Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-03-02
SABBATH KEEPING.
LESSON K, FIRST QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, MARCH 5.

Text of the Lesson, Neh. Kill, 15-2o-Mem-
DRY Verses, II, 13-Goiden Text, Ex.
Xxx, documentary by the Rev. ID. d.
Stcarns.
This chapter gives an account Of the dis
cipline of Nehemiah in separating from
Israel the mixed multitude. and in cleans
ing Israel from all strangers with whom
they had become entangled by marriage
Oversees 3, 30). 1t tells also of the discipline
in reference to Sabbath Dissertation, which
is our special lesson for the day; but before
taking this mp consider the dangers of be-
ing entanged and hindered by mixed
multitude. When Israel left Egypt n com
pany of that kind went with them, and
caused them much trouble (Ex xii, IS;
Mum. xi, ~. Much trouble in the church
today arises from the people who are half
and half-the worldly church members
who are neither one thing nor the other.
If any think that the restoration under
Eerubbabcl and the reformation Of Ezra
Ind Nehemiah fulfilled the prophecies con-
corning restoration, let them compare Isa.
xiv, ID, with Neh tx, 36, 81 If any think
that we are now in the millennial age, or
| that the church with her present zeal will
bring that age, let them he honest enough
| to believe what is written, and they will
| surely see chat the Lord Himself must
| come for lsraePs restoration and to intro
duce the millennial age ops. eli, 16; Acts
Iii, 19-2D
Is. "In those day saw in Judah some
| treading wine presses on the Sabbath"
| Then he enumerates their other deeds of
| Sabbath breaking and says that he testi-
fed against them. The Sabbath was insti-
| tuted in Eden before ever sin entered tn $
world, and when God wrote with His f.,ger
the Ten Commandments on two tablets of
stone He said, Remember the Sabbath
day" That man should give unto God
one-seventh of his time is a law from the
beginning and of perpetual obligation.
| IS. There dwelt men of Tyre also, who
sold on the Sabbath unto the children Of
Judah, and in Jerusalem" God gives
His laws to His children because they are
| His children. He gave no laws to Israel
until He had redeemed them from Egypt
No man can be saved by the deeds of the
law, but only by the grace Of God, but be-
ing saved through Jesus Christ, who is the
end of the law for righteousness to every
one that believeth, it is then, and only
then that the righteousness of the law
| can be fulfilled in us who walk not after
the flesh, but after the Spirit Rom. iii, 90,
q; X 4; viii, ~. Those who know not
| God know no Sabbath, but the people of
Judah should have shown the men of Tyre
that they kept holy the Sabbath because
of their God. There can be no trade with
no buyers, and unless the people of Jeru-
salem had bought the men of Tyre had
not sold
II "Then | contended with the mobiles of
Judah and said unto them, What evil
thing is this that We do and profane the
Sabbath days. In verse IL we read that
He contended with them because they had
forsaken the house of God. The house of
God was Israers center, and the laws of
God their especial delight, if they were
Israelites indeed; but they were prone to
forsake His house and despise His word
Oh Chron. xxxvi, I6), and for this they went
to Babylon. Now that they have returned
from captivity and left their idols their
hearts still wander from God and His laws.
And so it was long after, in the days of
Malachi, when they robbed God in tithes
and offerings and said that it was vain to
serve God (Alal. iii, 9, IA.
IS. Did not our fathers thus' Yet We
bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning
the Sabbath" Although Judgment had
oyertaken their fathers, yet they continue
in the same sins. for not until the Ethio-
plan can change his skin and the leopard
his spots can those do good who are aCcus-
toned to do evil der. xiii, 23). AN empty
man will get understanding when wild
ass colt is born n man. Job XII, IL, r. V,
margin). Nothing will make man what
he ought to be, but new heart, birth
from above, and this is new creation ac.
complished by the word and the spirit OF
God. 1t is the gift of God (Ezek. xxxvi
26), and nothing can deprive one of it but
refusal to receive.
10. and some of my servants set at
the gates that there should be no burden
brought in on the Sabbath day" There is
such thing As compelling law breakers tC
be obedient and if our city rulers had ths
spirit of Nehemiah there would not be the
Sabbath desecration which is increasingly
and alarmingly prevalent in all our cities
God will hold our rulers responsible for all
that they can prevent Of evil and do not
But TO be personal there are such com
mands as these for believers. "Iet us lay
aside every weight and the sin which dotl
so easily beset us" Let us cleanse our
selves from all filthness of the flesh anc
spirit" Put off the old man, with his
deeds" (Iieb. xii, /; II Cor. vii, /; Col. iii
81. And these we are bound to obey if w,
would know in our daily life anything Of
the meaning of true sabbath rest.
20. so the merchants and sellers of al
kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem
once or twice" The perseverance of til,
doors of evil ought to put to shame the fol
lowers of Jesus. Those who desire to dt
away with the Sabbath are ofttimes NOR,
iunited and persevering than those wh'
.fbear the name of Jesus and ought to stanC
for His holy day. Oh, to be filled Will
the Spirit OF God and have at heart the in
terests of His kingdom,
81. From hat time forth came they n,
more OH the Sabbath He testified agains
them and threatened to lay hands on them
then they saw that he meant it, and de
sisted. We Live in the Nineteenth century
IN the most advanced period Of the world
history, but where are the Nehemiahs, ant
the Daniels, and the men who have a
heart above all things the honor and glor,
of God? TO come again TO the topic of
little while ago-the Sabbath is the sou
of n believer-we will not know it un
til we stand as decidedly against every he
setting sin and every phase Of the self lif