The fast and the cholera : a sermon, preached in the Unitarian chapel, Boston, on Tuesday, September 25th, 1849, (being the day agreed upon to be observed in the borough, as a day of fasting and humiliation, in consequence of the extreme prevalence of the cholera) / by James Malcolm, ... to which is appended, a brief, practical view of the Asiatic cholera, by A.G. Malcolm, M.D.

Malcolm, James, 1811-1855.

Date:: 1849

Credit: The fast and the cholera : a sermon, preached in the Unitarian chapel, Boston, on Tuesday, September 25th, 1849, (being the day agreed upon to be observed in the borough, as a day of fasting and humiliation, in consequence of the extreme prevalence of the cholera) / by James Malcolm, ... to which is appended, a brief, practical view of the Asiatic cholera, by A.G. Malcolm, M.D. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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$My iVicnds, wc are recommended, in a circular issued by those who have been most active in promoting the present celebration, to observe this day, as a day of fasting and humiliation before Almighty God, in consequence of the very extensive and long continued prevalence of that most fearful and mysterious disease, which has carried olf, in an awfully sudden manner, so many thousands of the inhabi¬ tants of this country.” To this recommendation no one can take the smallest exception—so long as it is thus left to individual judgment to decide /lotv the day is most ap¬ propriately to be observed. The spontaneousness of the movement gives to it, in my eyes, much of its interest and value. Had it been a mere state command^ I should have l)een inclined both to question its authority, and demur at its utility. In addition to our instinctive suspicion of state interference in matters of religion, I should have seen in a conipulsoinj universal holiday, a gratuitous tax upon the IVuits of labor, that the majority could but badly spare. For many persons, too, a day of general idleness, would be liut a day of general dissipation. Many would be induced to spend on a day’s pleasure, what should be preserved for the sustenance and education of their families ; and nei¬ ther morals nor health would be promoted by such a day’s idleness. But as it is what may l)e called a local and spontaneous movement, in which there is no compulsory neglect of labor, nor arbitrary restraint upon the conscience, I have the more readily joined in the celebration, and iii- vited you, my friends, to meet me here, that the occasion may not be wholly a mockery, a delusion, or fruitless ce¬ remony. At the same time, I feel bound to state to you my own views of its utility, and for what it is we ought to l)ray. In the form of prayer that has l)een lately issued to be used in all churches and chapels of the Esta])lishment, there seems much with which we can agree. It is especially gratifying to observe, that in this, and in other recent for.ms of a similar discri{)tion, no phrase that could be doctrinally ofl’ensive has been introduced. Much of Scripture lan¬ guage has been adhered to:—it is such (doctrinally) as I could myself use, and to whicli I could most heartily re- sj)ond. Amen : and on the wliole, it seems such as could be repulsive to no sincere worsliij)])cr of God the Fatlier, threjugh .Jesus C'lirist, our Lord. In this, we rejoice to bc- hohl a silent testimony to the scri|)turality, and correct- nr*ss of oiir views. Here is an incidental acknowledgemeni that tin; doctrines lor which we contend are not consi-$

Licence and re-use

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