Ellsworth American., 1907-04-03
CHa,s,,A> e>p.A yoa.
Dnayer Meeting Topic For the Week
Beginning April Z.
BY REV. s. H. DOYLE.

Sy REV II. IL
Eopic.-The conservation of one day IN
otven- = Jer. xvii, 1871 tColsecration
eeting.)
Jeremiah's injunction concerning the
sabbath day YVES called forth by the
Increasing tendency on the part of the
3eople of Jerusalem and Judaea to dis
regard the Sabbath. He received his
Instructions from the Lord. and they
were most emphatic. He was to stand
Ia ali the gates of the city and to de-
clare to the kings of Judaea and to all
the people that the Lord said unto
them, Take heed to yourselves and
bear no burden on the Sabbath day.
- but hallow We the Sabbath day,
as commanded your fathers" But
they refused to obey Gods command
concerning the Sabbath. and God pro
nounced Els judgment against them
Goo will honor those who honor Him
and hold to strict account those who
sig..tlv set aside His laws and trample
unds feet His day.
II same reason exists today for
emf asizing Sabbath observance as
exi ted in tie time of Jeremiah. The
ter eacv 10 desecrate the Sabbath is
mo marked This is true in many
rwa, !, OF life, political. business. So
cial I'd Individual What can justify
polit al conferences on the Sabbath
or {: council of government officials in
tin of peaccg What can justify the
dist jution of mail on the sabbath?
In t days ef the telegraph and tele-
phone who depends upon the mail to
dispatch urgent and necessary bust
ness on any day?
The Sunday newspaper is Absolutely
II thousands of conscientious Christian
people who DO not read it can get
along without it why cannot the 9TH
ers? 1t Is no answer to say that the
work of preparation is largely done on
Saturday. 1t is sold and read on the
Sabbath, and through its existence
thousands have become Indifferent to
BE church and have had their religious
Qpes impaired. Granted even that in
&rge cities there must be some pub
& means of transportation and that
6Qen on most of our railroads some
QAin service must be furnished, yet
Sho will dare say that most of the Sun
ny travelling is not unnecessary? So
f1el functions and social visiting are
mostly unnecessary on the Sabbath
Snd far from a work of mercy Yet
a4ey are ever on the increase. "FTieaas
6sme in to see Us is an ever increasing
excuse for no church attendance. Their
is also an ever increasing eEcroacll-
pent of the business world upon the
sanctity of the Sabbath The Amer
lean people may well ask, WHITTIER
are we driftingT' for no nation ca3i
exist that with increasing regularity
disregards Gods laws and lightly es-
teens holy and sacred things. The
Sabbath is Gods day. On that Gay He
rested from His creative work and
therefore sanctified it.. It is necessary
also for man '.The Sabbath was
made for man." but not for his pleas
me and recreation, but his highest spir-
itual welfare. He who disregards the
Sabbath not only diso5eys God. but
stands in his own light.
But what can ccunteract this tend
ency? There is one thins- at leeS-
that can greatly help, and that is f2-
the Christian people of our land 10 be
more strict in Remembering. TIE Sab
bath day to keep it holy" What has
been our practice? Are we desecsat-
ing the SABBATH? Then let us leet.
the injunction of the Lord through the
Prophet and "hallow the Sabbath day.
- God commanded our fathers"
BIBLE READINGS.
Gen. ii, l, 2; Ex. Xxx, S-l1; xiii, u:
Hd, 1918; xxxiv, 81; Mum. XIV. 1926;
Qeut. v, 12-14: Neh. K, 81; Matt. if, 23-
98: Luke iv. 16.