The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1897-02-24

Holy Spirit broots over the scene, and
the glory OF heaven seems 20 gather
in the sanctuary. Vile indeed must
that man be who will come in from
his idols and unrepented foliles to
take hold OF the sacred vessels OF the
temple. 0 thou Nebuchadnezzsr!
Back with you to Babylon.
Those also desecrate sacred things
who use the Sabbath for any other
than religious purposes. This holy
day was lei down from amid. the in
tentense seculari!ies OF the week 10 re.
mind US that we are immortal and 10
allow Us preparation for an endless
state OF happiness. 1t is green spot
in the ho! desert Of this world that
pushes with fountains aud waves with
palm trees. This IS the time to shake
the dust from the robes OF cur plety
aud in he tents OF Israel sharpen our
swords for future conflict. Heaven,
that seems so far Off on other days.
aligh,S upon the earth, and the song
of heavenly choirs and Ike hoSanna Of
the white robed seem TO mingle with
our earthly worship. We hear the
wailing infant of Bathlahem, and the
banner stroke Of the Carpenters
weary son in Nazareth, ana the prayer
of Gethsemane, aud the bitter cry OF
Golgotha. Glory beunto the Lord OF
the Sabbath. With that one day III
seven God divides this great sea OF
business and gayety, 50 that dry shod
We NAV pass between the worldly
business Of the past and the worldly
business OF the future.
But to many the Sabbath comes
only Is day for neighborhood visit
iue, field rambling, hotel lounging
aud political caucusing. This glori
ous Sabbath, which was intended
only as a golden chalice from which
the thirsty should drink, is this no
uent being carried down to Babylon.
l do not exaggerate the truth when I
say that to tens of thousands there IS
no distinction between the Sabbath
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 them
selves continue on the weary chase,
for men on the Sabbath allow their
bodies, which are merel y the animal
nature, sufficient repose, while their
immortal nature, which should be
fed and refreshed, is compelled to
chase up and down this worlds high
way. How shameful to rob God OF
his day, when he allows men so much
lawful acquisition, even OF a worldly
nature, 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 Sab
bath as on other days, so that while
| they sit in the sanctuary they are ac'
tuaIly becoming richer in worldly
things! While you ere doing nothing
your bonds and mortgages are all
accommodating interest for your es-
tate Just as fast as on other days.
Men hired by the month or year are
receiving just as much wages while
quiet on the Sabbath as they are the
harkworking weekday. No, l. say
how unutterably mean it is, when
| |Gcd is adding to your worldly estate
on the Sabbath as certainly 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
worldly occupation frequently seems
to be divided into sections Of six days
each?
| Every week we have just enough
work given US to do in six days. God
makes Just enough breaks in our con-
tinuous occupations to thrust in the
| Sabbath. If you have no. before no
| ticed, observe hereafter that when
| Saturday night comes there is almost
always a good stopping place in your
business. All things secular and splr-
| itual in providence and revelation
seem to say, Remember the Sabbath
day to keep it holy" When the six
days of creation had passed, God stop
| ped working. Not even a pure flower
i or white cloud would he make, be-
cause if was the Sabbath, and, giving
an example to all future times, he
rested.
He who breaks the Sabbath not
| more certainly robs God than robs
| himself. Inevitably continuous desc
craticn of the sacred day ends either
in bankruptcy or destroyed health.
8 great merchant said, Had it not
| been for the Sabbath I have no doubt
l should have been a maniac long
ago" This remark was made in q
company Of merchants, and one OF
them said: THAT corresponds with
the experience of my friend, great
importer. He often said, The Sab.
bath is the best day of the week to plan
successful voyages He has for years
been in an insane hospital and will
probably die there
Those also repeat the sin of Nebu-
chadnezzar who in any way desecrate
| the Holy Scriptures. There are men
who use the word of God as an inslru.
ment of angry controversy. Bigots
at heart and zealots, in the advocacy
of their religious peculiarities they
meet other sects with the fury OF a
| highwayman, thrusting them through
and through with what they consider
the sword OF the Spirit. 1t is won
der to me that some men were not
made with horns to hook with, and
hoofs to kick with, and with claws to
grab with. What Christ said to rash
| Peter when he struck off the ear OF
Malchus he says to every controver-
sialist, "Putup again thy sword into
its place, for al they that take the
sword shall perish with the sword. "
Rev. William Jay met country
man who said to him: Il was ex-
tremely alarmed this morning, sir.
1t was very foggy, and l was going
down to lonely place, and I thought
saw a strange monster. It seemed
in motion, bu. could not discern its
form. I did rot like to turn back,