Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1914-03-13

These two sections of scripture
have been chosen that we might en-
phasize the truth of the golden text
which can correctly be translated,
The Sabbath was brought into being
On account of man, and not man on
account of the Sabbath"
There are two extremes of thought
and action as regards the Christian
Sabbath. One is to make it ho!1-
day, the other to make it holy-day,
to worship the day as though it pos
sessed some secret sacredness there
by forgetting the author of the day.
study of what Jesus taught will
check laxity on the one hand and cor
rect fanatical error on the other.
Contrast Shown.
!. Jesus Ioosing the woman, 1910
II. This incident is strong contrast
between Gods mercy and mans lack
Of mercy. Satan was to blame for the
woman's illness (v. 16) and at the
same time for the hardness of the
hearts of these men. The incident
ed the leaders. AS if to rebuke them
Jesus not only spoke the word of
relief but also touched her, causing
an instantaneous and a complete cure.
Her response was to glorify God. The
sight of this satanic captive acted in
contrast upon Jesus and the ruled of
the synagogue. Compassion and an
utter lack of sympathy. More care
for legalism than for the relief of one
created in Gods image. Jesus seems
to have acted speedily and is today
calling the unfortunate to him to be
healed and comforted, Matt. 11:28-30.
Jesus could have healed by word
also in the loving touch, which in this
case quickened her faith ". 13). The
record does not suggest that her cure
was in response to her faith as was
the case in other cures, Matt. $40;
1928. If the ruler had had a heart
of compassion he too would have re
jofced at the cure, but he cared more
| for ceremonial ecclesiastfcism than
| for the good of the wofshipers and
his emotion was that of Indignation
rather than that of Joy. A religion
that is more concerned with bondage
to the beggarly elements, the observ-
ance of days (Gal. 4:9-1D is here de-
nounced as hypocrisy (vv. 15, 16). It
| is to have more interest in property
| than in human souls. Outlines hatred
| for those who do not agree with us is
covered up by a false fanatical pre-
tended jealousy for the law of God.
All sickness Is in its essence the re-
suit of sin (Acts 10:38). But God is
superior and can use it to our good,
II. Cor. 1919; John s:2, g. DIR. Torrey
suggests six steps in this woman's
healing: "a She went to the place
Of worship; CD she found the Lord
there; 90 he spake to her; (D he
| touched her; (5( she was healed
/ (6) she gave God the glory. Our
/ Lord declared to this ruler ". 15)
| that the claims of humanity are su.
perior to their acts toward cattle even
as illustrated by the case Of this wo
| man who was daughter of Abraham
Loves Attribute.
II. Jesus healing the man, 4:1-6. II
this incident the question of the Sab
bath is raised by Jesus himself, evi
| IDENTIFY in answer to their mental at
titude, for they watched him" ". u
Receiving no reply, Jesus first healed
the man and then again reminded
them of the care they gave their cat
tie. Jesus plainly implies that if they
| give care to an OK or an ass on the
Sabbath, how can it possibly be wrong
TO relieve humanity on the Sabbath.
| Mercy and love are superior to cera
monies though these be Of divine ap
pointment. The reasoning is clear
Love is an attribute of Gods charac
ter, l. John As, and therefore his owl
ceremonies must give way before thu
activities and energies of his being
Thus to act upon the principles tha
concern the value of an "ox or an ass
is to allow the lower to control tn,
higher, for man is of more value
than the OK. These Pharisees wer,
exceedingly religious, great for thu
letter of the law" but they wer,
dried up at heart, and consequent.
far worse off than the man with tn.
dropsy 1t is small wonder then tina
the masters reply should silence then
so they could not answer him"
The Teaching.-It is true that fun
damentally the Sabbath idea is on
Of worship and rest, but the reasol
for it's existence Is because of man.
need of that rest. That true rest cal
be found only in a true and intelli
gent spiritual fellowship with GOD
Anything, therefore, that interfere
with or hinders rest breaks the Sab
bath and should be removed in orde
that the Sabbath intention may be oh
} served. These men were justified II
leading an OK or an ass to water OF
the Sabbath or to rescue one in peril
On the same principle any worl
which enables men to enter into
} Sabbath rest is not only justif1able bu
J necessary In the interest Of the Sal
J bath itself. They cared for cattle or
ly as cattle, their property; we mus
care for men for their own sakes an
in his interest and behalf.
The Sabbath must never be desc
Grated by being made an instrumen
of harm to man. 1t is always desc
Grated when, in the presence of hu
man need, we decline to render sery
Ice on the plea of the sanctity of tn
lay. A false ceremonial sanctity O
any particular day must never be pei
mitted to destroy the underlying, tn
truly essential, sanction and author
J lty for Sabbath rest Physically W
10 not each night fully regain ou
.ost energy and need the seventh da,
20 balance the account Spirituall
We need the strength that comes from
The Sabbath days rest, lisa. 30:1E
We who are under grace no longe
are bound by ceremonial legalism an,
must have not only the mind of tn
master, Phil. 2:5, but also be animatet
by the same compassion that impelle,
his acts.
Most men speak when thew do no