Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1879-02-03

all these evils were very closely allied
the dissertation of the Lords house leads
to the violation of the Sabbath. And |
all in turn began by their contracts with
heather nations. Nehemiah's protest
against the third evil, the dissertation of
the Sabbath, is the subject of our lesson
to-day.
In those days: an indefinite note of |
time, referring generally to the period
when he (Nehemiah) had elected Tobiah
and re-established the Levites' tithes
oversees 7-l3); it sounds as if this ac
count was written some time after the
event happened, perhaps IN the quiet
closing days of the governors life. 1
testified against them: | rebuked them,
or bore them witness that they were do
ing wrong. The Tyrio'as da0eL there:
that is, in the city, Jerusalem. Devoted
to commerce, they had formed little
settlement in Judea for the sale of their
merchandise, fish (they were maritime
people,, and other things. I contended
a0iM the MOBILES Of Judah: He contended,
had an argument, probably not in court,
but with exercise of his official authorl-
ty. 1t appears that the aristocracy and
leaders Of the people shared in the vio-
lation of the Sabbath; it was training
of the people in the law, that Nehemiah
had in hand. He appeals to their own
knowledge of the fact that their profan-
ing of the Sabbath-day was an evil thing
Did not yo1r fathers hass2 jeremiah
makes similar statement DER. 27 49,
81. especially verse 23), charging the
Gathers Chat is. former generations,
as here) with neglect Of the Sabbath, de-
nouncing punishment in the future for
its neglect, and offering reward for its
observance. So also Isa So: Is, IA.
In spite of the evil results of Sabbath
violation the present generation was con-
tinuing the offense of the forefathers,
and thus bringing more wrath on Israel.
When the gates of Jerusalem acre dark !:
that is. when it was dark at the gates,
when the evening drew on. This is de-
scribed as being before the Sabbath, that
is, just before the Sabbath began. The
merchants +. lodged a0ithout Jerusalem ::
In the open field without the walls Of
city, perhaps, they pitched their tents
and opened their packs, hoping to sell
their wares on the Sabbath-day to the
country people, though they could not
get admittance into Jerusalem. I COM
manded the Levites that they should cleanse
themselves and keep the gates Nehe-
miah thought that the Levites would be
more appropriate keepers of the city gates
on the Sabbath-day than his servants,
for whom he, no doubt, had other uses.
The Levites were therefore ordered to
cleanse themselves, that is, to purify
themselves from ceremonial uncleanness,
and come and attend to guarding the
gates on the Sabbath-day as religious
duty, as indeed it was; for it was to
sanctify the Sabbath day, to keep it sa-
cred, to save it from violation and pro
fanation by the traficklng of the people.
SCRIPTURE PROOFS CONCERNING THE
SABBATH.
God rested on the seventh day: Gre
ation) Gen. 90.
Because he finished his work: Gen.
2:3.
He made the Sabbath for man: Gen.
2:2, 3; Mark 2:27.
He commanded to keep it holy: Ex
20: 8, IL.
First day Jesus rested: New Creation
Heb. 4 10.
The Sabbath was changed to the frs
day of the week by apostolic sanction, il
commemoration of the Lords resurrec
} ton, which was an event more glorious
than the completion of creation.-Joh1
20: 10, 20; Acts 90: Z; l Cor. Is
2; Rev. |: 10.
God honored the day by raising Jesu
from the dead: Mark l6: 8, Rom. l
A; by the gift of the Holy Ghost, Act
Il, q so that the dispensation of tn
Spirit began, and the Christian churcl
was formed on that day.