The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-03-11

boGis Alo1
These two sections of scripture
have been chosen that we might en-
phasize the truth of the golden text
which can correctly be translated,
1.-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 1t a hol1-
day, the other to make 1t a holy-day,
to worship the day as though 1t pos
sessed some secret s%acredness there
by forgetting the author Of the day.
A study Of what Jesus taught will
check laxity on the one hand and cor
rect fanatical error OF the other.
Contrast Shown.
/. Jesus IoosIng the woman, 1910
II. This incident Is a strong contrast
between Gods mercy and mans lack
of mercy. Satan was to blame for the
woman's illness ". 16) and at the
same time for the hardness OF the
hearts Of these men. The incident
occurred in a synagogue and displeas-
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. 11:2S-30.
Jesus could have healed by a word
only, John 5:40.43, but there Is power
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-
joiced at the cure, but he cared more
for ceremonial ecclesiasticism than
for the good Of the worshipers 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. 4:9-11) is here de.
nounced as hypocrisy wv. 10, 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 q false fanatical pre-
tended jealousy for the law Of God.
All sickness is in its essence the re-
suit Of sin (Acts 1888. But God Is
superior and can use it to our good,
II. Cor. 1919; John go, 8. DR.. Torrey
suggests six steps in this woman's
healing: CD She went to the place
Of worship; (2) she found the Lord
there; (3) he spake to her; (4) 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 a daughter Of Abraham.
Loves Attribute. ...
H.. Jesus healing the man, 4:1-6. In
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" ". y.
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 1t possibly be wrong
to relieve humanity on the Sabbath?
Mercy and love are superior to cere-
monies though these be Of divine ap-
pointment. The reasoning is clear.
Love is an attribute Of Gods charac.
ter, I. John 4:8, and therefore his W
ceremonies must give way before the
activities and energies of his being.
Thus to act upon the principles that
concern the value of an COX or an ass"
is to allow the lower to control the
higher, for a man Is Of more value
than the OK. These Pharisees were
exceedingly religious, great for the
'letter Of the law" but they were
dried up at heart, and consequently
far worse off than the man with the
dropsy. 1t is small wonder then that
the masters reply should silence them
so they could not answer him."
The Teaching.-It is true that fun.
damentally the Sabbath idea Is q
of worship and rest, but the reason
for it's existence Is because of mans
need Of that rest. That true rest can
be found only in a true and intelli-
gent spiritual fellowship with God.
Anything, therefore, that interferes
with or binders rest breaks the Sab
bath and should be removed in order
that the Sabbath intention may be OBJ
served. These men were justified in
leading an OK or an ass to water on
the Sabbath or to rescue n In peril.
On the same principle any work
which enables men to enter into a
Sabbath rest is not only justif1able but
necessary in the interest Of the Sab
bath itself. They cared for cattle on
ly as cattle, their property; we must
care for men for their own sakes and