The Progress. (Shreveport, La.) 1892-1900, 1897-02-20

can DC gulluy pollurlng tl,e sacred YES
sells of the temple and carrying them away
r. Rabylon The sacred vessels In the toni
nile at Jerusalem were the cups and plates
of gold and silver with which the rites
and ceremonies were celebrated. The lay
ing of heather hands upon them ana the
carving them off as spoils was an I'M
bounded offense to the Lord of the temple.
Vet acknowledgements committed this very
sacrileee Though that wicked king Is
gone. the sins he inaugurated walk up and
down the earth, cursing 1T from century to
century. The SIN OF desecra5lhg sacred
things is committed by those who on sac
ramental day take the communion cup,
while their conversation and deeds NIL
show that they live down In Babylon
How solemn is the sacrament! 1t Is n time
for vows, a time for repentance, time 1or
faith. Sinai stands near, with Its fire split
clouds, and Calvary with Its victim. Inc
Holy Spirit broods over the scene ana me
glory of heaven seems to gather In the
sanctuary Vile indeed must that man De
Who will come in from his Idols and unrc-
rented follies to take hold OF the sacred
vessels Of the temple. O thou Nebuchad-
| nezzar! Back with you to Babylo
Those also desecrate sacred Things VINO
use the Sabbath for any other than reli-
| oious purposes. This holy day was let
| down from heaven amid the intense secu-
| larities Of the week to remind us that VIC
| arc immortal and to allow us preparation
for an endless state Of happiness 1t is d
| green spot in the hot desert OF this worlo
that gushes with fountains and waves
with palm trees This is the time to shake
the dust from the robes of our piety ana III
the tents Of Israel sharpen our SWORDS Ior
, future conflict. Heaven, that seems so lar
off on other days, alights upon tho earth'
| and the song of heavenly choirs and tho
hosanna of the white robed seem to min
' ole with our earthly worship. We hear the
. wailing infant of Bethlehem, and the nam
= mer stroke of the Carpenter s weary son I'D
81 Nazareth, and the prayer of Gethscmahe,
8 and the bitter cry of Golgotha glory po
unto tho Lord of the Sabbath! With thai
one day in seven God divides this greas
:; sea of business and gayety, SO that dry shoa
= we may pass between the worldly busl'
ness Of the past and the worldly business
4 Of the future.
But to many the Sabbath comes only a.
q day for neighborhood visiting field ram
bling. hotel lounging and political caucus
ing, This glorious Sabbath, which was IN
tended only as q golden chalice from Whlch
;, the thirsty should drink, Is this momeh,
~ being carried down to Babylon. 90 no.
~ exauperate the truth when I say that Il
~ tens of thousands there is no distinction
=, | between the Sabbath and the weekdays
~ except that on the Lords day they do no
work, while they eat moro largely ana ols
es sipate more thoroughly. Sabbath breaker
~ are like hunters who should compel Jhei
10 =. hounds to take rest while themselves con
,'o tinue on the weary chase, for men on Tn
~ Sabbath allow their bodies, which ar
,rs merely the animal nature, sufficient re
W. pose while their immortal nature, VINO
Nv, should be fed and refreshed Is comPeAe
ost to chase up and down this worlds h1gl
No way. How shameful to rob God OF his da!
or. when he allows men SO much lawful az
I auisition, even of a worldly nature, on tt
oh. Sabbath, for, although men themselves ~
:, . commanded, to rest the corn, and the whe.
~. and the grass grow just as rapidly on I'll
,'n Sabbath as on other days, SO that VIII
a,s they sit in the sanctuary they are actual
,ah becoming richer in worldly thingsl VIM
you are doing nothing your bonds III
.ote mortgages are ali accommodating 1n'ere
de- ZOE your esI'0e j'. ~ n,,th ~. year n
hat Gays. Mel iiifou ~ .io 30, ,vLiio ouj
.sh. RECEIVING Juso us AuAoh ""e - ,.or