Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1909-08-20
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MANS HERITAGE OF REST.


How much man was in need of the
Sabbath only the ALLOWING Father
knew. AS we study the Bible, with
a view to know and do the will of
God, we come to see and understand
more Of His outpouring benevolence
toward the children Of men, and rea-
sons as to why the Creator of men.
supreme in wisdom, power and love,
made for US a Sabbath multiply. Apart
from the Divine revelation, many rea-
sons for day of rest may be given
from a merely carnal physical view
point.
AS a citizen of this world, and of the
earth altogether earthly, my enjoy
ment of temporal blessings, my health
Of body, my usefulness to my fellow
man, demand a periodic pause in the
wear and tear Of life.
Rest to the human body is as i'm
portant as nourishment. Physical sci
ence has declared, and investigation
by practical experience has proven,
that the human body and mind need
not only the rest of a night for every
day, but one full days rest in every
seven, in order to be in the best con-
dition for meeting life's obligations,
even in this lower sphere of our ex-
istence.
But "the Sabbath was made for
man" on higher ground Of reasoning
than the foregoing; yea, as transcend
ent as the thought of God is to the
thinking Of man. Isaiah w., 8, 9.
Mans spiritual life needs the week
ly Sabbath repose, for sacred interests
and leisure for religious meditation
and for the worship Of God.
The high and holy One whose right
1t IS to reign, and by righteous ruling
call forth the alteration of the crea-
lures of His hand, knew how difficult
it would be for mankind, amid the
press Of business, the cares Of Office,
the sweating toll, with chisel, ak or
hoe, to find time for soul culture and
to breathe the life-breath of heaven.
He met the need Of mans higher life
by appointing one day of every seven
on which the great doors Of His world
wide temple should be thrown open,
that in every nation he that feareth
Him" might enter in and find the holy
Joy Of worship in praising Him for
His "mercies, new every morning"
and for His faithfulness every night"
and might learn to call the Sabbath
a delight, the holy Of the Lord hon
orable"
The loving Father knew how impos-
sible it would be for His sons and
daughters, in the race Of life, to keep
the heart fresh and young, the vision
clear and the conscience tender, and
to pass, day after day, Satan's subtle
devices to tempt them from the way
of holiness; and therefore He made
them a Sabbath, a day in which His
children might gather in his presence
and acquaint themselves Of His all
gracious love and tender solicitude for
their everyday safety and happiness.
The Sabbath was made for man."
that the way back to the Fathers
house" might be made easier for any
Of the family who, having spent their
all" in the FAR country" have come
to themselves in tattered garments
and in company with swine On this
day the door of the old home stands
open. The Father comes forth to meet
the prodigal returning; to put about
him the arms Of mercy; to press his
cheek with the kiss of loving well
come; to replace his swine-soiled
garments Of praise" This is the
day that the Lord has made. He calls
its hours His own" And He calls His
people to share with Him the joy of
its hallowed moments. He knew how
difficult it would be for His blood
washed people, amid the fretting wor-
ries, temptations and babble Of world
voices, together with cares and crosses
incidental to business, social and fam
lily life, to keep the Christian spirit
in a frame of true devotion to Him
and His cause, and thus continue in
the ministry Of His grace, that alone
can assure them the crown Of life"
in the great day Of his triumph This
day that He has made for us we can
gather about Him, sit at His feet and
like Mary, find and appropriate the
zone thing needful," the good part"
the fellowship of the Spirit, and the
ministry of His Word.
Jerusalem, the scene of Jehovah's
sanctuary, the beautiful sanctifed tenn
pie, rose on Zion, at one time glorifed
by the divine Shekinah. To this sa-
cred edifice the land sent up her wor-
Shipping people; yet all her sanctuaries
were brought to desolation. all the
fragrance Of her sacrifices became a
loathsome abomination to Jehovah, be-
cause her people kept not the Sab
bath of the Lord"
Black silence and loneliness fell
upon the hallowed scenes of a land
most favored with religious and secu-
lar privileges and prosperity. Where
temporal and spiritual blessings
abounded came a barren waste and
desolation for both body and soul.
Is not the dissertation of the Sab
bath and neglect of its religious priv
ileges and blessings in this our day,
turning many fragrant. fruitful soul
gardens into barren wastes? Religious
sloth on the Sabbath, Indifference TO
the holy voices calling men to leave
the valley of Baca and dwell in the