The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1897-02-24

heaven are reflected from the waters OF
the earth, even so Gods great and mag
nificcnt purposes are reflected back from
the boiling sea Of human passion and
turmoil. As the voice Of a sweet song
uttered among TIE mountains may be
uttered back from the cavernous LONE
of wild beast ard rocks split and thun-
der scared, so the great harmonlcs OF
Gods providence are rung back from
the darkest caverns of this sin struck
earth. Scnnachcrib and Abimelcch
and HcrCd and Judas and Nero and
Nebuchadnczzar, though they struggled
like beasts unbroken to the load, were
put into yoke, where they were COM
PEELED to help draw ahead Gods great
projects CT mercy.
Again, let Us learn the 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 ard silver with which
the rites and ceremonies were celebrat-
ed. The laying Cf heather hands upon
them and the carrying them eff as spolls
were an unEoundcd Cffense to the Lord
of the temple Yet Nebuchadnezzar
committed this very sacrilege. Though
that wicked king is gone, the sins Re in
augurated walk up ard down the earth,
cursing it from century to century. The
sin Of desecrating sacred things is COM
mitted by those who on sacramental
day take the communion cup, while
their conversation ard deeds all show
that they live down in Babylon. How
solemn is the sacrament! 1t is time
for vows, time for repentance, time
for faith. Sinai stands near with its
fire split clouds and Calvary with its
victim. The Holy Spirit broods over the
nses,JSsesss-alseyor cory q heaven seems to
gather in the sanctuary. Vile indeed
must that man be who will come in
from his idols and unrcpented follies to
take hold of the sacred vessels Of the
temple. o thou Nebuchadnezzar! 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
ularities of the week to remind US that
we are Immortal and to allow US prep
aration fer an endless state of happl-
ness 1t is green spot III the hot desert
of this world that eushes with fountains
and waves with palm trees. This Is the
time to shake the dust from the robes Of
our piety and in tie tents Of Israel
sharpen our swords for future conflict.
Heaven, that seems so far off on other
DAYS alights upcn 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
wailing 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 be unto the Lord Of the Sabbath!
With that one day in seven GCd 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 ncishborhood visiting, field
rambling, hotel lounging and political
caucusing. This glorious Sabbath, which
was intended only as a golden challce
from which the thirsty should drink, is
this moment being carried down to
Babylon. I do not eXaggerate the truth
when I 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 more
thoroughly. Sabbath breakers are like
hunters who should compel their hounds
to take rest while themselves continue
Oh 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 Ct worldly ia
ture, on the Sabbath, for, although men
themselves are commanded to rest, the
corn and the wheat and the grass grow
Just as rapidly on the Sabbath as on
other days, so that while they sit in the
sanctuary they are actually becoming
richer in worldly things. Whileyou 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 rccclv-
ing Just as much wages while quiet on
the Sabbath as they are the hard work
ing weekday No. say how unuttera-
bly, mean it is, when God is adding tc
your worldly estate on the Sabbath as GER
tainlv 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
ly occupation frequently seems to be di-
yidcd into sections Of six days each:
Every week we have just enough
work gi,cn us to do i'll six days. God
makes lust enough breaks in our cOntin-
uous occupations to thrust Ill the Sab
bath. If your have not before noticed,
observe hereafter that when Saturday
! night comcs there is almost always a
good stopping place i'll your business.
All things secular and spiritual in prov
idence and revelation seem to say, Re
member the Sabbath day to keep it
holy" When the six days of creation
had passed, Gcd stopped working. Not
even pure flower or white cloud
would he make, because it was the Sab