Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-10-16
@eading fur the Sabbath.
CONDUCTED BY
REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
GOriginal.]
THE SABBATH.

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[ohglna]
THE SABBATH.
In six days God created the world, and rest
ed on the seventh day from all his work which
he had created. The word "rested," as ap-
piled to God in this connection, can only mean
that he ceased to create. The seventh day
God sanctiied as day Of rest for all his intel
ligent creatures. In other words, the Sab
bath, in the language of theSaviour, was made
for man. One day in seven was designated by
God that man might commemorate the perfect
work of creation.
The seventh day was observed; and COM
manded to be observed, until the resurrection
of Jesus Christ. TheD~ the eighth day. day, or hrsI
1ay O1 the week was commanded to be kept
holy unto the Lord our God. The main object
of which the Sabbath, under the Christian dis
pensation, is commemorative, is the resurrec-
tion of Jesus Christ. It is the resurrection of
Jesus Christ that indicates to us that the work
which he undertook to perform, was by Him,
completely perfected This being the case,
there is no doctrine of the New Testament
that is so important as that of the Resurrec-
tion. Every thing depends uponit If Jesus
Christ did not rise from the grave; If he was
not, by his own power, resurrected, then the
whole scheme of redemption is failure.
Whoever will take the trouble to examine
the Scriptures, will find that there is no doc
trine that is more fully explained than the doc
trine of the resurrection, and no fact in the
whole history of redemption more fully attest
ed, than the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Of
this event, the Christian Sabbath is commend
rative Those who observe, in it's proper sense,
the Sabbath, celebrate the resurrection of the
Saviour of sinners This, together with the
devotional feelings which it's proper observance
is calculated to awaken and foster, is it's main
object. For this purpose it was instituted,
and for this purpose it is perpetuated, and will
be perpetuated until all the blood-bought chill
dren of God are saved in Heaven, and then it
will be all Sabbath.
This day, which God has set apart for the
commemoration Of the resurrection of his own
Son and our Saviour, is often, in the Scrip
lures, called the Lords day but never Sun
day 1t is manifestly very appropriately called
the Lords day, but as manifestly inappro-
priately called Sunday.
The words Sunday, and Sabbath, OF Lords
day, are totally different, both in origin and
Specification. Sunday was the day on which
the old Pagan Saxons worshipped the sun. 1t
is true, that it does not make great deal of
difference what we call the day, provided we
have correct notion of it's design. Still,
good taste abhors some words which others of
less refinement regard as very expressive.
Many persons regard tote, brung and totch, AS
good English but no, man of refined taste
ever uses them, and the moment these words
are used every educated ear experiences pc
culiarly grating sensation. On the same prin-
ciple Sunday used for Sabbath, or Lords day,
is in bad Christian taste. Those who reject
the Christian religion, may be pardoned for
calling that day which God, in his word, calls
Sabbath, by the heathen name Sunday; but
Christians should call Christian institutions
by Scripture names.
The observance of the Sabbath is one of the
peculiar characteristics of Christians. The
heathens have number of what they call sa-
cred days, but only Christians observe the
Sabbath. Such being the case, it is one of the
tests by which we may judge of Christian
character. That man who has no Sabbath,
may very safely be put down as having no
Christian piety. He may be member of the
church but if he regards not Gods Sabbath,
his religion is only morality. 1t may be asked
how are we required to keep the Sabbath ?
God has answered this question. We are to
remember the Sabbath day and to keep it holy
unto the Lord our God We are to abstain
from all worldly labor and worldly pleasure.
We are forbidden to follow our daily avoca-
tions or to engage in sports which might be
lawful on other days. The whole day is to
be spent either in the public or private wor-
ship of God. This God requires Of us. We
may regard it as grievous burden, but God
grants it as special privilege. Men of the
world and mere nominal Christians do regard
the Sabbath as a wearisomeness. Back-slid-
den Israel longed that it might be gone, that
they might sell and get gain, but the true
child of God, the growing Christian, delights
in the Sabbath.
In the observance of the Sabbath there are
two extremes. The one is that Pharisaical,
rigorous mode of observance which makes the
day gloomy and religion hateful. This is to
be avoided. The provisions of Gods grace
are never to be presented so as to make them
repulsive The other extreme is devoting the.
day to secular amusements. The implements
of agriculture are laid aside, but the mind is
set upon social reveling. Both extremes are
to be avoided as sinful and dangerous. The
golden mean is the right mode.
There is one feature connected with the
Sabbath which is seldom made an object Of
thought. 1t is the fact that the Sabbath is a
foretaste of Heaven. There remains, the
Scriptures tell us, rest for the people of God.
Properly translated, this sentence would read
thus There remains, therefore, sabbath"
for the people of God. The poet says, ''In
Heaven our Sabbaths shall have no end"
This is, no doubt, true. Heaven will be an
endless Sabbath.
E9S Very much of the desire for rest grows
out of restlesSness, or the want OF satisfaction
and contentment, in situations of Gods prov
idence. Men are not wearied with their work.
but are fretted and tired out with their discon-
tent, and by the feverish spirit that makes
them want something they don't possess. A
proper appreciation of their callings, which
would give them JOY in their labor and
fondness for the objects to which it is devoted,
would cause them to find refreshment in that
which as things are, produce exhaustion.
Many life would be made to bud and blossom
with new vigor, not by being transplanted and
tossed about in an unaccustomed air and
scenery, but by being made to strike it's roots
more deeply in the soil, and to stand more
firmly in it's place.