Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1897-02-20
ACJOMAC c H. VA, SATURDAY FEBRUARY 20 1877

the boiling sea Of human passion lmd
turmoil. As the voice of sweet song
uttered among the mountains may be
uttered back from the cavernous home
of wild beast and rocks split and thun
der SCARED, so the great harmonies Of
Gods providence are rung back from
the darkest caverns of this sin struck
earth. Sennacherib and Abimelech
and Herod and Judas and Nero and
Nebuchadnezzar, though they struggled
like beasts unbroken to the load, were
put into yoke, where they were conf
PEELED to help draw ahead Gods great
projects of mercy.
Again, let us learn tho lesson that
men can be guilty of polluting the sacred
vessels of the temple and carrying them
away to Babylon. The sacred vessels in
the temple at Jerusalem were the cups
and plates Of gold and silver with which
the rites and ceremonies were celebrat-
ed. The laying Of Ecathen hands upon
them and the carrying them off AS spoils
were an unbounded offense to the Lord
Of the temple Yet Ncbuchadnezzar
committed this very sacrilege. Though
thatwickcd king is gone, the sins he in
augurated walk up and down the earth
cursing it from century to century. The
sin of desecrating sacred things is conf
mitted by those who Oh sacramental
day take the communion cup while
their conversation and deeds all show
that they live down in Babylon. How
solemn is the sacrament 1t is time
for vows, q time for repentance, a time
for faith. Sinai stands near with its
fire split clouds and Calvary with its
victim. The Holy Spirit broods over the
scene, and the glory of heaven seems to
gather III the sanctuary Vile indeed
must that man be who will come in
from his idols and unrepented follies to
take hold of the sacred vessels of the
temple O thou Ne5uchadnezzarl Back
with you to Babylon
The Holy Day.
Those also desccrate sacred things
who use the Sabbath for any other than
religious purposes. This holy day was let
down from heaven amid the intense sec
ularitics of the week to remind us that
we arc immortal and to allow us prep
aration for an endless state Of happi-
ness. 1t is green spot III the hot desert
of this world that gushes with fountains
and waves with palm trees. This is the
time to shake the dust from the robes Of
our piety and i'll the tents of Israel
sharpen our swords for future conflict.
Heaven, that seems so far off OH other
days, alights upon the earth, and the
song of heavenly choirs and the hosan-
ma of the white robed seem to mingle
with our earthly worship. We hear the
waiting infant of Bethlehem, and the
hammer stroke of the carpenters weary
son in Nazareth, and the prayer Of Geth-
semane, and the bitter cry Of Golgotha.
Glory DO unto the Lord of the Sabbath
With that one day in seven God divides
this great sea of business and gayety,
that so, dry shod, we may pass between
the worldly business of the past and the
worldly business of the future!
But to many the Sabbath comes only
as day for neighborhood visiting, field
rambling, hotel lounging and political
caucusing This glorious Sabbath, which
was intended only as q golden chalice
from which the thirsty should drink, is
this moment being carried down to
Babylon. do not exaggerate the truth
when say that to tens of thousands
there is no distinction between the Sab
bath and the weekdays except that on
the Lords day they do not work, while
they eat more largely and dissipate moro
Sabbath breakers are like
hunters who should compel their hounds
to take rest while themselves continue
on the weary chase, for men on the
Sabbath allow their bodies, which are
merely the animal nature, sufficient re-
pose, while their immortal nature, which
should be fed and refreshed, is com.
PEELED to chase up and down this worlds
highway. How shameful to rob God Of
his day, when he allows men so much
lawful acquisition, even of aworldly ma
ture, OH the Sabbath, for, although men
are commanded to rest, the
corn and the wheat and the grass grow
just as rapidly on the Sabbath us on
other days, so that while they sit in the
sanctuary they are actually becoming
richer in worldly things. While you are
doing nothing your bonds and mortgages
are all accommodating interest for your
estate just as fast as on other days. Men
hired by the month or year are receiv-
ing just as much wages while quiet on
the Sabbath as they arc the hard work
ing weekday. No, say how unuttera-
bly, mean it is, when God is adding to
your worldly estate on the Sabbath as GER
tainly as on other days, that any should
not be satisfied with that, but attempt
to seize additional secular advantage
from the Lords day. Have you never
noticed the curious fact that our world