Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1897-02-18
TO neIp draw ahead Gods great
projects of mercy.
Dissertation.

compenea TO neIp draw ahead Gods great
projects of mercy.
Dissertation.
Again, let us learn the lesson that men
ean be guilty Of polluting the sacred yes-
sells of the temple and carrying them away
TO Babylon. The sacred vessels in the tenn
pie at Jerusalem were the cups and plates
of gold and silver with which the rites
and ceremonies were celebrated. The lay
ing of heathen hands upon them and the
carrying them off as spoils was an un-
bounded offense to the Lord of the temple.
Yet Nebuchadnezzar committed this very
sacrilege. Though that wicked king is
gone, the sins he inaugurated walk up and
down the earth cursing it from century to
century. The sin of deseerating sacred
things is committed by those who on'sac-
ramental 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 a time
Tor 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 scene, and the
glory of heaven seems to gather in the
sanctuary. Vile indeed must that man be
who will come in from his idols and unre-
pented follies to take hold of the sacred
vessels of the temple. o thou Nebuchad-
nezzar! Back with you to BabylOnl
Those also desecrate sacred things who
hse the Sabbath for any other than reli-
gious purposes This holy day was let
down from heaven amid the intense secu-
larities of the week to remind us that we
are immortal and to allow us preparation
for an endless state of happiness. 1t is a
green spot in 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 In
the tents of Israel sharpen our swords for
future conflict. Heaven, that seems so far
off ON other days. alights upon the earth,
and the song of heavenly choirs and the
hosanna of the white robed seem to min-
gle with our earthly worship. We hear tho
wailing infant of Bethlehem, and the ham
mer stroke of the Carpenters weary son in
Nazareth, and the prayer of Gethsemane,
and the bitter cry of Golgotha. Glory be
unto the Lord of the Sabbath With that
one day in seven God divides this great
sea of business and gayety, so that dry shod
we may pass between the worldly bust
| ness of the past and the worldly business
| of the future.
But to many the Sabbath comes only as
day for neighborhood visiting, field ram
bling, hotel lounging and political caucus
ing. This glorious Sabbath, which was in
| tended only as golden chalice 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 Sabbath and the weekdays,
except that on the Lords day they do not
work, while they cat more largely and dis
| sipate more thoroughly Sabbath breakers
| are like hunters who should compel their
| hounds to take rest while themselves con-
tinue 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 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 ac-
| QUESTION, even of 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
| Sabbath as 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
receiving just as much wages while quiet
on the Sabbath as they are the hardwork-
ing weekday No, say how unutterably
mean it is, when God 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 Sec
tions 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 continuous occupa-
tions to thrust in the Sabbath. If you
have not before noticed, observe hereafter
that when Saturday night comes there is
almost always good stopping place in
| your business All things secular and spir-
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 stopped working. Not
even pure flower or a white cloud would
he make, because it was the Sabbath, and,
giving an example to all future times, he
rested.
The Best of All Days.
He who breaks the Sabbath not more
certainly robs God than robs himself In
evitably continuous desecration of the sa-
cred day ends either in bankruptcy or de-
stroyed health. A great merchant said,
Had it not been for the Sabbath I have
no doubt should have been maniac long
ago." This remark was made in compa-
ny Of merchants, and one Of them said ::
''That corresponds with the experience of
my friend, a great importer. He often
said, THE Sabbath 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 Nebuchad-
nezzar who in any way desecrate the Holy
Scriptures. There are men who use the
Word of God as an instrument of angry
controversy. Bigots at heart and zealots,
in the advocacy Of their religious pecul-
iarities they meet other sects with the
fury of a highwayman, thrusting them
through and through with what they con-
slider the sword of the Spirit 1t is a won
der to me that some men were not made