Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-04-12

in connection with the temple. But
something greater than the temple was
here; 1t was a man in dire need. IT,
therefore, under the stress of neces-
sity, the priest could work for the
temple. certainly, under stress of neces-
sity, following Davlds example, His
disciples could work for something
greater than the temple.
And then He made a statement to
them, which only Mark has preserved
for us, that the Sabbath was made for
man, and not man for the Sabbath
What did He mean by it? Did He not
mean that the Sabbath was an insti-
tuition which was made for the purpose
OF ministering to the needs of man,
and that man was p9t 4madeesto keep
the institution? Cod in His wisdom,
saw that one day in seven was needed
for the mans highest development men,
tally, physically and spiritually, so He
Instituted the Sabbath. Note carefully
that II was not one-seventh of his time,
but one day in seven. man could
not rest one-seventh of the year, and
then work all the balance Of the year
He needs one day in seven. Since the
Sabbath was instituted to supply the
needs OF man, If mans needs require II
in any particular instance, the institu-
for mans needs, which are the greater.
Jesus also taught them that it was
right to do good on the Sabbath day.
There are several instances recorded
which illustrate this. The one before
us is of a man who is said to be a
mason, whose right hand was paralyzed
and who, by Jesus, on the Sabbath, was
restored.
THE SON OF MAN THE sABBATTs
ttt LORD.
Since Jesus claimed to be the Lord
of the Sabbath, and His claim was not
discredited, what did He mean by acting
as He did? Was He Sabbath breaker.
as they thought? No: He was not; He
simply brought to their minds some
idea of what the Sabbath really meant,
and wanted to deliver them from the
bondage which the rabbits had laid upon
them.
How can we keep the Sabbath in this
day of ours? That is the practical
question. May the Lord deliver us
from any burdens or bondage that
would smack of Phariseeism; but may
the Lord also deliver us from that
lack of observance which has turned
the day into one of revelry rather
than of reverence.
We may do anything, according to
sary. and which will minister in mercy.
Each one must decide for himself
what these necessities and mercies are;
but / submit that in deciding we must
have a conscience which is made SEN
sitiye by communion with God through
His word. We must realize that we
are not living to ourselves, but that
what we do affects others, and Christ
ian charity will decide that we must
not allow anything in our own lives
which will necessarily prevent others
from having the blessings of the day
of rest that we enjoy We are beau
tifully inconsistent in this matter
There is many a minister today who
would not think of riding on the train
from here TO Marietta to conduct a
religious service, who would not hes
itate to ride on the electric car there
or from one portion of the city to an
other on the street car. Last Sunday
a woman was arrested and fined, and
Justly so, for selling clothes to negroes
on Peters street. while the candy stores
on Peach tree street were going on in
full blast all day. Cigars and soda
water are not any more necessary than
flour and butter. The druggist sells
combs and brushes on Sunday, while
the dry goods merchant is not allowed
to do so. May God pity us for our in
consistency, and in the name of all
that is right and just, let us stop it.
The Sabbath was made for man to
minister to His largest needs in body
and mind and spirit The proper OBJ
servance Of IL requires that we use ii
for that purpose.