The Savannah morning news., 1901-02-25
CONSCIENCE HIS GUIDE.
Rev. J. Herbert woodward Discuss
ed the Sunday Question.

ed the sunday Question.
Rev. ]. Herbert Woodward discussed
the Sabbath Question at ST. Johns
Church last night taking as his text
Co.ossians ii. 16-17: LET no man therefore
judge you in meat or In drink, or in re-
spect of a holy day. or of the new moon
or the Sabbath days; which are shadows
of things to come; but the body is of
Christ"
There is said Mr.. Woodward, "a d.
'versity of opinion among Christian peo-
pie as to the proper observance of Sun
day. Perhaps a juster conception of the
spirit in which the Church observes it
as a holy day might lead to its more
uniform observance. At the time of the
Reformation many Professionals to a de-
gree, went back to the Old Testament for
religious ideas, the character of the Old
Testament worthless were unduly exalted,
and there was something like return to
the Jewish Sabbath; this was a rigid GER
emonial observance, as may be seen from
the story told in the Bible of Moses, by
the command of God, taking a man that
had gathered sticks on the Sabbath, and
turning him over to the people, by whom
he was stoned to death.
1.-THE day was primarily, a day of rest,
ship there sprang up an elaborate otserv-
ance which our Lord inveighed against
together with the paying of tithes Of mi It
and dnise and cGinmin. Our Lord also
shocked the Jews by healing on the Sab
bath day; the Scribes and Pharisees, who
were the proper judges of the cerem NAL
law complained that he had profaned the
Sabbath day when he and his disciples
went into the field of corn and plucked
no OF h1xr IL
disciples gultless, quoting a prophecy of
Malachis. Thou Wilt Have Mercy and
Not Sacrifice, referring to the abroga-
tion of sacrifice when he should offer him
self for the sins of the people.
"St. Paul strenuously opposed the Ju-
dazzling teachers who taught that Chr
tians must be circumcized and keep the
law of Moses. He therefore said, Let no
man therefore Judge you in meat or in
drink or in respect of holy day,or of the
rev moon, or of the Sabbath days; which
are a shadow of things to come, but the
body is of Christ.
when our Lord died upon the cross,
the Sabbath died and was buried with
him, but in a manner revived again at
his resurrection on the Lords Day.
''The Sabbath was a sign between God
and the Jews, but a Christian man has
no more to do with its ceremonial observ-
dICe imam Win the DlOOu, the DuliOCkS,
and the goats. A sign, symbol may
be emptied of its sacredness and men
sometimes continue to be more friendly
for dead symbol than for a living one.
"Our Lord met his disciples when they
were assembled on the first day of the
week, and gave them the great commits
sion. Again to convert the Doubling
Thomas on that day. the Holy Ghost de-
scended on the Church. The Church met
together for the breaking of bread on the
first day of the week. and st. Paul writes
to the churches of Galatin and Corinth
Upon the first day of the week let every
one lay by him in store. Also St. John
says, I was in the spirit on the Lord 9
Day" SO to this day tine church has
observed the first day of the week, not
in the spirit of the Jewish Sabbath, but
as feast day. day of joyous thanks
giving. and the key note of It is the holy
communion. The letter killeth but the
spirit giveth life" and so how every
Christian man keeps the day sacred Is
a matter OF his own mind and conscience;
not in the letter of the law, but in the
unconscious expression of his devotion"