Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1904-02-25
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
KEEPING.
Comments by William T. Ella.

SABBATH KEEPING.
Jesus came to earth as the bearer
of a neG teaching. He was as free from
tradition as Adam. He personally was
absolutely untrammeled by any con-
ventions. In h spirit of the divine
law he came to people bound hand and
DOT by it's letter. The way in which
the Jew Of Jesus time were under
the weight of ecclesiastical rules is as
difficult for the present generation to
conceive as the radical character of his
own doctrines. He cOurageously refused
to assume or sanction these burdens too
g%rievous to be borne.
So he soon raj counter to popular
prejudices, especially on the subject of
the Sabbath. the manner of keeping
which has always been a cause of re-
ligious contention. 1t Is today very
much of a question in America. and the
same elements are in conflict. There is
II class of well-meaning persons who
would bind the sixteenth century Sab
bath on the twentieth century. even as
the rabbinical traditions We're bound
upon the Jews of Christ's time. This
is a mistaken course. The problem of
today is to secure 81 Sabbath observance
that will be in accord with present-day
conditions, while not departing from
4 FEAST DAY.
waking through tHe grain ueiuS oiie
Sabbath morning the disciples of Jesus
pluclked the ripe grain and ate 1T. The
sharp eyes of the Pharisees say this.
and they promptly took Jesus to task
for the infraction of their laws. 1t Is
rather suggestive that this first conflict
with the Sabbath customs OF the time
should be in respect to food. 1t typif1ed
the attitude of Jesus, in contrast with
that OF the Pharisees. They looked upon
the Sabbath is rather a fast day; he,
as rather a feast day. His view was
that the day should minister to man.
This Is a fair test of Sa~bbath-keep-
ing. Does the day, as observed, provide
food for mans spirit? Is his better ma
ture enriched and strengthened by it?
A well-kept Sabbath is a feast for mind
and spirit; yes, and for the body. Any
keeping of the day which debilitates
rather than %recreates is a violation of
the Sabbath.
ON HIGH GROUND.
One of the startling teachings of
Jesus was that a man is more import
ant than an institution. He shocked his
critics by declaring that the Sabbath
was made for man. and not man for
the Sabbath, supporting his position
for their understanding by an appeal
to the example of David and the priests.
AS a is greater than the Sabbath.
SO Jesus avowed himself greater than
inc Temple UuQ us laws.
The Master dignified and uplifted
man at every point, as his gospel is still
doing. christianity makes its first
among the lower clas0es.' said
e missionary to the orient the other
day, but 1t wins the upper classes by
showing it's effects upon its first con-
verts. When a nobleman sees how the
gospel makes a man out of what had
been a s~ervile, characterless, cringing
creature, bringing new light to his eyes
and new purpose to his life, he begins
to inquire what the secret of this mar
Vicious change may be-" The Jews Of
Christ's time. like the Chinaman of to-
day, had less regard for the sanctfty
of man than for the sanctity of a hoary
institution.
A well kept Sabbath is one that helps
nan and honors God. Its law is the law
of liberty which is the spirit Of Christ.
If men keep his day in his way they
need not be troubled about the way 1t
was kept a undr years ago.. He is
Lord of the Sabbath and Lord of man;
both his servants should serve him.
LOVE Is NOT BLIND.
Later in the day of that same Sab
bath Jesus went into a synagogue.
There he found a man with a withered
hand. The situation was an oppOrtu-
nifty, perhaps ais a temptation. Should
he arouse further opposition by heal
ing he man OIL bow to the sentiment
which environed him.?
The critics were present and watch
full; they even baited him with the
question: lis it lawful to heal on the
Sabbath day?" Their hostile attitude
really shut their eyes to knowledge
for 1t was not love but hate tina,
prompted 1t. Hate, not love, is blind
They were not looking for good in
Jesus, and they failed to find it, Just as
\ fhn0a vrvhn vrNoeNtnfn n nnnHo~S1,,r Ake
tude toward religion today can see
nothing but blemishes in the character
Of Christians. Love Is the best inter.
prefer; sympathy Is essential to under.
standing. So these critics, who would
rather see a suffering brother go un
helped thai have me of their pet ira
ditions violated, learned nc new trutl
that day.
CHALLENGING oPPoslTIoN.
The young teacher boldly took up tn,
gage of battle thrown down to him b,
the Pharisees. He met them on theil
own level, and in scorching words helt
up the inhumanity and selfishness o
the law which rated q dumb brut,
above a human being. He would no
turn aside from his purpose to heal be
cause OF their opposition. He was tn,
knightliest soldier that v e hattled TO
h truth, n no n Il himsel
NS0 - AAtl 0ObOS kIOIb 4OllOWlU
his convictions.
The smallness and narrowness OF tn,
times he was obliged to combat. Tn
Pharteees were q company Of quibblers
They contendAd over trifles and ignore,
ESSENTIALS. AZ Jesus later said. the,
paid tthes Of mint and cumin bu
neglected the weightier matters Of tn
law. This II an occasion upon whicI
every Sunday school teacher shout
Impress his scholars with the mistah
enness Of magnifying the unimportant
II - TO be feared that oftern the trivia
points OF . Sunday school lesson are 3
fully debated In the Sunday schot
class that it, main point IL overlooke
entirely.
THE MIRACLE WROUGHT.
After his flrst statement Of his newer
better. teaching Of Sabbath keeping
n9N9Aa aeaaaAN~