The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1904-08-31
WOULD CHRIST ENFORCE
SABBATH OBSERVANCE ?
Rev. F. L. Hayden breaches a Strong
Sermon In the Affirmative From
Civic Standpoint.

To determine this question we have
but to observe what Christ did and
what He taught during His earthly min
istry. TO determine always what He
would do if He were in our place is diff
ficut because our conditions are so diff
ferent from those in which lie lived.
But in this case we are not at loss for
information, and our differences cannot
but be somewhat exact.
His position was peculiar. He was a
citizen of the Jewish state at time
when that nation was subject people
They had been deprived of all the rights
of free citizenship. They did not make
their own laws. Both administration
and courts were in Roman hands. Ro-
man armies were quartered among them
to prevent any attempt at self govern
ment The Jews had no rights that the
Romans were bound to respect-eXcept
to pay tribute regularly and peaceably
Christ was careful not to bring Himself
into conflict with the Roman authori-
les. He might have done many things
had His position been different that lie
did not do.
Our position is just the reverse. We
are citizens of Christian state. We
make and administer our own laws.
The courts are in our hands. We elect
the officers that serve us representa-
lively. The laws that govern us are
the embodiment of Christian principles
As citizens of Christian nation we
have rights that Christ could not claim
and enjoy. Certain duties rest upon
us that He did not have. Privileges
and responsibilities are ours That lie
did not and could not possess. We can
not institute q comparison between
Christ as a subject of Rome and our
selves as individuals of free. indepen-
dent people. If any comparison is pos
sible it is between Him as Il jew and
member of the Jewish state and us as
citizen of a Christian state. What did
lie do as a Jew in relation to the laws
and teachings of the Jewish people? In
answer to this question we shall find,
! think, what Christ would do in the
matter before us.
See the civil features of His teacn-
ing.
Toward the Roman He recognized
the rightful authority of the Cesars.
Render unto Cesar the things that are
Cesar's" In dealing with the Common
Law He was more specific. In Luke
l2:5759 He recognized the rightful exis-
tence of court, officer trial and prison
to protect the rights of men. In Matt.
5:l7, at the introduction of the Sermon
on the Mount. He declares: Not one
jot or little of the law shall pass! All
Shall be fulfilled" When in His life He
met the full requirements of the Law
He did not abrogate it. The Mosaic
Law stands today as a moral demand
upon the individual life. Paul says:
1--WE establish the Law" Do YOU say
it is the ethical and spiritual features
of the Law that the apostle and our
Lord refer to? | answer, the Penta-
teuch contains Il compilation of the civil
code of Isreal and The Law" to the
jew, meant every requirement, whether
religious or civil. If you want more
evidence upon this point you have but
to see Christ's own application of His
words in the Sermon that follows. He
deals with the following civil and Grim