The Newtown bee., 1909-10-08


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 in the week Men now have need to TO,
 member that six days healthy lubOl is | more prOttnbie than seven days Of mon
 otonous toll uod was good to both the | rich and the poor, the master and the
 servant'-rest from toll, restraint from
 aVarice
 In what relation does the jewish Sab bath stand Co the Christian Sunday? l There is great difference: there Is also
 much similarity. They both come once
 week-One on the seventh, the other
 on the first day and so mark the same | division of time. They both remind of God, and separate one seventh of our ] time to His especial service. They both bring the same blessings to body and to
 the soul; rest to the weary limbs and
 tired mlnd a time for worship to the sCul; blessings to master, blessings to Serv
 ant, blessings to everyone who labOlS. 1T there is any difference we need our Sunday mOr9 than the Jew of Oldneeded ! Iis Sabbath. The poor need its rest and 1 change; the sick it's restraint; also there are those who make their poverty an excuse for Sunday toll and need its lessons of holy truth. The Sabbath re. minded the Jew that Jehovah was the Creator and Ruler of the world; so if does US, when we remember that God rested from all His work which He had of the deliyerance of his fathers out Of Egyptian bondage. The Lords day re- minds us of a greater deliVerance- ChristS delVeranCe of the world from bondage to sin and death. The Sabbath was not day of heavy SCberneSs and WearisOme religious restraint. but of rest and rejoicing. Our Sundays should ha Ia tnc cly nd ht1p hut 5nN of praise and holy jOy-days of the old to welcome with gladness, for the young to love.
 At what time the early disciples C 'hG to observe the seventh day as their Sabbath is doubtful. The ApOs ties were not in haste to break up old customs and traditions of their coun- abolishing the old. The observance of the seventh uay probably died out gradually, as did attendance upon Tenn pie worship. Long after Sabbath ob servance ceased the day was held in high regard by Christians; in the east it was kept as fast, because on that day Christ lay in the tomb. He rested from His labors In the west it was kept as festival. It was natural that the disciples should choose the first day of the week for the Lords Day. The most remarkable appearances of our Lord to the Apostles and disciples, after
 lis resurrection from the grave, were on the first day of the week." Read the Gospel narrative with care. On that day the Holy Ghost descended visibly upon the church. Christ's resurrection heaven had come; old things had passed away; all things had become new. What glorious manifestation of the power and love of God! Surely that first day of the week was the day of days-the day the Lord had made. There does not appear any direct special command to change from the seventh to tte first
 Drroved the meeting together for the breaking of bread, for worship and for instruction. St Paul's words to the
 Corinthians are the nearest we find to a command: Upon the first day of the week Jet everyone of you lay by him in store as God hath prospered him." In the time of Constantine it was de- closed in the day of the sun, and all work suspended. Other edicts followed later, and gradually the first day be- came a secular as well as a religious institution.
 The Jewish Sabbath was a divinely ordered discipline, intended to enforce me remembrance of God as the Creator and Ruler of the world, and to check mans complete absorption in secular af fairs. The Christian Sunday is the ex- pression of the Joy in OUT hearts in the resurrection and glory of Christ Jesus. It's observance shows our desire to win a place in the kingdom of heaven. The true question for every man is: How far is it possible for me to escape from the common cares and pleasures of life and how completely can I dwell on this mi (n n in a breathe a purer air and rejoice in the divine presence?" This is the day for God and the soul, a day of Heaven and not of the world; day of heaven and of hope, of joy above what the world can give, a day of privilege, a day of duty. Many reasons make it desirable to have break in ordinary business at change, physical health would suffer and vigor of the body decline It is a check upon the mammon worship, the serious social evil of our times. It is | for the interest of the nation as well as the individual that tradesmen mer- chants, manufacturers, mechanics i should find the doors Of the shop, the factory the store, the counting room | office and bank closed and barred against | them on the Lords day. and they should be made free from bondage to mammOn | a slavery they love all too well, free to / worship in the Temple. free to spend i hours at home with wife and children and friends. In a religious point of { view it should never be looked upon as i a yoke of bondage. Think of your spiritual needs as the heir of immortali- | ty. Should you not love and worship | God? Should you not train the soul for | heaven? Everything will fall into it's place, every question will receive the | right answer if you but seize the true ! idea of the day. Not shall I break the i of the law by doing this i on the Lords day but shall I miss a blessing if I abuse the day. Children of God, heirs of eternal life-not mer- chants, not mechanics, not traders, farmers, lawyers, doctors, workers with i hand or head, but more; men, immortal 1 men, you have higher, a better calling. blessings of greater price than silver and gold, are laid up in store for those who will seek them. There is a city builded of God, high above the smoke i and dust, the noise and strife of earth; 1t is afar off and yet it is near. Pause and look up; you can see it's walls, it's towers and domes bright with the light of sun that goes not down; the gates stand wide open; you can see the broad streets, the pillared palaces, the throngs 1f happy people, all dressed in white. Do you not hear the son of the re- deemed? Look aloft and see the New Jerusalem. Come and make a days ourney toward the city of the Chris Lian's hope.
 s. s. Spear.