The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-04-12

f@ot oiN v iIhil Tor tho Gak
bath."-Mark 2:27. odo-
That the Christian Sabbath is 10 \,
a Boon and not to be a Burden 1.
the gist OF the teaching of lean,
upon that subject. For what /, ~
Sabbath set aside and to what nss
shall we put the time thus set aside
are and have been through the year.
very live questions. That God had a.
Geological, physical reasons for setti1v
aside one day In seven as a dav
OF rest and recreation has led sora
TO advocate what we know as a acon
tinental Sunday"-one given over II
pleasure, games, sports. auto rides
drives, etc, and an over empbasis
upon the fact that God meant us not
only to rest but also that he "haI.
lowed it." has given us the Puritanl.
cal observance that is akin to a wo,.
ship of this seventh day. Which ia
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
seryance Of this day. These tvo
events and the principles that I'M
derlie are of sufficient importance Az
to be recorded in all three of tte
synoptic gospels.
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. The ancient Jew was cum.
bered with a 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 of the
altar and not only ate himself but
gave to those who were with him. 50
1t Is that the life of a man Is Of
greater Importance than the punctli-
Gus observance of the Sabbath day,
How Jesus Spent Sabbath.
Passing on, Jesus enters the syna.
gague and there found a man having
a 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 tie
man to teach these Pharisees thew
son of obedience-yes for once X
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 its 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
the spirit, the heart motive
that must apply if We are to truly love
and serve God.
Is 1t not sufficient that sin makes
bed fellows, as for instance,
the Pharisees c~onsorting with the
Herodians, two parties as opposite as
possible and bitter in their antagon.
ism, taking counsel how they may do
stroy this young Galilean. The fact
was the disciples had violated no
law Of God, but an ordinance of man,
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 u actions.
What irony Of Jesus tones as he
asked them did ye never readf" The
complaint Of a Puritanical Sabbath
was never raised by one who has q
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
time to worship and to serve him,
is only those whose hearts are
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
.-ration, seven days labor each week,
Or who in their individual lives are so
engrossed in business and in pleasure
to deaden and starve their souls,
Which are all the time crying out for
Tod.
Jesus anger vas at the hardness,
his compassion for this hardness
" the hearts of the Pharisees. Let
Is avoid the wrath and be subject to
he compassionate pity of God. Last
sunday we studied the resurrection OF
'ur Lord. Let us remember that the
christian Sabbath Is a weekly remind.
of that great fact.
Principles Make Christians.
Rules make Pharisees, principles
make Christians. 1t is not, thus saith
he priest OF the council" that is to
our actions, for that method
as always served to deaden our con.
clence, hence 1t is that Jesus said,
esire not sacrifice but mercy. My
lngdom is not to become a burden;
came to free men from the burden
z norapoap,al alz lncira