the mostcareless, were unconsciously acquiesced in even by thereligious. England, as a nation, never made the largeprofessions of strictness which marked the north, and itsremembrance of the day, such as it was, became feebler as timeprogressed; while in Scotland, which always had a name as aSabbath-keeping land, the evil influence grew visibly in itspopulous towns, and was seen gradually diffusing itselfthroughout the country. The Post-Office, with itsmail-coaches, runners, letters, and newspapers, and thehackney-coach, are among the standing memorials of this fallingaway. Happily, however, for the cause of every thing sacredand expedient, a revival of religion took place in both ends ofthe island, which, manifesting itself first in the Churches, didnot fail speedily to embrace within its action the great matterof the observance of the Lord’s day.
p. 4To thehonour of England, the practical Sabbath movement among thepeople began in that great country. A few pious men, taughtby its religious societies, of which they were distinguishedmembers, the superiority of united over insulated action, formedthemselves into “The Lord’s-day Society,” whichhas ever since exercised a very wholesome influence. Anearly step on its part was to establish a connection withParliament, through the medium of an influential member who mightchoose to be officially connected with the Society. Afterunsuccessful efforts in different quarters, they were directed tothe late Sir Andrew Agnew of Lochnaw, Bart., then member forWigtonshire, who, after many doubts and fears, prompted by themodesty of his nature and his deep sense of the responsibilityattaching to every more prominent part in the cause of God,consented to their application; and he soon became established,as he continued to his dying hour to be, the rooted and groundedfriend of the Sabbath, and of every institution and effort,whether made by many or few, for its observance.
The author had the happ