Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-11-17
NOVEMBER 20.
Lesson e.-The Year of Jubilee.
LEvirlous 25, s-i7.

the joyful sound.n-Psalm soi 10.
Central Truth "A glorious season, not
of rest only, but of restoration to all the
blessings of Gods covenant of love,
awaits the true people of Ged.
In the wise arrangement which God
made for his ancient people every sew.
enth day was to be holy unto the Lord.
Six days was man to labor, but the sew.
enth was to be a Sabbath of rest. In
like manner every seventh year was TO
be Sabbatical year. Six years the peo-
pie we're to sow aud reap. but on the
seventh the usual sounds of husbandry
were TO cease. And. so again, at the end
of "seven Sabbaths OF years." or of
"seven times seyen," they were to keep
yet another sacred season, the ''year of
Jubilee The command ran; "Ye
shall hallow the fiftieth year; it shall
be a jubilee unto you" In the good
purpose of God this was to be great
and joyful year in the life of Israel"
1t is worth noticing that not only was
il ushered in with trumpets, but the
trumpet used was not the ordinary
long, straight, silver trumpet of other
festivals. IL was one curved after the
manner of a rams horn and more
startling and impressive in its sound,
the same as that used at the giving Of
the law at Sinai. before the walls OF
jericho, in sounding the alarms OF war
and in calling solemn assemblies. And
so it signified that the JOY TO which it
called was not that Of hilarity, but more
deep and religious, attempered with
that awe which ought to be felt in the
thought of the presence of God.
Then it is to be observed that it be-
gan on the tenth day of the seventh
month-on "the Day of Atonement."
Doubtless il was at evening, after the
solemn services of the day were over,
that the joyful peal OF the far-sounding
horn began. And il is most significant
that this, the best Of all the years,
should always open in this way. First
of all the sins of priest and people
must be removed by the blood of expi.
alton. And so we are again reminded.
as we have so often been ia these Old
Testament lessons, that Precipitation and
reconciliation must 20 before to prepare
the way for all blessings. That JOY may
be unmixed and complete there must
first be peace with God. II is only as
sin is expiated, pardoned. borne far
away. that we can hope to enter
Heaven.
Three things particularly marked the
year. In the trst place it was q time of
emancipation to the enslaved, "Ye shall
proclaim liberty throughout all the
land, unto all the inhabitants thereof"
From every Israelite who bad "waxen
poor" and sold himself as an hired ser.
want the proclamation lifted the weight
of bondage. In the second place it was
a time when they should return every
man unto his possession" He whom
the pressure of poverty had compelled
to part with the family estate regained
the lost inheritance. The exile from
the home of bis fathers could now re.
turn. There was no injustice in this ar.
rangement, for as appears in the latter
part of the lesson the price paid for
possession" was always according to
the number of years after the Jubilee"
and before the next. In the third place
the year was to be one OF entire rest
from every kind of toll in the fields.
They were not SOW or reap, to gather in
the grapes or to prune the vineyards.
This does not mean that the fruits or
grains which had grown without sowing
were to be left to go 10 waste, but that
they were not TO be claimed by the own.
ers of the soil. The poor and the stran-
ger might claim them. Nor does il
mean that the people we're to be wholly
idle. That would have made the year
n curse. Portions of the time were to
be spent in religious observances they
had also 10 look after their sheep and
cattle as at other times; and, since the
labor forbidden was that OF husbandry,
a "good portion OF their time would be
occupied with the repair Of their houses,
implements Of husbandry and domestic
furniture, and in weaving and the vari.
Gus other economical arts"
What, now, was the purpose Of ell
this? What good ends could be served
by it7 No doubt these were partly sec.
ular and partly moral and religious.
One reason, no doubt, had respect TO
the soil. This needed rest. Those were
days in which nothing was known OF the
rotation of crops" And the soil of the
land 10 which Israel was going uas one
which, more than that of many other
places, would need periodical rest. Then
it is easy TO see the advantages OF the
regulations respecting the recovery OF
possessions and freedom. They were
well suited to sperpetuate equality !"
make it impossible to be born 70 abso-
lutte poverty retain the IsraeIites in
their own land by cutting of poverty,
the great cause OF emigration encour.
age marriage secure a better cultiva.
tion of the soil and strengthen the
spirit Of patriotism" These were great
and sufficient reasons.
But there were others Of higher na.
ture, and we have learned that God IL.
ways had respect TO these. God would
keep the people in mind that the earth
and the fulness thereof are his. lie
made and preserves all things. and has
a right TO dispose OF them as he will.
Mans right and property in them are
limited be has what he has IS = loan.
OF this God would keep him in mind /,
partly 70 bind him in humble depen.
depce to himself. and partly 20 restrain