The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-09
Mr.. STRONG ON THE SABBATH.
ITS ORIGIN. IT'S HISTORY AND ITS
RESULTS TO MANKIND.

tinn sabbath Two Separate Insti-
tutiOns-The First Originated
with the Mosaic Law-The second
With the Enrsy Christians Who Oh
served the Day in Honor of the
Resurrection of Our LOrd-The
Sabbath the Poor Mans Protection
and Necessary TO the Spiritual and
Physical Welfare of Man.
The institution of the Sabbath was dis
cussed by Rev. Charles H. Strong in his
sermon at ST. Johns Church last night.
His subject was the fourth commandment.
! The sermon was the fourth of the series
which MIR. Strong has delivered upon the
| commandments.
Remember the Sabbath day to keep II
holy" the words which begin the fourth
commandment was the text with which
Mr.. Strong begun his sermon but there
was second text, the words of the Savior.
The Sabbath was made for man." ana it
was the combination of the ideas sugges ted
! by these two texts which gave the ser
mon IFS special interest.
Under the first text MIR. Strong discussed
the ancient Jewish Sabbath and it's Mosaic
origin, together with its results upon the
| lives of that people, as shown in their ma
ional and social life. He alluded TO the
theory that the Sabbath did not originate
with Moses, but was of primeval origin,
having its beginning in general seventh
| day observance of previous times. He
| disagreed with this idea While there
might have been divisions of time by seven
days in use previously by other nations
there was no evidence of the seventh day
having been established as holy day, IN
I'll it was proclaimed by Moses from the
| mount
| Mr.. Strong stated his conclusion very
! decidedly that the present Christian Sab
| bath and the ancient Jewish Sabbath are
TWO distinct Institutions, and of differ
| ent origin. He does not consider the pres
ent Sabbath a continuation of the Jewish
sabbath, nor does he regard it as a sub
| sututlon. There was no Injunction from
Christ or the apostles, he said. making 1t
| Obligatory upon Christians to observe the
| Jewish Sabbath
| Immediately after the resurrection of
| Christ. Mr. Strong said the disciples be-
| gan assembling on the first day of the
| week. evidently in memory of Christs res
| direction upon that day and also to COM
memorate the Lords supper. This Gus
! tom became established among them and
| the day is frequently referred to in scrlp-
| ture as the Lords day. In beginning the
Revelations ST. John says that he was in
| The spirit on the Lords day The observ-
| ance of the first day of the week bv
! the disciples as dedicated to the Lord. Mr.
Strong said, was evidently not by any ex.
press command but simply in remem-
| brance of the living Christ.
The Jewish Christians, Mr. Strong said
| evidently considered it obligatory uDon
themselves TO keep the Jewish Sabbath as
| wen as the Lords day. and mention made
IN the scriptures showed that they did so
| observe both days, praying in the temple
on the Jewish Sabbath and gathering with
the Christians at their place of assembly
ON the following day. There was no OBJ
legation whatever upon the Gentle Chris
uans, Mr.. Strong said, to observe the Jew
| ish Sabbath. The Jewish Christians con-
| tinued to circumcise their children. but
this practice was never adopted by the
| Gentle Christians.
About the fourth century," said Mr.
! Strong, the Jewish Sabbath dropped en-
Lrely out of existence, so far as the Chris
| tians were concerned, and the Lords day
was continued, not as a substitute, but on
| its own basis"
/ LlS hiDl az commandments, Sucn as those
against theft and murder and other
crimes, were binding upon Christians
| MIR. Strong said, not because they were
| written in the law delivered by Moses hut
| because they were necessary for the pr as
| ervaton of society. Such laws would be
| just as necessary and just as binding if
| there had been no Mosaic law Society
could not exist without purity and with
out the protection of life, and these laws
! he M If col
| ing instinct of society.
| The Christian Sabbath, MI Strong said
| is not a substitute for the Sabbath of the
! Jew, but exists by the general consent
| and approbati ton of Christian peoples of all
ages. This, he said, was the opinion of all
the early Christian fathers and is the
! opinion held by the best divines of the
| church in this country and in England. 1t
| was essential to the welfare of society, he
! said that there should be a Sabbath of
| rest from labor and for spiritual growth
| and Improvement.
! The spiritual and physical benefits result
| from the observance of a Sabbath day
were discussed by Mr.. Strong. It's OBJ
| servance had always proved an advantage,
he said When faithfully kept it was al
ways a friend to the poor. There would
be no protection to the poor man from
the grinding greed of the rich, who would
demand every portion of his time, were 1t
not for the Sabbath. The spiritual bene-
| fits resulting from observing the Sabbath
! as a day of social worship were dwelt
upon.
Mr.. Strong held that the Sabbath is
day on which we should be broad and lib
era toward our fellow men. 1t is proper
that on this day, devoted to religious wor-
ship, that every city, the majority of
whose people are adherents to the Chris
tan faith, should close its bar rooms and
all places of harmful amusement. that all
things may be in keeping with the spirit
of the day. 1t is wise on the other hand"
he said, that every opportunity should be
allowed those to whom this is the only
day of rest for all reasonable and harmless
recreation. Art galleries and all similar
public institutions should be open for the
pleasure and instruction Of those who had
no opportunity to give attention TO such
things during the week. Such recreations
as do not degrade those who participate in
them and interfere with the spirit of the
day should be encouraged. The words of
Christ should be borne in mind that the
Sabbath was made for man.