The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1886-11-04

] the authority of the Christian Church
tits of Christian obligation.
Now Moses, Gods great embassa-
dor to the Jews, commemorated with
the day the chiefest event in Jewish
national history-the exodus; and
the Apostles, Christ's great embassa-
doris to the Christian church, com
memorated the chiefest event in the
church's spiritual history-the res
direction of her Lord. Thus was the
day changed. And it may be truly
said that the Jewish Sabbath was
entombed with Jesus, while the light
of the Resurrection Day, Sunday,
came into existence with its Rising
Lord.
The Sabbath represented the birth
of nations hope. Sunday, the
Lords Day, the birth of a worlds
faith.
But where is the record of the
changes?
For those who must have an ipse
dirit-a "Thus saith the Lord for
every christian observance-as some
do you know for infant baptism for
example-this is a startling question.
But it is needlessly SO. The greater
part of the New Testament is a re-
cord of what the Christian church
did under divine authority and con-
sequently the notice of the change
appears as the effect of command
the record of a fact.
On this day the apostles assembled,
(see Jno. 20, 26), on this day st.
Paul preached (see Acts 20: y. 1t
is the day for special service and
aims giving (see LIST Cor. IS: p And
these other examples that might be
produced, follow upon Christ's rising
upon the first day of the week.
The authority of the change is the
same creative word which spoke the
heavens and earth and sea and their
inhabitants into being. For those
who knew by personal acquaintance
and inspiration, his will, perpetuated
it in His own kingdom.
But its moral obligation has never
ceased. 1t is yet while perfectly
concentrating the resurrection, a
day sanctifed and set apart for rest
and religious culture.
Rest, we know, is change of occu-
patton; but it is neither change to
hurtful or pro6tless occupation, nor
any that may be prejudicial to reli-
gious culture; neither to be taken at
the expense OF the same.
And we are to beware rather of an
abuse of the religious liberty which
this day affords, than of two strin-
gent regard for it.
While we are not yet misusing the
day according to the idea of "a CONT
mental Sunday we are neither now
inflicted with many puritanical alb
surd exactments.
1t should be full of holy joy; for it
is not melancholy day; is it not
apt to be so looked upon by any ex-
cept those who are afflicted with un-
fortunately dyspeptic views of the
christian religion.
The church has left no loop-hole
of excuse for ignorance of or lack of
means for religious culture. She
has besought man to hear the word
Of God, and unite with her children
in their service of prayer and praise
she holds her doors wide open and
bids all enter, and feel that they are
in Gods House where they may re.
ceive the benefits of His mercy and
find home-a home in which they
may receive knowledge Of their
duty and nourishment for their souls.
Upon us then the fourth command
ment has a peculiarly binding force
and is not dead letter in the sum-
mary OF law as contained in the ten
commandments.
1t claims the right to your obedi-
ence as an universal, moral and phys
ical necessity and an ancient authori-
tative enactment made by the God
Of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and
sanctioned by the Lord, the Bishop
and Shepherd of your souls, even Je-
sus Christ Himself.
1t is our duty on this day to rest
from our everyday labor and to de-
vote it to the culture of our souls.
If we at all realize the vital necessi-
ty and great and awful danger of neg
lect Of this latter duty, we will see
the gravity of the question of church
going. Because in our day, for the
cultivation and education of our
souls, we look very largely, some
times exclusively to the Sunday SER
vices. This is the proper, but not
exclusive place, for receiving such
instruction. Therefore, beware lest
we make it lightmatter. We often
hear it said that church-going does
not constitute piety. No, but it is
conducive to piety-aye, holiness
aye, the cultivation Of our spiritual