The Green Forest tribune., 1912-04-12
LESSON FOR APRIL IA.
THE USE OF THE SABBATH.

LESSON TEXT-Marx 2:23 to 3:6.
 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 so- biological, 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 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 ob- servance of this day. These two events, and the principles that un- derlie are of sufficient importance as to be recorded in all three of the synoptic gospels.
 Let us look at the first. Passing through the field the hungry disci- ples plucked some of the ripened grain, and sitting it in their hands, they ate 1t 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. The ancient Jew was cum bered with ceremonial observance that was oppressive, yet their own priests In the temple performed the necessary daily duties and were held guiltless; and the great David had once entered that holy place and taken of the shew bread from off the altar and not only ate himself but gave to those who were with him. So 1t is that the life of a man is of greater importance than the punctili- ous observance of the Sabbath day.
 How Jesus Spent Sabbath.
 Passing on, Jesus enters the syna- gague and there found a man having withered 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 l man to teach these Pharisees the les son of obedience-yes for once in scorn he rebukes them; anger and grief struggled in the heart of Jesus as he commands the sick man to ] stretch forth his hand, and with the command went power so that the man stretched forth his hand restored to it's full strength and usefulness Is 1t lawful to do good or to do harm, to save a life or to kill on the Sab bath? Once again Jesus takes the law from its outward application and reveals the spirit, the heart motive that must apply if we are to truly love and serve God
 Is 1t 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 fact was the disciples had violated no l Ia If hut ArIf oFr and 1t has always been that we are more jealous of such than to really know the spirit of Gods commands, and thereby to govern our actions.
 What irony of Jesus tones as he asked them did ye never read?" The complaint of Puritanical Sabbath was never raised by one who has a loving familiarity with the Word of God-God gave us the Sabbath, it did not come by accident The heart hun gers to know him and its demand is for time to worship and to serve him. It is only those whose hearts are blinded by the God of this world who swing to the opposite extreme
 God will surely reckon with those corporations and individuals who de- mand, as shown by the social surveys of some of the steel towns, for illus tration, seven days labor each week, or wpo in their individual lives are so engrossed in business and in pleasure as to deaden and starve their souls, which are all the time crying out for God
 Jesus anger was at the hardness, and his compassion for this hardness of the hearts of the Pharisees. Let us avoid the wrath and be subject to the compassionate pity of God. Last Sunday we studied the resurrection of our Lord. Let us remember that the Christian Sabbath Is a weekly remind CT of that great fact.
 Principles Make Christians.
 Rules make Pharisees, principles make Christians. It Is not, thus saith the priest or the council" that is to govern our actions, for that method has always served to deaden our con- science, hence it Is that Jesus said, desire not sacrifice but mercy. My kingdom Is not to become a burden: I came to free men from the burden of ceremonial observance. I desire mercy, therefore, if whenever the op- portunity comes for you to exercise the principles of true religion, to visit the sick, to relieve the widows and the | A,t