Last rites declaration of Ioannes Paulus PP. II (Karol Wojtyla)
2nd April 2005
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spirit of contention between two
parties, into which they had for many years been divided; by which they
maintained a jealousy one of the other, and were prepared to oppose one
another in all public affairs.
But in two or three years after Mr. Stoddard's death, there began to be
a sensible amendment to these evils. The young people showed more of a
disposition to hearken to counsel, and by degrees left off their
frolics; they grew observably more decent in their attendance on the
public worship, and there were more who manifested a religious concern
than there used to be.
At the latter end of the year 1733, there appeared a very unusual
flexibleness, and yielding to advice, in our young people. It had been
too long their manner to make the evening after the sabbath, [It must be
noted, that it has never been our manner, to observe the evening that
follows the sabbath, but that which precedes it, as part of the holy
time], and after our public lecture, to be especially the times of their
mirth, and company-keeping. But a sermon was now preached on the sabbath
before the lecture, to show the evil tendency of the practice, and to
persuade them to reform it; and it was urged on heads of families that
it should be a thing agreed upon among them, to govern their families,
and keep their children at home, at these times. It was al