The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1912-04-11


GOLDEN TEXT-"The Sabbath was
made for man and not man for the Sab
bath."-Mark 2:27.
That the Christian Sabbath is to be
a Boon and not to be a Burden is
the gist of the teaching of Jesus
upon that subject. For what is the
Sabbath set aside and to what use
shall we put the time thus set aside.
are and have been through the years
very live questions. That God had 40
Geological, physical reasons for setting
aside one day in seven as a day
of rest and recreation has led some
to advocate what we know as "Con.
tinental Sunday"-one given over to
pleasure, games, sports, auto rides,
drives, etc, and an over emphasis
upon the fact that God meant us not
only to rest but also that he hal.
lowed It," has given us the Puritani.
cal observance that is akin to a wor.
ship of this seventh day. Which is
right?
AS we study these two incidents in
the life of our Lord, the plucking OF
the grain and the healing of the with
cred hand, both of which occurred
upon the Sabbath, we can surely find
guidance as TO what shall be our OBJ
servance of this day.
Let us look at the first Passing
through the field the hungry disci
pies plucked some of the ripened
grain, and sitting it in their hands
they ate it to supply their hunger
Mind there was no reaping and gath.
ering into barns for the profit of the
owner, but simply the gathering OF
sufficient to relieve the needs of the
moment.
How Jesus Spent Sabbath.
Passing on, Jesus enters the syna
gague and there found a man having
a wthered hand Again the ever
watchful Pharisees observed him
that they might accuse him.
Jesus, knowing their growing antag
onism, their attitude of distrust, takes
advantage of the helplessness OF the
man to teach these Pharisees the les
son of obedience--yes for once In
scorn he rebukes them; anger anc
grief struggled in the heart of Jesus
as he commands the sick man tC
stretch forth his hand, and with the
command went power 80 that the mar
stretched forth his hand restored
TO its full strength and usefulness
Is it not sufficient that sin makes
strange bed fellows, as for instance
the Pharisees consorting with the
Herodians, two parties as opposite as
possible and bitter in their antagon
ism, taking counsel how they may de
stroy this young Galilean. The fac
was the disciples had violated nC
law of God. but an ordinance OF man
What irony of Jesus tones as ht
asked them did ye never read?" The
complaint OF Puritanical Sabbath
was never raised by one who has &
loving familiarity with the Word O
God-God gave us the Sabbath, it die
not come by accident.
God will surely reckon with those
corporations and individuals who de
mand, as shown by the social survey.
of some of the steel towns, for illus
tration, seven days labor each week
or who in their individual lives are Sc
eigTossed in business and in pleasure
a % deafrd and starve their souls
oh dge Il the time crying out fol
Go1.
jesus lger was at the hardness
ao! hi- cMEassiun for this hardness
a. ,,h" 1.arts Of the Pharlsees. lie
y. Nc'a lAp yra.h and be subject t
lt' cG''}-S'' ''1'-,e pity of God Las
81 .lay We s-&lied the resurrection O
o." '.cr1, LIT Us remember that tn,
c is..ln "a bath is a weekly remind
{ OF th,r great tact.
Grine pies Make Christians.
Rules make PAarisees, principle!
n l.e Christians. It Is not thus saitl
the pr.Cat or the council" that Is L
CcTern our actions, for that methoC
has always served to deaden our con
science, hence il is that Jesus said,
desire not sacrifice but mercy. Ny
Kingdom Is not to become a burden
came to free men from the burdeI
of ceremonial observance. desire
mercy, therefore, If whenever the op
portunity comes for you to exercise tn,
principles OF true religion, to visit tn,
sick, to relieve the widows and tn,
fatherless, to relieve human need, t.
direct mems thoughts to me in wor
ship, If 1t be Sunday or not. yol
ought to do 1t in glad recognition tha
the Son of Man came not to be minis
tered unto but to minister. Church
members will have a good deal to an
swer for in lending support to opeI
shops, and extra labor upon trans
porlation facilities on the Sabatt
day
Weston never walks on Sunday
Wilbur Wright will not fly upon Sun
day Not all Sunday labor is Sabbath
breaking, but let us beware we do moi
dull keen conscience upon one hand
or on the other hand hinder our use
fulnags nv onnfOrmfnO our aote to 49,