Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-12-28
kEEPlNG THE SABBATH,
new +. w. Merrelrs Sermons on
the Commandments.
me Fourth or the Series Delivered
Large Cor gre,.a,I.n at the
first M. f.. Chureh La Eve.
ninfi- Outline sf the
Discourse

msnoment as presented by the pastor,
Rev +. w. Merrell The choir rendered
TWO beautiful anthems The text was
from Exodus, 20:S II:
Remember the Sabbath day 10 keen it ho,v
There is no question Of greater impor-
lance before the people today, said the
speaker. than that presented in this
Fourth Commandment. The most sega
cious statesmen regard the Sabbath as of
vital importance to the perpetuity or
our government. There are many iudi.
cations that the peop'e are awakening to
the fact that the Sabbath is basal to the
work OF the Christian church, which in
It's turn as concern of public morals, is
fundamental to free and popular gov
eminent. Men of all creeds are uniting
to secure proper Sabbath observance.
The subject gathers fresh interest from
its correction with the approaching COL
umoian exposition. It appears to be
foregonc conclusion, that even if the
Worlds Fair is not closed on the Sab
bath, at least the machinery will be at
rest, and thus practices ~ wide distinc,
ton will be put between the Sabbath and
other days. In simple self respect the
United States should see that American
institutions are not treated with con
tempt. The Sabbath, as observed IN this
country, has obtained the name of the
American Sabbath, as distinguished from
the Cont mental or holiday Sabbath. Oar
government owes it to 1er institutions to
see to il that the American Sabbath pre-
walls in the Worlds Fair in Chicago.
The commandment tefore us begins
with new word, Remember " 1t evil
! IDENTIFY calls attention TO an institution
alre, dy existing. TIE Sabbath is as old
us the creation of man. 1t was re- en-.
acted at Sinai and re-enacted by our
Saviour. 1t is of p rpetusl obligation.
l. Let us ask whaL is the Sabbath
The word primarily meas rest" a
seventh day of rest after six days of toll d.
| Provided there were no change in the
day, we could count back by sevens to
| ) mai and TO creations morn. But the
| objection is offered that we are not keep
| ing this com msndment, inasmuch
as we are observing the first day instead
| of the seventh day. Answer-This cam
not be proved Many learned man affirm
! that Sunday is the old jewish seventh day
| Diners /, firm that the cay was changed
! at Sinai. and that Christ and the apostles
| in keeping Sunday referred to the crea.
tive Sabbath The common >eiief is
| that Christ or the apostles changed the
| day from the seventh to the 6rst to com
mt morste the resurrection, and to put a
| difference between Christi ms and others
! Absolute agreement in the time OBJ
served is impossible from the fact that
I the earth revolves. The universal COM
mon sense of mankind regards the spirit
! of this commandment as setting apart
one sc venth o. our time unto God. The
! important thing is uniformity. Even
| Jews are coming TO see this, ana are
| changing to Sunday il some instances.
| | have no sympathy with seventh -dsv
! sgitstors, and believe It is an evidence of
| lack OF sound sense in religious matters.
2. How does God require the Sab
bath TO be kept?
|
| We have seen that this is the primary
idea of the word itself. The command
ment requires cessation from ordinsr y
toll 1t was enforced in the wilderness
by the absence of mama on the Sab
bath. 1t was enforced by some penal
ties. 1t applied to the whole family aud
all connected. But sre there no excep-
lions to this rule? Yes
First, Works of mercy. Christ broke
this, the traditions of the Jews and
healed on the Sabbath day.
Second, Works of necessity, caring for
man and beast. Christ illustrated and
| enforced his truth The Sabbath was
| made for man, and not man for the Sab
bath.
But these exceptions are not TO Dullify
the commandment altogether. Strong
temptations to break the Sabbath come
TO many people, TO the liveryman whose
pest day" is usually Sunday; to the
barber whose customers, many of them
Christian people, ask him to work on
Sunday, which he feels compelled 10 do
or lose custom; to merchants who are led
to keep open to catch certain class OF
trade, and thus bring strong pressure
upon all mercantile houses to throw open
their places of business in order to get
their fair share of trade, and so this
might be extended to nearly all classes
of business What is he remedy? Chris
tian people ought % see to 1t that
they are not snare to business men who
need a Sabbath as much as any class OF
working men. Further, the speaker be-
lieved that God would honor those who
kept the Sabbath strictly, because he has
promised so TO do. No man probably
ever failed in business because he kept
the Sabbath. Such case is yet to bs
recorded in history. But many illustra'
lions could be given of those who have
failed because they die not keep the Sab
bath.
The Sabbath is also to be observed as {
day of worship. lis to be kept holy.
1t is not SO kept by making il day o
rest simply. a sluggard s day Bible CALI
it day of holy corvocations. 1t II