The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1900-02-23

themselves sufficient. He declares that
the kingdom of God is within you"
Christ and the early Christians observed
Ssturdsy-the seventh day of the week
as the Sabbath. There was a gradual
change, however, by the early Christians
from the seventh day to the first day OF
the week. For several years both days
were observed. But the apostles, by
their example and teaching, appear to
have marked the first day-Sunday-as
the proper time for Christian commun-
ion, instruction and giving.
THE srIRIT OF THE FOURTH COMMAND
MENT
remains binding to-day, with this differ
ence, that we observe Christian Sabbath
or rest day instead of Jewish Sabbath.
Under the Christian dispensation we do
not observe the Jewish Passover feast,
the rite of circumcision, or the Old Tes-
lament Sabbath, but we observe the sac
rAments of the Lords Supper and of
baptism, and we keep the Christian Sab
bath. The ten commandments must be
faithfully kept by Christians. One
seventh Of our time must be consecrated
to rest and worship. Not only does the
Sabbath as Christians observe it put us
in harmony with nature and with
God, but it ia to us a special
memorial of our Lords resurrection
and Of our dearly bought freedom from
the bondage of sin and the grave. To
observe the seventh day Sabbath in our
time is to become in this particular Jew
ish and is to 60 back to Moses and saliva
ton by his law. Instead of this every
Christian is to fulfill the spirit of the
Decalogue by the grace of our Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ, observing the rites
and ceremonies of the spiritual Christian
church, and centering all hope, faith and
worship in Jesus Christ. To say that
God has done away with the Sabbath
under the new dispensation is folly. The
law of the Sabbath is still written in our
very being; it is still enforced by our
Lords example; and it's scrupulous
Christian observance ia made imperative
by the example and precept OF the d.
vinely inspired apostles. Remember
the Sabbath day to keep it holy"
To habitually desecrate the Sabbath
day Detrays moral depravitY, ignorance,
or both. Every man needs the Sabbath,
the community cannot prosper without
it to the nation it Is Indispensable. This
day Ia intended to afford rest to the
physical being, without which rest man
cannot preserve good health and live ont
his allotted time; 1t la intended for moral
improvement and culture, which ia Ger.
tainly essential to the prosperity of indi-
viduals and Of the State; it is intended
for mental refreshment and culture, a
day when people can think on high, i'm
proving and holy themes; day when
the working man can find time to COL
template vital truths outside of and
above his trade; il is intended for day
of Christian worship when all men can
worship God in the sanctuary, examine
themselves, and seek in peaceful and ur-
disturbed quiet the Indispensable
strength of the Master ia day when men
can seek grace and wisdom to prepare
for eternity. The Sabbath is one of the
worlds greatest blessings.
THIS WEEKLY REST DAY IS NECEssITAT-
ED By NATURAL LAW.
Both man and beast need q certain
amount of rest, and the particular
Is 4&
Even machinery not only lasts l1nger,
|. e., can be operated more hours In the
aggregate, but it runs better withKa GER
tain amount Of rest. A locomotive en-.
gineer will tell you that his engine needs
rest as truly as does his horse. A man
or beast can accomplish more work on
the long run by resting one day ont OF
seven than is possible by working seven
days week. The costermongers Of Lon
don told Lord Shaftesbury that their
donkeys which worked seven days q
week could travel fifteen miles day,
while the donkeya that rested one day 10
seven could carry their loads thirty miles
q day. This makes gain Of rs miles
week for those donkeys that rest one day
in seven, a gain of 5000 miles year. The
same physical law holds good with other
beasts and with man. Not only does the
Sabbath rest make possibls more wcrf,
but 1t also prolongs life.
The Hebrews as peculiar and separ-
ate people have outIived numerous ma
tions and races. There Is probably less
crime and vice among the Jews than
among any other people on earth. On
the average, the life OF the Jews exceeds