The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1912-04-25

trembling leaf, every opening flower
preached sermon to them. spoke to
them of the wisdom and goodness of
God. They had no organ, no choir to
help them sing His praises. The
gentle wind, making sweet music as
/ it swept through the trees of the gar
den, was their organ. The warblng
birds, and riDpling brooks were their
choristers. Thus was the Sabbath
kept in Paradise. 1t was kept after
Adam and Eve were driven out Of Par
adise. Euoch kept it when he walk
ed with God. Noah kent it in the
Ark. Abraham and Jacob kept it.
The IsraeIites kept it in the Wilder
ness before they came to Mount Sinai j,
and it was remembered and kept by
those who loved God in after ages.
The seventh day was kept as the Sab
bath till after our Savior rose from
the dead. Then His Apostles and
followers were directed to keep the
first day of the week, which has been
observed for nearly two thousand
years and is so done in memory Of the
resurrection of Jesus our Lord. The
seventh day was observed in memory
of work of creation which was then
/ finished, but the first day is kept in
memory Of the work Of Redemption.
which was finished when Jesus rose
from the dead By the Sabbath day
is meant dav of rest and is binding
on all the race
Second How must we keep this
day holyP Two things are necessary
if we would keep the Sabbath proper
ly. One is to stop working; the
other is to spend it in worshipina
God and in thinking and learning of
Him. Stop working-God's command
is verv positive. 1t says "Six days
shalt thou labor and DO all that thou
hast to do, but the seventh dav is the
Sabbath of the Lord thv God, in it
thou shalt do no manner of work. -
This is strong, plain language. and
no one need mistake its meaning.
This commandment is very compfe-
hensive-takes in man and beast.
"Ihou nor thy son nor thy daughter,
nor thy man-servant, nor thy maid
servant. nor thy cattls. God told
the Jews in another place that He
spoke these words on purpose that
their servants and cattle should rest
as we'll as themselves
If this commandment we're properly
obeyed what q quiet time there would
be all over this old world of ours one
day in seven. All stores closed fac
tories stopped no cars running. no en-
gines putting. no sound of saw and
hammer heard, but every person and
thing would be at rest. But the
Lord said: 1.-THE Sabbth was made for
man.. Precisely so, But not for
man to abuse. A false argument is
often set up on this expression, as if
man could do ss he pleased with the
Sabbath. The earth was made for
man, but not for him to neglect or
desecrate The very evnression itself
is proof Of the sacredness of the dav.
1t is not said MonadY WIS made for
man. A special meaning attaches to
this gift of time: 1t is holy; it is a
testing place on the journey of life;
it is Gods gift to man.
God does not require unreasonable
things Of us. The Lord and his
dicipIes plucked the ears of corn on
the Sbbsth dav; David and his fol-
lowers went into the temple and ate
the show bread on the Sabbath day
which was only lawful for the priests
to do. But these were to satisfy the
hunger of man. Animals must be
fed and watered: the sick must be
looked after on Sunday: the kitchen
must be opened as we'll as the parlor
on the Sabbath day. But we must
not forget that God has set apart this
day for His use. The day should be
spent in rest, Worship and meditation.
It is Gods day and is set apart for
Him.
Third d:-Why should we do this ?
Because of Gods example and COM
mand God has given US all our time
and has a perfect right to demand
one seventh to be given to Him. 1t
is our part to obey God S command
AMI trust to his grace