Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1902-05-21

IN this paper no fine distinctions are
raised between the words "Sabbsthn and
SUNDAY, for the underlying principles
OF the one are the same for the other, and
the means which shall secure the proper
regard for the one will be Just as success
iui for the other. The first day of the
week has simply been substituted for the
seventh, and the great reasons why the
Sabbath should be observed by Gods
ancient people are the basal reasons why
his modern people should observe Sun.
| day.
This subject is held to be one of vital
Importance to our Christian commune
ties and the discussion of 1t at this time
peculiarly opportuDe, because the ques-
tion is in doubt In many minds, and the
day Is being disregarded and desecrated
by so many others.
That the Sabbath is not being kept now
as the Jews used to keep 1t or as the
Pnritans and Pilgrims used to keep It,
or even as 1t was kept as late as the child
hood Of the Older people OF our commu-
mites used TO keep 1t, is ell too apparent.
In these days Of Rlobe-trotting and
worldwide news-gettipg, together with
the revolution and reforming Of the
ideas and principles which should gov
ern our lives, connected a. they are with
the large immigration to our shores OF
peoples OF loose morals and religion, 1t
is not strange that the ideas OF rituals
tic countries should have had large in.
fiuence upon the thinking and feeling OF
our American people with regard to the
proper observance OF the Lords Day.
1t has been charged, and with a good
deal OF reason, too, that the continental
Sunday" has been brought over to our
shores and that our people are adopting
| 1t to our great disadvantage and undoing.
The question then is, how shall we, here
| and now, keep the Lords Day holy? The
very form in which the question Is put
indicates that the day is to be Kept holy.
With those who would deny the special
sanctity or holiness OF the Sabbath, II
such there are, we hold no argument, we
give no advice. We have to do only with
those who believe that the day should be
kept holy In some way. The question is,
how?
lam sure we shall not go amiss in this
| inquiry II We consult the "Word )" equally
sure am that We shall GO amiss II we do
not consult the "Word." The Bible, bot h
the Old and the New Testsments, gives d.
rection upon this important subject, and
1t will be wise to carefully consult those
directions. Several Scriptures are valu-
able as aids In answering this quest lon.
The first is Elk. 81: 1917.
Speak thou unto the children of Israel, cay
ing. "yerily my Sabbaths ye shalt keep; for 1t
| Is sign between me and you throughout your
generations; that ye may know that / am the
| Lord that doth sanctify you. Ye shall keep the
| sabbaihs, therefore; for 1t is holy unto you,
Every one that deieth It shall surely be put to
death. For whosoever doeth any work therein,
that soul shall surely be cut of from among his
| people. Six days may work be done, but the
seventh Is the sabbath of the Lord, holy unto
| the Lord, whatsoever doeth any work 10 the
| Sabbath day. he shall surely be put to death.
wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the
sabna,hs, TO observe the sabbaths throughout
their generations, for perpetual covenant. IL
n
| forever and ever; for in six days the Lord
made the heavens and the earth, and on the
seyeAlh day he rested aud was refreshed"
Four distinct reasons are here given for
the observation OF the Sabbath. l. As a
sign. .. For holiness, both for the
people and also for, or toward, God. g.
As a perpet ual covenant. 4. For rest.
baf . he Cab kaf
| a day OF rest, about which so much is
said by so many people, as IL that were
the great matter TO be consid-
cred, is here placed last in the list and is
dismissed with a single statement, while
the other reasons are twice stated and
are made very emphatic.
In Ex. "a 81, an added precaution is
given:
"six days shalt thou work, but the seventh
day thou shalt rest In earning time and harves
thou shalt rest"
whyf Because the Sibbaths are so holy
that not even the pressure OF blowing and
harvest time may break in upon 1t.
In Lev. 1913. there Is prescribed "holy
eonyocation" on the Sabbath, so that In
the early Mosaic period we have the
sa bbat as a day of worship, as 'sign
and a perpetual covenant between God
aud man." and as 'day OF rest"
In Isaiah IS; at period $50 years later
thsn the Mosaic law, when Gods people
had broken away from the simplicity Of
the early teachings and had become
"liberaltzed," as the people to-day would
say land doubtless said the same them,
we hear him saying;
Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a
| trumpet and show my people their transgres
sion and the house of israel their sin. Yet they
seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, a.
a nation that did righteousness and forsook not
the ordinance Of their God wherefore have we
tasted, say they, aud thou seest not' wherefore
have we afflicted our souls and thou takest no
knowledge? Behold in the days of your fast
We fnd plea ure ana exact all your labor
And then he concludes with these re-
marka bic words, which may well be re-
garded as a protext for every one who
would be on the right side OF this