The New York herald., 1871-08-21
AMERICAN FREE CHER CHI.

AMERICAN FREE CHURCH.
sabbath Observance and dDesecration-CntholsC
ind Protestant Doctrine COmpared-Sermon
| by tho Rev. Charles Il. Smytbe.
AT the morning service in this church the pastor,
| Rev. Charles b. Smythe, preached from the text
"Remember the Sabbath day TO keep 1t holyn-
Exodus Xx., s. Protestants and Roman Catholics
he said, differ IN opinion regarding The observance
OF the Sabbath. Protestants also differ among
themselves on the same topic-some holding that
under the Christian dispensation the rule for the
observance OF the sabbath is considerably relaxed
Others that the Sabbath should still be observed
| In the same manner in which the Jews
| were taught to observe It, Every true Protestant
turns to the word OF God and not any mere human
standards as his authority. "To the law and to the
testimony If they speak not according TO this word
II is because there is no light IN them" Paul COM
mended the Bereans above those in ThessalOnIca
because they diligently searched the Scriptures to
| find whether the words which even the apostles
taught were true. IT. therefore, find the CALVIN
istc theory TO be the we should embrace
IT, II the Roman Catholic, should embrace It, but
II we ind the standards of the Westminster Assem-
bly, TO be those founded the Word OF God we
should certainly do wrong to reject them on
this point. sabbath means rest, Sabbath day
means the day O rest-a day TO he spent entirely in
GOds service 1t is obvious therefore, that on that
day we must not work nor cause any other person
or even animal to do Neither must we engage
in worldly pleasures that day; for God has com.
manded us to keep 1t holy, by which is meant That
II is To be spent in his worship and service.
we shall consider, first, IS this command binding
on us Christians and, second, what Is the proper
manner Of observing this dutys
That this commandment is binding is very obvi.
Ous from, first, the text and context.
II WE DIsoBEY ONE COMMANDMENT
we d1sobey Oil. "Wh0soever shall keep the whole
law and yet offend IN one point he is guilty OF all"
| III we are at liberty to break this commandment
| are also at liberty to break any OF the others.
Second-From that passage IN isaiah lvii., 49, IA.
Third-From Isaiah lv, TO 8, wherein the blessing
and favor OI God are promised TO the Jews IT, among
other duties they observe the Sabbath. The Jewish
nation being type OF the Christian Chgrcn the
mands and promises which Goo gave to the former
are to be received by the latter Fourth-rhe Sab
times of the Apostles Rev. l., 10, compared with
| Psalm cxvliii., "a.
SecOad-What Is The manner OF observing this
| dutyS The question may be asked Did Christ relax
the observance Of the Sabbath There are some
who hold the opinion that He did, Dnt we find no
authority for such belier; when the Scribes and
Pharisces found fault with Him tor HIS works OF
mercy He reprOved tnem not by saying that new
order OF things was Introduced, but by showing
them that the construction which they placed upon
the commandment was wrong. He referred them
to the priests IN the temple who prOfaned the sab
bath ana are blameless because they are dong the
service Of God, and asked when OF them having an
OK or an ass fallen into pit would not draw 1t out
on the Sabbath day From this we may conclude
that
are proper for the sabbath, even though they seem
TO involve q breach OF the letter Of the command
going out Tor pleasure on the sabbath No. not Tor
pleasure but II choose to take a quiet walk for
our physical ;1ah benefit and M engage IN thoughts ana
fault with us2 Is not the whole world Gods tenn
pie? Are not the bros the flowers and the trees
the works OF his hands? II. then, We desire to re-
fresh our minds by contemplating these in our wor
ship OF Him, who mas the rgnt to prevent uss
But here many questions arise, as, does Chris
tian violate the sabbath when he riues IN the horse
cars OF crosses the river on fcrryboat that dayY
Does a physician do wrong when he attends his
patients, minister when he writes studies his
sermon, or druggist baker or restaurant
keeper when he opens his store on the SABBATH
These questions are among the large category which
must be lett to private Judgment. Any OF them
under others they would be wrong. Each person
has right to Judge for hlmself Dut the great Int
Is to keep our hearts ana mnds In contemplation OF
THIS CAN BEST BE DONE
by frequent prayer and reading OF His Word, and
especially by assembling together for His worship
AS the Apostle says:'.NOt iorsaKing the assembling
OF ourselves together as the manner OF 49, but
eXhoriing one another and so much the more as We
see the day approaching"
rhe speaker added that although the opinions Of
scientific men were not OF authority in matters OF
reDgiOn yet they may be OF use 10 confirm IN the
belief Of truths revealed; and 10 this end he
fefred to the fact That many OIL the wsest and most
experienced gentlemen OF the medical profession
had de ecarcd that rest OF one DAY seven was OF
The utmost Importance 10 the health and longevity
o botn man ana beast, and TINS u appears tna the
law Of the sabbath compOrts with the laws of nature
an requiring weekly resi-.
The continuation OF his discussion OF this subecJ
was postponed ul the evening service when ne
took up the matter OF the change Of the day from
the seventh TO the first under Inc CHRISTIAN dispen-
s3tion, and answered objections which are
made 10 the doctrine. Tradition, he said declares
mat the change was made
IN THE TINE THE APOSTLES,
IN honor OF the resurrection OF Christ which was
esteemed grealer work tnan creation, even as me
poet Young says
Twas great to speak a world from nougbt
Twas greater u rcoeem.