The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1911-08-18
Sabbath Observance
BY c. C. GAINES

whlie the Lord claims one day more
pecuhariy his own, it suggests that
.na' Jay be set apart from common
uavs Tor sacred purposes. To look to
ancient Christian writer's for argu.
inents IN support of institutions
"hlch the scriptures do not mention
is 10 dishonor the word of God and to
open a wide door to superstition. VET
II IS not unpleasant to trace in the
writings OF very early Christians fur-
thef accounts of institutions which
the scriptures do record. Justin Mar
tyr' VINO wrote his apology at hardly
the distance of fifteen years from the
tlmes OF the Apostle John. observes
mat III every characterised sacrifice
we bless the Maker of all things
through his son, Jesus Christ. and
through the Holy Spirit, and upon The
day called Sunday all that live in
either city or country meet together
at the same place, where the writings
OF the apostles and prophets are read,
as much as time will give leave.
When the reader is done the bishop
makes sermon, wherein he instructs
the people and animates them to the
practice OF such lovely precepts. At
the conclusion of this discourse we
all rise up together and pray. PRAY
ers being over, there is bread and
wine and water offered, and the bish-
ap, as. before, sends up prayers and
thanksgiving with all the fervency at
his command, and the people con-
clude with joyful reclamation Of
Amen!" Then the consecrated ele-
ments are distributed to and partaken
of by all who are present, and sent
to the absent by the hands of the dea-
cons. But the wealthy and the will
ing, for everyone is at liberty, con-
tribute as they think fitting; and this
collection is deposited with the bisn-
op, and out of this he relieves the or
phans and the widows, and such as
are reduced to want by sickness or
any other cause, and such as are in
bonds, and strangers that come from
affair; and, in a word, he is the guar
dian and almoner of all the INDECENT
Upon Sunday we all assemble, that
hnino tho fret dow in vrhiol, End nt
himself to work upon the dark void in
order to make the world, and on
which Jesus Christ, our Savior, rose
again from the dead; for the day be-
fore Saturday he was crucified, and
the day after, which is Sunday, he APP
peared to his apostles and disciples
proposed for your consideration.
With respect to the way of obsery
ing the Sabbath, it is to be set apart
for God; it is the Lords day, and not
yours; the day is the Lords not
merely the morning or the afternoon
or the evening, but the day. The
command is not to remember the Sab
bath morning to keep it holy, or the
Sabbath afternoon, but the Sabbath
day. And so we are informed of the
early Christians that theY spent a
great part of the day together, engag-
ed in these solemn exercises which
were preparing them for a Sabbath
above The day should be begun with
God, be carried on with God and be
ended with God. Private prayer, fam
ilya devotion, determination and
meditation, reading the scriptures,
visiting the sick, public worship, and
the religious instruction of the young
and, if parent, of your own children,
are the engagements that should Oc-
cupy the Sabbath If at the head of
a family you are commanded by God
to let your servants and your cattle
rest: and if you are employing these
you as much profane the Sabbath as
if employed yourself. The ways in
which this sacred day is profaned are
innumerable. Some profane it by
buying, selling, travelling or amuse-
ment. To such these words apply:
What evil thing is this We do,
Who Gods peculiar day profane?
Your calling, common works pursue,
Your journeys, sports and pleasures
vain;
Yea, by the curse of God We sell
Your souls to sin-the world of hell!
know, dear friends, that there mas
been many bloody wars over relig-
ious matters, but it is only in accord
ance with the saying of the Lord Je-
sus, who said: Il came not to send
peace on earth, but sword" Matt.
10:34). And / say God bless the good
people of Barlow for advocating Sab
hath observance. | am not an adVO-