Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1904-02-25
WELL SPENT SABBATH.

The bible deals with principles, n
men in every generation twist these
into rules. Thus in the fourth COM
mandment Jehovah laid down a great
principle, which was to obtain through
out the whole of human history. But
in the time of Jesus the ecclesiastical
lawyers had made of 1t innumerable
rules, governing all of a mans actions
on the Sabbath. These specific re-
quirements almost nuilified the bene-
fetal purpose of the divine
ment. So Jesus did not hesitate to go
directly against regulations: he dis
obeyed the ecclesiastical law, but he
kept the Sabbath. His answer to the
Mortified and self righteous scribes and
pharisees reached the heart of the mat
ter, and is today the best Interpretation
of the law of a rest day: The Sab
bath was made for man. and not man
for the Sabbath"
Christ found the Sabbath a day Oh
restraint and repression; he made it a
day of liberty and ~helpfulness.
The Sabbath day is a day for devo-
ton. 1t is the occasion when men
should stately give themselves to the
cultivation of the interests of the inner
life.
The Sabbath is the best day and
! should be put to the best use. 1t is
a perversion of the spirit of the Mas
ter's words to plead that the Sabbath
was made for mans dissipation, idle
ness or worldly employment. 1t was
made for the best that is in man.; for
his higher spiritual self, and to keep
clear and deffninte the image of the
divine upon his spirit. The Sabbath is
abused If it is not used for the cultiva-
tion of highest capabilities.
Mans body should rest and his spirit
| should exercise on the Sabbath day.
Times change, but principles remain.
The danger is that we shall fail to
adapt the principles to the changing
conditions. The Sunday question has
been beclouded in many minds by the
endeavor of some to observe the day In
the old fashioned way. Now, what Is
wanted in the year 1904 is not n Sab
bath kept as 1t vas in the days of the
Pilgrim, puritan and Quaker forefa-
theirs. but a day kept in the spirit of
the fourth commandment, and in the
spirit Of the teachings of Jesus. This
observance will necessarily differ from
that of u grandfathers, just as u
clothes, and homes. and transportation
and entire civilization differ from
theirs. We should seek a twentieth
century Sunday. kept in accordance
with the u%nchanging principle of the
law of God AS ~enunciated on Mt. Sinai.
and as interpreted by the example and
teachings of Jesus.
Because 1t is a holy day Sunday
should not be a hard day. Into 1t
should be put whatever makes for pure
joy, for brightness and for beauty. The
Lord is scarcely acceptably w~orshiped
unless in 1.-The beauty Of holiness"
-
That Sunday fails of it's first pur-
pose which does not bring to mems
hearts thoughts of God. Primarily, the
day Is a memorial day. 1t tells OF the
goodness of God to he children Of men.
Its message is that We are his children
and that He is our Father and our
Lord. It declares that He cared for
us In the day of creation, and that He
cares for US still. For the Christian
Sabbath speaks OF the resurrection. as
we'll az of The creation.
The Lords day Is for mans delight
The difference between the Sabbath
and other days should be emphasized
by every means. For 1t is a day apart;
its meaning m its purpose are diff
ferent from the meaning and purpose
OF other days. So even u attire
which should be best on the day thai
IL best. az well as our employment, ou
reading, our conversation and our very
thoughts. should have n different char.
acter on this day that is dedicated e
God.
The Jew Of old had one temple, which
God had appointed as the place WHERE
he would dwell. but today the temple
is gone. God is to be worshiped. no
only Of Mt. Zion. but everywhere, ev.
erywhere. In spirit and in truth. Wher.
ever q true soul turns toward God Il
reverence there is a temple Of the Mos
High. The reverent. worshipful spiri
will find the whole earth a sanctuary
and every bit Of Gods creation I;
. shrine.