The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-11-15
SABBATH OBSERVANCE.

DEUr. 5:12-Keep the Sabbath day
to sanctify it, as the Lord thy God
hath commanded thee.
The Sabbath beyond question is OF
divine and very ancient origin; and
after the gnawing tooth of time shall
have crumbled the many places OF
note to dust, the Sabbath shall be.
Eden was blessed with the Sabbath
and with the marriage relation. The
man who strikes either strikes at
much that is holiest in the sentiment
J of the best men and women, and at
much that is dearest to God. Palsied
the hand that would lift itself against
the Sabbath Of God. God gave law
by which the people were to be govern
ed. A law is rule prescribed by a
superior, or principle by which a
thing is regulated, and is based on the
principle of right. When Moses had
the law read 10 the people they said;
Amen, which meant, we submit to it.
And it has been the purpose OF God
always to maintain testimony tor
truth and righteousness in the midst
of this ungodly world. In other words
he made an example Of many for a
warning to all succeeding generations,
and has not left us without warning
and example. In the days OF Moses
there was man found gathering sticks
on the Sabbath day. and God had him
stoned to death. Nun. 1892, and
Jeremiah 1921 say: "Take heed to
yourselves and bear no burden on the
Sabbath day And in Ex. 2O:lO:
that thy son, thy daughter, manser-
want, maidservant, and thy cattle, and
thy stranger that is within thy gates
are forbidden to work on the Sabbath.
Neb. 1915 says: I testified aga4-st
them that sold victuals on the Sab
bath day; all Of which [ understand to
mean for the sake Of the money that
is in the business are these things for
bidden. I do not find in Gods word
where he authorized man to revoke
his law. Christ said he came not to
destroy the law, but to fulfill. Paul
said Of Christ that he is the end OF
the law, etc. Mind you, the keeping
of the law is not question OF saliva
tion, but Of service; or, in other words,
we show our respect to God by the
way we treat His commandments.
The Sabbath was made for man, hence
is blessing to him. And God pre-
ceded man in keeping it, for we find
that in the beginning he made Heaven
and earth in six days and rested on
the seventh, leaving an example for
man. Man needs rest. 1t is God S
day, and he lifts up his voice and
says, Stop and rest. And if man
takes God day he takes that which
does not belong to him. Happy is
that land and blessed is that home
where God is loved and honored by
keeping His Sabbath. Kingdoms
have risen and fallen, but the Sabbath
hath still been kept in memory aud
man has had some inclinations to
follow his Makers example, though it
has been to many more of holiday
than holy day, and often much desc
Grated. This point I desire to men
tion more particularly. The Sabbath
Lis a memorial of the resurrection OF
Christ; hence it should not be day OF
gloom, but day Of joy, gladness,
praise and thanksgiving-a day to
feast on God s Book. Was there ever
such book? See how full Of wisdom
and love Look at ii on bended knee
and find Heaven between its pages.
God took great care to make 1t, but
man does not take much time to read
and search it. In reading it our minds
are taken away from the world and
from earthly care. Many observe the
Sabbath merely as custom, and not
because God saith so; hence it is kept
in loose way. We are wasting much
time on the Sabbath day, when there
is so much good to be done. Souls are
neglected; Church and Sabbath-school
not attended. And probably we pre-
vent others from attending by visiting
them. If at Church, they are there
on business, and while they sit in the
Church their minds are tar away,
making plans for which they are anx-
ious Monday should come to put IN
practice. The Sabbath is day es-
pecially to feast on Gods Word, and
not on the news Of the day. God
said Take six days for business, but