The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-05-28
THE HOLY DAY.
The Sabbath One Of Gods Best Gifts to
Man-The Phenomenon Of the Uncon-
Stunning Fire-sabbath Keeping
vs.. Sabbath Dissertation.
PRESBYTERIAN cHuRcH.

10 man. 1t is 1.-THE pearl Of days. It
should be hallowed in our hearts and by
our actions. All the divine requirements
concerning it should be- saCrediy kept.
Before considering the spirit In which il
should be obst rived notice these intro
ductory propositions,
/. God is sovereign. We are his sub
jects. The bible teaches this. History
confirms it. Conscience acknowledges it,
2. Our God is a gracious sovereign.
He loves those whom he rules. 'sIhe
Lord is good to all and his tender
mercies are over all Eis works"
3. God gave his ancient people d Sab
bath law among other laws which
although positive and rigid in its re
quiremen,s was salutary 10 it's effects.
This law was a '.schoolmaster' TO lead
them TO Christ's higher law OF liberty in
Sabbath keeping. That people were ig-
norant. They needed Instruction, they
we're rebellious, they needed q master.
They were sinful-they needed a vision
OF the Divine holiness. They wer way
w~ard-they needed loving leadership.
A. But they put too great emphasis
upon details Of The Sabbath law. They
kept the letter and violated the spirit of
it. The Pharisees SO interpreted this
law as to put heavy burdens upon those
would not obey 1t.
8. CHRIST taught . higher Sabbath
Law, viz: That ''the sabbath was male
for man and not man for the Sabbath"
st. Paul represents the detailed require
ments Of Mosaism to be but the shadow
the substance, i. .. the permanent and
eternal law of The Sabbath is laid down
by Christ. lCol. ii.16)
g. Christ intends hat the weekly
rest day shall minister to mans highest
physical, intellectual spiritual needs.
One of these needs is rest. rest for The
tired body, rest for the wearied and
worried spirit, Cease from toll, then, on
the holy Sabbath. Close store and Office.
Lay down hammer and saw. Shut
school books. Let the business letter
which Saturday night cannot finish wait
until the jaded body has had its Sabbath
rest and the jangling nerves have grown
steadier under the touch of the haIiow-
ing influences Ut Gods day.
Another OF our human needs is wor-
ship. This, too, is rest, it is the repose
Of the spirit. IL is the opening up OF
the heart TO God In confession, in graft
tnde, in alteration. Ii is the deepest
want in the soul OF man.
Lnsuch a frame OF mind was ut. John
when be beheld these wonderous visions
recorded in the book vi Revelation. "I
Was IN the the spirit on the Lords day. :
La harmony with The eternal laws which
God has deeply engraved upon the
material and spiritual nature of man,
that Is the true spirit OF Sabbath observ-
ance. When body and spirit are keyed
to the o vi heaven by loving
obedience to and communion with Christ
all secular avocations aud all worldly
pleasures will make only jangling dis
cord.
M. T.. CHURCH.
Morning theme. 1Ihe burning basl:.''
Text, Exodus ill., La tins remarkable
phenomenon OF the -unconsumlng lire
in the thorny bush or Horeb, there
shines forth many wonderful and en-
couraging truths. among them the
following:
l.. Divine condescension. The scrip
ture records a Dumber OF instan COS in
which God appeared in fire. He now
selects, not a tall and stately cedar, but
q thorny, scrubLy bush, perhaps To Illus
trate the thorny, humble ilts OF the
Israelltes IN Egypt and yet With God ~
their midst. these divine appearances
are maryels. David expresses wonder
in his d~edicatory prayer; But Will God
indeed dwell upon the earth! Behold,
the heaven and heaven OF heavens a u
not contain thee; how much less this
house llilG / hav Duilded!' But these
appearances are not the most astonlsh-
ing evidences Of divine condescenslon;
the incarnation SURPRISES them ali. .For
verify, no took not on him the nature Vt
angels; but be took on him the seed of
Abraham" I'll emade himself OF no repu
t~ation," etc. He condescended to appear
I'm the likeness OF sinful tiesh," that hs
might raise man To the likeness sof God.
I. Divine communication. God has
come down from heaven Il talk with
Mosesl Favored Mosesl But q hundred
fold more favored are we, ii We only real
lied II. Communication was not forever
closed with this experience or the siep-
ard OF MidiaD. Did you aver stand upon
the principal street or i great city, and
look UP aud bshold the network of
wires? Topographic and telephone com
nunicationsy Multipiy these by the
highest known number Ia notation, and
you have moi exceeded in your first